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“I’m glad you found this place, Cherri.” Angel eyed the small-time casino-bar that looked like it belonged in some forgotten Vegas side street or maybe a dingy Brooklyn back alleyway. He clutched his purse closer to his side. This was exactly the kind of place you’d get robbed outside of.
“It looks gross.” She made a face. “But yeah when I heard your cousin, Benedetto, owns it, I knew you’d want to know.”
A vicious grin slashed across Angel’s face. “Benny the Bastard needs a little chaos in his life and we’re the ones to give it to him.”
Cugino Benedetto was even more homophobic than Angel’s father if that was even possible, maybe even more of a violent chucklefuck while he was at it. The last time Angel had caught wind of Benny both of them were days recovering from a hailstorm of bullets. If he got his ass shot again, Val would probably make him do torture porn and let him bleed all over the set.
They stepped inside and the place practically reeked of desperation. There was none of the glitz and glamor Angel heard had characterized casinos that came after his time. He’d seen it replicated here but this place wasn’t down with that. There was a large bar barely visible in the cigarette smoke haze and there was no sense any attempt at decorating had happened. Loud shouting and cursing came from the general direction of the blackjack tables and the din of whirring slots helped to drown out whatever garbage music that was playing.
“We’re going to get a disease just from being here.” Cherri shuddered.
“You’re not wrong.” Angel scanned for his cousin, not seeing him. Good they could do more damage that way. A soft laugh bubbled up out of him as an absurd thought floated through his mind.
“What’s funny about this place?”
“Nothing, just thinking how far and away it is from the big shiny cluster of casinos in the gambling overlord’s territory.”
“Whatever happened to him? I thought he was gone.” She pilfered a pile of chips from a nearby roulette wheel with fingers so swift Angel barely saw what was happening.
“He’s Husk.”
She turned to face him, jaw dropped. “No way!”
“Uh-huh.” He nodded. “He told me. I wouldn’t have guessed either and I saw him back then. Once he said it, the picture clicked. Val isn’t a big gambler. He can’t count to twenty-one.” Angel smirked. “So, we weren’t ever there much and back when I was alive, I used to break the bones of deadbeat gamblers for Henroin so gambling has no appeal for me.”
“What was Husk like then?”
“Val partied with him once or twice but I was usually too high to remember much or Val gave me some money and shooed me away to go play. But I remember this, Husk all dressed up was hot.” He drew out the word.
“Dressed up? You mean he actually owns a shirt?” Cherri laughed.
“Now? Who knows, lazy old grump,” Angel said fondly. “Then, he looked like he stepped out of the 1930s, pinstripe suit and jeweled cufflinks and all. I’d have jumped him, which is probably why Val gave me money and a boot to the ass to get me out of the private poker rooms.”
“You’d jump him now, shirtless and rumpled.” Cherri elbowed him as they made their way to the bar.
“I would not,” Angel sniffed. “It’s not going to be me jumping him. It’s going to be special.”
“Ang, if you get all hearts and flowers on me, I’m punching you.” Cherri drummed her hands on the bar. “Two scotch on the rocks.”
“No, make mine a negroni,” Angel corrected and the bartender shrugged. If any place had Campari-like booze, it would be a place his family owned. “And you best be prepared to punch me, sugar. I have it planned out. I’m getting Charlie to watch Fat Nuggets for the evening, give her some money to take him out with Vaggie for a walk in the park and to go see some movie that won’t scar her. She can take our short king of a king with her. I’m pretty sure Alastor never comes around my room. I know which drinks I’ll have on the vanity, what I’ll be wearing, the pretty sheets that will be on the bed and my carefully curated collection of sex toys on the nightstand.”
“It’s gonna happen on the floor behind the bar,” Cherri predicted. “At best, on the carousel outside the hotel.”
He made a face at her. “I’m saving the carousel for the second time.”
She shook her head, her pony tail brushing his arms. “You’ve got it bad. I’ve never seen you in love like this, Angel. It looks good on you.”
Yeah, she missed me falling for Val back in the beginning. Just hope he doesn’t think I’m stupid in love with Husk. Does he even remember that night in Consent beyond me standing up to him?
Thinking about the remembrance of Overlord Husk and his amazing tailoring, Angel let out a happy sigh and tipped the bartender when he gave Angel his ruby red drink. “It feels good, not gonna lie. Feels dangerous.”
“Love usually is,” she said, a touch sad. She glanced toward the ceiling and he suspected she was thinking of Pentious. Now there was a pairing he never saw coming. “Come on, I see a roulette wheel that needs a little cherry bomb.”
“Make sure we have a clear line to the door before you start blowing shit up.”
“I’ll just take out a wall for us to escape through, bestie.”
“Can I finish my drink first?” He waggled his glass at her.
“Well duh.”
“I wish I could get Husk to dress up for me,” he said as they meandered through the zombielike crowd. No one looked up from their vices, moaning at their cards, the slots and the spinning wheels.
“That has to be part of your Harlequin romance seduction plan. Get him in a suit and peel him back out,” she suggested.
He let out another happy sigh. “It is. I might actually need Al’s help for that part. ‘Al, insist Husk get dressed up for something and then fuck off to Rosie’s for the night. I’ll pay you, no favors.’”
“He ain’t gonna go for that. He’s a prick.”
“I know how to handle pricks, been doing it my whole life,” Angel argued, his attention getting snagged by a loud, deep laugh.
Cherri followed his gaze to the poker table in the corner. Husk sat there with a huge pile of chips. Some hussy stood behind him, pulling him into the valley between her boobs. Fuck, she reminded Angel of Tiffany and that was never good.
“It’s like Beetlejuice, we said his name too many times,” Cherri said.
“Huh?”
“Old movie but after your time. Probably one of the last things I saw in a theater when I was alive. You gonna let that bitch hang all over you man like that?”
“No, I am not.”
Before they could move, Husk slammed his cards down, four of a kind in twos. The look on his face was pure wickedness, arrogance and delight.
What I wouldn’t give to make him look at me like that!
“Another round!” Husk bellowed, weaving on his chair. His hanger-on steadied him and she reached for some of his chips.
Angel darted across the room and knocked her aside, some of the chips scattering. Cherri kicked the woman in the thigh and bent down to retrieve the chips.
“What do you think…Angel!?!” Husk widened his eyes and nearly slipped off his chair.
“You snuck off on Alastor,” Angel said.
“Gave me the night off,” Husk slurred. “Where’s my round?”
Angel looked at the impressive collection of tumblers Benny’s less than stellar staff had failed to clear away. “You’ve had enough. Let’s go home.”
“Seriously, you’re legless, kitty,” Cherri added, giving the woman on the ground another kick.
Husk shrank in on himself as if trying to make himself too small for Angel to grab onto if he needed to. “I’s fine, just a little dry. Needs a drink. Sit in or bug off, kid. I’s on a hot streak.”
“You’re too drunk to think clearly. I know what I’m talking about. Come on, Husk. I’ll get you another round at the bar but let’s cash in now while you’re still up.”
“You’s don’t tell me what to do,” Husk said petulantly.
“What would Charlie think?” Angel tried, knowing how stubborn Husk could be.
He waved him off. “You’s the one wanting redemption, nah me.”
“Hey, slut, this mook is mine. I’ve been warming him up all night. Go find your own mark.” The hanger-on had gotten back up and Cherri shrugged as if to ask did he want to take her on or did he want Cherri to.
Angel opened his secondary eyes as he glared at the bitch. “This one has been mine for months. He was never gonna give you anything, maybe a chip or two that you didn’t steal.”
“She stole from me?” Husk looked at the pile of chips. “Been trying to shake her all night.”
He hadn’t looked like he’d been trying hard to Angel but now wasn’t the time to argue. “You heard him, push off.”
“Or what?”
“Or I tell the charming spider that owns this place you’re harassing his cousin,” Angel said and her eyes widened. She might not recognize him – and really, how could the slut not? – she did know Benny obviously. She had no idea Benny hated Angel so his bluff worked. She took off.
“You in or not?” the pit boss asked Husk.
Cherri pulled the purse off Angel’s arm. “He’s out. Come on, Husk. Let’s get your drunk ass home. Holy shit, you have a lot of money here.” She started scooping chips into Angel’s purse.
The pit boss didn’t know if she was robbing Husk or helping and didn’t care. Husk made a token protest before giving up. He pulled out a cigar from somewhere and lit it.
God, those stink worse than cigarettes. It’s not fun unless you’re smoking them. With that thought in mind, Angel plucked the cigar from Husk’s fingers, rewarded with a disappointed groan. He took a few puffs and surrendered it back to Husk.
“Let’s cash you out,” he said to Husk.
“Yah said ya were buying another round.” Husk swayed his way off toward the bar.
“I’ll cash him out. You get him that drink,” Cherri said.
“You have my purse.”
She handed him a chip. With a shrug, Angel took it and chased after Husk who could barely put one foot in front of the other. He missed the bar stool entirely as he tried to sit and Angel caught him before he fell. Angel flipped the chip to the bartender. “Give me the whole bottle of Campari.”
The bartender caught the chip and handed him the bottle. Before Angel could let Husk have it, the hairs went up on the back of his neck. He dodged and a baseball bat slammed into the bar between him and Husk.
“What makes you think you can come here, puttana?” Benny growled at him and slammed the bat into Angel’s gut. He nearly dropped the booze.
“No one hurts my friend.” Husk stood up with dice in his hand. He tossed them straight down Benny’s opened shirt. One of them hung up on Benny’s array of gold chains and the explosion of the dice knocked him on the ass. Husk was too drunk to power them up to do more damage.
“Hey fuck head, leave Angel alone,” Cherri bellowed, waving a stack of bills before jamming them into Angel’s purse. Her hand came back up with a bomb which she hucked toward the bank of slot machines. “Come on, Angie, time to go.”
Husk had more charged up dice in his hand, staring at them like he didn’t know what they were. Angel grabbed them and hurled them into the glass shelving of booze bottles. This explosion hit harder. Barely avoiding the rain of glass, Angel grabbed Husk’s arm and dragged him along with him. Cherri caught Husk’s other arm and between them they muscled him out of the casino and down the street toward where she had left her motorcycle. She tossed another bomb at the front door for good measure. Once they stumbled up to her bike, they let go of their death grip on Husk.
“I wasn’t ready to go.” He swiped at Angel and fell into the gutter.
“You should leave him there,” Cherri said. “The old drunk is way drunk.”
“Yep but he always takes care of me when I stagger home from the studio high and hurting. I can’t leave him here. Our bigger problem is your bike don’t hold three.” Angel fished Husk up and put his hat back on his head. He wiped at the blood pooling on the rapidly forming lump on Husk’s forehead. Luckily, it wasn’t more than a scrape.
“I wanna go back,” Husk grumbled. “We’s go over there, better booze anyhow.” He lurched forward again.
Stopping him, Angel jammed the Campari bottle into his hand. “Drink up.”
“You could drive my bike but he’s so drunk even if I strapped him to you, he’s likely to take you both down.”
“No bike, let’s fly.” Husk spread his wings, nearly toppling over backwards.
Angel caught him by his suspenders. “Are you kidding?”
“Nah, fly you over the Pentagram,” Husk pointed up. “We’ll soar around like none o’ this shit matters.”
“God, you’re an obnoxious drunk, Husk. No flying. We’ll double die.”
“Guess you’re gonna have to run him home, hopefully before Benny the Bastard crawls out of the smoking ruins of his casino. I’d say just bag Husk and carry him but I forgot the barf bag express.”
“How could you forget it?”
“You and I were planning mayhem, not getting pissed.” Cherri shrugged.
“This tastes like piss.” Husk spat some of the Campari into the street.
“Yeah, Italian piss. You might want to take that bottle away from him. Husk’s already off his gut.”
“Gimme. You don’t appreciate fine liquor.” Angel took his bottle back and Husk sagged against him. His eyelids fluttered shut. “Oh great, hey, Whiskers stay awake you stronzo Vecchio.”
“Nah an old asshole,” Husk muttered.
“You are and now I’m going to have to fireman carry your fluffy ass before the mobsters get us. If you vomit down my back, Husk, oh wait. A cab! Cherri, quick.”
She flagged the cab down and Angel poured Husk into it. He climbed in after him and handed Cherri some of Husk’s winnings.
“More chaos another time, baby girl.”
“Yeah, yeah. Take the derro home. He’s gonna be fun tomorrow.”
Angel looked at Husk who was passed out against the passenger door, drooling. “Watch Al pick tomorrow to be a dick.”
“Hope you can sneak him inside before the Radio Demon sees him and knows to be a dick,” she said, shutting the door. She got on her bike just as bullets ripped through the air. Cherri flung a bomb back in the general direction of the casino as the cabbie floored it with Angel hanging out the window sending machine gun fire back his cousin’s way. Once they whipped around the corner, he sat back on the seat.
Angel stroked Husk’s arm. “You are gonna be miserable tomorrow.”
Once the cabbie got them home, Husk had roused a bit. Angel had capped off the Campari bottle and swept Husk up into a bridal carry. He laughed and kicked his feet like a kid. He put his hat on Angel’s head.
“God, you’re so drunk.” Angel couldn’t help laughing as he put Husk’s hat back on him.
Luckily, no one was in the lobby and Husk breaking into a loud, offkey slurred rendition of Dean Martin’s ‘Ain’t That a Kick to the Head’ didn’t seem to wake anyone up. Or at least no one gave a shit enough to pop their heads out and investigate. He managed to get Husk into his room and dropped him on his bed.
“It’s whirling.” Husk flailed as if he needed to steady himself.
“I bet it is. Here.” Angel rooted around, nearly knocking over Husk’s saxophone in his attempts to pull out the trash can. “See this, Husky? You puke here if you gotta.” He set it at the head of the bed. “Let’s get you outta your clothes, such as you wear them. One day, I’m giving you a fashion make over, babe and teach you to like good liquor. Campari is amazing.”
“Tastes like piss,” Husk muttered into his pillow.
He made no effort to stop Angel from taking off his top hat nor helped him get his pants off which was tricky with having to deal with the tail. At least Angel was no stranger to stripping men with tails. Husk didn’t even help Angel getting himself stripped to his boxers. It was hardly the first time he had to put the drunk bartender to bed but it was the first time having to drag him home from half a Pentagram City away.
Husk rolled onto his back, giggling at whatever his drunk brain was telling him. “Ya so tall,” he slurred.
“I’m aware and you’re a manlet, still a handful though.” Angel found an empty pitcher that probably had had some cocktail mix like lemon lightning in it and he filled it with water.
“I was winning,” Husk groused over the sounds of running water.
“You did amazing and I’ll give it back to you tomorrow. You know how winning streaks go, Husk.” Angel walked back into the bedroom and put the pitcher on the nightstand after pushing a deck of cards to the side to make room.
“They turn into losing streaks,” Husk replied mournfully.
“Exactly, so you stopped at just the right time. Now come on, lay on your side. You’re squashing your wings and you’ll regret it when you can actually feel something again.” Angel rolled him to the side so Husk could see the bathroom door in case he needed it later and didn’t mistake the front door and the hallway for the appropriate place to return the gallons of booze to the water supply. “And later we’re gonna talk about your boxers. For fuck’s sake, why are they so boring? I’m buying you some that aren’t like something grandpa would wear them.”
Husk’s answer was a middle finger but his arm dropped as he slipped into unconsciousness. Angel covered him up and kissed his cheek.
“Night, Husky.”
Angel returned to his own room to feed Fat Nuggets some treats and drink Campari while reading an insulting text from his brother. How the hell did he even get Angel’s number? It wasn’t like he’d heard from Nissy in years but inside the insults was some praise too. Arackniss didn’t like Benny any more than Angel did. He texted back a promise Arackniss could help trash Benny’s place next time along with a picture of himself giving Arackniss the finger.
Angel counted out Husk’s winnings and put it in his drawer for later. Husk might be annoyed at him for pulling him out of the casino but he’d appreciate having the cash. It was a nice thing to sleep on.
# # #
Husk woke to find himself in bed, shockingly enough. He managed to get to the bathroom before his bladder gave away. He puked about three seconds after he finished that need. Stumbling to the sink, he gargled mouthwash to get the taste of garbage out of his mouth. There was a goose egg on his forehead with a crusted worm of dried blood in it and there was vomit in his chest hair. How had he gotten home? How did he get the head wound? Did he throw dice down someone’s clothes?
Oh right, Angel and Cherri had been there. What the fuck were they even doing in that dive bar excuse of a casino? Angel wasn’t a gambler. Who knew with Cherri? After half assedly sponging the vomit out of his fur, he peeled his boxers off and staggered into his bedroom. He wanted to go back to bed and die. That was the only way his head was going to feel better. He didn’t dare flop on the mattress or he’d puke again.
Oh, someone had put his trashcan by the bed and there was vomit it in. Thank some higher entity for Angel and his forethought. Husk knotted up the garbage bag to cut off the acrid stink before it made him vomit more. He tossed the bag into the bathroom, put a fresh bag in the can and eased down onto the bed, his stomach roiling and his head exploding. Before he could even stretch out, someone knocked on his door.
“Drop dead,” he growled at it. Which one of the new fuckers didn’t know to leave him the hell alone, especially in the morning?
“Screw yourself, Whiskers. I have something for you. I’m coming in,” Angel yelled back.
“Not yet!” Husk rolled up to his feet and hurried to his dresser.
“I’ve seen your boxers, Huskie. You’re getting an upgrade.”
“There’s nothing wrong with my boxers only I’m not wearing any right now.” A scared cat yowl bubbled up out of him. He dug through his drawer, grabbing a pair.
“All the more reason not to wait,” Angel teased.
“Get fucked,” Husk said, regretting the words the moment they left his mouth.
“Not with you, not right now. You’re probably pretty stinky after last night,” Angel replied. “You did land in the gutter after all and you’d probably vomit on me if I tried to rail the feathers off you.”
Husk sniffed at himself as he pulled on the boxers. He did reek. He snagged a pair of pants from the floor near the hamper. No sense in putting on something fresh when he smelled this bad. “You can come in now but I ain’t in the mood, Angel.”
“Just park it on the bed.”
Figuring it was easier to say yes to Angel than get into a vicious argument with this hangover, Husk parked it. His stomach rolled again and he gagged, leaning toward the trashcan. Nothing came up.
Angel opened the door, looking far too bright and cheery for this morning. He had a bed tray in his hands and a basket over his lower elbow. He wore a red robe with pink hearts and he had on pig slippers. He and Lucifer could have a ridiculous lounge wear contest. Angel put the tray across Husk’s lap. “All the best stuff for a hangover. Exploding lemonade, espresso, drink that first, and then some pastina soup.”
Husk eyed him suspiciously. “What the fuck is exploding lemonade?”
“It has fizzy baking soda in it, kinda like Alka Seltzer.” Angel shrugged. “And then when you’re done with that, I have this.”
He pulled two bottles out of his basket. “Satan Sippers electrolyte drink, that should help your hangover. And later when you’ve eaten, this is my best shampoo. You’ll smell nice and fresh like strawberry pink sugar.”
“Just what I always aim for,” Husk grumbled without any heat. This was so sweet. Angel fluffed Husk’s pillows and put them behind him.
“You could stand to smell like strawberries, gattino carino.”
Husk arched his eyebrows. “Is cute kitty what you’re going with now?”
“Unless you’re acting like you did last night.”
“Did you call me an old asshole?”
Angel pressed a hand to his chest. “Would I do that?”
“In a heartbeat.”
“Especially when you’re being one.” Angel laughed and Husk sipped his espresso.
“Good coffee, Legs. Could use a little liquor for this hangover.”
“I thought about that but you insulted my liquor last night so to hell with you.” Angel grinned.
“I’m in hell,” Husk reminded him. “This hangover is making it more hellish. What did you give me that I insulted?”
“A passable rendition of Campari.”
“Ugh, no wonder. Bitter orange bullshit.” Husk made a face and traded the espresso for the lemon concoction. He sipped it cautiously and then quaffed it. He burped as the bubbles played in his belly and it settled a little after that. “That exploding lemonade helped.”
“Told you and here. You better not insult this.” Angel pulled a bottle of anisette from his basket. He dolloped the liquor into Husk’s espresso. “A little hair of the dog that bit you.”
“Oh boy, black licorice.” Husk rolled his eyes. “More Italian piss.”
“Keep it up and there’ll literally be Italian piss in your drink,” Angel threatened still smiling. “One last thing.”
He pulled stacks of bills out of the basket and put them on the dresser next to Husk’s ‘lucky’ dice. “Your winnings, minus whatever Cherri skimmed off the top.”
Husk’s eyes bulged. “I did that good?”
“You were way up when I yanked you out.” Angel sat on the bed with Husk, leaning on the footboard. He put his pig-slippered feet next to Husk’s pillows, getting comfy. “That’s why I wanted to stop you before you went all in and lost it all. You had that look in your eye.”
Husk sighed. “I’m sure I did.” He spooned up the pastina. One spoonful tasted like he needed more. The chicken broth and tiny star shaped pasta sat well in his stomach, helping to quiet it further. “What the hell were you and Cherri even doing there? You’re no gambler.”
“Nah and I was wondering the same thing about you.”
He looked away, reaching for the espresso. “A dive like that place is what I deserve. I only had a night off and it’s not that far from the hotel. I occasionally sneak off and gamble, can’t really resist it but I don’t go back to my old casinos. I…I just can’t. I don’t want to know what they look like under Alastor’s rule. Technically I still own them but…it’s not the same. He tells me my managers are doing fine but….”
“It would hurt to see it,” Angel finished for him, sympathy in his big eyes. Husk nodded. “I get it. Hey, if you still own casinos, are you like rich? Can you buy me something nice? Like a shirt for yourself. Or does Al rake it all in like Val does with my riches?”
“I don’t want to talk about it,” Husk snapped.
Angel shrugged. “Anyhow, I was there because Benny the Bastard owns that shithole casino.”
“Benedetto is definitely a bastard. How do you know him, kid? I hope he’s not someone Val arranges dates with for you.” Husk ate a little more and Angel dug in his basket coming up with a cornetto that he handed to Husk.
“He’s my horrible homophobe cousin. That’s the other reason I wanted to stop you. You broke the house and that made me happy.” Angel grinned, making swirling motions as if Husk didn’t know what to do with the cornetto.
He swirled the pastry in his coffee. “My sympathies. Benedetto’s awful even by hell’s standards.”
“He was just as bad in life.”
“Yeah but you ended up in a fight with him because you were trying to wrestle my dumb ass out the door. I remember that much.” Boy, did he regret that. The last thing Husk wanted was for Angel to get hurt trying to make up for Husk’s bad choices.
“Fighting is why Cherri and I went there. I always planned on blowing shit up.” Angel laughed. “Hell, my brother even got in touch after that. I haven’t heard from him in years.”
“You have a brother?” Husk shook his head, making the pain flare. He winced. “I had no idea.”
“You don’t need to know about Arackniss. He was impressed that we took out half of Benny’s casino. Benny used to torture Nissy when we were kids. My brother was always small for his age, got sick a lot as a kid. Brooklyn was not a great place back then.”
“Well, I appreciate the rescue before I lost it all because I would have, you’re not wrong.” Husk picked up the bowl and downed the last of his pastina. “Thanks, Angel. This helped.”
Husk rubbed the snout of Angel’s pig slipper. What he really wanted to do was run his fingers through the pink fluff above them, so much like feathers on a dog’s leg. Angel wouldn’t mind but Husk wasn’t sure he was ready to act on his feelings yet. He had more overthinking to do. Angel smiled happily at him and took a sip out of the anisette bottle.
“Glad it helped, Husky. When you finish it all, you get up and get in the shower. Let the steam help that head of yours. I’ll strip the bed of these gutter-water sheets while you do and then I have one more surprise for you.”
“Angel, you don’t have to do that.” Husk did not relish getting out of bed but nor did he want to lay in the filth all day either. “You don’t need to baby me.”
“No worries. I like taking care of you. Besides, Niffty will be thrilled to do more laundry. You’re wrong. I do want to know what her deal is.”
Husk managed a laugh. “No, you really don’t. Okay, fine. My spare set of sheets is in the closet. I’m done now.”
“Okay.” He got up and took away the breakfast tray before helping Husk up.
He leaned against Angel. “Did I do anything else really embarrassing?”
“You wanted to take me flying.”
“I did not!”
“Soar over the Pentagram. Probably had a full of other naughty ideas too.” Angel smirked.
Husk wished he could remember if that was true or if Angel was teasing. “Ugh. Sorry.”
Husk grabbed fresh pants out of the closet before stumbling into the bathroom with the bottle of Angel’s shampoo. It was freaky knowing he was naked here with Angel just outside the door. Any part of him that wanted to go back out there, nude, was far too hungover to contemplate it for more than a second.
Husk got the shower as hot as he could handle it and stepped inside. Damn, his shampoo is amazing. Husk took his time lathering up and rinsing the road filth and vomit from his fur and wings. He had to stand under the hot air blower for some time to get things to dry enough for getting dressed again.
Once he walked back into his bedroom, Angel had the bed remade and turned down and he was standing there with Fat Nuggets on a leash and his smaller litter box under his arm. Without a word, Angel put the litter box in the bathroom.
“Back in bed, gattino.”
“I can’t. I’m already late for work. Alastor is not any more forgiving than Valentino,” Husk lamented.
“Fuck that. In bed. Cherri and I are taking over your job today. She’s down there now and I’ll take the next shift. As far as Al’s concerned, if he asks, we lost a bet to you and this was the payment.” Angel shrugged, taking Fat Nuggets’ leash off.
“Thanks, kid. I mean that.” Husk climbed back into bed.
Angel covered him up and settled Fat Nuggets against him. “Someone to hug while you lay here being miserable.” He strolled over to the closet and opened it. “I found more than sheets in here.” Angel pulled out a three piece suit.
“Put that back,” Husk ordered, clamping a hand to his forehead because his own loudness spiked his headache. Of course, slapping a hand to his own head wound didn’t help matters.
“When you’re feeling better, I want you to put this on for me,” Angel argued.
“No way in hell, kid.”
“Oh, I can get you to do it.”
Husk hated the sultry tone in Angel’s voice did things for him, even in the hungover state he was in. “No, I won’t. I keep that suit as a reminder of all that I lost. I don’t want to wear it.”
Angel looked at the suit and back at Husk. “What if I buy you a new suit, would you wear that?”
Husk sighed and tried to melt into the bed to become one with it. Failing that, he asked, “Why do you want that?”
“Because you’ll look hot and I have places I wanna take you, places Valentino doesn’t haunt.”
Husk swallowed past the lump forming in his throat. “Talk to me when I’m not double dead.” He was going to regret that, wasn’t he?
Angel put the suit back and shut the closet door. “No talking. I’m just taking you shopping if I have to drag you there by your tail. By the way, I have your tv remote at hand and I’ve opened your Satan’s Sipper.” He gestured to the electrolyte drink on the nightstand.
Trying not to be terrified by the prospect of shopping with Angel, Husk drank most of the drink in three long swallows. “Needed that.”
“Yeah, should have brought two.” Angel sat on the bed again with his basket. He stretched out, no sense of sexuality, just a platonic physical comfort. He dug into the basket. “I’ll get you another one soon. Here, for that bump on your head. Next time, try not to face plant.”
He pulled out a cold pack and put it on Husk’s forehead.
“I wasn’t planning on it.” Husk held the pack in place, squirming on the mattress so he could get into a position where it would stay on its own but he wasn’t squashing his wings at the same time.
“I think you were expecting that barfly’s bosom to be a gym mat to land on.” Angel snickered.
“Barfly? Oh god, I nearly forgot her. There’s always someone who is willing to share the pot when your luck’s hot.” Husk blushed.
“I ain’t concerned about her but if you’re going to be burying your face in a great chest…” Angel fluffed his up.
“Not today, kid. I haven’t ruled out vomiting again,” Husk said woefully.
“I believe you. That was next level drunk, Whiskers.” Angel leaned over and kissed the tip of Husk’s ear. “Shut your eyes and get some more sleep. I’ll sneak off and get you some more Satan’s Sippers.”
“Sounds good. Thanks for taking care of me, Angel.”
“As if you don’t do the same for me all the time.” Angel nudged Husk’s hand with his.
Husk intertwined fingers with Angel, wishing to hell he felt better so he could stop overthinking and act. But for now, this was enough, Angel there taking care of him and his silly pig curled up next to him like he belonged there. This was exactly what his hangover needed. No, this was what his heart needed all the time. He’d finally found his time and place to open up the broken bits of his heart and be whole once more.