Chapter Text
Suddenly, the lights started to flicker, and the sound of radio static assaulted his ears.
„Haha. What did you say? “
Angel Dust had volunteered to look for Husk when the bartender had disappeared and not returned for a good fifteen minutes.
He overheard Husk talking with Alastor, although it started to sound a lot like an argument since Husk's voice grew increasingly irritated. Angel couldn’t hear what was being said, but the deer-demon didn't appreciate whatever Husk had thrown in Alastor’s face.
He was ready to play mediator, a role he had gotten somewhat good at since Valentino had a short temper, and it was up to either him or Vox to make sure he didn’t make too big a mess. However, what happened next made him stop in his tracks.
A green chain appeared around Husk’s neck.
He groaned and tried to grab the collar of his leach but a strong pull from the radio demon threw him to the floor.
“Nothing, I um- “
Angel couldn’t see Husk’s face, but he didn’t have to, to know that pure terror was written all over it. His voice alone gave it away.
The self-assured, often annoyed, or bored tone he usually had while speaking was nowhere to be heard while he lay there on the floor facing the radio demon a few feet ahead.
Angel heard another pull from the chain and Husk gasped in pain and choked.
“Gha-“
Alastor started taking slow, delivered steps toward Husk as he wrapped the chain around his arm, collecting it from the floor.
“If you ever say that again, I will tear your soul apart and broadcast your screams for every other disrespectful wretch who dares to question me.”
The voice stepped closer, and the tone grew chillier with every step Alastor took while approaching Husk. A green light that vanished as soon as it had appeared made Angel hold his breath.
“Understood.”
Husk's voice was weak, barely above a whisper.
“Lovely.”
Cheerful, old timely music started to play. Alastor chuckled and Angel could only assume that he had turned around since his voice was somewhat less clear.
“Good talk my good man! Always nice to catch up.”
The sounds of music and steps moving down the hallway told Angel that Alastor was leaving. When the sounds were gone for good, he dared to peak around the corner and what he saw broke his heart.
Husk was still lying on the floor, shaking like crazy, staring down the hallway Alastor had just walked. As if he feared that the radio demon could change his mind if he found Husk to not be sufficiently terrorized upon his spontaneous return.
Angel wanted nothing more than to walk up to Husk and wrap him up in all six of his arms. Or to at least talk to him, but he knew how prideful the sinner was. He probably would prefer Alastor making good on his threat before he allowed anyone to see him in the state, he was currently in.
After what might have been five minutes but felt more like six hours Husk sat up and started collecting himself. He started to breathe slowly and finally stopped shaking.
Angel felt an odd mix of relief and sadness as he watched Husk regaining his composure. Relief because he knew that Husk would be alright, although he had no idea where he the cat-sinner found that kind of strength. Sadness because he was powerless to help his friend when he needed him the most.
He walked back to the bar and joined Mimzy and Sir Pentious.
“Well, did you find him?”
Mimzy asked impatiently. Angel was still processing what he had just witnessed but before he could answer Husk came back and took his place behind the bar.
“What’s wrong? Can’t a guy take a smoke break without you drunk assholes throwing a hissy fit?”
“Ha, if that’s not a nice example of the pot calling the kettle black.”
“Go fuck yourself Mimzy.”
Despite himself Husk grabbed a bottle of cheap booze and started chugging it, proving her point.
Mimzy gave him a self-satisfied smirk and Sir Pentious just looked uncomfortable. Angel wordlessly accepted the drink Husk had placed before him.
Husk had called Angel out for putting on a mask, but right now he couldn’t help but notice that Husk was doing the same. He may call it a poker face or dealing with his problems on his own, but Angel was convinced that Husk was using the façade of an old, grumpy, I couldn’t give less of a fuck even if I tried, drunk to hide how he truly felt. Just like Angel had been using his “porn star act” as Husk had called it.
Husk may not be on a mission of self-destruction like Angel was when the old cat had confronted him a few weeks back, but the fact that he could put up with this kind of bullshit and then go back to work as if nothing had happened hit way too close to home for comfort. He knew only too well that this kind of thing took a lot of self-control and even more practice.
He knew that Husk had plenty of the first. No matter how much Angel tried to flirt with him or just piss him off to get a rise out of him, Husk rarely took the bait, and usually, it only amounted to being pushed down the counter or a “fuck off.”
He remembered the night he came back from that horrible shoot he had to do because Valentino didn’t like Charlie taking an interest in his business. He had taken out his frustrations on Husk by spilling the drink he had prepared for him and childishly arguing with him.
Husk didn’t even bat an eye, didn’t yell, nothing.
He just picked up the glass, wiped the counter, and kept pressing Angel about his terrible state. If someone had acted that way towards him, he probably would have punched their light out.
He began to wonder how much of the Husk he was seeing in front of him, rubbing his neck, wiping bottles, was self-control and how much was a hard-learned mask.
Before he could ponder the question too long a violent shake threw him on the floor. At first, he thought it was an earthquake, but he soon learned that a bunch of loan sharks who were after Mimzy were trying to break their door in.
Alastor took care of the invaders and soon enough peace had settled over the hotel, but Angel’s mind couldn’t let go of what he had witnessed.
“And he went back to normal as if it was nothing.”
After days of contemplating what to do Angel decided to talk to Cherri. He knew that she could keep a secret and while she still considered Husk a stuck-up, old, drunk he was all right in her book. They were sitting in one of their favorite spots where they usually did coke or bitched about whatever they were mad about at the moment. It was a perfect place because it was impossible to sneak up on you and provided some hard-to-find privacy, not to mention a killer view.
“Man, I knew that old fart was tough after you told me he kicked some serious ass when he dragged your ass out of that club, but this is hardcore.”
“Am I overreacting? He seems the same as always. When Alastor treats him like shit he pushes back, same as usual. But now I’m kind of worried every time they go off to talk alone somewhere.”
Angel didn’t like this. He was used to all kinds of abuse, and he was more than familiar with hiding the signs, he just never considered that Husk of all people could be a victim as well.
By the looks of it he knew how to handle Alastor and Alastor was nowhere as vindictive or petty as Valentino. But that just made him that much scarier. He knew how to keep people in line without having to land a single strike. His threats were never empty, they were promises.
Besides, Angel had at least the relief of knowing that he was safe from Val outside of the studio, Husk was living under the same roof as his abuser.
“Hell no.”
Cherri’s answer pulled him out of his thoughts.
“I mean, dang. I wouldn’t want my crush to be under the thumb of that psychopath either.”
Angel couldn’t believe what he had just heard.
“Crush? It’s not like that. Shure, I’ve been trying to hit that for months, but he made it clear he isn’t interested.”
“Angie, you’ve been talking about him, and getting in his pants, ever since he popped up at the hotel you’re staying at. I was glad when you told me that you guys are pals now but at this point, you can’t deny that you value his company more than getting laid by him.”
Angel considered her words for a second.
Nobody had ever put that much effort into knowing who Angel really is. Not in his lifetime and certainly not in Hell. Not only that, but Husk also preferred the real him to the drugged-up, sex-driven, pin-up version of himself that everyone longed to meet and fuck.
“Maybe you are right. Not about the crush part, but that I like spending time with him beyond getting him to fuck me.”
Cherri rolled her eye, but she had known Angel long enough to know that it would take him time to recognize his feelings. All she could hope for was that the bar cat would treat her best friend right.
“Hey, you said that he’s good at getting people to open up and talk about their feelings and shit.”
“Yeah, he is. Why?”
“How does he do that?”
“Dunno, he’s just a good listener I guess.”
“Maybe that’s what he needs. Someone who’ll listen. So, he can get some of the bullshit he’s been bottling up off his chest. He gets to bitch for a bit, and you get some peace of mind instead of making yourself crazy, thinking about what tall, red, and creepy as fuck does to him behind closed doors.
Plus, it might remove the stick he has up his ass. That way, everyone wins.”
Angel considered this. He remembered one of Husk’s rare outbursts where he said: “Everyone loves to bitch to the bartender.”
He was too amused and then pissed off to pay any real attention to the significance of his words, but it slowly dawned on Angel that Husk never talked about his own problems.
“You know what? I think that might work. I’ll give it a try.”
With new resolve, Angel decided to try and get Husk to take his own advice.
The next few weeks Angel did his best to get Husk to let down his walls and talk about his time as an overlord and even his life before he ended up in hell.
The results were a mixed bag. Most nights Angel was a mess himself and by the time he had reached a point where he felt like himself again, Husk looked exhausted. Not that he could blame him. Sometimes it took Angel an hour to be able to give more than single-word answers to Huks questions. Sometimes he just wanted to talk about their friend’s antics instead of the shitshow that was his life and Husk seemed keen to do the same because he was an expert in avoiding giving straight answers when Angel tried to ask about his day when he looked particularly done with the world.
That being said, he did have some positive results.
He learned that Husk once had over a thousand soul contracts under his belt, more than most other overlords. But he usually gave “debtors” the chance to buy their souls back, either with money or by doing him a big enough favor. He also found out that Husk was only two years older than Angel but got to live another thirty after Angel had died. He also learned that Husk was into jazz, no surprise there.
What he didn’t expect was that Husk was a pretty decent saxophone player.
The more Angel got to know the guy, the more infatuated he felt with him. He started to see the appeal of getting to know the person you wanted to bang before actually fucking them.
He had gotten Husk to open up a bit, but he knew that he was still avoiding the elephant in the room on purpose. Whenever Angel brought up Alastor, Husk would become quiet and do his best to change the topic again. He would call Alastor a fucking asshole from time to time but that was about it. However, as Charlie had insisted in one of their recent redemption exercises, some things are worth the wait.
The big turning point came one month after the big battle.
The hotel was finally rebuilt, thanks to Lucifer, and quite a few things had changed.
The Vees were up to something big, which kept Valentino busy enough to pay little attention to Angel. Of course, he was worried, but he knew better than to ask any questions. Besides, you learn quickly not to look a gifted horse in the mouth when you are in hell. If Satan, or fate, or whoever gives you a break from 12h shoots and having to fake multiple orgasms you take it.
Also, he doubted that they were crazy enough to attack the hotel directly now that it had the official backing of the king of Hell. Well, Val was but he knew Vox and Velvet were smarter than that.
So, Angel was excited when he walked through the doors of the hotel at an uncharacteristically early hour and more sober than he had been in a good while. He was determined to get Husk talking about himself when walked up to the bar, only to find it closed.
“Where’s Husk?” he asked the girls hanging out on the sofa.
“He left with Alastor at noon. Now that you mention it, I saw Alastor come back an hour later, but Husk is still out.” Vaggie explained.
Charlie must have seen his worried expression because she tried to cheer him up.
“Don’t worry Angel, I’m sure he’ll be back in a bit. Maybe he decided to get a change of scenery. He’s pretty much always at the hotel.”
“She’s right. Also, if anyone can take care of himself it’s Husk.” Vaggie agreed.
“True. Just a little disappointing that I’m not going to get my usual Long Island iced tea after work.” He said in a sad attempt to deny the real reason he didn’t like the fact that Husk had disappeared after going out with Alastor.
He knew the radio demon wasn’t unreasonable, and he obviously kept Husk as a servant because he considered him useful. There was no real reason to assume that he had hurt Husk in any way, shape, or form but there was still a voice inside of his head that demanded to see Husk this instant to make sure he was alright.
“Hey, out of curiosity. They didn’t have an argument or anything before going out, right?”
The girls didn’t understand why he would ask that, but Vaggie answered after her confusion had settled.
“Husk wasn’t thrilled to have to go but I wouldn’t say they were arguing. Alastor also seemed the same as usual when he came back if that helps.”
It did indeed help, but only a little bit.
“Angel, is everything alright?”
Charlie was perceptive at the most inconvenient of times, but he couldn’t deny that that was part of the reason why he loved her stupid Disney princess ass.
“Yeah, just curious.”
The girls didn’t seem all that convinced but Angel brought up the fact that Husk was supposed to check in on Fat Nuggets so he had the perfect excuse to head up to his room.
He was greeted by his beloved pet the second he had entered his room. He noticed a fresh bowl of water and a half-full bowl of food. Husk must have fed the little guy right before leaving with Alastor. Man, this guy really was something special.
But the giddiness in his chest was soon replaced by refreshed worry. As Charlie and Vaggie had said, Husk was more than capable of taking care of himself, so why was the thought of Husk not just standing behind the bar, being his grumpy asshole self so scary to Angel.
He felt like a kid whose parents were leaving him alone for the first time and he didn’t like that feeling. Relying on others had always been difficult for him. The last time he did led to him signing the contract with Val and that had quickly become his biggest regret of his life and afterlife. Nonetheless, he had come to trust and rely on Husk in a way that scared him in and of itself. While he contemplated this, Fat Nuggets had started to vie for his attention. After the spider finally pulled himself out of his own head the hell pig ran to the door scratching it.
“Sorry Nuggs. Guess no one has taken you out for a stroll yet.”
He quickly took the harness from its usual place on the rack and put it on his little buddy.
But before leaving he took out his phone and typed a message to Husk “Hey Husky, thanks for taking care of Nuggs today. I owe you one 😉”
He figured that Husk was more likely to respond to a text than a call. Besides, if he was busy this was more convenient.
“Let’s get some fresh air baby.”
By the time Angel came back from his walk an hour and a half had passed. He had significantly calmed down and felt like his thoughts weren’t as much of a mess, he still could use a bartender to talk to tough. Or to give him any kind of sign that he wasn’t being tortured or held captive against his will for that matter.
He had hoped to find Husk standing behind the bar as he almost always did by the time he returned but apparently, he was still out. Dinner passed and still no sign of the cat sinner.
Charlie who was beginning to worry asked Alastor if he knew where Husk might be.
“Oh, dear Husker is just running an errand for me. Nothing to worry about. I’m sure he’ll be back in no time.” was the deer demon’s answer.
Neither Angel nor Lucifer, who had become a regular visitor and quite fond of Husk, bought this explanation.
Angel was glad that the king of hell was a friend to Husk. Right now, he just hoped that this friendship was another safeguard that would protect Husk in case Alastor was angry at him.
He wasn’t really in the mood for socializing, so Angel went to his room. He checked his phone for the tenth time in the last hour. No reply from Husk. He tried to read, scroll social media, everything to get his mind off the cat. By the time he decided it was hopeless, it was 11 pm. Fat Nuggets was sleeping peacefully on his bed but not even the breathing of his pig could help Angel fall asleep.
Eventually, he silently walked over to Husk’s bedroom door and gently knocked. No response.
He carefully opened it to find that no one had used it since at least this morning. He suppressed the urge to go through Husk’s belongings. He knew how much he valued boundaries and his privacy. Husk would let him in when he was ready to. He did notice the high-class furniture and the black walls with various picture frames on the wall. It gave the room a distinct casino vibe and Angel chuckled at how well the room fit Husk.
Before he knew it Angel had walked to the lobby and took a seat at the bar.
It felt so empty without Husk standing behind the counter, mixing him a drink or twitching his ears while listening to his rants. Was it normal to miss someone after going less than 24 hours without seeing them? Sure, Husk was on a potentially dangerous mission for a known psychopath, but he also used to be an overlord.
Angel imagined not being able to laugh with Husk anymore, not being able to share a drink or stories anymore. Just not seeing him anymore and suddenly he felt his chest tightening and it became hard to breathe. A tear fell on his hand, and then another. He wiped his eyes furiously and rested his head on his arms. He closed his eyes and slowly drifted to sleep.
“-egs.”
The sound of Husk's voice filled Angel’s head.
“Legs.”
Oh no, now he even heard his voice in his dreams.
“For fucks sake, Angel. “ the last sentence was accompanied by gentle shaking of his shoulders. Angel finally jerked up and Husk narrowly avoided being hit thanks to his reflexes.
“Jesus Christ. You know, if you don’t feel like sleeping in your bed you should at least take the couch over there. Sleeping on the counter is going to be torture on your neck and back. Trust me, I should know. “
“Husk?”
A wave of relief washed over Angel. His mind had come up with all kinds of unspeakable scenarios of what might have happened to his friend, although he couldn’t deny that friendship and physical attraction weren’t the only things he felt towards the cat sinner. Unfortunately, the relief was short-lived. He noticed several cuts on Husk’s arms, one on his cheek narrowly missing his eye and he could only assume that there were bruises hidden by the dim light and Husk's dark fur. He also noticed how dirty and disheveled Husk was. His clothes were torn and he was covered in dirt and dried blood.
“What happened to you?” Angel did his best not to panic. The wounds were all superficial, but he still didn’t like the state Husk was in right now.
Husk shrugged and flinched in pain before regaining his natural expression of I don’t give a fuck.
“Al asked me to take care of something for him. It, … took longer than expected.”
“Can you be a little more generic?” Angel asked in a sarcastic tone.
Husk chucked and let out a soft laugh at the comment and again, he flinched. Something was wrong. Something was very wrong.
While talking Husk went behind the bar and poured himself a whiskey.
Angel stared at him in disbelief.
“Anyways, why are you down here Legs? You obviously didn’t have trouble sleeping. Rough day?”
Husk looked at Angel patiently, making it clear he was open to listening to his woes, even though he looked like he could fall asleep standing as he was.
Angel took the second glass Husk had poured for him and took a sip. He wasn’t the one with torn clothes and cuts and bruises of questionable origin, at least not this time. Why was Husk asking him how his day was and why was he so unwilling to just tell Angel what happened?
“No, actually. I came home earlier than usual, and the shoot was fine. The rest of the day was chill too. Just a bit worried about a friend who went awol.”
Husk's ears twitched at the last comment.
“Think he’s in trouble?” Husk asked.
“Don’t know. He isn’t the kind of guy to tell you even if he is, that’s what worries me.”
Husk nodded and finished his glass.
“Well, sometimes people just need to run against a wall before they ask for help. Just give your pal time. If he needs you, I’m sure he’ll reach out.”
Angel wasn’t sure if Husk had caught on as to who he was talking about. He sure hoped so.
For now, he decided to take his advice.
Finally, because he couldn’t take it anymore Angel asked “Need help patching yourself up?”
Husk looked at him and gave him a soft smile “Thanks for the offer, Legs but I’ll be fine. A quick shower and some sleep and I’ll be as good as new.”
He could see that whatever “errand” he had run for Alastor had drained Husk badly. He was barely standing and while his visible injuries didn’t seem all that bad, he moved noticeably slower than usual, and some movements seemed downright painful. Angel wanted to repay Husk for all the times he had taken care of him, but he had made it clear that he didn’t want Angel’s help right now. And after making so much progress in their friendship he didn’t want to risk pushing Husk's boundaries too hard. Husk was one of four people in hell he knew he could trust and only the second he found the courage to open up to. He and Cherri were the only people who knew most of the gruesome details of how Valentino was treating him. The thought of losing that was terrifying.
“Something on my face? “
Husk must have noticed Angel staring at him.
The spider couldn’t help but blush at being caught. He decided to take a page out of Husk's playbook and replied “You look like shit Whiskers. Seriously, if you need help-. “
“I don’t. “
Husks didn’t yell, but his tone made it clear that he didn’t want Angel to push the matter anymore.
“Look, I appreciate the sentiment Legs, but I’m fine. “
While saying this, Husk rubbed the back of his neck.
Angel felt rage flare up inside him. Rage at Husk for dismissing him like that, at Alastor for making Husk do dangerous jobs that lead to him getting hurt and most of all at whoever had done this.
It all mixed together and he was about to explode but Angel knew that the last thing Husk needed right now was a shouting match in the middle of the night. So, he nodded and walked towards the stairs.
Fuck him for caring.
Just as he reached the top of the stairs Husk called out to him.
“Angel, wait.”
Angel did and looked down at the cat sinner who had followed him to the end of the stairs. He looked like a mess but what stood out to Angel was that he seemed torn about something.
“I, uh-. Just wanted to say thanks for worrying about me. “
All Angel could do was nod in response. He didn’t dare turn around because he feared that the emotional storm raging in his chest might lead to him crying. After a few seconds, he heard Husk move away from the stairs, and down the hall to his room. He noticed that Husk was limping, and he was holding one shoulder as he walked slowly to his room.
Angel went back to bed and snuggled with Fat Nuggets until he finally drifted off to sleep.