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“I'm just tired of being treated like shit,” Angel slurred, resting his head on the bar. “Fuckin Val…” he trailed off.
His quiet snores reached Husk’s ears a few minutes later. He'd passed out on the bar again. Which was fine, Husk had gotten used to it since he'd started coming around. He was all flirting and long legs when he first came in, like always. But as they drank more and more, Angel's mask fell off and the abused kid underneath showed. Husk wished he could just tell Angel to just fuckin leave, but he know some deals were hard to find a way out of.
Sighing, Husk walked around the bar and slid Angel into his arms. Angel may have had the height, but he was also a goddamned bean pole, so carrying him to his room wasn't that daunting of a task for Husk. Anyways, he'd gotten used to carrying Angel to his bed. He'd gotten used to Angel getting back to the hotel late, covered in bruises and all sorts of other shit Husk didn't like thinkin about. He'd gotten used to Angel talking his ear off until he passed out at the bar.
At first it had been annoying, having to lug Angel's skinny ass all the way up the stairs. But, after Angel had confessed to him that he only slept that deep when he felt safe, Husk didn't mind. He liked that Angel thought of him as a safe space. So, the least Husk could do was get him to the safety of his own room. To be honest, Husk enjoyed carrying Angel to his room.
These were the quiet moments, when Husk could admire Angel. When he could hold Angel close and just enjoy being with him. Without the pressure of Angel's knowing eyes on him. Without having to push down the feelings he held for the spider. These were the moments Husk would let himself love Angel.
Husk knew he couldn't say anything - Angel had too much shit going on to worry about Husk having some feelings for him. Angel was so used and abused, he didn't need a damned lover. He needed a friend, someone who would listen to him complain about how awful Valentino was and carry him home. He didn't need Husk's damn emotions complicating everything.
Inside Angel's room, Husk gingerly laid him onto his obscenely pink bedspread. The spider curled into himself, one set of arms wrapping around himself, while the other set reached out.
“Husk,” Angel breathed in his sleep. “Don't go.”
Husk sat on the floor and held Angel's hands in his own. He stroked Angel's head, waiting for him to unscrunch his face and relax again. Husk looked at their entwined hands; at the others beautiful face.
“Shit,” Husk mumbled. He was so in love with this damned spider.