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Upon returning from Consent, there was no need for Husk to man the bar or the front desk. Everyone left at the hotel was thoroughly fucked up enough and heading to bed. All including Angel Dust, who Husk— thanks to some liquid courage, was hoping to have a conversation with.
“Hold on just a second, Legs,” he called out, stopping him before he could get to the steps.
“What? Not sick of me yet?” teased the spider demon, turning around and moving closer to Husk.
“I wanted to tell you that was pretty impressive,” he draped a wing around Angel’s shoulder, urging him over to the couch in the lobby so they could sit together, “standing up to Val like that. That was brave. And real. I’m proud of you, kid.”
Of all the things he was expecting to hear, that was pretty damn low on the list. In fact, Angel couldn’t really recall the last time someone had told him they were proud of him and he could tell they meant it. “Thanks, Whiskers. But I doubt I’ll be feeling very brave when he has me back in the studio tomorrow.”
“Hey, it’s still a start,” Husk did his best to sound reassuring, “and it’s better than the fake shit you used to pull. Seems like our little talk from earlier’s been helping.”
“Why are you being so nice to me lately? You got a crush or something?” Angel was used to teasing people like that, but he wasn’t used to the way saying the second sentence made his heart skip a beat. He wasn’t used to hoping he would be taken as genuine.
Husk felt his face go red and looked away, suddenly feeling a lot less courageous now that the words had actually been said in some way. Maybe he wasn’t ready to admit his feelings. Maybe Angel was truly just kidding and to take him seriously would be a huge mistake. Maybe he should just go to bed.
“You okay?” Angel noticed his sudden change in demeanor and felt a pit form in his stomach, “I was just messing around, I didn’t mean to —“
“That’s the fucking problem,” Husk cut him off, “were you? Because I…I don’t really know what’s happening here, but I think I do. Like you, that is — fuck, that makes me sound like a kid but I don’t know how else to put it. It’s been…awhile since I’ve felt anything like this. I didn’t think I could.”
“Shit,” Angel, usually so quick to have something to reply with, was feeling unusually uncertain of what to say next. Maybe that was a part of being real, not knowing what to do.
“Shit?” Husk felt his breath quicken, regretting his confession and beginning to panic thinking of a way to come back from this. Maybe, with enough finesse, he could salvage the friendship.
“Not in a bad way!” Angel turned to better face Husk, “I just…I ain’t exactly used to this. And I didn’t think you’d…I mean, I’m not the type anyone actually wants to get involved with. Typically it’s more of a come and go situation.” He attempted to mask how sad of a statement that truly was by making a joke, but of course Husk saw through it.
“Not this time. We’re both stuck here, baby.” Calling someone ‘baby’ casually was just a part of the way Husk talked to people, but following what had been revealed as soon as the word left his mouth he felt a little more weight to it. It was no longer just a word.
Angel eyed him, cautiously inching closer, “And you ain’t gonna hurt me?”
“The fuck kind of question is that? Who do you think I am?”
“No, it’s not that…it’s…everything with Val. Trustin’ that someone really likes me. It’s hard.”
Hearing the explanation made Husk regret how defensive he’d gotten. “Well, I’m a gambler,” he reached out, gently putting his hand over one of Angel’s, “not a fuckin psychopath. And I like the real you, not the porn star.”
“Then you should probably know my real name was Anthony,” sharing this surprised Angel, and he was the one saying it, “not that I wanna use it. That ain’t who I am anymore but…that was me. Before I was Angel Dust.”
“Anthony, huh?”
“Don’t tell anyone.”
“I won’t. But it’s a good name.”
A comfortable silence settled over the two. Despite their shared uncertainty over what exactly to do next, there was something about just sitting with each other and knowing their feelings were reciprocated that brought some joy into their little corner of hell.
Not wanting to be too forward, but wanting to be closer, Husk wrapped a wing around Angel again — this time pulling him in closer. So close he could rest his head on the spider demon’s shoulder if he was feeling a little more sure of himself.
“This okay?”
“Course it is, sweetheart,” Angel wrapped one arm around Husk’s waist, putting another on his thigh, “anything you wanna do is okay with me.”
“Don’t you start that shit,” Husk lightly took Angel’s hand off his leg, “if this is gonna work you gotta keep being real with me.”
“Sorry, I—“
“No need to explain yourself. Just…tell me how you really feel.”
“I dunno,” that was the easiest way to put it. Angel didn’t know how to navigate an actual relationship. If it wasn’t about sex, drugs, or money he didn’t know what he was meant to do. His persona had become a safety blanket, ironically so considering the danger it gets him into.
“Well…I’d like us to — fuck, I can’t believe I’m gonna say this sappy shit, but I’d like us to spend a little more time having some one-on-one conversation before we get to anything else.”
Hearing this relaxed Angel, it was reassurance that this wasn’t just another screw. It was real. Genuine.
“I can’t believe I’m about to say this, but I’m glad,” Angel draped himself over Husk, making himself comfortable lying in his lap.
“I know,” Husk put one strong hand behind Angel’s head, admiring the demon he’d already gotten to know so well, excited to learn even more about him.
“That bein said…would a kiss be okay?” Angel’s eyes flickered to Husk’s lips, imagining what it would be like to press his own against them. To innocently show his affection and newfound devotion. Devotion that he is happy to give.
“I think I could make an exception for that,” now Husk was the one being flirty, leaning down until his lips met with Angel’s.
The kiss was soft. Non-invasive. The opposite of the ones Angel was so used to receiving on set. The opposite of anything he’d experienced, for that matter. And, for the first time in as long as he could remember, Husk’s heart felt full.
Yes, the two were stuck in hell, uncertain of their futures, their souls both trapped and owned by someone else, but their hearts were free to do as they pleased. And that’s exactly what they did.