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It all started, as all important things between the two of them always seemed to, at the Hotel’s bar.
Angel was chatting about all and nothing while lovingly nursing his drink, perched on his stool and playfully rocking it back and forth. Husk had noticed how the spider looked… happier, for a lack of a better term. As if the burden holding him down had finally been lifted. He supposed that getting his soul back would have that effect.
It had been a couple of months now since Angel had managed to destroy his contract with Valentino. That had been no easy task, one that had forced both Angel and Husk to go through a repulsive experience that had culminated with the overlord’s permanent elimination. They tried not to focus on that.
Instead they had celebrated, no matter how hurt and scarred they were. Husk didn’t care for the pain that still shot through his left wing when he moved too harshly, or for the cut on his cheek that had been such a bitch to heal, even with Alastor’s help. The only thing he cared about was Angel, how carefree he looked. How cheerful he was when he kissed him good morning before going to work, a work he finally enjoyed now that the Studio was basically handed over to him. How he smiled like nothing could go wrong ever again.
So of course, it was Husk that noticed when it first happened.
As Angel kept talking, energetically moving his top hands in long, elegant gestures, something caught Husk’s eye.
It was a flicker, a trick of the light maybe? It had to be, because what Husk thought he saw was a small, thin tendril of smoke, curling around Angel’s index. Red smoke.
No.
No no no.
Husk must have been seeing things; maybe he had reached his alcohol limit at 11 AM for once. Because that couldn’t be red smoke. Because red smoke meant Valentino. And Valentino was gone. They had made fucking sure of it, damn it!
And Husk knew he should mention it to Angel immediately. It was the right thing to do, of course.
But he wasn’t sure.
What if he had seen nothing? What if it really was his mind playing tricks on him, not yet fully recovered from almost being erased by the now deceased overlord? If he was just seeing things, or maybe projecting his fear that Angel might never fully, truly be free from Valentino’s influence, and he talked with his boyfriend about it… He could cause him so much more harm than good.
Yes, he would wait.
When Husk woke up the next morning, there was smoke dancing and twirling in front of his eyes.
He had fallen asleep next to Angel in the spider’s bed, something they had started doing every night since they had been healed enough to be on their own once again. Sharing a bed had been common before too, but ever since their confrontation with Valentino they had mutually, silently agreed that they felt more comfortable and at ease if they were close to each other. They needed to know the other was okay during their most vulnerable state.
That’s why the smoke frightened Husk so much.
He had his arm wrapped around Angel’s waist, while Angel had his draped softly around Husk’s shoulder. They were as close to each other as physically possible, and yet that smoke was there, obfuscating Husk’s sight and making it harder to even distinguish Angel’s features.
Fuck, is it around his neck? His head?
In a panic, Husk tried to pull back to try and shake his boyfriend awake, but he felt Angel’s grip on him tighten in his sleep.
“Angie,” he muttered, still trying not to shock Angel awake too harshly. “Angel, wake up!”
He only got a low mumble in reply.
“Shit, Angel! Anthony!”
The smoke shifted violently when Husk raised his voice, coiling around Angel’s body and temporarily freeing his face enough to be clearly seen. Angel’s eyes snapped open, glowing an unsettling bright pink.
“Henry…?”
The smoke dissipated. Well, not completely.
It released Angel’s body from its intangible grip, yes, but it stayed curling in front of his lips, almost trying to slip in at the first occasion.
No.
It was coming from his lips. Husk could see it come out in soft puffs as Angel’s breathed.
“Husky?” Angel asked with a yawn, as he tried to stretch and curl more comfortably in Husk’s arms at once. “What’s the matter babe? Another nightmare?”
Husk remained silent.
He… maybe had imagined it?
No, fuck that. That smoke was still there; he couldn’t just pass it off as his brain being half asleep.
He had waited. Now he had to tell him.
“Angel-”
“FUCK!” Angel quickly slapped a hand to his mouth, his eyes wide and panicked. “I, uh- I need to go to the bathroom! I think I need to barf- No, I definitely need to barf!” he tried to explain with his hand still over his lips, the smoke slipping easily through his fingers.
As the spider made a run for the bathroom door, it dawned on Husk. Angel was aware of the smoke.
For how long had he tried to hide it? Was it really something that bad then?
Husk tentatively stood up once Angel slammed the door closed behind him, the sound of running water soon coming from the small room.
“Angel…”
“I can’t hear you!” Angel called out, way too loud. “Listen, I think it might take me a while, why don’t you go to the kitchen and put a pot of coffee on? I promise I’ll be down soon!”
Husk debated if he should leave Angel on his own and simply walk downstairs to do what he had been told to. He very easily could. It wouldn’t have been the first time Angel woke up sick after drinking most of the night away with him. He could just pretend that everything was normal for a few more hours and enjoy the morning with his boyfriend as if nothing was wrong. Angel deserved to keep his happiness just for a little longer.
But this…
“Angel,” he called again, this time from right outside the door. Ha had to ask him. He had to make sure he was okay, and reassure him if he wasn't. “What was that smoke?”
Very subtle.
Angel kept the water running. “I have no idea what you’re talking about!”
“The smoke, Angel!” Before Husk could stop himself, he raised his voice. His tone was harder than he had intended to, but at least he heard the water suddenly stop.
Well, so much for comforting him, he thought bitterly. I could as well have called him an asshole while I was at it.
Angel opened the door a few seconds later, keeping his eyes firm to his feet. The smoking seemed to have stopped for the moment.
“Promise you won’t get mad?” Angel whispered. When Husk didn’t respond, his voice got weaker. “Please?” he added.
It was only when Angel’s eyes got wetter, shinier, that Husk realized he might have fucked up even harder than he had previously thought.
Angel had been happy for the past couple of months, yes, but Husk knew that there were still lows his boyfriend inevitably hit from time to time. They both had their own nightmares about what had happened that day.
“Shit- Yeah dolcezza, of course,” he finally let out with a sigh. “I could never be mad at you if it’s something serious.”
So, the two sat down on Angel's bed, Husk holding Angel in his arms so that his head was resting against the chimera’s shoulder. This way they could still talk while letting the spider avoid Husk’s gaze. It was easiest that way.
What Angel explained was not what Husk had expected. Angel told him how the smoke had simply started appearing one day, around a week before, surprising and terrifying him in equal measure. Because if the red smoke was back, then Valentino must have been too, right? Even though they were both sure he was dead.
Even though Angel had shot him with his own angelic gun.
But the smoke had been different. It was softer, or at least that was the only word Angel could come up with to describe it. It didn’t twist around him trying to restrain him, or suffocate him, instead it hung around him almost… protectively. It wasn’t even red to begin with, he noticed after a closer inspection, but a sharp shade of fuchsia. It wasn’t Val’s.
It was… his?
The thing is, Angel knew he had been somewhat gaining power after Valentino’s death. He was the oldest employee of the Studio, he knew how everything worked. He may not have been sure about it at first, but he enjoyed being the one in charge. Slowly but surely destroying the previous structure and rules to establish a kinder, safer place for his coworkers. It was also a big 'fuck you' to the previous owner, which was always a plus.
He hadn’t occurred to him that all the power that was previously being absorbed and contained in Valentino had to go somewhere.
And if the Porn Overlord Valentino was gone… someone had to step in his place.
“Are you sure you want to do this?” Husk asked once Angel was finished with his explanation.
“Honestly? I don’t know,” Angel muttered, still pressed against Husk’s shoulder. By now, his whole body had relaxed against the other's. “I'm doing a good job, and everybody at the Studio is happy… I want to keep it that way. If somebody that was like Valentino took his place, or somehow somebody even worse… I couldn’t forgive myself.”
“But you need to think about yourself too!” Husk insisted. “Of course you’re worried, but can’t you just approve the next owner before handing it over? This could be way too dangerous!”
“Too dangerous? I already have a target on my back for killing Valentino! Ya think people aren’t pissed as fuck?!” Angel hissed. “Vox seems weirdly chill about it, but the guys he had business deals with? Most of his clients? I am handling them without problems, I know what I’m doing!”
The silence hung heavy in the room.
In the end, and not before sighing heavily, it was Husk who spoke first.
“You’re right.” Husk’s arms tightened around Angel. “Yes you’re right, I’m sorry. I know you can handle this, I’m just… scared. You’ve been looking so happy recently, I don’t want all of this to burden you too much.”
A sigh tickled Husk’s shoulder, and Angel wrapped an arm around his waist. “Husk, I know you mean well. But I’ve been so happy because I am handling the business. I was in the mafia, I know how to make deals and treat with shitty people, especially over drugs. I am finally free to do whatever the hell I want, and I’m using it to make things a little less shitty for everyone involved. I promise, I got this. Can you trust me?”
Husk pressed a kiss against Angel’s soft hair. “I already do. You know that.” And it was the truth. He did trust him.
He was also ready to jump him and help him if he ever needed so, however.
Angel chuckled at the kiss, turning slightly and playfully blowing air against Husk’s neck, delighted when the fur there raised with a shiver. “Then trust that I won’t make a fool of myself, too.”
“Now, that I can’t fully trust.”
“Oh fuck you!”