Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

It was one thing to face Valentino on set, but seeing him at the hotel started a cascade of panic-induced nausea in Angel Dust’s stomach.

On set, he put up a smile and a sultry voice because that is what he was supposed to do. That is what was expected of him. The hotel was different; the hotel was supposed to be his safe space, his escape. The hotel contained his friends and they weren’t supposed to see what Val could reduce him to.

Still, when his master strode through those great doors as though he was strolling into one of his many strip clubs, Angel’s first instinct was to pull up his walls and plaster on a wicked smirk.

“Val,” he drawled, like he was greeting an old friend. He swivelled on his bar stool and ignored Husk’s raised eyebrow. “What brings ya here?” He could try to feign ignorance. Val might be stupid enough to take the bait.

Val offered him a sharp grin and Angel’s shoulders sagged a fraction. He was screwed.

“I thought I’d see where it all went down,” Val said, waving his hands theatrically. “Where the great Lucifer and Charlie Morningstar and their rag-tag team of damned souls slaughtered The First Human.” He paused, glancing around the unpainted walls and stockless bar. “I thought it would be more… impressive.”

Angel folded both pairs of arms. “Yeah, well, the old place got destroyed. We’re rebuilding.”

“I suppose that’s why you haven’t been answering my calls?”

Angel stilled. He knew that tone all too well. That was the tone that meant his evening would end in blood, sweat, and agony.

The truth was that after the battle with the Exorcists and Sir Pentious’ heartbreaking demise, Angel had toyed with the idea that his afterlife was his to do with as he pleased and he should be spending it with people who cared about him and who he cared about. Now, he could see a major flaw in that plan - namely, the literal chain around his neck.

He had let himself believe in Charlie’s little fantasy and now he would pay the price.

“Sorry, Val. With all the construction, I mustn’t have heard it go off.” It was a lie, but he checked his phone with a mask of surprise. He tried not to wince at the thirty-seven missed calls.

He looked up at Val but found that his master’s attention was no longer on him. Instead, it was directed at something behind him, and he risked a quick glance to find Husk peering over his shoulder with an unimpressed look.

“Talk about desperate,” Husk muttered as he rolled his eyes, but Angel had the strangest feeling that he had said it just loud enough for Val to hear.

“What was that, bartender?” Val asked, voice dripping with sickly sweet venom.

Husk swirled the whisky around his glass, quiet for a long moment, and all eyes in the room flicked to him. Charlie, Vaggie, Niffty, Angel… even Alastor, hidden in the shadows in the far corner of the room, waited for his reply and Angel realised that an odd sort of tension had settled between them. He frowned. It wasn’t like Charlie to stay silent for so long, especially when it came to Val.

He watched Val grow impatient, fists starting to curl by his sides the longer Husk remained quiet, and it was with a start that Angel recognised the power play between them - a subtle fight for dominance between a current Overlord and a former one.

Husk’s wings twitched and he fixed Val with a bored look. “I know you’re trying to pull off the ‘all-powerful, controlling asshole’ schtick, but calling your employee that many times gives you more of a ‘pathetic, clingy ex’ vibe.”

Val narrowed his eyes behind his ridiculous glasses and lit a cigarette. Charlie looked ready to protest, but Vaggie tightened her grip on her arm and her protests died on her tongue. It was Val’s turn to make Husk wait and he blew out a heart-shaped smoke cloud that got caught in Husk’s whiskers. Husk wrinkled his nose and Val smirked.

“I didn’t realise Angel had adopted a guard mutt .”

Husk’s ears flattened briefly before he took a swig of his whisky. His hackles raised beneath his suspenders but he stared at Val, unimpressed, and shrugged.

“If you think I’m a mutt, your eyesight must be as shit as everyone says it is.”

A better demon might have rolled their eyes at the insult, but Val was as vain as they came and apparently, Husk knew that. Angel watched with carefully restrained amusement as his master straightened as though he had just been punched in the gut and spat on. He clenched his jaw and balled up his fists and, for a moment, Angel thought he might stalk towards the bartender and slap him across the face.

His amusement quickly vanished when Val slid his narrowed gaze to him. “Angel Dust. Come here.”

Angel didn’t dare disobey a command like that - not if he wanted most of his arms to be functioning by the end of the night. He slipped off the barstool but a gentle paw on his shoulder made him pause. He glanced over his shoulder at Husk.

“He fought an army of Exorcists while you hid in your glass tower,” Husk growled and a shiver rippled through Angel’s body. He had witnessed Husk’s protective nature before, but never in his wildest dreams had he imagined the grouchy bartender standing up for him against Val. “He doesn’t have to take orders from a coward like you.”

Initially, Val was stunned, but all too quickly he snarled at Husk and a suffocating red chain tightened around Angel’s throat and the spider demon was yanked off his seat and onto his knees. He gasped for air, eyes watering at the sudden pain, and choked again as Val dragged him across the floor by the chain.

“Stop!” Charlie snapped, rising to her feet as her face cracked into something a little more Hellish, and Vaggie was beside her with her spear already raised. 

One last jerk and Angel found himself at Val’s boots, shaking a little as he tugged fruitlessly at the ring around his neck. He grunted as a black boot slammed against his back, pinning him against the floor.

“I think you’ll find that he does,” Valentino said slowly, and Angel didn’t have to see that honeyed smirk to know it was there. If he just kept quiet - if everyone kept quiet, then perhaps he wouldn’t come home with too many bruises…

“I’ll play you for his soul.”

The room fell silent and Angel managed to twist his head enough to stare at Husk in bewilderment.

“...And why would I do that when I already have him?” Val asked, a smirk spreading across his lips. Perhaps, like Angel, he could see the way that Husk’s feathers had ruffled and how his fur was standing on end. Perhaps he could see the fire in Husk’s gaze and the way his claws bit gashes into the wooden bar top.

Husk stalled and Angel realised that his outburst hadn’t been planned. How very unlike him.

“Because if you win, I’ll let you keep old Husker here,” Alastor said as he stepped out of the shadows with that unnerving grin of his and opened his palm, summoning the long emerald chain that ended at Husk’s throat. Husk wrinkled his nose, ears flattening a fraction as he touched the edge of his collar. Angel’s chest tightened in sympathy.

Val’s smirk wavered as he sized Alastor up, apparently not having noticed him before. He narrowed his gaze. “Oh? And what’s in it for you, Radio Demon?”

Alastor’s face altered, just a fraction, but enough to ramp up the static in his voice and force everyone in the room back a step. “I just love a good game.” His face eased into its usual grin again and the chain in his palm disappeared. “So, what do you say?” Alastor asked cheerily. “Do we have a deal?” He held out a hand and the room seemed to darken as a sinister green luminescence surrounded Alastor’s form.

Val recoiled quickly and Alastor’s smirk settled into something more smug.

“I wasn’t born yesterday,” Val grumbled before fixing an interested gaze on Husk. “A former Overlord would rake in a nice profit though…”

Angel clenched his fists. Absolutely not. He wouldn’t let Husk be dragged into Valentino’s movies. 

“Tell you what, I won’t cut a deal with you, but I don’t mind playing your little pet in a game of cards,” drawled Val, and Alastor tilted his head, considering, before nodding and looking expectantly at Husk.

Husk stared at Alastor for a long moment before slowly turning his gaze to Angel and with dawning horror, Angel realised that the bartender was about to make an exceedingly stupid decision.

“Husk,” he begged quietly, shaking his head.

“Deal,” Husk said. “If I win, his soul belongs to me. If you win, I belong to you.” He held out a paw and a vicious grin overtook Val’s face as he strode over Angel and stopped at the bar.

“No!” Angel said as he scrambled to his feet, but it was too late, and Val already had Husk’s paw in his grasp; gold and red smoke intertwining in a sealed deal between both Overlords.

Finally, a smirk pulled at Husk’s lips and a stack of cards appeared in his paw. “You realise who I am, right?” He winked at Angel before smirking triumphantly at Val. “Blackjack’s my game.”

Val’s smile didn’t falter and Angel’s heart sunk. Husk might have just made the worst mistake of his life.

“Yes, I know who you are. The Overlord of Gambling.”

Husk began to shuffle the cards but Val reached out a hand to stop him.

“Did you really think I’d let you deal your own cards?”

Husk hesitated but soon shrugged and willed the cards back to whatever dimension they had come from. He folded his arms and raised an eyebrow when Val continued to grin at him.

“If you like, I can deal?” Alastor suggested, starting towards the bar, but Val once again held his hand up with a scoff.

“I trust you less than I trust him.”

Alastor’s grin widened.

“Someone has to deal,” Husk said impatiently.

“How about one of our mutual friends?” Val asked and Husk’s gaze was immediately drawn to Angel, but Val chuckled and shook his head. “Not him.”

He held out a hand and another ruby chain appeared in it. He gave it a quick jerk and a figure stumbled into existence beside the two Overlords. 

Husk’s face drained of colour.

“Hilda?” he breathed and a grey, bedraggled face with hollow, black eyes raised slowly to stare at him. It took her a moment to recognise him, but once she did, her expression morphed into a disdainful sneer.

“Husk,” she hissed, with the tone of an innocent woman addressing her executioner before she was about to be burned for witchcraft.

He lifted a paw, about to reach for her, but she spat on the bar top and he recoiled with flattened ears.

“Hilda,” he tried again, cautiously, but she showed him her wrists and a thick red chain appeared between them, tying her to Valentino.

“My blood is on your hands,” she said viciously as Val’s smirk grew wider with every passing second of Husk’s discomfort. “My suffering was your doing.”

Husk shrank away from her and shook his head. “I… I never meant for this to happen. For you to-”

“Hush your wretched whimpering,” Hilda snarled, even as her soulless gaze filled with tears. “Take responsibility like a real man instead of hiding behind your childish tricks and illusions. Face me, Husk. Face up to what you did.” She rattled the chains menacingly and Husk flinched and dropped his gaze.

“I’m sorry,” he said softly, wings tucking close to his body as Valentino summoned a pack of cards from one of his many pockets. He passed the deck to Hilda and she took it wordlessly.

“I love a happy reunion,” Val drawled and Husk winced as Hilda began to shuffle the deck none-too-gently.

Angel bit his tongue to keep himself quiet. He knew Val wouldn’t play fair. He had no idea who this lady was, with her long, charcoal ball gown and her tight bun, but she obviously had a past with Husk and Val knew it too.

Well, two could play that game. It was Angel’s soul on the line so he might as well go all out and if all it got him was a few extra bruises in Val’s studio tonight, it would still have been worth it. If by some miracle Husk actually won this thing… 

Angel squared his jaw. Consequences be damned; if Val wanted to fight dirty, then Angel would step into the ring.

In full view of his master, he leaned across the bar and brushed his fingers over Husk’s knuckles. Husk startled and snapped his gaze up and Angel smiled, small and soft when the bartender didn’t immediately pull away.

“He knows he can’t beat ya by playin’ fair. He’s trying to distract ya. Don’t let either of them get in your head,” he said quietly.

Husk stared at him for a long moment and Angel swore he felt Husk’s claws brush his palm before Valentino grabbed him by the shoulder and yanked him away from the bar. He glowered at Angel and Angel couldn’t help the satisfied twitch his lips gave.

“No fraternising with the enemy,” Val said and the jealousy in his tone was as clear as a bell.

“You always had a thing for ruining other people’s relationships, didn’t you, Husk?” Hilda muttered under her breath and Angel watched as the light in Husk’s gaze dimmed once more as he flinched and looked away.

“Sorry, lady, but who exactly are you supposed to be?” Angel snapped as an unusual surge of anger swelled in his gut. Plenty of people traded barbs with Husk but this woman was actively trying to hurt him and Angel might not be able to fight back against Val, but he could certainly give this bitch a piece of his mind.

Hilda set her sharp gaze on Angel as she dealt the cards. She took her time raking her eyes up Angel’s body and once she was done, her mouth twisted into a distasteful sneer. “An innocent soul damned by your boyfriend .” She flicked her gaze to Val. “ Both of them.”

Husk’s claws cut creases into his cards with how tightly he held them and for a moment, Angel felt his breath leave him at Hilda’s incorrect assessment of his relationship with the cat-demon. He would be lying if he claimed not to have thought about it - about what it would be like to cross that line with Husk, but the bartender had rejected his advances enough times for him to understand that it wasn’t something he could have. Still, perhaps he shouldn’t be so quick to correct her. She obviously loathed Husk for whatever reason - maybe her quick judgement was something he could use to his advantage.

“First off, Val isn’t my boyfriend. He’s my boss,” Angel drawled as he fixed her with the same expression of distaste she was giving him. “And second, if you’re so innocent, why’d ya end up in Hell?”

Husk was giving him a look which Angel resolutely ignored. It clearly hadn’t escaped the bartender’s notice that he hadn’t corrected Hilda’s assumption of their relationship, but Angel wasn’t about to reveal all his cards just like that.

Once Hilda had finished dealing, she set the pack down between Valentino and Husk and clasped her hands together on the bar top. “Husk has always been a trickster. He tricked me out of my marriage, he tricked me into thinking he loved me, then he stole my money and left me for dead at the hands of a gang of filthy criminals. The things I had to endure with them-”

“ Bullshit!” Husk snarled, slamming his fist on the bar top as he whipped around to scowl at Hilda. “I might have been a magician, but no sleight-of-hand magic trick forced you into cheating on your husband! You chose to fool around behind his back and, sure, maybe I shouldn’t have gone along with it, especially knowing what your husband was involved with, but I was young and naive and I felt sorry for you. I loved you, dammit. I thought-” He cut himself off and shook his head, tail thrashing.

“I thought you loved me too,” he said, softer this time, before he glowered once more at her. “But you treated me like a sack of shit. A plaything. Nothing I did was ever good enough for you.”

Val drummed his long fingers across the bar. “Are we going to talk or play? Or have you decided to forfeit the game?”

Husk startled, obviously having forgotten about the demon across from him. He took a breath and closed his eyes before nodding. “We’re playing. Best of five.”

The game began as both demons added up their cards and compared them to the face-up ten of diamonds in Hilda’s grasp. Val’s hand consisted of a jack and an ace, and Husk’s totalled fourteen. Val smirked and he placed his cards on the bar top. 

Twenty-one. If Husk and Hilda couldn’t match that, then the round went to Val.

“I treated you that way because you spent all my money on booze,” Hilda muttered. “You are a sack of shit. A lousy alcoholic.”

Husk motioned towards himself. Three of hearts. His ears flattened. “I was always a gambler, but I never started drinking until I met you.” He motioned towards himself again and Val chuckled at the eight of spades.

“Bust,” Hilda said viciously as she revealed her face-down card to be the nine of hearts. She took another card - the four of spades - and collected everyone’s hands. “Round one to Valentino.”

Val blew a heart-shaped cloud of smoke into Husk’s face and the bartender swatted it away with a growl, fur bristling.

Hilda dealt a new hand. “After you spent all my money, you walked out on me. Ran away without so much as a note. And guess who found me, alone and defenceless? Not that you would have been strong enough to fight him, but you could have at least tried to protect me after you destroyed my marriage with him.”

Husk’s claws bit grooves into the wooden bar as Val motioned for another card. Seventeen. He hesitated. The dealer had to draw a new card if her hand totalled sixteen or under but anything higher than twenty-one and she would declare a ‘bust’. After a moment’s consideration and a quick glance at Husk’s hand of fifteen, he motioned away from himself, ending his turn.

“I didn’t spend all of your money. I spent some of it because I wasn’t used to having it,” Husk said, pupils constricted into slits and hackles raised. “And I walked out on you because I was miserable with you. Trapped. I found you sleeping with another man and you somehow still managed to make it my fault!”

He motioned towards himself. Two of clubs. That amounted to seventeen, like Val. Identical hands resulted in a draw and the round went to no one, unless the dealer could beat it. 

“You weren’t enough of a man to satisfy me,” Hilda hissed and Val chuckled, low and condescending as Husk’s wings drooped in humiliation. Angel’s chest tightened; he had never seen Husk like this and a quick glance at Vaggie and Charlie proved that they had never seen him like this either.

Husk motioned towards himself jerkily, flinching at the six of diamonds.

“Bust,” said Hilda as she revealed her own cards. Fifteen. She drew another card - ten of spades. “Round two to Valentino.”

Valentino leaned back in his seat, a wicked smirk spreading across his features, and Angel realised he had to do something before a red chain made its way around Husk’s neck.

Hilda dealt the next round and Angel lurched forwards and grasped Husk’s paws gently. He was shocked to feel them shaking as Husk’s bewildered gaze snapped to him.

“Listen to me, Whiskers,” Angel whispered, their faces barely an inch apart. “You can’t change your past, but you can change your future. So, unless you want to be Valentino’s whore for the rest of eternity, you’ve gotta get your head in the game and stop listening to this spoiled, whiny bitch.”

“You ghastly little slut!”

“Cram it, toots,” Angel snapped, shooting a glare at Hilda. “You cheated on your husband and then you cheated on your boyfriend and gaslit him into leaving your sorry ass. There’s a thousand souls down here with the same story. Go cry to someone who gives a crap.”

“Angel,” Husk started weakly but Angel squeezed his paws.

“Don’t listen to her,” Angel said quietly. “Can’t you see this is all a ploy to get you to lose? Val summoned her because he knew she’d get under your skin. Don’t let him beat ya. You’re better than this, Whiskers. You can wipe the floor with him.”

Husk opened his mouth but Angel was suddenly dragged backwards and thrown to the floor by Valentino. He hissed as Val stubbed his cigarette on his shoulder.

“Speak to him again and I’ll show you what I do to spiders that get underfoot,” Val said slowly and Angel lowered his gaze, fists clenched with barely-restrained anger.

There was a deep growl from Husk and Angel risked a glance up to find him glaring daggers into Val’s smirking visage. 

“A real man would protect his lover, no matter the harm to himself,” Hilda said haughtily. “But we all know that you’re too weak to do that. You’re just a shell, a husk of a man. A loser who runs away at the first signs of conflict and throws those who love him to the wolves.”

Husk’s brow twitched and a hurt look crossed his gaze. Apparently, Angel liked to push his luck, because he crawled to his feet and sent her a bitter smirk. 

“And what do you think him putting his soul on the line for me is, hm? Perhaps you’re too stupid to notice when someone is willing to give away everything they have for you.” He stalked towards her. “Perhaps that’s why you think he’s a shell of a man? You took everything he had to give and tossed it all away for a quick roll in the sheets, and then you scooped out anything that was left when he dared stand up for himself.” Angel stood to his full height, towering over her, and her gaze blazed with fury.

“I bet it’s eating you up to see him trying to save me, isn’t it? Just when you thought you’d completely broken him, he proves he still has a fragment of his heart left to give.” He jabbed a finger into her chest. “Unlike you, I plan to protect that fragment,” he whispered and her face reddened with unadulterated rage.

A heeled boot slammed into the back of his legs and he buckled with a grunt. He turned over just in time to watch Val summon the red chain around his neck and yank him across the floor. Val kicked him in the stomach and jerked the chain until Angel was pulled onto his knees, but before Val could hit him across the face, Husk’s paw flew out to catch his wrist.

Husk forced his wings from their flared position into something more neutral as Valentino glared at him, ruby venom beginning to leak from the corner of his mouth.

“It’s my turn,” Husk said, voice ten shades deeper than usual and Angel could see his claws flexing around Valentino’s wrist, itching to break the skin.

Valentino released Angel and turned to face Husk properly as Husk motioned for another card. Eighteen. He gestured away from himself and Valentino motioned for a card. Seventeen. His mouth drew into a tight line and he requested another card.

Five of diamonds. Val’s face contorted into an expression of anger and Hilda revealed her own hand - seventeen. She hesitated. If she kept the hand or drew a card higher than four, Husk would win the round. 

She took another card. Seven of hearts. She grit her teeth. “Round three to Husk. Two rounds remaining.”

Husk’s expression remained mostly blank but Angel had been around him long enough to recognise the satisfied flick of his wings.

The next set of cards were dealt and Hilda finally found her voice again. “He can’t give you what he never had, whore,” she said, lowly. “Don’t let him trick you into thinking he could love you. I did and look where it got me. He’s nothing but a home-wrecking, gambling alcoholic. He isn’t worth your time or attention, and he can’t afford it either.”

Despite being on his knees, Angel sent her a sickly-sweet smile. “Is that why he lives in your head, rent-free, darlin’?”

Hilda clamped her mouth shut as she glared daggers at Angel. Val gave a quick jerk of the chain but it was worth it to watch Husk’s lips twitch into a barely-there smile. He caught Husk’s gaze and the bartender’s eyes twinkled for a moment before he fixed Val with a neutral expression.

“Your turn, pimp.”

Val bristled. “I’m not some lowly pimp . I’m an artist. A director and producer.”

Husk snorted and toyed with his cards. “Whatever you say, shit-for-brains.”

Val’s chair screeched backwards as he stood and leaned menacingly over the bar, pushing into Husk’s personal space. Husk stared up at him boredly.

“You should show me some respect,” Val growled. “I am one of the most powerful overlords in the Pride Ring and you’re about to become one of my employees.”

“Mmhm,” hummed Husk as he tapped the bar top idly with a claw. “Tell me, if you’re so powerful, why aren’t you running shop in the Lust Ring? Surely there’s more business down there? More investors in that sort of trade?” Husk smiled lazily. “Or did Asmodeus reject your proposals?”

Val stiffened and Angel glanced between the two in confusion. That was a very good point. Why was Val’s studio in the Pride Ring?

“That overgrown chicken doesn’t appreciate art like I do,” Val spat.

“Lemme guess… he thought it was cheap entertainment? Bad scripts, worse dialogue and the guy behind the camera has one-too-many temper tantrums when things don’t go his way. Like a psychopathic toddler.” Husk clicked his tongue. “Perhaps you shouldn’t hit your staff so much.”

Suddenly, Valentino drew his hand back but Husk caught it before it could make contact with his cheek. He smiled pleasantly, gripping Val’s wrist tight enough that his claws drew blood. Still, Val refused to back down and Angel felt a little light-headed at the stand-off. Had Husk always been this smooth? This dangerous? This hot?

He bit back a chuckle. Yeah, Husk had always been hot, but the rest was new. There was a fire in his gaze that Angel hadn’t seen since the day they faced off against the loan sharks from that bar.

“It’s still your turn, by the way,” Husk commented and the veins in Val’s neck popped before he yanked his bloodied hand from Husk’s grip.

He motioned for a card and Hilda looked shocked for a moment before she slowly handed him one. Only then did Valentino actually glance down at the bar top and his eyes widened once he realised his mistake.

The initial sum was nineteen. With the new card, that made twenty-seven. He shouldn’t have requested another card. He snapped his gaze to the smirking Husk as Hilda declared a quiet “bust”.

Husk motioned for two extra cards and stopped at twenty. Hilda drew a card and her hand totalled twenty-three. “Round four to Husk,” she muttered.

“Two for two,” Husk drawled. “It’s any demon’s game.” He glanced over at Valentino as Hilda carefully shuffled the deck.

“Any demon’s game,” Val agreed, but there was something sinister in his tone and Angel watched Hilda’s fingers flutter over the cards. She was quick with her hands and he wondered if Husk had taught her a trick or two.

Then, something strange happened. Being on the floor, Angel could see the bottom card of the deck and what had been the five of diamonds suddenly morphed into the eight of spades. If he had blinked, he would have missed it.

Angel frowned, confused for a moment, before his eyes widened as the epiphany struck. He opened his mouth but Val rammed a heeled boot against his back and he slammed his face against the floor. He couldn’t stop the whimper from crawling out of his throat.

“You’re such a clumsy thing, Angel Dust,” Val said and Angel lifted his head just enough to watch the bottom card morph into the seven of hearts.

“Husk, he’s-”

A ball gag appeared in his mouth and he grunted around it as chains slid around his wrists, forcing his hands behind his back.

“Quiet, Angel. The adults are talking,” Val sneered and Angel could hear Husk’s deep growl. It was strangely… comforting to know the former overlord was so protective of him. Vaggie and Charlie were also on their feet and Niffty appeared to be eying up the ruff around Val’s neck. It was nice to know he had such caring friends. Even Alastor’s smile was sharper than usual.

Angel couldn’t see the rest of the game from his position face-down on the floor, but the round was played in a tense silence, until finally…

“...You cheated.”

Angel’s eyes widened. That was Val’s voice.

“Oh? How’d you figure that?” Husk sounded particularly smug.

There was a crash as Valentino’s chair hit the floor and Angel took the opportunity to scramble out of the way and flip onto his back to watch the scene unfold.

Valentino looked furious . He launched across the bar top, long fingers outstretched and Husk merely stepped out of reach before he clamped his claws around Val’s neck and pinned him face-down against the bar. Val’s wings extended, ready to deal a powerful blow, but Husk grabbed a knife from behind the bar and rammed it clean through the right wing, skewering it to the bar top.

Val wailed.

Husk smiled. “You have something that belongs to me.” He clicked his fingers and the ball gag between Angel’s teeth disappeared and the chains around his wrists snapped.

Husk waited for Angel to crawl to his feet before he released Val and held out his paw.

Val watched, trembling with unbridled fury as a gold chain secured itself around Angel’s neck. Angel fingered it curiously. It wasn’t as tight as the one Val had put on him, but there was no way of breaking it. It wasn’t too heavy either, but there was a gentle pressure - a weirdly comforting pressure. Like a snugly wrapped scarf.

Was he crazy for thinking that?

He looked to Husk, who held the chain loosely in his paw, arm still outstretched, and he found himself rounding the bar to stand by his new master’s side. His chest felt strange as Husk wrapped a protective (possessive?) wing around him and smirked at Valentino.

“Pleasure doing business with you.”

Val pulled the knife from his wing and brandished it at Husk, chest heaving with adrenaline. “You cheated.”

“How? I didn’t touch the deck. The only way I could have cheated would be if I commanded the dealer to switch the cards, and we both know Hilda has no interest in helping me.” He raised an eyebrow and Angel bit back a grin. Husk knew that Val had tried to cheat.

Val’s eyebrows folded in confusion before he sent Hilda a nasty glare. Hilda’s eyes blew wide and she stepped backwards, clearly realising that her little trick had somehow gone wrong.

Angel stared at Husk in awe as the reality of the situation began to set in. He touched the gold chain around his neck. No more gang bangs. No more ‘twenty guys before lunch’. No more getting knocked around by Val. No more addicting venom. No more being pinned to a bed by Val’s strong grip, the stench of cigarettes all over his fur as Val forced into his sore-

He lost all train of thought as Husk’s arm settled around his waist.

“You can leave now,” Husk said dismissively as Val seethed and glowered and stormed towards the exit. Before he left, he whirled around to face them. “I don’t give up my possessions so easily, kitty. This isn’t over.”

Husk narrowed his eyes and Angel inhaled sharply when he was tugged into Husk’s side.

“This is over. Come here again and my knife impales your eye next time.” He plucked said knife off the bar top and spun it around his claws for dramatic effect. Angel restrained a laugh. And Husk called him theatrical?

Val ground his teeth together and slammed the door behind him.

They turned to a pale-faced Hilda and it didn’t skip Angel’s notice that Husk had yet to remove his paw from his waist.

Interesting.

“You cheated,” Hilda said quietly and she looked at Husk with hollow eyes. “He’s going to tear me apart.”

Husk frowned. “It isn’t my fault that you made a deal with Valentino. I hope whatever he gave you was worth it.”

Hatred filled her gaze. “You’re a real piece of shit, Husk. Have fun with your slut.” She walked towards the door and left without a backwards glance.

Husk’s ears flattened and he sighed softly and Angel’s heart ached for him. He reached for the paw Husk had around his waist and was about to lay his fingers over it when Husk suddenly turned to face him, releasing him completely.

“Alright, let’s get this thing off you.” He reached for the chain around Angel’s neck and for a moment, Angel was overcome with a blinding sort of panic that clawed at his stomach and made his vision fuzzy.

He leapt backwards, hands firmly wrapped around the chain encircling his neck. “No!” he yelled.

Everyone in the room froze, staring at Angel in surprise as he struggled to catch his breath. He gripped the chain tighter and pressed himself against the wall. “No,” he said, quieter this time. “Please. I don’t… Just… Don’t.” He looked at Husk desperately, willing him to understand something he didn’t really understand himself.

Husk looked lost. “I… I’m giving you freedom. This was the whole point of that damn game; to set you free.”

Angel fingered the chain again and wondered why he felt better when he was touching it. He collected his jumbled thoughts. “I know,” he whispered. “I know. But I just…” He slid his fingers lower down the chain and he could breathe again. “Just… give me some time to adjust. I need… I need time.”

Liar, he thought to himself viciously. He was stalling. He was beginning to realise exactly why he needed to touch his new chain; why he didn’t want Husk to take it away.

Husk frowned and his paws fell limply to his sides. “Okay.” He looked unnerved by the whole exchange and Angel almost felt guilty. He smiled and slipped away from the bar, stooping over a little once the pain in his gut from Val’s boot reared its head.

He retreated to his room, grateful when no one followed

Chapter Text

It wasn’t until the next evening, at precisely 10:48pm, did anyone confront him about what had happened.

He had spent most of the day shuffling about his room, tidying and tearing up pictures of him and Val with the sort of gleeful delight of the criminally insane. He had a few old scripts from some of his earlier scenes and he burned these for good measure, tittering to himself whilst he did so. What time he didn’t spend excitedly destroying anything related to V-Tower porn studio (except for the outfits, because, sue him, he kinda liked them), he spent touching his new chain with a soft smile. It all felt so surreal.

Of course, it was Husk who eventually knocked on his door - rather impatiently. 

He opened the door and Husk slid through it, wings twitching and ears flicking even though his face was as neutral as ever. Angel wondered when he had become so adept at reading the bartender.

Husk crossed his arms and narrowed his eyes at Angel. “You can’t hole yourself up here forever. At some point, you’re going to have to face me.”

Angel dropped his hand from the chain, forgetting he even had it up there. He tilted his head. “Face you?” Suddenly, Angel grinned and his voice lowered into its characteristic sultry purr. Except this time, he was doing it for himself; an in-joke between friends rather than an act he had to keep up for Valentino.

“Oh, Husk. If you wanted to see my bedroom so badly, you only had to ask.”

“Stop that,” Husk snapped and Angel recoiled at the humourless tone. He observed Husk carefully, watching his tail thrash at the tip as his wings twitched restlessly. His ears were lower than usual and Angel realised that Husk was… upset. 

“Are you ready to let me remove your chain?” he huffed and Angel found himself stepping backwards as he placed his fingers over the golden bindings. 

“What’s the rush?” he asked quickly. “Why not enjoy bein’ an overlord again, Husky?”

Husk flinched.

Angel’s eyes widened and Husk shook his head. “Can we just get rid of the stupid thing?”

He started towards Angel but Angel jumped out of his reach. They stared at one another in surprise for a moment before Husk lunged. Angel dodged him again and a strange sort of chase ensued, with the cat-demon racing after the spider-demon until Angel twisted sharply to catch Husk’s wrists, only to trip over Fat Nugget’s bed and tumble awkwardly onto his king-sized mattress. Husk fell on top of him and Angel couldn’t help but wiggle his eyebrows suggestively.

Husk shot away from him as though scalded and Angel tried not to feel too rejected and was about to brush it off with a flirty comment, but paused when he really looked at Husk.

The bartender appeared extremely uncomfortable and his gaze darted from space to space, looking at everything that wasn’t Angel. His cheeks were flushed but not in a I-don’t-handle-flirting-well way. It looked more like a I-hate-this-how-do-I-escape sort of flush.

Angel’s shoulders slumped a fraction. He had thought they were past all this crap. Where was the Husk that pretended to be annoyed by his flirting but would return it in the subtlest of ways? What had happened to the Husk from yesterday? The one who wrapped an arm around his waist and left it there?

“Hey, what’s the matter with you?” Angel asked around a frown. “Yesterday you were all over me, put your soul on the line for me, and now… now ya can’t even look at me. What gives?”

Husk bristled. “I was not all over you.”

Angel lifted an eyebrow and Husk suddenly threw his arms into the air. “This is ridiculous. Why won’t you let me remove that damn chain?”

Angel curled his fingers around it reflexively. “Do you really want to get rid of me that badly?”

“I don’t want to own you, Angel!”

Angel fell silent, watching Husk recover from his outburst. The bartender took a moment to collect his thoughts and his head drooped as he sighed. “I don’t want our friendship tainted by that miserable chain. I don’t want to be another Valentino or Alastor. I’ve been there before - I’ve gambled souls away and I… I don’t want to go down that road again.” His ears flattened against his skull. “I don’t want you to look at me the way you look at Valentino.”

Angel’s heart ached and he stood, approaching Husk carefully, like he would a frightened wild animal. “That’s never gonna happen, Whiskers. You’re nothin’ like Val. You’ll never be like Val.” He came to a halt in front of the cat-demon and Husk refused to meet his gaze.

“I don’t get it. Why would you want to be tethered to me?” Husk asked softly. “Why are you fighting me on this?”

Angel licked his lips, swallowing hard as his fingers brushed the supernatural bindings. “It ain’t a tether. It’s a lifesaver to a drowning man.”

Husk startled and glanced up at him and Angel scratched the back of his neck uncomfortably. “This chain ain’t like the one Val put on me. It’s not as tight or heavy. And… so long as I’ve got this one on, another Overlord can’t just swoop in and bind me to them. Val can’t just drag me back to the studio and torture me into signing another contract…” He frowned, wondering if he had explained it adequately. He didn’t feel he had, but Husk’s eyes were wide and his ears were pricked. “Does any of that make sense?”

Husk nodded slowly. “Still, your soul belongs to an Overlord. Doesn’t that bother you?”

Angel considered the question carefully, sizing Husk up as he did so. Finally, he shook his head. “To be honest, knowing you hold the other end of my chain makes me feel kinda… safe.” He shrugged, averting his gaze. He could handle himself in a fight, but the soul was a delicate matter and his had been beaten and abused by Valentino for over seventy years. Knowing that it was now in Husk’s possession was a major relief.

Husk had fallen very quiet and after half a minute of silence, Angel risked a curious glance at him. 

Husk had a very interesting blush at the tips of his ears and when he realised that Angel was staring at him, he coughed and straightened to his full height. “Well,” he said, voice cracking on the word. “I’ll do my damned best to protect it.” Then, his ears and wings lowered in unison and something like embarrassment flashed across his features before he schooled his expression into something more neutral.

Perhaps it was Husk’s sincerity or his protective nature that had Angel’s heart suddenly fluttering like a butterfly. He didn’t know what to make of it but it was a pleasant feeling. He hoped it would happen again.

He smiled affectionately at Husk, grateful that the bartender was so understanding. Who would’ve guessed that a little communication went such a long way? He bit back a chuckle.

Husk stared at him, eyes growing wider and Angel watched, perplexed, as the cat-demon swallowed thickly and his feathers began to fluff in the most delightful manner. Even his tail feathers puffed up like a pigeon in mating season. Angel was itching to touch them.

Husk looked mortified at his own wings and he swung them behind him quickly before making a beeline for the door. Angel watched him go with a lop-sided grin.

“You have a good night, Husker,” he purred, unable to help himself, and Husk whirled around so fast that he nearly took Fat Nuggets out with his tail. He apologised to the little pig and frowned at himself when he realised that he was apologising to a pig , then he aimed awkward finger guns at Angel.

“You- You have a good-” He cut himself off and frowned at his paws, then quickly scuttled out of the room. “Goodnight, Angel,” he mumbled on his way out.

“Goodnight, sweetheart,” Angel grinned before he managed to close the door.

 Alone again, Angel perched on the edge of the bed and realised he was still smiling.

Over the next few weeks, Angel found himself drawn to Husk. Perhaps it was the chain, but Angel doubted it. This thing between them - the soft glances and subtle flirting - had started long before the bet with Val. It was still so small and fragile but it was growing faster now that Husk owned his soul, and Angel had no intentions of stopping it.

“Is that asshole still calling you?”

Angel looked up from his phone, from the recent slew of furious voicemails from Val, and bit back a grin at Husk’s light frown. He turned his phone off and slipped it into his pocket before draping himself across the bar top and resting his head delicately on his hands. 

“Jealous?”

Husk snorted and returned to polishing glasses. It was past midnight and the bar was closed, but Angel had taken to keeping the bartender company until he signed off for the night. Husk had yet to protest.

“Jealous of what? A desperate shithead who harrasses his employees, even when they’ve quit?”

Angel finished the rest of his cocktail. It was fruity but he wasn’t sure what it was called because Husk had made it for him without being asked to. “He’s pissed that profits haven’t stopped falling since lil’ ol’ me left.” He fluttered his eyelashes innocently. “Whoops.”

A barely-there smirk tugged at Husk’s lips and Angel admired it for a second, thinking how adorable he looked when he was relaxed. He watched Husk potter behind the bar for a moment, washing Angel’s empty glass, before the bartender finally called it a night.

“Y’know, the night’s still young. You could always come back to my room. We could watch a movie.” Angel had intended it to be flirty and suggestive but he realised the offer was genuine. He wasn’t ready to give up Husk’s company quite yet.

Husk rolled his eyes and Angel tried not to let his shoulders sag. “Mmhm. And how much moaning would this movie contain? Better yet, how many ball gags?”

“I mean a proper movie. With a plot and stuff.”

“Right, and how much of this movie would we be able to get through without you inviting me into your bed?”

Angel dropped his gaze with a frown. He had never taken rejection particularly well, but Husk’s assumptions stung more than usual. Perhaps it was because he genuinely had no ulterior motives this time.

“Fair enough,” he said, trying for a chuckle. “I guess I’ll see you tomorrow?” 

Husk blinked at him and when he headed for the stairs, the bartender’s paw caught his arm. They stared at one another.

“That was… I shouldn’t have said that,” Husk said quietly. “What movie did you have in mind?”

Angel brightened, heart lifting a little. “If you’re tired-”

“No,” Husk interrupted quickly. “No, I… I’m not tired. Like you said; the night is young.”

Smiles came easier to Angel since he left Val’s studio. He didn’t notice when he took Husk’s paw into his hand and practically dragged him upstairs, so he didn’t understand why the cat-demon looked so flustered when they made it into his room.

“I was thinking Bugsy Malone ,” Angel said as he dug through his collection of movies - adult, animated, and everything in between. He really needed to sort them into categories.

“...The one with the pies?”

Angel nodded enthusiastically and turned to look at Husk once he found the VHS, holding it up triumphantly. Husk stared at him with wonder and Angel’s grin grew wider. “What? I like musicals.”

“You were in the mafia, yet you want to watch children throwing pies at each other, pretending to be gangsters?”

Angel nodded again. “You gotta admit, it’s a clever idea.”

A startled laugh burst out of Husk before he nodded and gestured towards the old TV. Alastor wouldn’t let them upgrade to flat screens (something about not trusting them) and so every hotel room was stuck with an old cathode-ray tube TV.

Angel started the film and launched onto the bed. He patted the mattress and Husk raised an eyebrow.

“I’m not inviting you into bed, I’m inviting you onto it,” drawled Angel. “Big difference. Besides, there’s no couch in here, so unless you prefer to sit on the floor…?”

Husk rolled his eyes but eventually joined Angel on the bed, propping himself up on the pillows.

It took precisely twenty-three minutes for Husk to begin snoring against Angel’s shoulder.

Angel stifled a laugh and glanced over at him. His gaze softened at Husk’s slackened features. Poor thing. He turned the volume down on the TV and flicked his gaze to Husk’s peaceful face once more. He hadn’t drunk that much tonight, so he must have been truly exhausted.

After the fight against Heaven, there had been an influx in guests and they had all been working overtime to keep everyone (relatively) happy. Hell’s citizens were a demanding bunch and they could often be rowdy and keen to start bar fights. Husk had knocked a few skulls together, but he had ended up on the wrong end of a shattered glass bottle more often than Angel would have liked. A couple of nights ago, someone had socked him in the eye and the bruise hadn’t faded yet.

Despite that, Angel couldn’t help but think how handsome Husk looked. He knew how Husk saw himself, but the truth was that Angel genuinely thought him attractive. The personality helped - the protectiveness towards his friends, the gruff exterior but warm and gentle interior, the rare, rich laugh that melted Angel’s insides like fresh, hot honey… He was getting distracted.

He gazed down at Husk’s twitching whiskers as he dreamed and resisted the urge to stroke his cheek. He sighed softly. He was only half-joking with his flirting, but he had come to accept that Husk would never want him in the way he apparently wanted Husk.

He smiled as he watched Husk cuddle closer. This was enough. Husk’s friendship meant more to him than every other demon he had spread his legs for. 

He startled when Husk mumbled something and slipped an arm around his middle. 

Angel grinned. Aww .

He stroked the cat-demon between his ears, curious, and was delighted when Husk began purring. He returned his attention to the TV, content to be held by his favourite bartender.

He woke up when he felt the bed dip beside him. He rolled onto his side, squinting blearily through the darkness.

“...Husk? You leavin’?”

Husk glanced over his shoulder and his golden eyes focused tiredly on Angel. “It’s late. I should go.”

Angel scowled and reached for him. “Stay,” he demanded. 

Husk blinked at him slowly and it was easy for Angel to grab his paw and tug him onto the bed again. Husk made a weak noise of protest when Angel pressed up against him, arms winding around his back to keep him in place as he snuggled into the bartender’s chest, but Angel won their half-hearted battle when Husk huffed and wrapped his wings around them both.

“Fine,” grumbled Husk as he drifted off to sleep. Angel said nothing as he made himself comfortable against Husk’s warm chest.

The second time, he awoke to a gentle thumb caressing his cheek. It was pleasant and he couldn’t remember the last time a guy he slept with showed him such tender affection. Usually the guys he slept with were ‘blow your load, hit the road’ kind of sleazeballs. This was different.

He showed his appreciation by cupping his lover’s knuckles and nuzzling into his palm. The hand stilled and Angel opened his eyes and came face-to-face with Husk. He expected Husk to bolt at being caught but the Overlord merely watched him, allowing him to wake up fully. Angel noted that Husk’s wing was still strewn over him.

“You stayed,” Angel commented and his heart fluttered in his chest, as it was prone to doing around Husk these days.

“You asked me to,” Husk replied quietly and it took him a long time to draw his hand away from Angel’s face. So long, in fact, that Angel had a surge in confidence and ghosted his lips over the inside of his wrist.

Husk swallowed, gaze dropping to Angel’s mouth and for one blissful moment, Angel thought that Husk might kiss him.

The moment passed and Husk slowly untangled himself from Angel and swung his legs over the edge of the bed. Angel noted that his feathers were fluffed again. Without thinking, he reached for one of the wings and carded his fingers through the silky feathers. Husk eyed him over his shoulder but didn’t ask him to stop, nor did he jump away.

“You’re really beautiful, y’know?” Angel said softly after a minute or so, hand still buried deep in Husk’s wing.

This time, Husk snorted as he rose to his feet. “Sure, Legs. Thanks for the movie. I uh… I had fun.”

Angel felt as though he were walking on clouds and he rolled onto his side and watched Husk smooth down his clothes. “You were asleep for most of it, Old Man.”

Husk sent him a withering look. “Contrary to popular belief, I’m not that old,” he huffed and his gaze trailed down the full length of Angel’s body before he shook his head at himself in surprise and rolled his shoulders, stretching his wings out. “Anyway, it was nice to relax.”

“Nice way to wake up, too,” teased Angel, still not sure what to make of Husk’s tactile behaviour, but more than happy to encourage it.

Husk rolled his eyes and waved a paw dismissively. “I’d better get ready. My shift starts in an hour.”

Angel sat upright as he made his way towards the door. “Maybe we could have dinner together? After your shift?” He grimaced. Why did he sound so needy?

Husk paused in the doorway, then nodded. “...I’d like that.”

Angel’s heart felt like it might explode. It was a wonderful feeling.

“Have a good day, Whiskers.”

“You too, Legs.”

Chapter Text

Previously, Angel had only dressed up for clients and shoots, and he didn’t get to keep nice clothes on for very long before someone was tearing them off him and bending him over the nearest available surface.

With Valentino’s contract broken, Angel realised that he could choose who he dressed up for and when. Charlie would probably tell him that he should dress up for himself because it made him feel good, rather than trying to impress someone else, and that was a lovely sentiment and all, but right now he wanted to dress up for the hotel’s bartender.

He decided that he would buy a new outfit because if working for the Vees had taught him anything, it was that shopping was fun when you knew where to look. 

He went to one of his favourite boutiques and spotted a skimpy little number covered in black and pink sequins. It looked to be something in between a dress and a swimsuit and very little would be left to the imagination once he bent over in it. It was exactly the sort of thing a client would appreciate and he reached for it, only to frown before his fingers made contact. 

Husk wasn’t a client.

He pulled a face and took another look around, slower this time, and his gaze landed on a red velvet top spattered with a few curving lines of diamontes, a sweetheart neckline, and half-length sleeves. Beside it was a pair of black velvet, three-quarter leggings. It wasn’t his usual style but he couldn’t deny that he wanted to try them, so he took the outfit into a changing room and five minutes later, he bought them.

That evening, he fluffed his hair and checked out his rather conservative outfit (conservative for him, at least) before heading downstairs. They were ordering takeout and perhaps he was being a little silly getting all dolled-up like this but he got the feeling that most people didn’t make an effort for Husk.

“You almost done?” Angel called as he neared the bar and Husk finished drying the last few glasses as one of the new bartenders tried to sneak a swig from a bottom-shelf whisky. Husk smacked him over the back of the head.

“At least use a glass,” he huffed as he shoved a tumbler towards the sheepish imp.

He threw his towel on the bar top. “Yeah, I’m done,” he grumbled before he lifted his gaze to Angel and suddenly froze. “I uh… I thought we were getting Chinese?”

Angel suddenly felt foolish and he rubbed at his arm. “Yeah, we are. I just thought… well…” He trailed off and glanced around an audience of hotel patrons who were eying him with intrigue or pure lust. Shit. He should have known this would happen if he dressed up nice.

The new bartender whistled at him and grinned wolfishly. Husk smacked him over the back of the head again with a wing before rounding the bar and coming to a halt in front of Angel.

“You look good,” Husk said and it seemed like he meant it. In fact, the tips of his ears were a little flushed and Angel gathered confidence from the fact.

He crooked an elbow for Husk to take, then hesitated as a thought occurred to him. This wasn’t a date, was it? Did he want it to be?

Husk startled and shifted his gaze to their audience. Some were smirking, some looked jealous, and most were too drunk or high to notice. Angel lowered his arm, embarrassed, just as Husk decided to slip his paw around his elbow. They blinked at each other and Husk withdrew his paw, coughing uncomfortably.

“Uh… after you,” Husk mumbled, gesturing away from the bar.

They made it to Angel’s room and ordered from the local Chinese. After politely declining the offer of fortune cookies (fortunes from fortune cookies in Hell always came true. This was because they were curses rather than fortunes - minor inconveniences usually, but sometimes the chef threw a bit of Latin in there and suddenly, you were cutting your own tongue out with an angelic sword and your soul belonged to the nutjob two doors down), Angel sauntered to his liquor shelf.

“Drink?” he offered, already reaching for the whisky - the best he had.

Husk’s lips twitched into a smile. “Makes a change, you offering me a drink.”  

Whatever tension had been between them earlier quickly dissolved and Angel gestured to the table and chairs he had acquired from the dining room that morning. “Take a seat and a server will bring your drink to your table.” 

Husk did as he was told and his gaze lingered on Angel for a while. When Angel set his drink down, Husk smirked. “Do all the employees here wear that uniform?”

Angel grinned and winked theatrically. “Only those tending to our VIP guests.”

Husk’s tail flicked in a way that Angel had recently learned meant amusement.

“VIP, huh? What have I done to earn that title?”

Angel poured a martini for himself. “The boss has an eye on you. Thinks you have potential,” Angel teased and Husk’s smile slid into a smirk.

“Potential for what, exactly?”

Angel wiggled his eyebrows and Husk chuckled. Angel relished the rich sound and a thought occurred to him. Were they flirting? He took a seat opposite the cat-demon and fished in his pocket for his phone, highly aware of the way Husk was watching him, gaze soft and warm and full of affection that neither of them knew how to address.

“You know what you want?” Angel asked as he selected a spicy chicken dish. He briefly wondered where Hell got chickens from.

Husk raked his gaze over Angel’s form and hummed lowly. Angel raised an eyebrow at him before slowly holding the phone out to him. “...Do you know what you want to eat?” he clarified and Husk’s eyes blew wide as his fur bristled. He took the phone quickly, wings twitching.

A grin blossomed over Angel’s face. “...What did you think I meant, Husky?”

Husk’s gaze snapped to him and he looked as though he wanted the floor to swallow him up. “Well, you were- We were- I thought you- We’d just been-” He cut himself off, ears flattening as he grew more flustered. “How am I supposed to know what you mean when every other sentence is an innuendo?”

Angel glanced at Husk through long eyelashes. “What did you want it to mean?”

“See?” Husk huffed without any real heat as he scanned through meal options. He selected something and handed the phone back to Angel, then shifted to get his card, but Angel batted it away.

“On me,” Angel muttered as he placed the order and when he next looked up, Husk was staring at him fondly, but he quickly lost the expression when he noticed Angel had caught him.

Angel blinked. Was Husk…? Did Husk like him?

Angel decided to try his luck and curled his hands around his glass. “This is nice,” he said. “Me and you, I mean. We should do this more often.”

A soft smile tugged at Husk’s lips as he gazed down at his drink. He took a sip and Angel allowed one of his lower hands to slide across the table and rest over Husk’s knuckles. 

At first, Husk stiffened and his drink hovered in mid-air as his gaze tracked to their linked hands. Anxiety gnawed at Angel’s stomach and just as he considered pulling his arm away, Husk rolled his palm over and took Angel’s slender, gloved hand into his own, brushing his thumb over his knuckles. He swallowed and met Angel’s wide gaze.

“I’d like that,” Husk said quietly.

Angel smiled.

He had never been romanced before. His exes had all been emotionally stunted and his clients were only interested in how snugly their cocks fit into his ass. Valentino was probably the closest he ever got to being ‘romanced’ and that was only because he said such sweet, tempting things as he poured his addicting venom down his throat. 

This thing with Husk - whatever it was - was so different to anything he had experienced before that he wasn’t sure whether he wanted to push the bartender into bed or merely hold his paw.

Dinner was wonderful. They grabbed plates and cutlery and when they sat down, Husk took his hand again and held it throughout the meal. The conversation was light and easy and Angel’s teasing was well-matched by Husk.

They watched another movie and Angel expected Husk to start getting handsy - to start kissing him and touching him and whispering filth into his ear as they sat beside each other on the bed, but it never came. Instead, Husk toyed idly with his fingers as they watched Oliver Twist (and wasn’t it a pleasant surprise to learn that Husk had a secret soft spot for musicals?) and when the movie finished, Husk made his way to the door with low ears and a nervous expression.

He turned in the doorway and Angel expected him to ask to stay, but again, Husk surprised him. The bartender brought Angel’s knuckles to his lips and kissed them gently before bidding him a good night.

Angel closed the door slowly and slid down it, face red and a shy smile spreading across it as his heart fluttered wildly in his chest. Fat Nuggets grunted curiously and pottered over to him to snuffle at his sides and Angel picked him up and held him close, unable to wipe the blossoming grin from his face.

He stared into his pig’s dark eyes and Fat Nuggets grunted again. “I really like him, Nuggs,” he whispered.

Fat Nuggets tilted his head and Angel huffed. “I know. I know I said the same thing about Val, but Husk is different. He cares, y’know?”

Grunt.

“I think I could be happy with him.”

Fat Nuggets nudged his chest and he petted the pig between his ears. He shook his head at himself. How typical of him to develop a crush on the Overlord who owned his soul. He summoned the chain around his neck and touched it reverently. Husk hadn’t even kissed him and Angel couldn’t get him out of his head.

He chuckled and began washing up.

The next morning, Angel felt as though he were walking on air as he practically skipped downstairs. He made his way to the bar then paused when he noticed Husk was nowhere to be seen.

“Did you have a good night, Angel? You look happy.”

He turned to Charlie and smiled at her. He was happy, very happy. It was a foreign feeling.

He spent the morning chatting with her (not about Husk because that was still far too new and fragile), but he kept one eye on the bar. By the end of the conversation, Husk hadn’t made his way down, so Angel frowned and decided to ask around. 

“Weird, he’s supposed to be working,” said Vaggie from behind the front desk as she reached for the phone that had started chirping. “Maybe he overslept?”

“Until eleven?” Angel asked but Vaggie already had the phone to her ear. From the corner of his gaze he caught sight of a familiar red blazer and chased after it as it disappeared deeper into the hotel.

“Alastor, wait.”

The Radio Demon stilled, waiting for him to catch up.

“How can I help you, Angel Dust?” he asked through that unnerving grin.

“Have ya seen Husk? No one’s seen him this morning.”

Alastor tilted his head a little. “He isn’t at the bar? How unusual. Nope, not seen him.” He shrugged and continued his journey down the corridor, so Angel chased after him.

“Come on, Al. Throw me a bone here. He’s on your chain so you can find out where he is.”

Alastor sent him a sharp look. “Why are you so desperate to find him? Him not showing up to work is hardly any of your concern.”

Angel swallowed and tried to scrape together a lie. “Charlie asked me to find him.”

Alastor narrowed his eyes and it was obvious that he didn’t believe Angel, but he quickly brightened. “Okay,” he said cheerily before a thick green chain manifested in his hands and he pulled hard on its end.

Angel startled as Husk crashed onto the floor between them, groggy and only semi-conscious. He struggled to open his eyes and was barely able to push himself off the floor without collapsing back onto it.

Alastor tutted as Angel’s heart sunk. “Drunk on the job, Husker?” Alastor drawled. “Hardly professional.” The chain vanished and Alastor smiled even wider at Angel. “Good luck dragging him back to Charlie.” And with that, he stepped around Husk’s crumpled form and continued his stride through the hotel’s back rooms.

Husk glanced up at Angel and winced and Angel felt as though the ground had just pulled away from beneath his feet. He knew a look of regret when he saw it. He had received that same look from many cheating clients.

He helped Husk to his feet, hyper aware of the fact that the drunken bartender wouldn’t meet his gaze.

“Having second thoughts?” Angel asked quietly once Husk was somewhat steady. 

Husk flinched and it told Angel everything he needed to know.

“Right. Of course you are,” he said, deadpan. “I should’ve seen this coming. At the end of the day, I’m nothin’ but a whore, right?” He shook his head at himself, clenching his fists when Husk couldn’t gather the words to respond.

“I didn’t realise that last night was a drink-to-forget kinda night,” Angel spat, parodying Husk’s own words from not too long ago. Again, Husk winced but couldn’t gather his wits to reply.

“Well, screw you too, then,” Angel snapped and he whirled around before Husk could see the tears welling in his eyes. He made it five steps before there was a loud thud and he glanced over his shoulder to find Husk had collapsed onto the floor once more.

He sighed and swiped at his tears. No matter how hurt and angry he was at the bartender, he couldn’t leave him in a heap on the floor. He plucked Husk up into his four arms and tried to ignore his shattered heart when Husk averted his gaze. He took a staff stairwell up to their floor and Husk was slow to reach for his key card, nearly dropping it as he held it out to Angel.

Angel deposited him on his bed, frown deepening at the multitude of empty bottles littered over the floor. The room reeked of booze and bad decisions and Angel hated how he was apparently one of those bad decisions.

“Thanksss,” Husk managed as Angel shut the door.

He stormed back to his room, holding back his tears until he could lock the door behind him.

Chapter Text

“Angel.”

Angel glowered at the door and the familiar deep voice behind it.

“Angel, I know you’re in there. Open up, please.” Knock, knock, knock.

Angel buried his face into his pillow. It was nearing midnight. What sort of asshole knocked on somebody’s door near midnight?

“Come on, Angel. I know you’re awake.” He paused. “The chain… It’s tied to your soul. I can feel… I just know you’re awake, okay?”

Angel frowned. He had always assumed the chains were just that - chains. Val had never given the impression that he could sense anything through the one they shared. What could Husk feel? What had he been about to say?

“Go away, Husk,” he growled. “I’ve got nothin’ to say to you.”

“Great. Then you can listen to what I have to say to you.”

Angel snorted and rolled away from the door. “You’re not getting in. So, unless you use the chain to pull me out there, you might as well leave.”

There was a sigh and Angel steeled himself for a sharp pain around his neck.

“I wouldn’t do that to you.”

Angel opened his eyes and stared at the door in confusion. “Why not? You can. You’re my master now. You can make me do pretty much anything you want me to.”

There was a long pause and Angel wasn’t sure if Husk had walked away, but finally, he replied.

“Please, Angel. Just open the door. I need to talk to you.” And then, “People are… people are staring.”

There was a third voice - this one rough and unfamiliar. “That’s because it’s ten to midnight, asshole!” There was a thump and a soft growl from Husk and Angel opened the door a crack to find Husk rubbing his head, a slipper clutched between his claws.

“I’m keeping this,” Husk snapped, holding the slipper up like a prize and Angel forced himself not to smile. He was still furious with Husk. 

The bartender noticed the door had opened a fraction and he gazed up at Angel with pleading eyes. Rubbing at his temple, Angel threw the door open and Husk shuffled inside. The bartender still looked rough and Angel hoped that he was suffering from a major headache. He crossed his arms. “What do you want, Husk?”

Husk fidgeted with the slipper, searching for the right words and Angel’s scowl deepened. “Is there something I can do for you, master?” he spat and Husk startled before his ears flattened and he shook his head.

“I can’t do this.”

“Yeah, you made that pretty clear this morning-”

“No, I mean I can’t do this, ” Husk snapped as he held out his palm and willed the golden chain around Angel’s neck to appear.

Angel stared at him, confused, and Husk grimaced, tail flicking in agitation.

“I like you, Angel,” Husk said and Angel bristled, clenching his fists angrily.

“You were shit-faced this morning,” Angel hissed. “Don’t lie to me, Husk! I know when someone’s tryin’ to forget!”

“ This is what I was trying to forget!” Husk snapped as he held up the chain. “I was trying to forget the fact that I literally own you!”

“We’ve been through all that,” Angel said, tersely. “Just admit that you’re embarrassed about being seen with a whore and we can forget about this whole-”

“I love being with you, Angel!” Husk yelled, hackles rising. “I don’t care who sees us together! Let them look!”

Angel clamped his mouth shut as Husk lowered his voice and closed his eyes. “Keeping this chain around your neck when I have dinner with you makes me no better than Valentino.”

Angel shook his head. “That’s not true.”

“It is,” said Husk angrily. “I can make you do whatever I want so long as I have this thing wrapped around your throat. I can force you to stay there whilst I kiss you. I can trap you on the bed and have my way with you. I can do all the things that asshat forced you into and there’s not a damn thing you can do or say to stop it.” He dropped his gaze, wings drooping. “I can’t do this, Angel.”

Angel brushed his fingers over the chain. He nearly demanded Husk remove it there and then but the thought of the empty space left behind for Valentino to slap another one on him made him bite his tongue. He clutched at the chain like a lifeline and Husk frowned when he caught the movement.

“You aren’t like him,” Angel said firmly. “You won’t do any of those things to me.”

“But I could ,” Husk said quietly. “That’s the worst part. Knowing that I could hurt you - force you into something you aren’t comfortable with, without even meaning to. I don’t like holding this power over you.”

Angel felt himself beginning to relax. Husk didn’t regret them . He regretted the power imbalance between them.

“Please, Angel. Let me remove it. The idea that I could use it against you, use it the same way Valentino did…” He shook his head and Angel saw in that moment how distressed he was, how guilty he felt. “I- I can’t-”

Angel crossed the distance between them and took Husk into his arms as his wings twitched and flicked with his increasing upset.

Fear welled in Angel’s gut at the thought of losing the comforting golden chain, but he could see how its presence was breaking Husk and he needed to put the cat-demon’s wellbeing before his own insecurities. He stamped down on his fear and nausea and tried not to think about how easy it would be for Valentino to trick him into another contract with that addicting venom of his. 

Husk had fallen quiet against his chest and he mustered up a smile and nuzzled the space between Husk’s ears.

“Okay. Take it off, Husky.” He tried for flirty but his nerves took over.

Husk went very still for a few moments before he slowly leaned back to frown at Angel.

“You’re afraid,” he said carefully, testing the words out. “I… I can feel it.”

Angel raised an eyebrow and Husk tapped the chain around his neck. “If I concentrate, I can feel your emotions. You’re afraid.” He frowned. “Of what? Me removing it?”

Angel curled his fingers into Husk’s soft fur. Overlords could feel the emotions of the souls on their chain? So, Val could feel everything that Angel felt? The times he hit him? The times he was filming? The times Val pinned him to the bed and-

“You’re angry,” Husk said, surprised. “And you’re panicking. Angel, talk to me. I can’t read your mind.”

Angel held Husk tighter. “You’re nothing like him,” he hissed. “You’re sayin’ he could feel the fear and the anger and the pain and he worked me harder and longer and he humiliated me in front of everyone, and he enjoyed it . He wanted to feel those things from me. I didn’t know these chains could be used like that, but he did.” He clenched his teeth. “He said I was his favourite . That sadistic piece of shit!”

Husk blinked and snaked his arms around Angel’s back, listening silently as he ranted. When a tear trickled down Angel’s cheek, Husk smoothed it away with his thumb and Angel laughed bitterly.

“You’re nothing like Val,” he whispered. “You care. Even when we’re fightin’, your chain feels like a rope pulling me to shore. His felt like an anchor, draggin’ me deeper and deeper until I couldn’t see or breathe or hear anything around me.” 

Husk’s ears lowered with sympathy and he cupped Angel’s cheek. “You’re afraid if I remove it, he’ll put another one on you.”

Angel nodded.

Husk’s shoulders slumped. “I wouldn’t let him. None of us would. Charlie, Vaggie, Cherri, Niffty… I think even Al would put up a fight.”

Angel laughed hollowly. “I know you wouldn’t. But I might. You don’t understand the hold he has on me, even now. The fear, the addiction… I don’t trust myself to say no to him. But with this?” He tapped the chain. “I don’t have a choice.”

Husk looked unhappy at the reasoning but he eventually nodded and sighed. “Fine. I’ll leave it. For now,” he said sternly. “But one day, you’re gonna have a little faith in yourself to say no to him. I guess I can wait until then.”

Angel brightened and without thinking, pressed his lips to Husk’s.

Husk stilled and Angel pulled away immediately, an apology on the tip of his tongue, but then he noticed how flushed Husk looked and how his feathers had fluffed up. He grinned and the bartender turned an even deeper shade of scarlett.

“So,” Husk began, clearing his throat. “Am I forgiven for this morning?” His voice cracked a little. “Now that we’ve cleared up that I don’t regret doing you.” His eyes widened. “Having you. Being with you last night. I mean for dinner.” He winced and Angel laughed warmly.

“As long as you forgive me for callin’ you an asshole.”

Husk relaxed and a smile worked its way onto his face. “I don’t know. My feelings were pretty hurt.”

Angel smirked and tilted his chin up with one finger. “I could try to make it up to you,” he purred and Husk quickly lost all the confidence he had managed to scrape up less than ten seconds previous.

“Oh?” he managed and Angel closed the distance between them once more, sealing their lips together in a firm, closed-mouth kiss. Anything more and Husk would be as red as a tomato, thought Angel in amusement.

Husk pulled back with a petulant frown. “You’re laughing. I can feel it.”

Angel chuckled. “I just think you’re sweet, is all.” When Husk’s pout didn’t fade, Angel’s grin widened. “I’m not used to people caring about my feelings. I’m definitely not used to taking things slowly. It’s different - in a good way.”

Husk’s pout pulled into a small smile and Angel kissed him again and again until the cat-demon leaned into him with a happy purr.

Angel’s breath caught in his throat. He had heard Husk purr before, but to be the direct cause of it? He knew that Husk tried to suppress this side of himself, so to be shown his subtle feline habits felt as though Husk was trusting him with something personal.

He slid a hand into Husk’s wing and felt a long tail curl around his leg, keeping him close, and Angel suddenly felt warm and flustered despite the lack of action. He nipped at Husk’s lower lip and slipped his tongue between them when the cat-demon parted his lips in surprise.

Husk’s large paw shifted to his lower back and there was a hint of possessiveness in the motion that had Angel walking them both backwards until his spine hit the wall. Husk clearly approved of the new arrangement because he fanned his wings wide and impressive and Angel placed a hand on his cheek and deepened their kiss, exploring Husk’s mouth and thoroughly enjoying the crescendoing purr from Husk’s chest.

They pulled apart briefly for air and Angel was delighted when Husk swooped straight back in, capturing his mouth and sliding his tongue against Angel’s. Although, what really set Angel’s chest fluttering was how Husk’s spare hand had sought one of his out and had tangled their fingers together like they were the protagonists of a cheesy romance drama.

There was no rush to push further, to rip each other’s clothes off or make their way to the bed. Husk kissed hard and passionately, but his body was loose and relaxed and Angel was delighted to learn that he was happy with what they were doing. He was happy to not take things further. To go slow.

They parted and Angel felt breathless. Husk noticed and smirked at him and a laugh tumbled from Angel’s lips.

“Well…. that was nice.”

Husk grinned and it didn’t skip Angel’s attention that he was still purring, tail tip flicking in contentment.

“Apology accepted,” teased Husk and Angel was so overwhelmed with affection for the other demon that he stole another kiss from him.

“You could stay the night,” he breathed against Husk’s lips, the suggestion in his tone apparent.

Husk hummed, considering, before he nipped Angel’s lip cheekily. “No,” he whispered. 

Angel chuckled but Husk gave him a certain look and Angel realised he wasn’t joking. Angel tried to hide his hurt but Husk caught a wisp of it through the chain and he rubbed his back reassuringly.

“I want to, trust me. But I also want to do this properly. I want to treat you right.”

This time, it was Angel’s turn to flush a peculiar shade of scarlet as Husk kissed his cheek tenderly. “And right now, you are far too much of a temptation for me to be a gentleman,” Husk purred beside his ear. He stepped back, pulling Angel away from the wall. “So, I’m going to wish you goodnight, and I’ll see you at seven tomorrow evening for dinner.” He brushed his lips over Angel’s knuckles and winked up at him. “Wear something nice.”

Tongue-tied at Husk’s sudden smoothness, Angel could only smile weakly and nod and watch the cat-demon saunter towards the door, tail swinging. He picked up the fallen slipper on his way and whistled a romantic tune as he shut the door behind him.

Angel let out a breath he hadn’t realised he was holding. He had yet to stop smiling and he ran a hand through his hair as he fanned another hand over himself in a poor attempt to cool himself down.

“Damn, Whiskers,” he whispered to himself and he hoped that Husk had felt all of it through their chain.

Chapter Text

Husk’s paw was warm and solid in his hand and it was all Angel could think about as they made their way towards whichever restaurant Husk had decided on.

Restaurants in Hell were a mixed bag and one had to be very careful where they chose to dine as some restaurants were purely constructed to make its patrons’ time there miserable. Angel had heard horror stories about a restaurant that nailed sinners to their seats and tube-fed them rat bait and antifreeze for fun.

He trusted Husk to take them somewhere reputable - well, as reputable as any place could be in Hell.

He let his gaze drift to Husk. The cat-demon was wearing a tailored, white suit and Angel couldn’t help but admire how regal he looked. Had this been a suit he had worn as an Overlord in the casino he sometimes spoke of? The casino he owned, where he took high-rollers into the back rooms to trade things that sinners like Angel could only dream about? His gaze travelled down Husk’s broad chest to his narrow hips and he quirked a grin as he wondered how many of Husk’s opponents lost because they were too busy salivating over him.

“What?” Husk asked, glancing at him from the corner of his eye.

Angel dragged his thoughts out of the gutter. “Nothin’. You look good.”

Husk made a show of raking his gaze over the full length of Angel’s body. It wasn’t often that Angel wore navy, but the form-hugging pantsuit with delicate gold trim and a sweetheart neckline that he was currently sporting definitely made him feel ten shades of classy.

“Not as good as you,” Husk muttered under his breath and Angel squeezed his paw affectionately. 

“How’s the new job treating you?” Husk asked as they rounded a street corner.

“Great,” Angel said, a smile touching his lips. Since he had left V-Tower, it had taken him a while to convince himself not to immediately look for another porn-star role. Job searching was hard however when your main skill was sex, but he had ignored all the listings for prostitution and stripping (yes, those were actual ads on major job sites like Sindeed ) and he had applied for a job as a waiter.

Who knew Hell had a Hooters?

Ok, so he would be objectified a little at his new job, but at least he wouldn’t have to sleep with the customers. Baby steps.

“Hours are good, pay could be better but, hey, I’ve only just started,” said Angel with a shrug. “And my boss, Joe, he isn’t that bad, y’know? I thought he’d be a sleazeball in it for the big tits, but it turns out that he started the place up because he really did love their chicken wings.”

Husk rubbed a thumb slowly over Angel’s knuckles and Angel took a moment to reboot his brain.

“Hm. Maybe I should visit? Try the wings… Flirt with the staff a little,” Husk said, side-eying Angel with a tiny smirk.

Angel liked this side of Husk. The cheeky comments and playful smiles were worlds apart from what he had been subjected to under Val’s command. It was easy to forget that Husk owned his soul when he treated Angel like a friend, like an equal . Husk didn’t reprimand him for arguing, didn’t intimidate him for speaking his mind. If Angel annoyed him, Husk would merely roll his eyes and mutter under his breath. There were no punishments or abuse.

And Husk was clearly coming out of his shell too. He took Angel’s flirting in stride nowadays and sometimes gave as good as he got. Angel had definitely grown a little hot under the collar once or twice.

“Oh? I hope there’s only one staff member you’re going to flirt with,” Angel said, voice deeper than usual.

Husk’s smile widened a fraction. “Do you think I can get some free wings if I flirt with Joe?”

Angel blinked and elbowed Husk and the cat-demon chuckled as he took Angel’s hand again.

“You’re not his type,” Angel pouted even as he leaned into Husk’s side and enjoyed the feeling of a large, feathered wing curling around his shoulders.

He was taken off-guard when Husk pressed a chaste kiss to his cheek.

Husk continued their journey as though it was something they always did - as though kissing Angel so sweetly, so innocently in public was a normal thing to do. As though he didn’t care how many guys Angel had been with. As though he didn’t care how many people in the street had seen him naked and moaning on camera as he took five guys at once.

Angel stopped and turned to Husk with wide eyes and Husk came to an abrupt halt and looked up at him, one eyebrow arched.

“What? Something wrong?” He wrinkled his nose. “Wait, you don’t actually think I’d flirt with your boss, do you?”

Angel cupped Husk’s cheeks and pressed their lips together gently, and Husk’s feathers fluffed up with surprise and interest. The kiss lasted a few seconds and when it was finished, Angel leaned his head against Husk’s, eyes closed.

“Thanks, Whiskers,” Angel whispered sincerely before taking Husk’s paw and leading them onwards.

Husk blinked up at him and it took him a few seconds to get his mouth working. “You’re… welcome?”

Angel smiled to himself.

They made it to the restaurant and Angel was relieved to find that no one was nailed to their seats. Husk pulled his chair out for him and Angel felt his face heating up at the gesture and he found himself spending more time covertly staring at Husk over the top of his menu than he did reading the menu.

It floored Angel that Husk didn’t realise how gorgeous he was.

He managed to pry his eyes away from his captivating company long enough to take in his surroundings. Not too elegant but in no way greasy or unkempt, the place seemed more like a cosy lounge bar than a restaurant. There was a small stage off to the side and the bar at the back of the room took up nearly the entire wall. There was soft jazz music playing in the background and the lighting was slightly dimmed, allowing for a more intimate dining experience. A candle flickered in the centre of their table and Angel watched it dance for a few seconds before he returned his gaze to Husk, only to find the other demon watching him with a tender expression.

Angel’s chest felt too tight for his heart to beat within it and it occurred to him how easy it would be to fall in love with Husk. It would be a quick thing; a few warm smiles here and there, a soft purr or two, that lovely, rich laugh accompanied by a paw closing around his hand… Angel would be done for. He would fall hard and fast and Husk would be oblivious to the fact that he had Angel wrapped around his claw.

Husk held his gaze for a few seconds and Angel felt a tail curl loosely around his ankle. He was starting to develop a kink for Husk’s subtle displays of affection.

“Pick anything you want,” Husk said softly. “I’m treating you tonight.”

He had already lost, Angel thought as a smile touched his lips. There was no point in trying to fight it. Husk already had his soul, so why not take his heart as well?

He startled when Husk’s ears suddenly pinned themselves to his head and all his fur stood on end as his lips pulled back into a snarl. 

“Hello, Angel Dust,” said a very familiar voice and Angel froze, stomach dropping hard enough to make him feel nauseous.

Long fingers ghosted over his shoulder, but before they could grip him, before they could hurt , Husk’s arm shot out and his claws wrapped around the unwanted wrist.

“Touch him and I’ll rip this arm clean off,” Husk warned through gritted teeth.

Angel didn’t turn around. He wouldn’t give Valentino the satisfaction of seeing the cold dread on his face. Instead, he watched Husk’s expression and drew courage from it. He would be ok. Valentino wasn’t his master anymore.

Valentino yanked his arm from Husk’s grasp and Husk immediately placed a paw over Angel’s hand - likely to still its trembling. When had he begun to tremble?

Husk’s pupils were dangerous slits as he kept his gaze glued to Valentino’s every movement.

Val shifted, placing himself beside Angel until they were nearly touching. He wasn’t stupid enough to fully turn his back on Husk.

“Dolled yourself up for your new master? You always look so pretty when you’re desperate.”

Angel continued to watch Husk. He wouldn’t be sucked into whatever game Valentino was trying to play. Husk quickly caught on and squeezed his hand in encouragement.

“Sorry, Angel. I wouldn’t have recommended this place if I knew it had a roach problem.”

Angel’s lips twitched upwards as Husk gave him a cheeky wink. Everything was ok. Val couldn’t do anything to him here. Val couldn’t touch him whilst Husk’s chain was around his neck.

“We miss you in the studio,” Val said around a pout as he pushed a little further into Angel’s personal space, but the way his lower pair of hands had just balled into fists betrayed his irritation at Husk’s comment. “It just isn’t the same without you, sweetheart.” He trailed a long finger up the side of Angel’s neck and slid it slowly off his jaw.

Husk’s wings fanned wide and outraged and his body tensed like a furious bull. He met Angel’s gaze and Angel realised that he was waiting for instructions - silently asking Angel what he wanted. He had never been asked what he wanted before; people usually decided that for him. He was always a prize to be won or defended. Other people had always decided his future for him. 

One word and Husk would be ready to tear Val apart for him, and that was wonderful, but what made his heart soar was the fact that despite Husk’s fury and his barely-restrained desire to see Val suffer, the cat-demon was willing to stay in his seat and let Angel take the lead if that was what Angel wanted.

He had never heard of an Overlord doing that - of letting one of their chained souls order the shots. Angel had never heard of an Overlord giving one of their chained souls that much control.

He was overcome with a certain sort of giddiness. He wanted to test Husk, to see how different he was to every other Overlord. He shook his head a fraction and immediately, Husk backed down with a subtle, resigned nod. He clearly wasn’t happy but his tail curled tighter around Angel’s ankle and Angel felt light-headed at the gesture of solidarity.

Val was possessive, but Husk was protective and that was so much better.

Angel slid his gaze to Val and he smiled tightly. “What do you want? I’m busy.”

Valentino’s smirk fell and took residence on Husk’s face instead. Angel had always had time for Valentino previously and if he was occupied, he would make time for his master. Being too busy for Val was a surefire way of landing himself with a long shoot at the studio and a good beating.

Now though? Angel would make sure that Val knew how little time he had for him.

“I want you to come back to work, Angel Dust,” Valentino said quietly as he reached into the inside pocket of his fur-lined coat.

Angel watched him like a hawk. There were generally only three items that Valentino kept in his inside pockets; his gun, his lighter, and his cigarettes.

“Which part of ‘you don’t own me anymore’ don’t you understand?” Angel asked, voice low even as his heart started to race at the telltale click of the lighter. He could easily disarm Valentino of a gun, but if he brought out one of those damn cigarettes, Angel would be lost.

Valentino smiled, slow and wide. “Like I told your little kitten, I don’t give my possessions up that easily.”

He leaned down slightly, taking a deep inhale of the cigarette that was slowly emerging from his pocket, and Angel didn’t have enough time to scramble backwards before a plume of red smoke blasted into his face.

The drug filled Angel’s lungs for a brief moment but it was enough to slow his reflexes and he struggled to fight against the high that he hadn’t tasted in so long. He knew he should have fled - could see the confusion on Husk’s face as he tried to piece together what was happening, but in that moment he felt like he was floating on a cloud, all of his pain and fear and insecurities melting away.

The kiss followed. The kiss always followed when he was being disobedient. Val cupped his cheeks and kissed him hard and dominating and whatever high Angel had felt from Val’s cigarettes paled in comparison to tasting Valentino’s unfiltered, pheromone-laced venom on his tongue.

His mind went blank and all he could focus on was the pure bliss of Valentino’s unique drug. He would do anything Val said if it meant he could have more of this; more of this wonderful, peaceful feeling. No cares, no worries, no agony, no terror… just serenity and euphoria and pleasure-

Valentino was screaming. Angel frowned as he tried to focus through the ruby fog in his head. How long had Valentino been screaming for?

Angel slowly became aware of a sting in his cheek and he touched it gently, squinting when his fingers returned sticky with blood. Valentino must have clawed him when he kissed him. Nothing new about that.

He slowly returned his gaze to the screaming Overlord as he tried to figure out what had happened. It was difficult to think when his head was climbing further and further into the clouds.

He noticed that Husk was still in his seat, looking extraordinarily calm, but his arm was outstretched, fist clenched around the handle of something. A knife of some sort? A steak knife - likely the one that was missing from his side of the table.

A steak knife that was embedded deep into the back of Valentino’s hand.

Valentino attempted to pull his hand free but Husk kept a firm grip on the knife and Angel noticed that it hadn’t only impaled Val’s hand, it had been wedged part way into the table as well.

Husk blinked slowly at Valentino as the moth-demon cursed and screeched and clawed frantically at his paw.

“What did I just say about touching him?” Husk drawled as Angel forced himself to focus. He had never wanted to come down from one of Val’s addicting highs before, but something important was happening and he wanted to be able to remember it.

He giggled. Lucky him to have two Overlords fighting over him.

Husk’s calm gaze slid to him and it took a few moments for Angel to realise that actually, Husk was the furthest thing from calm right now. His ears were down and his pupils were constricted into barely visible slits. His hackles were raised and his tail was flicking from side to side beneath the table, ready to pounce at any moment. Husk was coiled tighter than a watch spring.

Valentino gave up on the knife and reached into his pocket once more and Angel had enough wits about him to know what he was looking for.

“No, that’s cheating,” Angel announced drowsily. He lurched forwards, placing two hands over Val’s glasses as his lower pair of hands grabbed Val’s wrist and wrestled the gun from his grip.

Val yelled and cursed and tore Angel’s hands from his face, and when Angel recoiled, he grinned at both of his prizes. A gun and a pair of heart-shaped glasses? Neat.

He held both prizes up to Husk with a triumphant smile. “Okay, now you can kill him, Husky-poo,” he said around another giggle. That was fun. Val’s fur was very soft and comfortable, but not as soft as Husk’s - and Husk made such wonderful noises when his fur was stroked. His eyebrows pinched together. Husk was warmer too and his deep, melodious voice was so much more soothing than Val’s. Husk was generally just better than Val.

He raised his gaze to Husk and watched as the cat-demon lunged for Valentino with a snarl. He smiled to himself and let his head rest on his palms. Husk was very sexy. Much sexier than Val. And Husk was nice to him. Val wasn’t very nice to anyone.

Husk slashed his claws through Val’s face, eliciting another scream from the moth-demon. A couple of waiters shuffled over, making a half-hearted attempt to break them up but a hiss from Husk had them shrugging and backing off. A few of the other patrons took their phones out and began recording with delighted smiles.

Angel watched them idly. The only thing Val had going for him was his venom, which was great and all, but it wasn’t exactly the foundation of a healthy relationship. Husk, on the other hand, was smart and kind and a little bit shy sometimes but that was okay because Angel quite liked that about him. He was an alcoholic, which Angel didn’t like so much, but he wasn’t a mean drunk. Besides, Angel was a crack addict - well, an any-sort-of-thrill addict - so he had no room to judge. Perhaps they could work on that together? He tilted his head thoughtfully. Husk was the type of guy he would work on himself for. He wanted to be better for Husk; Husk deserved good things.

Val finally managed to free his hand from the table and he wielded the knife at Husk. Husk leapt backwards and a manic grin overtook Val’s face as he surged forwards. Husk took flight and landed behind Valentino, snaked his tail around the taller demon’s ankle and yanked. Val stumbled and Husk pounced on his back, raking his claws through Valentino’s more delicate wings.

Angel frowned to himself. Y’know what? He deserved good things too - like Husk and Charlie and Vaggie and Cherri were always telling him. Well, Husk was a good thing. Husk was a very good thing. Damn it, he deserved a Husk in his life. Someone who accepted him for who he was. Someone who could look past all the shitty things he had done and seen. Someone who didn’t want him as a trophy or for his status as a celebrity porn star. He deserved someone who respected his boundaries and took him out for meals to nice places. He deserved someone who listened to his fears and hopes and took them seriously. He deserved someone who sang duets with him in the middle of the street when they were being chased by loan sharks! Someone who would stab his crappy ex-boss in the hand when he tried to drug him!

Valentino yelped as Husk snatched a clump of fur from his ruff. He managed to land a couple of blows on Husk, but the cat-demon grabbed a half-empty wine bottle from the nearest table, smashed it, and rammed the jagged end into the side of Val’s face.

Angel grinned and cheered Husk on, then chuckled at himself. He was so far gone on Husk, it was funny. How could he not love his adorable Husker? His soft, gentle, caring Whiskers. How had he gone so long thinking that what he and Val shared was good? Val was a shithead. An abusive shithead. Ugly, too. And so demanding. Angel shook his head in disappointment. He hadn’t slept with Husk yet, but he couldn’t be any worse at sex than Val. Val, who went around like he was an Incubus - like he was a master of all things erotic, when in reality, roadkill had more sex appeal. 

The manager ran over, tried to pull a seething Husk off a bloodied Valentino, and received a deep-chested growl for his efforts. The manager backed away warily and Husk rounded on Valentino again, teeth bared.

Val liked to hurt him during sex too, thought Angel with a scowl. Liked to see him bruise and bleed and whimper. He knew Husk wouldn’t be like that. Husk was too gentle for that, too protective to hurt him. Angel liked how affectionate he was. He hadn’t realised that Overlords could be so affectionate. He sighed happily. He was very lucky to have Husk.

“Drug him one more time and I’ll dump your severed head on Vox’s desk in a gift-wrapped box,” Husk snarled loud enough to snap Angel out of his musings.

Valentino was lying awfully still. There was a lot of blood.

Suddenly, Husk was in front of Angel, still furious and breathing heavily, but his gaze was soft and apologetic as he focused on Angel and pulled him gently from his seat. “Let's get you cleaned up, Legs,” Husk whispered, which Angel thought was a very odd thing to say considering how sticky Husk looked. Not all of it was Valentino’s blood and Angel frowned in concern.

He allowed Husk to lead him towards the exit but when he saw Valentino slowly pushing himself to his hands and knees, he paused and announced, “That’s twice that Husk has whooped your ass!” He cackled and let a red-faced Husk drag him from the restaurant.

There was a tiny smile on his lips though, so Angel figured that Husk was quite pleased he had said it.

Chapter Text

By the time they got back to the hotel and Angel had downed a couple of glasses of water and splashed some cold water on his face, he had almost recovered from his high. He wasn’t quite there yet, but the world was definitely sharper and it was beginning to sink in that Husk had beaten Valentino to a bloody pulp for him.

“One more glass of water,” Husk protested as Angel pressed him against the wall and sealed their lips together for the third time. “Come on, Angel. Work with me here.”

“I am working with you, thank you very much,” Angel purred against his lips before capturing them once more. Husk’s eyes fluttered shut for a few seconds before he managed to peel Angel off him and hold him at arm's length.

“I’m not doing anything with you while you’re high.”

Angel rolled his eyes. “I’m sober. Well, sober enough anyway.”

Husk narrowed his gaze and Angel’s smirk faded slightly as he lifted careful fingers to a deep slash in the bartender’s cheek. “I promise I’m nearly down,” Angel said quietly. “Thanks for sticking up for me, by the way. I don’t think I’ve seen you fight like that since the mess with Heaven.”

Husk leaned into Angel’s palm, shoulders slumping with relief for the first time since they had arrived back at the hotel. “Took me a moment to work out what was going on with you,” Husk admitted. “Then when that drug started to take effect… Your emotions were all over the place, Angel. I could feel everything .” He shot Angel a dry look. “You really know how to rile a guy up.”

Angel grinned. “In more ways than one.” He smoothed a thumb over Husk’s injured cheek. “You felt all that, huh? Sorry, Whiskers. That was probably quite distractin’. I know I can be a mess when I’m buzzed.”

Husk tilted his head and kissed Angel’s palm as he placed a paw over his knuckles, holding Angel’s hand against his face. “Distracting?” he huffed. “Motivating, more like. Some of the things I felt from you… There’s a reason I went in so hard on that asshole.”

Angel blinked before a smile crept across his face. “You nearly killed Val because… because you could feel my emotions while I was thinkin’ about him?”

Husk nodded and a frown touched his features. “They weren’t exactly good emotions.”

Angel barked out a laugh before pressing up against Husk again. Husk looked ready to protest but Angel made himself comfortable by pushing his face into the crook of the bartender’s neck and Husk relaxed once more as he held the spider-demon.

“I think you should get in the shower and let me clean you up as a thank you for defendin’ me,” Angel purred against Husk’s neck and he didn’t have to see the eye roll to know he was getting one.

“I think you’re using humour and seduction to distract yourself from thinking about how Valentino made you feel back there,” Husk grumbled and Angel’s smile slid away, but he didn’t pull back from Husk’s neck. 

“I think you’ve missed the point of what I’m askin’ ya,” Angel said quietly, pointedly, and when Husk didn’t reply, Angel finally pulled away to stare at him. Husk stared back in confusion.

Heat rose to Angel’s cheeks. “You got hurt because of me,” he whispered. “Lemme take care of ya.”

Husk’s frown deepened. “Okay, but I don’t see how you jumping in the shower with me after everything Valentino just did-”

“Shit, Husk! I wanna be close to you!” Angel interrupted, throwing his lower pair of arms up in exasperation.

Husk’s jaw clicked shut and Angel’s cheeks flamed with humiliation. He dropped his gaze. “You make me feel… safe.”

“Oh,” said Husk weakly, ears low, before he cleared his throat awkwardly. “Well, in that case…” He rubbed at his shoulder and grimaced. “Hey, you think you can help me clean up in the shower? My shoulder is aching like a bitch… I don’t think I’ll be able to reach my wings properly…”

A slow smile stretched across Angel’s face as he met Husk’s twinkling gaze. “Sure thing, Husker,” he said around a chuckle as he led the bartender into the bathroom.

There was a moment where they both paused as the reality of the situation set in and Angel realised that, for the first time in a very long time, he was nervous about taking his clothes off. Worse still, he had to take Husk’s clothes off and it would be the first time they would see each other in all their naked glory.

He looked at Husk and the cat-demon stared at the floor with wide eyes as though he wanted it to swallow him whole. Angel bit back an incredulous laugh at the pair of them. He felt like a teenager again. 

To make it easier on them both, Angel rounded Husk’s back and began undressing him, one item of clothing at a time. There was a mirror in front of them to allow him to see what he was doing as his arms snaked around Husk’s middle and began unbuttoning his ruined shirt. Husk’s gaze met his through the mirror and Angel’s breath caught in his throat. Why did this feel like the most intimate thing he had ever done?

He obviously wasn’t the only one who felt that way. Husk’s pupils seemed far more dilated than usual and Angel was certain that his feathered tail hadn’t been wrapped around his leg five seconds ago.

It was like a strip tease, only Angel wasn’t the one stripping. Well, not yet anyway. The shirt and blazer fell to the floor and when Angel put a hand of Husk’s trousers, the bartender visibly swallowed.

Clearly, it was all too much for poor Husk. He wrapped his claws around Angel’s wrist to stop him from unzipping him. “It’s okay, I can-”

Angel pressed a long, sweet kiss to his cheek and Husk fell silent, breath hitching. Angel exhaled slowly and slid his upper arms around Husk’s middle, holding him close. “Tell me to stop and I will,” he whispered beside Husk’s ear. “But I’d really like to see ya.”

Husk swallowed again and his tail tightened around Angel’s leg before he nodded. 

Angel slid his trousers off along with his underwear, leaving Husk bare and vulnerable. There was a fresh wound in his thigh and a few bruises and old scars littered here and there. There was a gash on his back too, and a wide wound to his left wing from where Valentino had managed to sink a shard of glass into it.

Angel stared at him through the mirror, aware that Husk was watching the reflection of his face intently, waiting for some sort of reaction.

He turned Husk around slowly and when the bartender looked up at him, Angel kissed him deeply, pulling their bodies flush and holding Husk as close as he could. He felt the tension leave Husk instantly as he melted into their kiss and Angel smiled against his lips when that rumbling purr vibrated between their chests.

“Does that mean you approve?” Husk teased once they broke apart for air, but Angel could tell that he was only half-joking, that he was extremely insecure about his hellish form.

Angel nuzzled his cheek. “See for yourself,” he murmured as he summoned the golden chain between them and let his emotions bleed through.

At first, Husk hesitated, but then he touched the chain around Angel’s neck and inhaled sharply. He gripped the chain tighter and Angel slipped his arms around him to steady him, and Husk’s spare paw slid into Angel’s hair as he pressed their heads together. They clung to each other, eyes closed as Angel offered his feelings up to Husk on a golden platter and Husk’s breaths shook as he was swept into an ocean of affection and arousal and happiness. 

“Angel,” he breathed and Angel kissed him firmly on the lips.

“Get in the shower. I’ll join you in a sec.”

Husk was reluctant to let go of him and Angel bit back a grin. He let Husk see his amusement and ever-growing fondness, and this only made Husk cuddle deeper into him, rubbing his head under Angel’s chin like a particularly contented feline. Angel laughed and hooked a finger under his chin. Husk blinked up at him with a lovesick expression and Angel’s heart skipped a beat.

“I could stay here,” Husk tried, going for puppy-dog eyes.

“You could,” agreed Angel as he stroked Husk’s cheek. “Or you could get in the shower and let me wash Val’s blood off you because it’s sticky and disgusting.”

Husk’s ears wilted but he managed to pry himself away from Angel long enough to turn the shower on. He tried to whirl around and attach himself to Angel’s front once more, but Angel laughed and gently pushed him into the shower. “Stay,” he teased as he pulled the curtain across.

Angel took a breath and began to strip once he was satisfied that Husk would remain in the shower. His nerves bubbled under the surface and he swallowed as he realised how different this was compared to being with Val. Val would have had him bent over the sink by now, touching him everywhere and whispering filthy thoughts into his ear. Perhaps he would have hit him once or twice already - Val liked Angel to know who was in control. He liked Angel to know his place.

“Angel,” Husk said firmly, breaking him out of his musings. “You’re overthinking. I can feel you panicking. What’s wrong?”

Angel startled but quickly recovered as a smile pulled at his lips. Husk was such a sweetheart. “Last time I stripped for someone in a bathroom, it was at Val’s place,” he said and Husk fell quiet.

When Angel didn’t offer anything further, Husk said, “We don’t have to do this if you aren’t comfortable.”

Angel chuckled. “Don’t get your hopes up, Whiskers. I’m just cleaning you off.” His voice dropped into something more sultry without him telling it to. “But I could be persuaded to do other things if you’re good.”

Husk was silent for a while and Angel cursed himself mentally. Why had he said that? He didn’t want anything more from Husk - not tonight anyway. He wasn’t ready. Husk wasn’t ready. Perhaps it was a defence mechanism he had learned from his time with Valentino? After all, refusing Val’s advances was a surefire way to piss him off, and that never ended well for anyone involved.

“You’re spiralling again,” Husk said quietly.

Angel forced himself to stop thinking about Valentino. He shed the remainder of his clothes and forced his legs towards the shower. When he stepped inside, Husk looked up at him worriedly before his gaze inevitably raked down his body, drinking everything in.

His ear tips flushed pink and his gaze snapped up to Angel’s face again. He licked his lips. “Look, Legs. If you’re not comfortable with this-”

Angel snaked both sets of arms around Husk and pulled him close as he buried his face into the other demon’s neck. Husk immediately curled his wings around them both, tugging Angel tighter against him as his tail wound around his leg. They held each other for a while, letting the warm spray cascade over their bodies.

“You’re safe here. You know that, right?” Husk murmured and it was as though a dam had finally broken somewhere inside Angel, all because of a handful of warm, fuzzy words.

Tears rolled down his cheeks as he snuggled further into Husk’s embrace and he was overwhelmed with a suffocating wave of relief, fear, regret, humiliation, affection, distress, and happiness. Husk stiffened as he was battered with the tide of conflicting emotions, but he held Angel through it and rubbed his back soothingly.

“How have you not run off yet?” Angel asked, laughing weakly. “I’m a mess. Why are you puttin’ up with me?”

Husk pulled back to look at him, eyes wide with surprise. “You’re joking, right? I’m the alcoholic, the gambling addict, the one who has a cold, blackened prune for a heart. I look like an overgrown Gremlin and I systematically ruin everything good in my life. If anything, you’re putting up with me.” His ears drooped. “Angel, you could have anyone. There’s a thousand guys out there who would do anything for you. Better looking guys. Guys who don’t search for answers at the bottom of a bottle. Guys who can give you everything , including their hearts.” He dropped his gaze. “I’ll be here though, for as long as it takes you to realise that there are better options. Because I’m selfish like that.”

Angel blinked and stared at Husk as his tears dried up. Was that… Was that really how Husk saw himself? As some sort of… damaged consolation prize? A placeholder whilst Angel waited for something better to come along?

Screw that.

He caught Husk’s chin between a finger and thumb and forced him to meet his gaze. “You’re mine,” whispered Angel fiercely. “And I’m yours for as long as you’ll have me. In case it’s skipped your notice, you’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me - in both life and afterlife. And yeah, maybe I could have anyone , but why settle for pocket change when the whole treasure chest is right in front of me?”

Husk curled his paws into Angel’s back, feathers straining to fluff up against the flow of the shower. “Angel, I… I haven’t got much to offer. I mean, I’ll try my best to keep you happy, but Hilda’s right about me. I’m practically a shell of the man I used to be. You deserve more than that. More than me.”

“That bitch wore you down so much that you started believin’ her,” Angel snorted before his gaze softened and he cupped Husk’s face between two hands. “I want you , Husk. Only you. You make me feel safe. I can be myself around you. For the first time, I feel like I’m actually friends with the person taking me to dinner. And I like that there aren’t any expectations, that you want to take things slow.” He smiled. “I’ve never had that before.”

Husk’s eyes were wide as he hung onto every word and when Angel was finished, a tiny smile crept onto his face. He leaned forwards and pressed their heads together and Angel exhaled slowly, relief welling inside him. Husk deserved to know how much he meant to Angel.

“You’re beautiful, by the way,” Husk whispered.

He had heard those words a thousand times before from a thousand different guys, but Angel realised that this was the first time they meant something. The first time they mattered.

Tears glazed his eyes and he laughed at himself for getting emotional again . “Thanks, Husky.”

Husk smiled lop-sidedly and brushed away his tears before they got a chance to fall.

“Enough of this heart-to-heart shit,” Angel announced as he straightened to his full height. “Turn around. Ya look like you’ve been runnin’ naked through an abattoir.”

Husk snorted but did as instructed and Angel admired his wings for a moment.

“...You staring at my ass?”

Angel grinned and shook his head, then found his gaze travelling lower. “Eh, maybe a little.”

Husk wiggled his hips and Angel snickered before sliding his hands into Husk’s wings and working the blood out of them. Husk fell quiet and a few seconds in, he began purring, deep and loud from his chest. When Angel shifted to the base of his wings, a soft moan fell from his lips and Angel grinned with delight as Husk’s face grew warm.

“Sorry, Husk. Didn’t quite catch that. What did you say?” He squeezed the wing bases again and a whimper tumbled out of Husk.

“ Don’t stop, was that?” Angel teased as Husk planted his paws against the shower wall to hold himself upright.

“Shut up,” Husk grumbled as another thunderous purr rattled around his chest.

Angel grinned, taking his time over every feather. He lathered his hands with soap and raked his fingers up Husk’s back, being careful not to agitate any of his open wounds, and when it was time to turn Husk around, the cat-demon was flexing his paws against the tiles.

“You makin’ biscuits there, Whiskers?” Angel teased beside his ear. Husk had yet to stop purring.

He startled when Husk suddenly whirled around and attached himself to Angel, rubbing his face against his chest and wrapping his wings around him possessively as he mewled and trilled like a happy kitten.

“I think you’re pretty much done,” Angel drawled, smirking when Husk tightened his grip.

“You missed the front of my wings. And the rest of me. And you should probably redo the backs of my wings for good measure.”

A laugh bubbled out of Angel and he couldn’t help himself from tilting Husk’s chin up and kissing him sweetly on the lips. Husk kissed back eagerly, drawing Angel’s hands into the fronts of his wings, and Angel grinned against his mouth.

“My arms are gettin’ tired,” he joked and Husk poked his side.

“You have a third pair of arms somewhere. I’ve seen them.”

With a wicked smirk, Angel nipped at Husk’s lower lip and slipped his tongue into his mouth. He swallowed Husk’s soft moan as he started work on his untouched feathers and by the time he was finished with them, his lips were swollen and aching in the best way. Husk’s mouth had been on his neck for the past few minutes, sucking and licking and leaving a very pretty hickey in his wake.

Husk’s paws were around his hips, keeping him close, and Angel could feel how hard he was; how hard he had been since his second pair of arms had begun playing with the fur on his chest, and his third pair of arms had begun ‘cleaning’ Husk’s thighs. He just couldn’t keep his hands off his Overlord.

Angel definitely wasn’t immune to what they were doing either. Usually he would be on his knees by now with his partner’s cock halfway down his throat, so Husk’s self-restraint was strangely arousing. And, damn, could Husk use that mouth of his. 

He gasped as Husk nipped at his jaw and he knew that the Overlord must have felt how hard he was, how turned on he was by their heavy petting and Husk’s clever mouth.

“It’s like a damn feedback loop,” Husk growled against his jaw. “Shit, Angel. You always get this worked up over a bit of kissing?”

Angel frowned in confusion before the epiphany hit him like a freight train and he fisted Husk’s wings. “You’re feelin’ all this through the chain? How are you still so collected? Why don’t you just… switch it off? Stop focusing on it?”

Husk smirked against his jaw. “And why would I do that when I can feel exactly what gets you all hot and bothered?”

And yet another difference between Husk and Val. Val used the chain to find out what hurt him the most, Husk used the chain to find out what he liked.

He grabbed Husk’s face and kissed him filthily, with tongues and teeth and a needy whine at the back of his throat. “This had better end with your dick in my ass,” Angel growled and Husk placed a gentle paw on his chest.

“Why the rush? We have time. Enjoy the moment.”

Angel sucked in a steadying breath. How was Husk so relaxed about this? He was enjoying himself though - he was enjoying the teasing a great deal. He supposed he expected the evening to end with Husk inside him because that was what always happened in these situations. Did it have to end like that? Would it be any less satisfying, any less exhilarating if it didn’t? Would it not be more thrilling to be left with a taste of what Husk had to offer and come back a second time for the full show?

“How are you more excited at me telling you to slow down?” Husk asked incredulously and Angel barked out a laugh.

“Because you keep surprising me,” Angel said with a smile. “Because no one ever tells me to slow down. Everyone always wants to get to the main event.”

Husk frowned and tugged Angel flush against him. “I’m gonna develop a complex if you keep talking about all the guys you’ve been with and the shit they put you through.”

“Jealous?” Angel teased.

“Worried,” Husk corrected. “About you.”

Angel’s smirk faded into something more sincere and he nuzzled into his Overlord’s neck. He liked the sound of that. His Overlord. Like Husk belonged to him as much as he belonged to Husk.

“I’m fine, Whiskers. I promise. I can’t change my past but I can look forward to my future. A future that suddenly looks very, very bright.” He brushed his lips against Husk’s jaw and Husk melted around him, wings and tail enveloping them both in a cocoon of well-groomed feathers.

A couple of minutes passed before Husk grumbled, “I’m freezing my ass off.”

Angel shivered against the spray that had turned cold over ten minutes ago and was steadily growing icier. Husk’s wings were soft and toasty when dry, but soaked to the bone they favoured a blanket left out overnight in the rain. 

They stepped out of the shower and Angel yelped in protest when Husk suddenly shook himself like a dog, spraying cool water all over the bathroom. 

“Asshole,” Angel huffed as Husk smirked at him smugly.

They dried each other off, Husk grabbing his hair dryer for his wings and tail, and there was no hesitation in Angel’s movements as he crawled under Husk’s bed covers. Husk raised an eyebrow but said nothing as he slid onto the other side of the mattress and made himself comfortable. Immediately, Angel clung to his side, resting his head on his chest with a contented sigh.

Eyes closed, Husk smiled and secured an arm around Angel.

“Goodnight, handsome,” Angel hummed as Husk searched blindly for the switch to turn the lamp off.

“Goodnight, Webs.”

The room was plunged into darkness and Angel tried to remember the last time he had slept naked beside someone else without having sex. His mind rolled a blank and he nestled deeper into Husk’s strong chest.

He smiled when Husk began purring.

“Not a word,” Husk whispered and Angel realised he had never felt so happy.

Was this what love felt like? Not the sort that Val had given him, but real love? Was it too soon for those thoughts? What if Husk felt Angel’s emotions and it scared him away? What if Husk wasn’t ready for those sorts of feelings from Angel? What if-

“Deep breath, relax your shoulders, and stop thinking about whatever you were just thinking about,” Husk muttered into the darkness.

Angel froze. How much had Husk felt?

Husk opened one golden eye and peered down at him. “Stop panicking. You’re fine. We’re fine. Everything is fine.”

Angel curled his fingers into Husk’s fur. “How… How much did you feel?”

Husk opened his other eye and stared at Angel with a serious expression. “All of it.”

Angel’s breath hitched and Husk brushed a claw over his cheek. “Stop overthinking it. If I didn’t feel the same way, if it was too much, I wouldn’t be here. Rest, Angel. I’m not going anywhere.”

Angel’s eyes widened and Husk offered him a small smile before settling into the pillows once more.

Angel stared at him for a long time, watching his expression relax as he drifted into unconsciousness. Once he was sure that Husk was asleep, he kissed the Overlord’s cheek and nestled against him.

He was chatting with Husk at the bar, holding his paw with a lovesick smile as the bartender complained about one of the hotel patrons who had tried to rob three of his finest brandy bottles that morning, when Alastor suddenly perched beside him on the next stool and shot them both a sharp grin.

He forcibly tore Angel’s hand from Husk’s and when they both bristled and turned to him with a protest on their lips, Alastor yanked them towards him, nearly pulling Angel off his stool and dragging Husk part way over the bar top.

“Productive evening?” Alastor asked through gritted teeth and they could hear the irritation in his tone.

“I don’t see how that’s any of your business,” Angel sneered in unison with Husk’s “Oh shit.”

He glanced at Husk, confused as the bartender grew redder and redder by the second.

Alastor’s head turned slowly to face Husk, like a doll from a horror movie. “I like you, Husk. I like that your emotions are monotone. I like your apathy and your stoicism. It’s rare I have to check in on you.” His grin grew a fraction wider and his face darkened as his antlers climbed an inch higher from his skull. “You weren’t very… stoic last night.” His voice crackled with static.

Husk looked mortified. “I’ll warn you next time.”

Alastor gripped their wrists tighter. “Lovely,” he said drily before releasing them and hopping off his stool. He brushed himself down. “Congratulations to you both.” He strode into the depths of the hotel.

Husk pressed his face into his paws.

“Huh,” said Angel with a frown. “Does that mean ol’ Al actually gives a crap about you? If he’s checking in on your emotions whenever he feels them doing something… weird?”

Husk froze, considered Angel’s words for a moment, opened his mouth, then promptly shut it again. “I need a drink,” he managed.

Chapter Text

Angel had half expected Husk to want to keep their relationship low profile, perhaps even hidden from their friends. So, he was surprised when the bartender settled beside him during one of Charlie’s team-building exercises and casually draped a wing around his shoulders.

Their friends fell quiet, staring between Husk and Angel in bewilderment, although Alastor’s usual smile dipped into a slight grimace. Husk blinked at them boredly.

“Take a picture, it’ll last longer,” he huffed and when he didn’t remove his wing, Angel cautiously slipped an arm around his middle, curious as to how much the cat-demon would allow.

Husk shifted his gaze to Angel with a small, encouraging smile and Angel relaxed when his boyfriend (was that what they were now?) leaned into him.

Charlie’s face lit up like a child on Christmas morning and Vaggie looked faintly impressed. Cherri smirked. “Nice going, Angie.”

There were a few others - sinners that Angel barely knew but were starting to come around to the whole ‘redemption’ idea, even if they had no proof of whether it was possible. They tilted their heads at Husk and Angel or looked to one another in confusion, but no one dared tease them in the presence of Lucifer, who was lingering at the back of the room, watching on with interest. 

Recently, Lucifer had taken to attending Charlie’s exercises, likely out of pride for his daughter, although Angel wasn’t sure if it was partly because he liked to irritate Alastor.

Or perhaps because he liked to be irritated by Alastor. There seemed to be a blurred line between them these days. They appeared to actively enjoy screwing with each other and there was less heat to their annoyance.

Angel splayed his hand over Husk’s hip as the meeting continued and that was that. Everyone knew. No taking it back now. No trying to hide it.

Angel couldn’t wipe the smile from his face.

Weeks turned into months and it occurred to Angel that he was happy . It was an odd sensation after so many decades of being controlled by Valentino, but he couldn’t deny the bone-deep contentment he had become accustomed to these days.

He was working on himself, reducing the drugs little by little. Sex with clients and strangers was shockingly easy to stop now that he was in a relationship; he had no intention of cheating on Husk. His desire for cheap thrills tapered off with every passing day.

Husk had joined him on his road to sobriety and it hadn’t skipped Angel’s notice how diluted Husk poured his own drinks nowadays. Gambling was for fun again - harmless card games that he taught Angel when he was working an evening shift but Angel was off and was keeping him company at the bar.

They ate dinner together and slept cuddled under the blankets and it was all sickeningly domestic. Angel loved every second.

Angel had treated Husk to lunch earlier that day and when they arrived back at the hotel, Husk had put a little music on as they talked. Feeling playful, Angel had swept Husk into a clumsy cha cha and things had devolved from there.

They were now waltzing around Angel’s room to a song that was most definitely not suitable for waltzing, trying not to step on Fat Nuggets, and holding back laughter at every inappropriate dip and turn that was barely in time with the music.

It was at the end of one of these ridiculous turns that Husk caught Angel’s hips and said, rather suddenly, “I love you.”

It took a moment for Angel to process the words and Husk seemed as surprised as Angel was.

“You do?” Angel asked, almost curiously as Husk’s ears began to redden.

“Uh… yeah,” Husk said. He squeezed Angel’s hips and his tail flicked nervously. “Is that… Is that okay with you?”

Angel huffed a laugh and shook his head before pulling Husk closer and kissing his nose. “I love you too, Husker.” He grinned. “That alright with you?”

Husk rolled his eyes and placed a hand over his own chest. “Here I am, pouring my heart out to you, and you’re making fun of me. You sure know how to kick a guy where it hurts.”

Angel snorted before tugging Husk into a tight embrace and burying his face into his neck. “And you sure know how to lay it on thick, Whiskers.” He nuzzled into Husk’s neck, pressing a soft kiss to it. “But seriously… you’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me. For the first time, I… I feel like my afterlife ain’t so bad.”

Husk slipped his arms around him, a quiet purr leaving his chest. “Yeah, me too, Legs. You, uh… You taught this old, empty shell how to love again.”

Angel pulled back to look at Husk and the Overlord stared up at him curiously before a shy smile touched his lips. A grin brightened Angel’s face and he leaned down to capture Husk’s mouth with his own. The kiss started sweet and innocent but it wasn’t long before Angel was licking inside Husk’s mouth as the bartender splayed a paw over his back and curled his tail around Angel’s thigh. 

They had been dancing around sex for weeks now, but Angel had enjoyed the flirting and the teasing and the slow burn of it all so much that he hadn’t attempted to push for anything further. Similarly, Husk seemed happy to take things easy, to go at whatever pace Angel saw fit, and so sex had hardly appeared necessary to their relationship.

Now though, now Angel wanted nothing more than for Husk to shove him onto the bed and have his way with him. He nipped Husk’s lower lip and fisted a wing as he tried to push these feelings through their chain and hoped that the bartender noticed.

Husk hesitated a fraction and Angel smirked, knowing he was paying attention to their link, and he shifted to lick an erotic stripe up his throat before nibbling Husk’s jaw. The more demanding he became, the harder it seemed for Husk to focus.

“Come on, handsome,” Angel purred beside his ear as his lower set of arms trailed down Husk’s sides and slid to his ass. “Time to stop teasing and put your money where your mouth is.”

“Angel,” Husk managed and Angel’s heart fluttered at the strain in his voice. He would never get over how easy it was to reduce his Overlord to a shy, flustered mess with a mere few kisses and a couple of suggestive touches. He was used to quick and dirty with his partners; he was used to having to open his legs or his mouth to make his partner breathless and weak with desire. Husk was different. Husk was always different.

“Hm?” Angel hummed as he toyed with Husk’s feathers and trailed a line of open-mouthed kisses up his jaw as his lower pair of hands squeezed Husk’s ass.

Husk cursed quietly and tugged Angel closer with the paw he had splayed over his waist. “Angel, slow down.”

“I’m tired of slow,” Angel whispered against Husk’s cheek. “I want you, Husk. I want you to take whatever you like from me. I want to make you feel good.”

Husk’s eyelids fluttered shut as he rubbed his cheek against Angel’s. “Just being with you makes me feel good.”

Angel’s chest felt too small for his heart. This adorable man…

Clearly, Husk needed a nudge in the right direction. 

The cat-demon yelped when Angel suddenly shoved him onto the bed and straddled him. “That’s sweet and all,” Angel drawled as he draped himself over Husk and continued a line of wet kisses down his chest, “but I want you to put your dick in my mouth.”

Husk turned the colour of a tomato. “Oh?” he asked weakly. “That sounds… nice.”

Angel paused and burst into a fit of laughter as he shook his head. “You’re somethin’ special, y’know that?”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Husk didn’t look any less red.

“Just that I’m not used to having to put this much effort into getting someone out of their clothes,” Angel teased, hooking a finger around one of Husk’s suspenders. “Not that I don’t love a challenge.”

Husk managed to scrape together enough confidence to smirk. “Well, maybe you’re not as good as you thought you were.”

Angel grinned wickedly as he shifted to straddle Husk’s crotch instead, and he pushed out his chest fluff and looked down at Husk through half-lidded eyes as he unbuttoned his own jacket. “Baby, I’m the best there is.” He tossed his jacket and bow tie to the floor and guided Husk’s paws to his chest. “But I think you already know that.”

Husk’s eyes were wide and he swallowed thickly as he stared at Angel. His gaze followed every movement of Angel’s lower pair of arms as he slowly unhooked his suspenders, and when they joined Angel’s jacket on the floor, Husk licked his lips.

“I, uh… I’d like to retract my previous statement,” he said as Angel unzipped his trousers with a wink.

Angel paused, hand hovering over Husk’s crotch, before he threw his head back and barked out a laugh. He circled a long, delicate finger over the bulge in Husk’s underwear. “And why’s that?” he smirked.

Husk’s gaze dropped to his rapidly stiffening dick and he managed a shrug. “Personal reasons. Hard to discuss.”

Angel grinned. “How hard?”

“ Very .”

Angel snickered and Husk smiled at him before squeezing his chest, where his paws were still resting. 

It occurred to Angel that sex had never been this fun before. His partners weren’t usually interested in foreplay and they certainly didn’t crack jokes before the main event (well, sometimes they did, but they were the sort of jokes that made Angel feel uncomfortable).

“You okay, Legs?” Husk asked quietly and Angel realised he had been staring a fraction too long. He nodded and found himself holding Husk’s paws tighter against his chest. It should have been erotic, he should have been moaning and begging Husk to squeeze him harder. Instead, it felt… safe. Comfortable. 

“Touch me,” Angel said quietly and he didn’t mean for it to come out like a request, but it did. Husk tilted his head a little and raked his gaze down Angel’s body. He trailed his paws down Angel’s stomach and up his sides before smoothing them down his lower pair of arms, under his wrists and up to the shoulders. He rode one paw up Angel’s chest again, firm and deliberate as his other paw snaked around Angel’s neck, drawing him down for a deep kiss.

That smooth mother-

Angel pushed at his chest as Husk smiled at him smugly and Angel licked his lips, excited by the challenge. He slid Husk’s trousers off, along with his underwear and trailed a series of wet kisses down his chest and stomach before hovering over Husk’s half-hard dick. Husk’s smug smile faded as he watched Angel continue his trail of kisses down his thighs, ignoring his cock completely.

“You wanna play games, Whiskers?” Angel purred as he looked up from Husk’s knees. “I’ll beat you every time.”

Husk’s gaze was glued to his face, feathers fluffing up over the mattress. “Wanna bet?”

Angel smirked. “Against The Gambling Demon?” He suddenly wrapped his hands around Husk’s thighs and spread his legs apart and Husk’s eyes widened. “What do I get when I win?”

It took a moment for Husk’s brain to shift into gear. “...What do you want?” He narrowed his eyes. “Not that you’re going to win.”

Angel raised an eyebrow and wrapped his lips around Husk’s dick, sinking all the way to the base, and Husk whimpered .

Smoothing his tongue over Husk’s full length, Angel met his gaze and winked.

“I’d have done this with you without losing a bet, y’know?” Husk murmured as they took their seats, popcorn in hand.

Angel nodded and threw a few pieces in his mouth. “I know. Thought I’d show you that losin’ doesn’t have to be a bad thing, especially when it’s to someone who cares about ya.” He wiggled his eyebrows but stopped when he saw how Husk was staring at him, as though he had hung the moon and stars for the Overlord.

Angel couldn’t find any words for a moment. He managed a smile when Husk placed a paw over his hand on the armrest between their seats.

“Thanks, Legs,” Husk whispered as the lights dimmed in the theatre. “You have no idea how much that means to me.” 

He did. Husk learning that he didn’t have to win every ‘bet’, that he didn’t have to worry about Angel taking advantage of him during every game was akin to Angel learning that sex wasn’t the foundation to every romantic relationship, that love didn’t have to hurt .

He slipped an arm around Husk and the Overlord leaned against him, resting his head on Angel’s shoulder with a happy sigh.

As with most shows in Hell, the production was a chaotic mess of violence, sexual depravity, and cannibalistic tendencies, but the music was fantastic so all in all, it wasn’t a bad evening.

That was, until they left the theatre and made it twenty steps down the street and found Valentino waiting for them in the shadows of a condemned café porch. He stepped in front of them, blocking their path, and Husk bristled, hackles raised as he growled at the moth-demon.

“Get out of the way before I make your last beating look like a warning,” Husk hissed, wings flared wide as he pulled Angel into his side.

“Husk,” Angel whispered, voice shaking as his gaze caught on the angelic spear in Valentino’s grip.

Husk fell silent and Valentino grinned; a wicked and twisted thing. He held out an empty hand and nodded to Angel. “Hand him over.”

Husk narrowed his eyes and pushed Angel behind him. “Piss off.”

“You must have misheard me,” Valentino said calmly as he aimed the spear in Husk’s direction. “I said: hand him over or I’ll gut you from throat to cock.”

Husk bared his teeth and Angel watched his explosive playing cards appear between his claws. Unlike angelic weaponry, they might not kill him, but they would certainly slow him down.

However, Angel knew how quick Val could be with a blade. He placed a hand on Husk’s shoulder when the cat-demon tensed, readying himself for a fight.

“Don’t,” Angel whispered into Husk’s ear and Husk hesitated, gaze glued to Valentino as he toyed with the spear.

Valentino smirked. “Good kitty,” he drawled. “Now, give me the whore and this doesn’t have to get messy.”

Fists clenching, Husk growled low in his throat. “Over my dead body.”

Valentino’s smirk widened and fear lanced Angel’s heart. He gripped Husk’s shoulder tighter.

“That can be arranged,” said Valentino slowly, brandishing the spear at Husk once more. “In fact, I’d quite enjoy it.”

Angel ducked under Husk’s wing, holding his hands up placatingly as he started towards Valentino. Husk grabbed one of his lower wrists and Angel turned to see the look of alarm on his lover’s face, the sudden fear and confusion dancing behind Husk’s gaze.

Angel managed a weak smile and squeezed his arm gently. “It’s okay, Husk.”

He turned to Valentino once more, hands still raised to show he was complicit. “Alright, Val. I’ll come quietly. Just… Just put the spear down, yeah?”

Valentino reached for Angel and Angel winced as he was reminded of countless other times those clawed fingers had reached for him, clutched at his body and dragged him deeper into the world of pain and meaningless sex, and drugs that made him forget all of it.

“Angel,” Husk protested hoarsely, brokenly , as he held Angel’s wrist tighter.

Valentino’s smile curled into something more malicious as he snatched at Angel’s arm and yanked him from Husk’s grip. Angel stumbled into the moth-demon’s body and Valentino chuckled. “I knew you’d come back. Once a drugged-out slut, forever a drugged-out slut.” He grinned viciously at Husk as the cat-demon snarled at him.

Angel scoffed, placing a hand on Valentino’s chest to put some distance between them even as the Overlord’s arm snaked possessively around his waist. “The only reason I’m comin’ with you is to stop you from hurtin’ Husker.” An unfamiliar confidence blossomed in his chest and, like the time at the club, Angel had no intention of holding anything back against the piece of shit in front of him. “Don’t think for a second that I’d choose you over him.”

Valentino’s grin dimmed and his claws bit deeper into Angel’s soft skin. “I see. Perhaps you’d feel differently if we got rid of that pesky golden chain around your throat, hm?” 

Angel sucked in a sharp breath as Valentino pinned his back to his chest and pressed the edge of the spear against his throat, and he watched Husk’s eyes blow wide as he reached for Angel.

“Break the contract,” Valentino demanded, gaze locked on Husk. “Break the contract or I’ll slit his pretty little throat.”

Husk’s ears flattened, tail thrashing when a droplet of blood trickled down Angel’s neck. “You’re insane,” he hissed. “I thought you wanted him to perform? How will killing him help you?”

“It won’t,” Valentino said lightly before his tone dropped into something more sinister. “But if I can’t have him, neither can you.”

Angel stood stock-still as the blade cut a fraction deeper into his skin. His throat burned and he wanted to throw up. The first time he had died, it had been from an overdose - a peaceful passing into the next life as he rode out the biggest high he had ever experienced on Earth. Waking up in Hell hadn’t been so fun once the epiphany struck, but at least it didn’t hurt. He didn’t want to know what death by beheading felt like.

A wave of terror and anxiety washed over him and it startled him because it didn’t feel like it belonged to him. He wondered when he had closed his eyes and he pried them open to find Husk holding the end of the chain around his neck, chest heaving and paws shaking.

Angel’s eyes widened. Was he… Was he feeling Husk’s emotions? Perhaps it made sense… their souls were connected, after all.

He felt as though all the air had been punched out of him. He had never seen Husk so frightened, so terrified - all over the thought of losing him . Had Angel ever meant that much to anyone before?

He watched as Husk summoned their contract in his other paw.

“That’s it,” Valentino purred and Husk winced before closing his eyes and setting the contract alight.

Angel’s heart constricted as the golden flames swallowed the piece of paper in a matter of seconds and the comfortable pressure of the chain disappeared as it shattered and fell to the ground. His eyes followed the greying chain as it crumbled to dust.

He felt bare. Naked. Vulnerable in a way he hadn’t experienced in months and he was suddenly acutely aware of how Valentino was pressed against his back, how his hands were gripping his hip and his chest to keep him in place. Husk’s feelings had been brutally torn away from him, leaving him empty and alone and unsafe .

Panic climbed into his throat. Husk’s chain had gone, leaving space for Valentino to slap a new one on him. He couldn’t go back to V-Tower. He couldn’t go back to Val, to pain and crushing anxiety and Yes, Valentino. No, Valentino. Whatever you want, Valentino. Harder, Valentino-

“You got what you wanted, now let him go,” Husk said quietly, distracting Angel from his mental breakdown.

“My, my,” Valentino cooed. “So eager to give up his soul, to give up your recently returned Overlord status. You must really care for him.”

Husk clenched his fists, wings tucking close to his back as he scowled. “Let him go, Valentino. I’ve done everything you’ve asked.”

“Didn’t anyone ever tell you not to fall in love with a whore?” Valentino continued, clearly enjoying himself. “They only break your heart. Don’t forget; it’s all part of the act. ”

“With you? Sure,” Angel managed as he forced his thoughts out of their downward spiral. “But with him? None of that was actin’.”

Valentino snorted and summoned a blank contract and Angel’s stomach dropped as a feather quill floated into his hand.

“Sign on the dotted line, Amorcito.”

“You sleazy piece of shit!” Husk roared as he started towards them, but the edge of the spear slid under Angel’s jaw and Husk froze, wings fanned wide and furious as Valentino used one of his lower hands to grip Angel’s arm - the one holding the pen - and force it towards the contract.

Angel’s breaths shook as the pen made contact with the page, but one look at Husk’s unfiltered rage invoked a sudden defiance in him. “You might own my soul, Val, but I will always belong to Husk. I’ll always go back to him. After every shoot, every show, every client - after each and every time you throw me onto your bed and have your way with me and you’ve filled me with so much molly that I can barely see straight - know that I will crawl back into Husk’s arms and forget about you. Know that you mean nothing to me.”

Angel knew his words had cut through Valentino’s victory like a knife because his grip on Angel’s arm was leaving a bruise from how tightly he was gripping it. After all, Angel was Valentino’s favourite and the moth-demon didn’t like to share. He certainly didn’t want Angel showering his affections on someone else when he believed he had gifted Angel so much.

“You think he’ll want you when you’re on someone else’s chain? When you’re in someone else’s bed?” Val rasped and Angel barely had time to process the words before Husk was snarling.

“I’m not like you, shithead. I want his heart, not his soul.”

Angel drew confidence from Husk’s anger. He didn’t need a chain to know the bartender loved him. Val could do whatever he liked to him - things were different this time. This time, Husk would be there for him. He had someone in his corner, someone who would hold him and comfort him and love him unconditionally.

“He isn’t yours,” Val hissed, irritation growing as he bared his teeth at Husk.

Angel smirked bitterly. “Put another chain on me,” he dared. “Let me show you what I really think of you. I hope you feel every last scrap of hatred and loathin’ I have for you.”

Val glanced at him, surprise flicking across his features before he narrowed his eyes and Angel threw his head back in a sharp laugh.

“See, now I know what these chains are capable of, I’ll use it against you every chance I get.”

“That will only work if I’m paying attention,” scoffed Val.

“Want to put it to the test?” Angel asked, gripping the quill tighter. “Because I’ll make your life miserable. I’ll make you feel everything, master. I’ll make you feel all the disgust and nausea I feel whenever you put your hands on me. I’ll make you feel all the humiliation and agony I feel whenever you force me to bang twenty guys before lunch. I’ll make you feel every last shitty thing I feel when I come down from one of your toxin-induced highs. ” Angel grinned. “I’ll make you tear up this contract, one way or another, and I’m gonna enjoy every second of the journey.”

Val seethed. He dropped the spear and curled his hand around Angel’s throat instead. “Listen here, you little bitch-”

He didn’t manage to get any further because Husk was already on him. With the spear away from Angel’s throat, Husk’s claws were out and he tore them through Valentino’s face with merciless determination. 

Angel kicked the spear away from Valentino’s fast hands and landed a heavy blow to the moth-demon’s gut before stabbing the quill through one of the hands clawing at Husk’s wing.

Valentino screeched and blew them backwards with a powerful sweep of his wings, but they fell in the direction that Angel had kicked the spear, so Angel picked it up and brandished it at his ex-master.

Valentino froze and for the first time, Angel saw genuine fear in his face. “I should ram this through your chest,” Angel said through gritted teeth, “for all the times you broke me.”

Valentino swallowed and Angel took great satisfaction in his nervousness before he shifted his gaze to Husk, who stood quietly by his side, narrowed gaze fixed on Valentino and claws flexing in preparation to attack the moth-demon should he take another step towards Angel.

Angel smiled gently and lowered his voice. “But that would suggest I ain’t already on the way to being fixed. That would mean you wouldn’t get to see how Husk is piecing my heart back together, one fragment at a time. If I kill you, you wouldn’t get to see how much I love him and how much he supports me after everything you did to me.”

Husk caught his gaze proudly and Angel stretched out a hand to brush a thumb over his cheek. Then he smiled at Val.

“On the other hand, I can’t let you get away with it all, can I?”

Val screamed as Angel rammed the spear into his crotch and the moth-demon crumpled to his knees, holding his most intimate parts between his hands, which were growing slicker with blood with every passing second.

“Look at it this way,” drawled Angel as he leaned on the handle of the spear. “Can’t accidentally knock anyone up now, right?”

Val whimpered and Angel held up a middle finger before slotting his arm through Husk’s and strutting away from his ex-master, spear twirling around his fingers.

“Damn, Angel. Remind me never to piss you off,” Husk muttered, but he was grinning and his wing had settled around Angel’s shoulders.

Angel kissed him sweetly on the cheek.

Angel tossed his head back as a moan fell from his lips. A real one, not the sort he faked for the cameras. 

His fingers curled into Husk’s wings as his lover peppered kisses over his neck and finally pulled back to smirk at him. His fur was fluffed in every direction and his ears were red from their strenuous activities. 

Angel slid a hand to his cheek, unable to stop himself from touching his insatiable lover. “What happened to slow?” he teased.

Husk huffed a laugh and nuzzled into Angel’s palm before kissing it. “I got impatient.” He sobered and fixed Angel with a serious look. “I nearly lost you today.”

Angel’s smirk faded and he stroked a thumb over Husk’s cheek. “I felt you. Before you broke the contract. I… I felt your fear.”

Husk’s eyes widened and Angel tugged him down until he could tuck his lover’s head beneath his chin. “I’ve never seen you so scared.”

Husk blew out a long breath and curled his fingers into Angel’s chest fluff as he tangled their legs together. “I was terrified,” he admitted. “I’ve never cared about anyone enough to feel that way before, but watching him hold that spear to your throat, knowing there was nothing I could do…” He scowled and curled a wing around Angel. “I don’t like feeling helpless. Especially when it comes to you.”

Angel felt a little breathless. It was a feeling he was coming to associate with being around Husk. He turned onto his side and tilted Husk’s chin up until their eyes met.

“Hey, I can take care of myself,” he said softly. “You don’t need to worry so much about me. You were right.” He tapped his bare neck. “Turns out I don’t need your chain to stand up to Val, to say no to him.” 

Husk hummed as his tail snaked around Angel’s thigh and Angel grinned before pushing his lover onto his back.

“That doesn’t mean I don’t miss it, though,” Angel purred. “Knowing you could feel everything . Knowing I was yours.”

“Oh, you’re still mine, Legs,” Husk drawled as he spread his claws over Angel’s ass. “And I don’t need a chain to know exactly how you’re feeling right now.”

“Yeah? Wanna bet on that? Put your money where your pretty little mouth is?” Angel teased as he rolled his hips against Husk’s.

Husk’s eyes lit up at the challenge and arousal flared inside Angel’s gut at the glimpse of his ex-Overlord Gambling Demon. 

“Now, there’s a bet I just can’t refuse.”