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“Are you fuckin’ with me?” Angel asks, eyes wide. He can’t believe it, even though he’s staring at the ashes after watching the contract go up in flames.
“Yeah, you’re free.” Valentino rolls his eyes. “Now leave.”
“Gladly you fuckin’ cunt.” Angel says happily, feeling like he can breathe for the first time. “You deserve to be waterboarded with hot wax and have a cheese grater shoved down your throat.” Angel walks backward out the door, both middle fingers up. “You are a waste of oxygen and deserve nothing but pain!”
As he walks back to the hotel, he feels reborn. He pushes the doors open with gusto and immediately wraps Husk up in a hug. “HUSKY!!!” He squeals, spinning him around.
“What the fuck?” Husk grumbles. “What?”
Angel puts him down and plants a kiss right on his cheek. “My contract! It’s done!”
Husk looks… relieved. Like he knew this would happen. Angel doesn’t have time to dwell on it because Husk leans forward and kisses Angel right on the mouth.
Angel kisses him back enthusiastically, today feeling like the best day he’s ever had since dying. They separate and Angel smiles widely. “Took ya long enough.”
Husk smirks and kisses Angel on the cheek.
“Oh!” Angel gasps happily. “Okay, so I already made reservations for us at that fancy restaurant near the studio. I was planning to ask you out properly but you beat me to the punch.”
Husk smiles up at him sadly but Angel is far too giddy to realize anything is amiss. “That sounds great, Legs.”
As Angel is getting ready, Husk leaves the hotel. He stops at a specific alleyway and waits. And sure enough, the sickly sweet smell of those specific cigarettes wafts into his space soon enough.
“You know…” Valentino’s voice comes out of the dark before he does. “I never would’ve guessed that you would trade your life for that whore’s soul.”
“I’d do anything for him.” Husk growls.
“Aw. How sweet. I’m sure you two would make a lovely couple.” Valentino tilts his head as if in thought before suddenly plunging a knife into Husk’s chest.
Angelic steel. The guys not an idiot.
Husk is grateful at least, that he decided to kill him quickly. At least he gets to slip away with images of Angel in his mind.
Husk dies with a smile on his face.
Angel smiles at himself in the mirror, unable to remember the last time he was this happy. He can’t believe that he’s finally free!
He waltzes downstairs in his nicest dress, wearing the cleanest makeup he could manage and looking very… formal .
He’s never been on an actual date so he’s not immediately suspicious when Husk isn’t in the lobby.
Guess he thought we were meeting there. Angel thinks to himself, already laughing at the thought of poking fun at Husk for this.
Angel walks down the streets, whistling to himself. But despite his upbeat mood, he can’t ignore the anxiety pestering at the back of his mind. Husk might be a gruff drunk, but he’s not a dick.
Angel can’t help but glance at every passing sinner, every dark alley… until he sees exactly what he was afraid of. The horribly familiar black and red wings.
Please be passed out drunk. Please be passed out drunk. Angel prays for the first time in his existence, creeping towards Husk’s limp body.
The scream that rips out of the spider scares demons four blocks away.
Angel doesn’t know what time it is. He doesn’t know what day it is. He barely remembers what his name is. He can’t feel anything, much less think.
Charlie tries repeatedly to get him to talk but he hasn’t uttered a single word since….
He tried everything. Bargaining, praying, screaming, crying, even killing Valentino. But nothing brought him back.
Nothing.
Angel barely sleeps, too afraid to face his dreams. Because they’re good dreams. Dreams where Husk and Angel get to live their lives together. So actually, he’s too afraid to face reality after waking up.
Two weeks after… that… Angel tried to join him. He couldn't stand the thought of existing without him. Alastor, of all people, caught him and put him into an enchanted sleep.
Angel screamed at him for hours when he woke up, livid that Alastor had saved him. Alastor just smiled at him sadly.
It’s been almost a full year since…..
Angel is better. Not okay. Never okay. Never again. But he’s better. He’s eating again. And sleeping.
And drinking.
But he’s better.
Still, he spends every night praying to whatever god there might be to bring him back. Trade his life for Angel’s. He screams into the void. Says he’ll burn the world down if it means he can see him roll his eyes one last time. He prays and prays and prays. Every single night. For the last 364 days.
And for the last 364 days…
They only respond in laughter.