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It was a normal night at the Happy Hotel – well, as normal as it could be. As every late evening, the residence was quiet and dark, anyway even after a few months there was not a lot of demons in here, much to the princess’ disappointment.
Husk was behind the bar, cleaning and wiping glasses, between two mouthfuls of cheap booze. He didn’t mind being alone. He didn’t mind about a lot of this anyway, he was just an old, tired, crabby drunk gambler. And this was perfect.
Well, if he had to be honest, it was even better at the moment when Angel came back, actually. As usual, he went directly to the bar, sat at his usual place and gave Husk the usual flirty greetings.
- Hey, kitty cutie.
- I ain’t a kitty, for fuck’s sake.
At this moment, he would have expected Angel to insist and try to make him even more shy with tons of other nicknames and sweet words with a sultry gaze. But… nothing came.
So, he turned around towards him and, when he saw him, his ears flattened. The spider was sitting on the bar stool, his head in his upper hands, with a vacant look. Clearly something was wrong. Of course, unfortunately, he was rarely fine when he came back from work, but some times were even worse than the others, and this seemed to be one of these.
After hesitating a bit, the bartender came closer to him. He didn’t touch him, just in case. Angel could be very sensitive when it came to touching, even with Husk, which the latter understood perfectly. After a whole day being tossed around by random demons, it was not surprising that he wanted a bit of space afterwards.
- You okay, fragolina ?
The nickname made Angel shiver and smile a bit. It could seem a bit weird, but being called "little strawberry" was really not unpleasant, coming from Husk, and it had the decency to be quite original, at least. It was one of the very first pet names he had blurted out, which made it even more moving. Strawberry… A popular fruit you could see everywhere, declined in every way, even the most superficial, which took away all of the very essence of the fruit. A very attractive aspect, a round shape, a bright scarlet color that made your mouth water. However, when you got past this purely aesthetic side and truly paid attention, it revealed a subtle, sweet and delicate, but also a bit acid, unique flavor. In the end, that fruit suited Angel quite well.
Angel lifted his head up and slightly nodded.
- Just a shitty day like any other.
- You look… exhausted.
- Yeah, as usual, babe. Whaddya think?
The cat grumbled for form and got a bit closer to Angel, still leaving him some space and not touching him. Usually, Angel always did the first step, even for the smallest little things between them, like starting a conversation, giving the other a hug or even just taking his hand. Husk didn’t tend to, first because he lost the habit due to decades of loneliness and weariness, second because he still had his pride. However, he felt something was wrong with the spider. So, after hesitating for a few seconds, he tried to make a move towards him.
- You… wanna come in my room for tonight?
Angel had heard this question so many times in such different situations that he couldn’t help his old reflexes to resurface. He sported a cocky smile and a seductive gaze, while bending exaggeratedly towards the cat.
- Ooh, someone else wants a piece of me, mh?
- Quit shittin’ me, you know it’s not that!
Against all odds, the arachnid didn’t push further, instead he just sat back up, without saying a word. Husk knew he had been quite rough in his reaction, but he couldn’t help being pissed off by this. He knew Angel could not help but go back to his usual flirting habits, it was something he always did automatically, it was a perfect way both to hide his discomfort and to give the client what he wanted as quickly and efficiently as possible.
But Husk was not his client, he had never wanted and would never want to be, he didn’t go out with him for that. And, even if he could decently not blame Angel for his old reflex, he always felt anger and bitterness when he saw him do this. Anger towards all those who made him this, and bitterness to realize he was stuck in these habits, which were indirectly how he had survived down here through the last decades.
- Angie…
He tried to soften a bit, but it was too late, Angel was becoming withdrawn already.
- Okay, I got it. Just… gimme a drink.
- Angel, I didn’t mean to…
- Yeah, yeah, I know. I’ll just go back to my room.
- That’s not what I said, Angel.
- Uh, whatever.
Usually, and with anyone else, the chimera would just have dropped it, and anyway the conversation would never have gotten that far. He was too old, too tired and too jaded for that kind of nonsense. But now, it wasn’t about just anyone, it was about his boyfriend – though the word and the concept itself were still a bit hard to admit for both of them. He wanted to know what was wrong, he cared too much about him to just ignore it and pretend everything was fine.
- Angel, what’s going on? Just… tell me.
- You really need me to explain?
- No. But you can tell me, if you need to.
- Fuck off, just gimme enough to blast my brain!
The feline shrugged and served him his strongest vodka. He wouldn’t stop trying, but he would take all the time it needed, even if it had to take hours staying beside him at the bar. Then, when the spider finished his drink, he gave another try.
- So, are you gonna tell me now?
- Tell you what?
- What’s wrong.
- Same shit as usual.
- No. You’re limping, you’ve got bruises, your lip’s bleeding and your clothes are ruined. Dammit, Angel, that is not “as usual”!
Angel glared at him and gave an annoyed grunt, his fists clenching to hide the fact that his hands were actually shaking.
- I’m fucking fine, quit babyin’ me!
- And you quit lyin’ to me! I’m sure you’re a great fuckin’ actor, but you know I see it when something’s wrong.
- “Great actor”… I’m a porn star, Husky, I’m not sure you can say that.
- Faking all that bullshit without batting an eye… that takes some doing.
- Ooh, so you’re interested in my work…
- Ugh, fuck, alright, I got it. Forget it.
A few minutes passed in a very odd silence. Angel definitely didn’t want to talk, and Husk didn’t know what more he could do, except hoping that his presence would make him feel if only a bit better, or less worse at least…
When the arachnid tried to stand back up, he couldn’t help but whine at the pain that caught him right between the ribs, so hard that if he was still alive he would have suspected a heart attack. Husk knew Angel could take a lot while pretending everything was fine, that he was perfectly able to hide any pain and sorrow. But at this moment, he couldn’t, which was even more alarming.
- Angie...?
He expected the other demon to send him packing once again, but this time, it didn’t happen. Instead, he saw him curling up on the seat, clearly trying to hide his pain but it was pointless. He knew it. And he knew Husk knew too. So, he just sighed loudly and slumped on the bar counter.
- I… I’m so tired, Husk…
The bartender felt a lump in his throat as he heard those words, barely muttered with a broken voice filled with unshed tears. He gently brushed one of the spider’s hands with the tip of his claws and, when he saw no resistance or recoil, he took it in his paw.
- Go rest in my bed, I’ll join you.
Angel just sighed again and nodded mechanically as he sat back up. He did so very slowly, but it was not enough and he started to feel abnormally dizzy, due to both pain and exhaustion.
- Husk...
- What?
- I… I think I’ll…
He couldn’t even finish his sentence, he just fainted in front of Husk’s eyes, falling from the stool directly on the ground.
- What th-… Oh shit!
The cat rushed towards him without a second of hesitation, genuinely worried. Angel had already been so tired he almost fell asleep on the bar, he had already come back from work with many bruises, he had already felt a bit faint but it was mostly because he got smashed, or because he was already high, or both… But he had never fallen like this, not in front of Husk. Which is why the latter started panicking.
He would never have said it out loud, nor did he admit it to himself, but at this very moment, he was scared. To be unable to help him. To not have seen the signs of something serious. To have him second-dying in his arms. To lose him. He was scared as he had never been in decades. Because, until then, he’d had nothing to lose anymore, everything and everyone just sucked, nothing really mattered to him. But now… Angel did. More than anyone else. More than anything in this god forsaken world.
Despite all those fears coming up as one, Husk managed to keep calm somehow and took one of his lover’s hands in his paw, while holding the back of his head with the other.
- Angel? You with me?
No answer, but he felt him moving a tiny bit, which reassured him already.
- Angel, sweetheart, squeeze my hand if you hear me.
For a few seconds, nothing happened. He stared at him, looking for any little sign that he was still conscious. Then, he felt a slight pressure on his paw and, finally, the other demon gradually opened his eyes.
- Dammit! Angie??
- Mmmh, Husk...?
- I’m here, kid, everything’s okay. You’re at the hotel, you’re safe.
He kept holding his hand and petted his hair gently, letting him some time to come back to his senses and regain full consciousness. Then, as his usual self, Angel tried to act as if nothing happened, but he quickly faced the harsh reality; once he got back up, he could barely stand on his feet, his legs were trembling, the pain seized him again and, if Husk hadn’t been next to him, he would have fallen once more.
- Angel! What the fuck’s happening to you?!
- I- I’m… just, tired.
- Quit with the bullshit, you’re really not okay now!
- Gattino...
The spider was indeed so exhausted he didn’t even try to fight or pretend anymore. He just nuzzled into his boyfriend’s chest, letting him hold the wreck he had become in his arms.
- I just… need you…
Husk was quite perplexed with such an answer, he put his paws on Angel’s shoulders to gently push him back, but the other didn’t let go of his grip.
- Angel…
- Please.
His voice was so broken and his plea so raw that the feline didn’t insist and put his arms around him, mindful not to hurt him.
- Okay.
Angel stayed like this for a minute. At first, nothing else happened, he just held Husk tightly against him and tried to relax. But then, it was too much; the pain, the exhaustion, the bad memories, the vexation, the remains of his dizzy spell… It was all too much, and he couldn’t hold back the tears coming up to his eyes, which made him feel even worse. He felt pathetic, stupid… miserable.
- I… I’m sorry, I’m so sorry, Husky…
- You don’t have to be.
- I’m so fuckin’ weak…
The feline just kept holding him and gently stroked the back of his neck, but his voice was harsher.
- No. I’m not hearing this crap. You’re a tough lil’ fucker and you know it. You’re stronger than so many of us down here! You’re even stronger than me, because you face what happens to you and you always punch back.
- If I was strong, like you said, I’d quit doin’ drugs and gettin’ fucked for money. And I wouldn’t come cryin’ in your arms like a rugrat after doing it.
- We’re in Hell, Angie. We’ve all gotta survive, one way or another.
Husk tried to soften a bit, he knew Angel would not blame him for his usual sharpness – he had never held his way of speaking without airs and graces against him – but he also knew he didn’t need that at the moment.
- And… even if you show weakness sometimes, well it’s fuckin’ okay, especially here. I won’t judge you, and you know it.
The taller demon gave a faint but true smile, he sniffed to swallow his tears, then kissed the cat’s fluffy cheek by way of gratitude.
- C’mon. Let’s go to bed, now.
When Angel stood up straight, he looked as embarrassed as a child caught with a hand in the cookie jar, and if the situation was not so serious Husk would have snorted with laughter. But he didn’t want to make him even more uncomfortable and feel even worse.
- You… sure you want me to come?
Damn, how in the nine circles was this man so cute?! If he didn’t have decades of wearing the ultimate poker face behind him, Husk would have just melted in front of that precious sight of his wide-eyed, confused and incredibly adorable lover.
- Of course, sweetheart.
He took Angel’s hand and led them upstairs, to his bedroom. He didn’t help him walking because, again, he knew perfectly what wanting to keep your pride is, but he stayed close to him all along the way, ready to catch him if he fell.
When they arrived to his room, he let the arachnid take his boots off and lay down in the bed, while he quickly went to the bathroom for first aid. He came back and sat next to Angel, ran a damp cloth on his face to relieve and cool him off a bit, paying particular attention to his wounded lip. Then, he unbuttoned his jacket, or rather what was left of it, and took it off patiently, with careful gestures to avoid hurting him.
He took the time to check if there was no serious injury, examining his fur and skin meticulously. The area of his rib cage was covered in bruises, so Husk placed an ice pack – the largest he could find – directly on it, to reduce the pain or at least limit the damages. The rest of his body relatively seemed quite in good state, he wasn’t bleeding except for a few scratches here and there, no bone was broken. Some spots on his fur were compacted with dirt, the feline cleaned most of it so that he’d feel if only a bit more comfortable.
Angel felt so numb that he barely realized he was a bit shy and blushing, but he appreciated that Husk took care of him and looked so concerned, he really needed this. And he also needed…
- Husky…
- Yeah?
- Can you… can you go get Nuggs? Please?
- Uh… Sure. Where’s your room key?
Raising an arm laboriously, he pointed his purse he had left near the entrance next to his shoes. Husk left a tender kiss on his partner’s forehead and got up to reach for the aforesaid key. He was quite surprised that Angel would let him search in his things, but guessed he was too tired to give a single damn. He hurried towards the other’s bedroom, got inside and grabbed Fat Nuggets, who gave happy noises.
- Yeah, yeah, you gonna see your… uh… mamma-daddy? Don’t remember how he said that.
- Oink!
- Don’t push it, little monster.
The winged demon didn’t contain this time, as he was sure no one could see him, he nuzzled Nuggets’ tiny snout and smiled. He locked the door carefully and went back to his own room.
The second he saw his owner, the little hog hopped on the bed and trotted to him. Angel had a huge smile as he saw him and took him in his arms, holding him on his chest.
- Hello, baby…
He petted the piglet for a few minutes, while Husk was sitting on the bed and finishing his umpteenth cheap beer bottle.
After covering Nuggets with kind words, kisses and strokes, Angel put him down on the bed at his feet and then went back at Husk’s level. He was slow in his movements, so as to avoid waking the pain that had already decreased thanks to his lover’s care, and also the fact he was in a comfortable bed.
- You okay, Angie?
By way of an answer, the spider feebly nodded and came closer. He melted in the feline’s arms, letting go of all the stress, pressure and bad memories of this day. The chimera said nothing, he pulled the sheets up to their shoulders, and took Angel in his arms again.
- You’re… mmh… so warm…
- You too, fragolina.
As Angel snuggled up even closer, Husk started to caress his spine to soothe him. He kissed him on the temple and softly whispered:
- Sleep, my angel.
The spider didn’t need to be told twice, he was much too exhausted to resist anyway. Comforted and appeased by his lover’s purrs and heartbeat, he let himself drift off to sleep. Meanwhile, before falling asleep himself, Husk gently petted his hair and wrapped a wing around him as a second sheet, shielding him from the world all around them, internally swearing he would never, ever leave his beautiful sweet angel, in any way.
~