Work Text:
Angel had been sleeping in his bed with Fat Nuggets curled up beside him. Angel had nightmares often when he slept alone, but thankfully tonight was not one of those nights. He had been getting closer to Husk recently, slowly since they had the talk outside the bar where the cat demon had pulled him out of. He was so very grateful to have Husk in his life, especially as more than someone to flirt with constantly. Angel and he were friends and Angel had never really had any other friends except Cherri and Fat Nuggets. He might have feelings for Husk. He had been genuinely interested when he started flirting, but he hadn't known him, and now he was more interested, but he was sure it was unrequited.
Husk knew that Angel was sleeping still. He smiled softly at the image of Angel and Fat Nuggets sleeping. The cat demon was currently working the bar early in the morning. He saw a man coming inside, definitely someone he'd never seen or met before. The man closed the door loudly, apparently not caring that this was a hotel and it was early in the morning. Husk already did not like the man. He looked like a moth demon. The man sat himself at the bar just as Angel had come down after waking up. He’d come down to see Husk and maybe get a drink. Sure it was early, but he really just wanted to talk to Husk. Husk who had a customer? Oh fuck. Angel couldn’t help himself from walking up beside the cat demon behind the bar, not about to sit beside fucking Val.
“Well, and I thought I had a night without a nightmare only to see you first thing in the morning. What the fuck are you doing here, Val?” Angel asked, already knowing that whatever Angel said that upset his boss, he would pay for later, but he just couldn't help himself right now. The blonde was suddenly aware of the effect of being close to Husk had on him. He felt braver. The cat demon's jaw dropped a bit and his eyes went from Val to Angel.
“Oh, this is Val,” he said, but then Val’s eyes went from Angel to glare at the bartender.
“Only, Angie gets to call me that, right baby?” The moth demon's face quickly turned into a smirk at Angel, who sighed, really not warning Val to keep talking. Especially in front of Husk. Angel looked at Val pleadingly.
“Val, please just leave,” Angel asked.
“But I came here for a drink, baby, and to get to know the new beau,” Val hummed in his low voice, then went back to eye Husk. “I assume that would be this…simple demon?”
Angel wanted to go back to sleep and take Husk away so they didn't have to deal with this and he really didn't want husk to hear any of what Val was about to say. Why did Val have to ruin everything good in his life? Angel bit his lip. “We aren't-”
“And so what if I am?” Husk said at the same time Angel had spoken. The spider demon tried not to obviously blush at his words, especially with Val there. Then, Val started smoking his red cigarette.
“Well, first off: Warning about dating Angel: make sure the slut doesn't give you any of his diseases, he's annoying, he never shuts up, he’s absolute shit in bed, he died from an overdose, he worked with the mafia when he was alive, and the best thing. I'm sure you want to know the real name of the man you're so in love with. I am the only one who knows that his real name is Ant-”
“Would you just shut the fuck up already? Go to another bar, if you're going to be a douche,” Husk interrupted Val’s speech of bullshit. Husk couldn't give a shit about the assholes' opinions of Angel or anything else.
“Okay. I’ll be nice. Angie cakes, you must remember all of our fun we've had together for so many decades. I still can't believe you left me for this absolute dump and this thing. When it inevitably doesn't work out, your side of the bed is still there,” Val hummed, leaning very much into Angel’s personal space. Angel tried to move away but then inhaled the smoke. Suddenly, he didn't know what he wanted. Husk looked at him and Val, smirked widely, knowing exactly what he was doing. The moth demon spoke lowly in his ear. “”You'll be back. You’ll get bored. You always do. I own you. You will be forever mine, bitch.”
Angel shivered at that and Husk noticed. He glared at Val and “Get out of my bar, unless you want me to escort you.”
Angel was still in a shaky daze when Val raised his arms dramatically in surrender. Food now. He eyed Angel as he left. The spider demon couldn't move out of shame and terror of Val. What if Husk was disgusted with Angel the way he was himself already? What if he didn't want to talk to him anymore? The blonde bit his lip, trying not to let any tears escape.
“Are you okay?” he heard Husk asking him quietly, trying not to scare him. Angel tried to nod before remembering why they had become so close recently. Being real. Being honest. He shook his head and turned to look at his friend.
“Im- I'm so sorry. I hate the way I act with Val and I hate myself and I'm just sorry. He’s right, though. I am dumb and a slut and basically everything he said was true,” Angel said. Husk had made it very clear through their growing friendship that any physical act was Angel’s decision. He loved this man. Wait what? Eventually he kept his eyes on Husk. He really wanted to hug him. “I know this is weird, but can we hug?” Everyone at this point, especially Husk, knew that Angel wasn't much of a hugger. The cat demon smiled softly at the blonde and nodded.
“Of course,” Husk responded softly. Angel smiled and and then he wrapped his arms around his friend and pressed his face close against Husk’s shoulder. Angel wanted to be as close to the cat demon as possible. He made the world a better place just by being like this. “Also,
I assume you dated that fucker? Why? He owns your soul.”
“Well, he didn't own my soul when we were dating, that was after he manipulated me. Also, to be fair, when I first got to Hell… I was so lonely my entire life and he kind of just appeared and he acted so kind and I somehow fell for his bullshit… for so many decades. Anyway… How’s that for being real?”
“First off, thank you for being honest. I appreciate it. Second off, don't hate yourself because you're a very brave person, Angel. You have a great heart and you are a loser like me.”
Angel couldn't help but grin widely into the cat's shoulder, not wanting to break their embrace quite yet. He may be a little scared about these feelings he felt about Husk, but right now it was okay. He could just be here and not think about things that had nothing to do with Husk. HIs past with Val had not scared Husk off. Angel was so grateful for this man.
“Well. thank you,” Angel hummed softly in response, still not having pulled out of their embrace.
“For what?” Husk responded.
“Just… thank you,” Angel said simply. He was thanking him for existing, for continuing to be in his fucked up life, for being forever kind, understanding, and patient with the Spider. Angel was so soft for this man. Fuck.