Work Text:
"Do me a favor, and forget you ever knew me."
Angel's eyes shot open, gasping cold air in. For a moment, he couldn't recognize where he was. To his right, he could feel a window left open sifting in the chilling breeze from under Hell's red sky.
To his left, he felt soft pressure beside him shift.
He could feel Husk tucked in his arms waking up. Fuck. Angel bent down, grazing his fingers over his lover's fur as the older cat demon grunted.
"Everything's fine," Angel whispered, kissing the top of Husk's forehead. "Go back to sleep, baby."
"Bullshit," Husk grumbled, sitting up a bit more. Angel rolled his eyes fondly. Husk was never one to follow any of his commands without resistance. "Ya had another nightmare didn't you."
"Y'know you can't always protect me," Angel smirked.
"I can try."
"What, so you can protect me from my dreams now?"
Husk shoved him playfully before kissing Angel's shoulder.
"Was it the same one?" Husk asked. Angel sighed, pulling Husk back in closer, mindful of his wings.
"Yeah," the spider admitted. He closed his eyes, trying to recall any details that might have been new. "Valentino always has me kill both you and Cherri. This time I left before I could hurt you…"
Husk reached over to take Angel's hand. He knew that Angel's dreams often mimicked their reality. Back when Vox tried to take over both Heaven and Hell, Angel did run from the hotel to go back to Valentino.
Their time apart had broken every last shred of hope Husk had left.
The cat demon fell harder and faster than he'd ever fallen for anyone in life or the afterlife. It scared him shitless, and he knew he had to bring Angel back home. No matter what it took.
"He can't hurt ya anymore," Husk squeezed Angel's hand. "You're safe. You're actually free."
"It just doesn't feel real…." Angel failed to hold back a small sob. He brought their closed hands up to hold close to where the emptiness of his lost heart was.
He still felt chained to Valentino. He still felt like at any moment, everything that he and Husk spent working towards would be yanked at any given moment.
He still felt like he was able to be controlled.
The nightmares and the PTSD didn't stop Husk from being as soft as possible with Angel. The moment he was able to come back to the hotel, shame washed over him even though everyone never blamed him for any of his actions.
They took everything slow, intimacy only happening during vulnerable moments for each of them.
Husk nuzzled into Angel's fluff before looking up at him. "I can understand it not feeling real," he said. "But the reality is that you're back home and safe. Plus, no one's touching you under my watch ever again."
"Baby, how many times do I have to tell ya I can look after myself," Angel chuckled.
"Humor me," Husk grinned. He met Angel's lips with his own, their bond strengthening with silent promises.
"Don't think I can fall back ta sleep," Angel sighed when they broke apart. He knew Charlie had a busy day at the hotel for everyone.
"Try sweetheart," Husk encouraged. "I'll be right here if you have anymore nightmares."
Angel smiled down at him. "What'd I do to ever deserve you?"
"I ain't gonna respond to that question with something cheesy like 'you were yourself'," Husk scoffed. "What, you think I'm becoming soft like Charlie and Vaggi?"
The spider demon laughed lightly. "Nah kitty, you've always been soft but you're just now realizing it."
Husk snorted. "I guess love will do that to ya."
That was all it took for Angel to feel as if his insides were melting.
"See what I mean?" Angel teased, tugging Husk as close as possible. "You're just an old softy now."
"Only for you," Husk grumbled. "Everyone else can fuck off."
"Sure, baby," Angel giggled. He kissed the fur between Husk's ears. "Keep telling yourself that."
"Go to sleep love, or I'll bite you," Husk threatened.
"Promise?" Angel snickered. He felt Husk burrow into him even more if it were possible.
"Go. to. sleep."
"Alright, alright," Angel reached over to pull their layers of blankets back up. As the quiet layered into the room once more, Angel closed his eyes, realizing that the impossible truly happened.
He and Husk found real love in Hell.
And there was absolutely no way Angel would let anything, from nightmares or reality, take it away.