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3 months.
Three entire months since the fight between heaven and hell.
Three months since Vox made a machine that shot a hole through the gates of heaven.
Three months since Angel left.
But in one absence, the hotel gained hundreds. Since Charlie and Sir Pentious had proved that redemption was possible, there was never a quiet moment. Guests checked in at every hour, the lobby always bustling with laughter and cursing, chaos at every hour. Vaggi and Charlie were always busy, whether it be helping with guests or running an activity, it was hard to track them down. Cherri was around more too, and when she was, she was usually hanging around the bar with Fat Nuggets. There wasn’t exactly anyone else to watch him besides Husk, so when he worked the bar, he expected to see them at some point.
“OINK”
“Oh, hey Nuggs! Ah- No, you can’t have whiskey, cmon.”
Husk picked him up and pulled him off the counter, going back to cleaning, the hotel had finally began to slow down before the night rush. The pig huffed in defeat.
“Ugh, where did that little fucker go?”
Husk looked up again to see Cherri walking around, looking under every cushion and piece of furniture, the few people in the lobby annoyed by her loud presence.
“Hey Cherri! You looking for the pig?”
“Yeah! He got into my makeup again, I think he needs food.”
Husk looked down at the pig who lay by his feet and picked him up, now seeing splotches of color on his face that shouldn’t be there.
“He’s right here. I’ll feed him, hang on.”
Husk held the pig in one arm and kneeled down to grab his food from one of the cabinets, when he realized the bag was empty.
“Uh, Cherri? Where’d all his food go?”
Cherri was now seated at the bar, scrolling on her phone when she looked up.
“What? Is it gone?”
“Yeah, the bag’s empty”
“Oh shit. I mean, I guess we were gonna run out eventually, but I don’t have a clue where the fuck Angie bought pig food in hell.” Cherri responded, and they were both quiet for a moment at the name drop.
Husk snapped out of his grief and thought for a moment, shrugging, “I’m sure I can figure it out, I’ll go. Make sure he doesn’t get into anything else.”
“HA! Like that’ll stop him, but yea, I’ll see ya.”
Husk nodded as he grabbed his things and left, exiting the building without turning back. Now where the hell was he going to find a pet store? If Angel was here, he’d just ask him… Husk pushed that thought aside, he knew he wasn’t coming back, no point in dwelling on it now.
It wasn’t like they didn’t want him back, quite the opposite, frankly. They had all reached out to him, over text, calls, fucking letters, Charlie even tried to storm in there and take him home, but they couldn’t even get in the building. Security had quadrupled since battle, and the Vee tower had become impenetrable, a prison for Angel, his personal hell.
Husk finally arrived at what appeared to be a pet shop, and stepped towards the entrance when he paused. The florescent lights of the building across the street caught his eye, and his attention was stolen as he realized he was back at the casino. The same very casino that he had been to all those months ago. The casino when he saw Angel in drag and realized he was in love with him.
“No, I shouldn’t- he wouldn’t even-“ Husk muttered to himself, trying to talk his way out of going, even when he found himself walking that direction.
“…Whatever.”
Husk walked inside and his eyes lit up with excitement, the memories of satisfaction and greed making him sick with envy. That should be him, gambling and getting drunk as a skunk. But not tonight, he wasn’t here to win money, he was here with the slightest hope that maybe Angel was here.
He walked up to the bar and ordered a whiskey, on the rocks. He took small sips, and glanced around the room. The demon performing was painfully not Angel, their voice was fine, but nothing as silky smooth as the spider’s was. Husk still watched respectfully, but didn’t pay much attention. While observing the room, he saw a small balcony that he hadn’t noticed last time, and decided to close his tab and take a smoke break.
Husk entered the balcony, adjusting to the cold, harsh wind. For hell, it still managed to get pretty cold at night. He pulled out a cigarette and reached for a lighter, when he felt a hand on his shoulder.
“Need a light, Whiskers?”
Husk jumped at the voice, and turned his head violently.
There, standing in front of him, was none other than Angel dust, in the same dress he had seen him in all those months ago.
“I- Uh- A-Angel…”
“Ha, jeez, kitty, never seen you this startled before! It’s just me.”
“Angel, it’s been 3 months…”
Angel’s smile dropped and he paused, taking a puff from his own cigarette and leaning on the railing.
“I know.”
The two were silent, neither sure how to talk like they used to, things felt violently different now, since Angel had left.
“…Your pig misses you.”
“What?”
“Fat Nuggets, you know, he just sleeps on your bed all day and whines at me, I never know what he wants but apparently right now it’s to eat all Cherri’s makeup, the little bastard.”
Angel looked at Husk for a moment, expression unreadable, before laughing. He laughed for a moment, before his giggles began to turn into quiet sobs.
“Woah, hey, hey- Angel, what’s wrong? Talk to me.” Husk coerced as he softly grabbed Angel’s hand.
Angel’s voice shook as he began, “I fucking hate living with Val. It’s the worst, Husk. Everyday I just blackout, I’m so fucking tired, but I can’t rest because he’s on a fucking power trip!”
“…But, I also can’t stand the thought of putting you guys in danger, of messing up again…” Angel whispered as the tears kept flowing.
“Angel, I’ve trying to tell you this, we aren’t mad at you! You were forced to be a spy, against your will, you had no choice! Why would we blame you for that?”
“Because! I’m the reason the hotel was attacked! I’m the reason Cherri almost died-“
“No you’re not! Vox had eyes everywhere, if it wasn’t you, it would of been someone else. Pentious was a spy, do any of us hate him?”
“I mean, no-“
“Exactly! Cherri’s fucking in love with the guy! If we wouldn’t hate someone who agreed to spy on us, why would we hate you, someone who wanted nothing to do with it, someone who’s only ever helped the hotel?”
“But what if it happens again? What if-“
“Then we’ll be there to help you, Angel. Look at me.” Husk took Angel’s four hands into his own, and Angel looked at him, eyes still sparkling with tears that threatened to spill.
“I promise, I won’t leave. Ok? We can help you. But we can only do that if you come back, so come back home. Please.”
“…Why do you care about me so much?” Angel whispered, almost to himself, as he broke eye contact with Husk.
“Because I love you, loser.”
Angel looked back at Husk longingly, expression wide eyes and flustered, and Husk just smiled and squeezed Angel’s hands tightly. They shared a long look, before Angel pulled him into a hug.
“I love you too.” He whispered into his ear, and Husk hugged him even tighter.
Angel was the first to pull away, rubbing his eyes and smiling at Husk.
“You ready to go home, Legs?”
“Yeah, I think I am.”