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It’s the holidays season and Husk is keeping a watchful eye around every corner of the hotel…
He had heard stories about Angel pulling pranks on everyone and apparently Christmas time was one of the worst! Even during the holidays he still found a way to screw with people, like the year he filled Vaggie’s stockings with condoms or the time he took Niffty’s favorite duster and wrapping it up so she couldn’t get it back till Christmas.
Husk had a feeling that this year it was going to be his turn since this was going to be their first Christmas together at the hotel and he wasn’t going to fall victim to Angels holiday pranks.
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It was a few days into December and so far Angel hadn’t gotten to Husk yet so he was starting to let his guard down a bit thinking that it was someone else’s turn this year.
One morning Husk walks by the kitchen to grab some coffee before heading to the bar and sees Angel sitting at the kitchen table already with his cup.
Angel: Mornin’ Husky! Want some coffee?
Husk: Eh sure, why not-
Just before he stepped into the kitchen he feels his ear twitch as if he was trying to warn himself about something, he looked around the room for a moment much to Angels confusion.
Angel: What- What the fuck are ya doin’..?
Husk: I just feel like you’re setting me up for one of your bullshit holiday pranks…
Angel scoffs over dramatically with an offended tone in his voice.
Angel: I would NEVER do somethin’ like that to you Husky! Please think better of me!
Husk continues to look around the room until he realizes he can’t see anything unusual and that he was probably just paranoid.
Husk: Yeah… Maybe I’m just-
Just when he is ready to walk in he looks above his head and his eyes so wide, right above the doorframe was a small bundle of mistletoe… Husk looks back at Angel with fire in his eyes when he realizes he’s been set up.
Husk: You sneaky fuck..!
Angel trying to act coy holding in his laughter the best he can.
Angel: Oh my, who coulda put that there..?~
Husk huffs and turns away to leave, not feeding into Angels nonsense.
Husk: Nice try! I am not kissing you!
The spider sits at the table smiling and chuckling under his breath taking another sip from his coffee.
Angel: I’ll get ya Whiskers…~
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Christmas is drawing nearer and Husk spends the next few days checking above every single door frame, looking for signs of Angel and a mistletoe above his head almost getting caught a few times but managing to avoid it which starts to makes Angel more and more frustrated.
Angel: I don’t understand it Husk, I give ya the most innocent prank and ya still won’t fall for it! Where’s ya holiday spirit?
Husk: Up my holly jolly ass..!
Angel: That’s kinky…~
Husk finally snaps on Angel after days of putting up with him and his holiday pranks.
Husk: Would you stop already! I don’t like the holidays and I don’t need you making it worse for me with your bullshit! Im not in the mood for your festive fucking jokes and I am definitely not kissing you so knock it off with this mistletoe shit!
Angel feels hurt, he knew he was annoying but he didn’t expect Husk to be this upset with him over something so small… He let out a soft huff.
Angel: Fine… I won’t bother ya no more…
Husk saw Angel go to walk away and suddenly felt a little guilty, trying to call out to him but the young spider wasn’t in the mood to hear it.
Husk: Legs, wait-
Angel: Merry fuckin’ Christmas prick..!
Angel turned away to walk up to his room, accidentally bumping into Charlie in his path with a hurt expression on his face that made Charlie worry.
Charlie: Angel..?
Angel tried to say something but ended up brushing her off and continued to storm back upstairs to his room. Charlie walked over to the bar to try and gather information from Husk about what happened.
Charlie: Husk… What did you say to Angel..?
Husk: He’s just pulling his holiday prank bullshit you guys alway been complaining about… He’s been trying to get me under the mistletoe..!
Charlie: Oh really..? Hmm I was wondering why there was so much taped up around the hotel…
Husk: Yeah well there’s your answer…
Charlie takes a seat down at the bar with Husk with a look of concern on her face, thinking to herself whether or not she should say what’s been going on with Angel, since it wasn’t really her story to tell she tried to remind as vague as possible.
Charlie: Look, I know Angel can be… A bit much around Christmas, but I think it’s just his way of coping…
Husk: Coping? How is putting other people through his bullshit coping?
Charlie: Angel has always has a… Very special way of showing people he cares about them, especially when Christmas comes… He’s usually really busy around this time of year at the studio, haven’t you noticed he’s been coming home late every night sometimes not even at all..?
Husk: Yeah but I thought that was just Angel…
Charlie: Not like this… He’s been so busy with work that he hasn’t had time to prank anybody this year, well Vaggie has no complaints but Im worried…
Husk: Fuck…
Charlie: The way I like to think of it is, if despite everything Angel is still going out of his way to do something as small as hanging out mistletoe, it means he actually really cares about you…
With Charlies words Husk starts to feel like a complete asshole for what he said to Angel, if he had know that this was Angels way of showing the people he loved that he cared about them maybe he would’ve acted differently… He knew he had to make his right…
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A few nights pass it’s its now Christmas Eve. Everyone at the hotel, and even some non residents, are celebrating with a Christmas Eve party, everyone except for Angel… Valentino had called him in to do a last minute take before Christmas day so he was away for most of the festivities. It made Charlies heart ache not to see him there with them but she tried to enjoy herself anyway, Rosie and Niffty baked cookies together, Cherri Bomb and Husk took charge of preparing holiday drinks for everyone, and Alastor and Charlie sung Christmas carols together. Toward the end of the night is when Angel finally made it back to the hotel, Charlie was ecstatic running up to Angel and wrapping her arms around the spider.
Charlie: Angel! You made it back!
Angel was exhausted but it made him smile to see that Charlie was so happy to see him, along with the rest of his friends. He swiftly returned her embrace.
Angel: Of course baby, I wouldn’t miss this Christmas party!
Angels gaze suddenly focused on Husk who had separated himself from the party and return to the bar as if he was suddenly uninterested in the events when he showed up which crushed the spiders spirits even more…
Angel: Just… Just lemme freshen up a bit then I’ll be right back down…
Angel broke away from Charlies hug and went to head up to his room, passing by the bar hoping Husk would say something to him but he didn’t… He completely ignored him… The spider could feel tears pooling in his eyes as he headed upstairs to change. When he got to his room he was greeted by his pet piglet pawing at his boots and squealing softly, something else that brought a smile to his face.
Angel: There’s my handsome boy! Come to daddy!
Angel bent down to pick up his beloved pet when he noticed something strange, there was a ribbon wrapped around the piglet with what seemed to be a note attached to it.
Angel: What the hell is this..?
Note: Come down to the bar…
Husk~
Angels heart skipped a beat when he read the note Husk had left behind for him, he was still hesitant but he was curious to know what this was all about… He took a moment to freshen up and change into a pair of pink and white silky Christmas pajamas before grabbing his piglet and heading back downstairs to where everyone was.
Angel dropped off Fat Nuggets in the living room with everyone, he watches on as the piglet becoming acquainted with Charlies own pet kitten and trot away together. Knowing is pet has someone to keep him occupied for a moment he hesitantly and skittishly heads over to the bar where Husk was waiting for him. Angel took a seat at the bar where it was just the two of them… Before Angel could say anything Husk slid him over a vodka cranberry.
Husk: After tonight, I thought you could use something a little festive…
Angel felt his heart ache slightly, picking up the glass in his hand and swirling the cocktail around a few times before placing his lips on the glass and taking small sips of the fruity drink.
Angel: Thanks…
The two sat there in silence for a moment, the older cat trying to figure out what was the right thing to say… Finally he cleared his throat and spoke up breaking the awkward silence between them.
Husk: So… Holidays are rough for you huh?
Angel: Well they ain’t exactly so holly and jolly for me if that’s what ya askin’…
Angels response left the older cat’s heart aching with guilt, the young spider placed his drink back down on the countertop.
Angel: Is that the only reason ya call me down here..?
Angel asks hesitantly, afraid of what his answer was going to be. The old cat exhaled deeply picking up a bottle from behind the counter, taking a swig before speaking up.
Husk: No… I wanted to apologize for being a dick a few days ago, I didn’t realize that all that bullshit you do was because you cared…
Angel: You think I would take what little free time I have to go through the trouble of hangin’ up mistletoe all over the hotel if I didn’t care..? ‘Course I care…
Husk: I know- Well- I know that now…
Angel picks the glass back up, taking another sip of his drink, while he does that Husk reaches back down underneath the bar and takes out a small rectangular box sliding it across the counter to Angel.
Husk: I got you a little something…
Angel: Y-You got me a present..?
Angel blushes softly picking up the small box from the counter and taking it in his hands.
Husk: It’s nothing fancy! I-I did know what to get you so I grabbed something I knew you would like… It was the prettiest thing I saw…
Angel rips the paper away and opens up the small white box to reveal a hand mirror with a golden frame, the young demon is confused at first and lifts it up to look at his reflection when he realizes what the purpose of this gift was he blushes profusely… He snickers softly before laughing out loud and gently placing the mirror down on the bar countertop.
Angel: Whiskers… Ya so fuckin’ corny…!
Angel continues to laugh softly, he thought that it really was a sweet gesture while Husk stands there flustered and slightly embarrassed.
Husk: Y-Yeah yeah whatever! I knew you probably weren’t gonna like it! S-So I got you something else! Something you’ve actually been wanting!
Angel stops laughing when he realizes he might have offended Husk as if he didn’t like the gift that he got him.
Angel: W-Wait! No! Th-That’s not what I-! Mm!
Angel is cut off by Husk leaning over the bar and pulling in the spider planting a soft passionate kiss on his lips, Angel is shocked at first but doesn’t hesitate to kiss him back. The old bartender’s kiss was tender and warm, sending a trembling warmth through the spider’s whole body, when Husk pulled away all he could see was Angels red blushing face. Almost too stunned to speak he finally manages to get somewhat of a sentence out.
Angel: W-What was that for..?
Husk: What? I thought those were the rules?
Angel: Rules..?
Angel is confused at first but in the mirror that sits on the countertop of the bar something catches his eyes, hung up above his head a small green plant with little white bulbs along the stem and leaves… Angel lets out a soft laugh before looking back over at the old bartender.
Angel: Mistletoe…
Husk: Wonder who could have put that there..? Gotcha!
The pair both start laughing with each other, Angel putting his hand on the bar, Husk looks down for a moment before taking his own and placing it on top is the spiders and gently rubs his thumb across the top of his hand causing them both to look up at each other at the same time, smiling warmly and blushing softly.
Angel: Merry Christmas Whiskers…~
Husk: Merry Christmas Legs…~
~The end~