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— 1. Hugging —
After saving Angel from getting spiked and fighting off the shark mobsters, they return to the hotel together, covered in blood and guts. In desperate need of a shower.
They bypass the curious eyes of the others in the lounge and head upstairs. Husk turns the corner to where his room is, bidding Angel goodnight, when a hand on his wing stops him. He turns around and sees Angel pull his hand back as if burned, shrinking into himself. His eyes glued to the floor as he speaks.
“Can I…” He trails off and Husk waits patiently for him to finish his question. When the silence drags on Husk prompts him softly. Angel whines and hides in his hands. “It’s stupid, but… Could I get a hug?”
Angel looks so uncomfortable asking for such a simple thing. But it isn’t simple. Touch has always been sexual for him because of his contract with Valentino. Touch is something often forced upon him. No matter if he’s used to it or not.
So for him to ask for a hug is no simple thing.
Husk smiles and opens his arms in a silent invitation. Angel looks up in shock at the easy way Husk offers his comfort. He tentatively wraps one pair of arms around Husk’s shoulders, burying his head in his shoulder. Husk hugs him back tightly and after a beat feels the other pair of arms come around his waist, doing the same.
Husk ignores the way Angel shakes in his hold, just lets him stay there for as long as he needs. The others’ voices float up from the stairwell, happy laughter reaching them from the lobby. Husk strokes his paw along Angel’s back and the shaking lessens, until it eventually stops entirely.
After a long moment, Angel pulls back slowly and Husk drops his arms back to his sides. Angel unsubtly wipes at his face with one hand while two others straighten out the hem of his jacket. Husk pretends he doesn’t see the tears.
“Thanks.”
“Anytime,” Husk replies and surprises himself with the conviction in his tone. He really means it and hopes Angel knows it too.
— 2. Petting —
Husk yawns and descends the stairs into the lobby, ready as can be for a new day of manning the bar. Vaggie had warned him about some new plan Charlie had for getting them to bond that day. He'd appreciated the warning.
The lobby was still and peaceful in the early hours of dawn, with only him up and awake. Besides Niffty, of course, who was busy in the kitchen preparing them breakfast. He’d have to remember to wipe down the counter to avoid the evil glint of her eye when she eventually comes to check on him.
He heads for the bar but stops at the sight of a pink lump on the couch. Angel is snuggled up among the pillows, hair ruffled from sleep, still wearing the same clothes from last night.
He must’ve gotten in late and crashed on the couch. His brows are furrowed and his fingers keep twitching around the pillow in his grasp, dreaming about something unpleasant no doubt. The urge to touch him, to chase away those bad dreams, comes over him and he carefully raises his hand. He cards his claws through his bangs, sweeping them off his face. Angel mutters in his sleep but doesn't stir.
Husk keeps stroking his hair for a long while, marveling at the softness of it. He knows how well Angel cares for himself and it shows. Slowly but surely his brows and breathing evens out. Angel seems to enjoy the petting, sighing softly and pushing up into the touch like a cat.
A creak from the staircase alerts him to Vaggie’s presence and Husk freezes. She looks at him crouched beside Angel on the couch, hand in his hair. She doesn't say anything, simply smirks and walks past them into the kitchen.
Miffed he had been caught but relieved it had been Vaggie, who knows to keep her mouth shut about it. He doesn't want the others thinking he's gone soft.
He pats Angel’s head softly before getting up to go do his job, missing the happy smile on Angel’s face.
— 3. Holding hands —
Husk steps into the nightclub where he knew Angel would likely be. It was long past closing time, the club empty except for the bartender and a waitress that were cleaning up—and Angel, slouched over the bar.
The bartender is restocking glasses onto the shelves, nodding at Husk as he walks up to the bar. Husk nods back and turns to look at Angel.
His eyes are glassy. He’s definitely high on something and Husk really hopes it isn’t because his drink has been spiked again. Then again, if he had been spiked, he probably wouldn’t be sitting here alone.
“Need a hand?” Angel looks up at him groggily. He stares unseeingly for a moment before his eyes focus on him, letting out a questioning hum. Husk extends his hand, expecting for it to be ignored or slapped away. I can handle myself, Angel had said last time he had offered his help.
To his surprise, after a slow blink from Angel, he takes the offered hand. Husk uses it as leverage to pull him up from his seat and Angel sways roughly on his feet. Once he’s sure he won’t faceplant on the floor, Husk drapes his arm over his shoulders and heads for the door.
The fresh air seems to clear some of the fogginess from Angel’s head and after a while he pulls his arm back. Husk misses the contact but lets him go.
They keep walking, Angel wobbling slightly, and Husk keeps an eye on him in case he decides to hit the pavement. He stops all of a sudden and Husk turns to look at him.
Angel’s expression is pained, like he wants to say something but is struggling to push through the alcoholic haze no doubt making his tongue feel like a lead weight. Husk extends his hand again in a silent offer.
Angel takes it with little hesitation and Husk wraps his fingers around it loosely, just enough to hold on comfortably, but still giving him the option to pull away if need be.
He takes a step and is pleased when Angel follows along easily. They walk the rest of the way to the hotel in a comfortable silence, hand in hand.
— 4. Dancing —
The suit Alastor had put him in felt stuffy and wrong. The bowtie constricts his airways and he fears his claws would cut through his pants if he so much as touched them.
The hotel was hosting a ball, an old timey one, with a crystal chandelier and puffy dresses and a string quartet. Where the hell they’d found one of those in Hell was a mystery.
Alastor had done most of the decorating together with Charlie, and he had to admit the lobby actually looked nice for once.
He's pouring a new set of champagne flutes for one of the servers to pass around when Angel struts up to the bar. His outfit is a mix of a suit jacket with a ruffled skirt, all in one. It really suits him.
“Hello, handsome. Care for a dance?” Angel purrs at him and Husk grimaces.
He raises a pointed eyebrow, looking at the champagne he was pouring, then back up at Angel, hoping he would get the hint. When Angel only stares at him expectantly, he grumbles. “I’m busy.”
“Not for long. Cherri promised to take care of things here while we hit the dance floor.” He says and points back to where Cherri is juggling three of the Eggboiz in front of a horrified Sir Pentious.
“No.”
“Come onnn, one dance?” Angel begs him, grabbing onto his free hand and Husk huffs. Damn him.
“Fine, but if she breaks anything she’ll be the one paying for it.”
Angel nods enthusiastically and whistles, gaining the attention of his explosive best friend who lets the Eggboiz drop as she makes her way over. Sir Pentious catches them in his arms and cries in relief.
“We’ll be back in a flash,” Angel promises her as he drags Husk out from behind the bar.
Cherri laughs and waves them off. “Take your time, lads.”
It has been a long time since he last danced, much less in a ballroom type setting. His mother had demanded he learn when he was little. He had thought it to be stupid then but is happy now it wasn't fully wasted on him. He assumes his position and Angel grabs his hand and sets the other on his shoulder.
Husk takes a step forward and Angel matches his movement effortlessly. They start with a simple waltz but Angel has him twirling around the dance floor in no time, not following the music in the slightest. The people around them give a wide berth at their unruly movements. Husk and Angel ignore them in favor of enjoying the moment to the fullest.
The song fades out and there’s a few beats of silence before the quartet starts up another song. Husk tries to pull away, having filled his end of the deal, but Angel digs his fingers into his shoulder.
“You said one dance,” Husk grumbles and Angel pouts.
“One more. Please?”
Angel was typically not one to beg, except in his overly acted porn films, so Husk couldn’t possibly deny him. They continue dancing, this time to the beat.
As the evening goes on, Angel rests his head on Husk’s shoulder and their dance turns into soft swaying. Husk lets his eyes fall closed and enjoy the closeness. The casual touching is becoming easier every day and he loves the way it’s opened Angel up. It’s admirable, really.
It’s also making it harder for Husk to keep his feelings at bay.
— 5. Cuddling —
With all of the exercises and lessons Charlie has put them through lately, Husk has slowly started trying to break out of his bad habits.
He has cut down on both his gambling and drinking, his usual pastimes, and had to come up with something else to do to stave off the urges. Something more productive or stimulating, as Charlie had suggested.
So he had taken up reading. Niffty had found a box of books in one of the rooms that he had dusted off and picked through. He had started easy with a mystery novel that had been far too predictable in his opinion. It had kept his head and hands occupied, though, which was the intended goal.
He had finished two other books after that one and was working through a fourth one, a romance novel this time. It was on the shorter side, thankfully, as he doubted he could read any more of this romantic hubbub without gagging.
He would never admit it, but it was somewhat nice of a read.
So there he was, reading the second to last chapter in bed at midnight. The couple in it had finally gotten their shit together and confessed in the most cliché way at their friends’ wedding. Right as they’re about to kiss, there’s a knock on his door.
It’s barely a brush of knuckles on the heavy wood, but he hears it clear as day in the stillness of the night. Perks of having enhanced hearing.
He gets up reluctantly to open the door, and finds a roughed up Angel standing on the other side. His hackles rise immediately at the sight of his torn shirt and bruised wrists, but bites his tongue. Whatever he’d say would only make it worse, he bets.
“Can I come in?” Angel asks, uncomfortable. He rubs at his arms and he looks so pitiful Husk couldn’t have turned him away even if he’d wanted to. Husk steps aside, opening the door wider and Angel steps in, still hugging himself.
“What happened?” Husk asks as he lets the door shut behind him, trying his best to keep the growl out of his tone. He doesn’t quite succeed.
“Hm? Worried, pussycat?” Angel lilts, trying to cover up his hurt with his usual facade, but Husk isn’t having it. Angel deflates and runs a hand through his hair. “Val got pissed off, as usual. Nothin’ new.”
“Angel, that’s not–”
“I didn’t come here to be lectured, alright?” He snaps and Husk shuts his mouth. Angel looks so tired, eyes flitting about, not really taking anything in. “I just.”
He doesn’t continue and, on habit, Husk prompts him softly with a hand to his arm. Angel stiffens but doesn’t flinch. Something in him seems to settle at the touch and his shoulders sag.
“I didn’t wanna be alone,” Angel finally admits in a whisper. “Not tonight.”
“Sure. You can take the bed. I’ll be fine on the floor,” Husk offers, intending to pull away and grab his book and pillow, but one of Angel’s hands grabs onto him before he can move.
“No! I want to sleep with you.”
Husk frowns. He’s repeatedly told the spider off for coming onto him, set his boundaries. As much as he wants to help him he won’t do that. “You know I don’t do sex, Angel.”
Angel looks up at him, startled, and backtracks quickly.
“I didn’t mean it like–! Ah shit.” He rubs his forehead and groans in agony. “I just want to sleep. Just…not alone.”
Husk’s frown eases as he realizes Angel really just wants to sleep next to him. No funny business involved.
He’d like that.
“You sayin’ you want to cuddle?” He can’t help but tease and with the way Angel tries to hide his embarrassed blush Husk knows he’s hit bullseye. “Come on then.”
He drags Angel to his bed. With one hand he picks up his book and places it on his nightstand, before lifting up the covers and letting Angel slide under them, then sliding in behind him. He doesn’t let go of Angel’s hand for a second.
He reaches for his bedside lamp but is stopped by Angel’s voice.
“Did I interrupt your reading?”
Husk looks at the worry and shame written on his face and tries his best at a reassuring smile.
“Yeah, but it’s alright. It’s a pretty shit read so I don’t mind.”
“What’s it about?”
Husk starts explaining the key moments and plot points of the novel, all the while rubbing slow circles into Angel’s side. Angel hums as he talks and quips about the stupidity of the oblivious couple, his eyes slowly falling shut, words slurring together.
Husk chuckles and agrees that they shouldn’t have waited so long when it was obvious they liked one another from the start. By the time he’s finished talking, Angel is softly snoring against his chest.
Husk daren’t let go of him to turn off the light now so instead he just pulls him closer, shielding him from it. He sets his chin on top of Angel’s head and keeps his arms tight around him. If Angel wakes up in the middle of the night and hears him purring, he doesn’t mention it.
— +1. Kissing —
It’s been a week of blissful sleep and Angel thinks he could get used to this. The way he gets to curl around Husk at night, the scratches on his scalp, and the comforting rubs against his back that often lull him into sleep. He’s been waking up feeling rested and…and happy.
He doesn’t remember the last time he’s felt this happy.
He looks at Husk now, fast asleep next to him, snoring into his pillow and mouth hanging wide open. Who woulda thought that a grump like him would turn out to be so affectionate.
Angel is truly grateful.
Husk eventually blinks his eyes open while Angel is scrolling through comments from his latest shoot, and he hums low in his throat. The sleepy blinks are accompanied by a tightening of his arms around Angel’s waist and a warm syrupy feeling spreads through his chest.
“Mornin', handsome,” Angel says, whispers really, and Husk scrunches his nose. He had found out Husk gets embarrassed by sweet words and pet names. So obviously, he’s fully abusing this knowledge now.
Angel pokes his nose and Husk glares at him with barely awake eyes. He grumbles something intelligible into his pillow and Angel snickers.
“I’ll call you handsome whether you like it or not. You’ll just have to accept it.”
Husk rolls his eyes dramatically and when Angel only laughs, he huffs and squeezes his midriff again. He starts rubbing circles into his sides soon after and Angel melts.
He enjoys the attention and the warmth for a long moment before he drops his phone to propose they head down for breakfast. The adoring look on Husk’s face gives him pause and the syrupy feeling in his chest is back with a vengeance, making all of his limbs feel like jelly. He doesn’t notice he’s leaned down until he’s kissing Husk. It’s just a chaste press of lips but it has a full body shiver going through him.
They part but neither leans back. They linger, breathing the same air, the morning sun their only witness.
Angel’s stomach rumbles loudly. Husk snorts.
“Hungry?” He grumbles, clearing his voice when it sticks from disuse. “Want me to get us something?”
Angel shakes his head. “I’ll go, I need to shower anyway. You just rest your pretty little head.”
Despite Husk’s agreeing hum, he squeezes him tighter and Angel taps his nose again to let him go. Husk huffs and lets go, immediately snuggling back into the blankets when Angel gets up.
Angel leans over and presses a kiss to his forehead, then one on his cheek. Husk turns the barest bit, just enough for him to give one more kiss to his lips.
As Angel pulls on his robe and leaves a smiling Husk laying in his bed, he thinks again, I could get used to this.