Chapter Text
“You good kid?”
Angel looked up to see a familiar cat staring at him, his brow furrowed in slight concern. Not too much to come off as pity, but just enough to show he cares. Angel flashed a smile and lifted his head off of the hotel's bar. He was hoping he would avoid this conversation, but he had to talk at some time. Angel quickly slipped on the familiar mask and nodded.
“Yeah, yeah. I’m alright,” he quickly replied, “Work was just a little extra rough ya know?”
He wasn’t lying, the johns today were not particularly gentle, and Valentino…Valentino was far worse. To say he was used to it was an understatement. He would get fucked, get drugs, and get high. Rinse and repeat. Though the last two stages of his coping were foiled by a certain princess of Hell and he was forced to stay off the drugs.
He tried in general, he liked making Charlie happy, but it just made work a million times harder. The only reason he’d been able to get through this all these years is the amount of drugs and alcohol he was able to consume.
That didn’t make it any less of a hell though.
“If ya say so,” said Husk and Angel was snapped out of his thoughts once more. But the pornstar could tell Husk didn’t believe him.
Husk was good at that type of stuff, always being able to see through the mask. Through everything. At first Angel found that annoying, Husk could tear down the walls that took so long to build just by calling out his bullshit. But ever since the song, it was nice to know he could tell.
It was nice to know that he cared.
Husk slid over a drink to Angel, something pink with glitters floating around the liquid. It was a different one everyday and everyday Angel enjoyed it. A lot of bars in Hell got a signature Angel Dust drink, but they all tasted like shit. Ninety percent sugar and barely any alcohol. Angel liked Husk’s drinks. It showed he actually knew him.
Even though he was glad to see his nightly drink in his hands, Angel’s hands shook as he tilted the glass towards his mouth. It always shook hard after nights like these. It always kept him on edge and his body showed that he was indeed hurting no matter how much he tried to hide it.
Annoying right?
He promised Cherri he wouldn’t relapse, that he wouldn’t do it again, but shit happens. Shit starts hurting and you become desperate quickly. That was a down side of Charlie taking his stash, Charlie also took his way to cope. If he couldn’t have his other ways to live. He had to resort to others. One he wasn’t all too proud to admit.
The shaking in his hands made the drink slip out of his grasp. Clattering to the floor with a loud shatter as glass flew all of the hotel's carpeted floor. Angel cursed as he felt the alcohol soak into the fabric of his jacket and gloves, which didn’t necessarily help the fresh wounds underneath.
“Ah shit,” said Husk as he grabbed a hand towel and a broom handed the towel over to Angel. Once he got to the otherside, Husk started to sweep the broken glass into the dust pan. Carefully avoiding stepping on shards with his bare feet.
“Thanks,” the Italian replied and started wiping down the bar. It was the least he could do for making a large mess.
Fucking stupid, ya just had to drop the drink did ya?
Angel sighed and tried to get the alcohol off of his outfit once he was done wiping the bar's surface. He felt his clothes stick to his body and smush down his usually pristine fur, making it appear flatter than the usual sexy pornstar cleavage it gave the illusion of.
“Ya not gonna remove your gloves?”
Angel immediately stopped wiping and clenched the cloth a little tighter than before.
“Why? Want me to strip for ya Whiskas?” Angel leaned over the bar, "Thought you’d neva ask,” Angel said in a sultry voice.
Husk raised an eyebrow, unfazed.
“Cut the bullshit. You know that shit doesn’t work with me,” Husk sighed, “Your gloves. They’re covered in alcohol aren’t they?”
Angel frowned, “Well yeah, but I can just leave ‘em on I guess. I'm gonna go up to my room soon anyway and I don’t wanna be slugging soggy gloves up the stairs with me while they drip all over Ms Princess Sunshine's carpet.”
Angel held his breath while waiting for Husk to reply. It was like with Cherri all over again. Angel would mess up, slip his words or some shit, and she found out.
It wasn’t like Cherri was mean about it. In fact, she helped Angel stay clean for a while. Offering distractions and comfort. Angel was kinda glad Cherri knew. She stayed by his side and cared for him, something that didn’t happen a lot.
But this was Husk, Husk would help sure but Angel hasn’t known him as far as he knew Cherri. He doesn’t know how he would react to this type of thing. Angel didn’t know how someone he loved would react.
Angel loved Val. But Val didn’t react well.
Angel sure as hell didn’t want the same reaction from Husk.
Husk sighed, “If you had wounds from work you could’ve just told me ya know?”
Husk went behind the bar to retrieve the med kit that he stashed there for whenever Angel came home bruised and battered. He pushed it over the counter towards the pornstar and stared at his gloves.
“Alright, what needs to be taken care of?”
Angel shook his head and pushed the med kit away from him. He winced as the soggy gloves snagged on his wounds. He could feel the alcohol sting them through the fabric.
“I’m fine kitty, I swear.”
Husk frowned, his eyes landing on Angel's forearms, “You’re bleeding,” he stated plainly.
Angel quickly pulled his arms off the counter defensively, “Husk it’s fine. I don’t need ya fucking help.
“A-Angel?,” Husk sighed and dropped his concern before pushing the med kit towards the pornstar, “Fine, I won’t press, but promise me you’ll take care of yourself?”
Angel nodded and stood up to leave with the kit and walked as fast as his sore legs could take him. He wanted to get out of this as soon as possible. He didn’t need a take three of the same fucking conversation. He could feel Husk watch him as he left, making the spider walk even faster and in turn almost making him slip on the velvet stairs on his way up to his room.
Fuck did Husk know? No no no, he can’t right? He just wanted to make sure my…injuries were alright. He’s just curious about what the fuck happened to me nothin’ more.
As Angel reached his room he felt exhaustion take him, his limbs feeling heavy and his movements were more sluggish. He ungracefully plopped onto the bed, covering his eight separate eyes with his arm in distress. He felt a slight compression on the bed and turned to face his pig who seemed to sense his misery, curled up next to his body and licked the spider's face.
Angel gave a soft smile before he was shook with sobs and finally removed his gloves. Staring at the deep red gashes that went up and down his arms, contrasting with his white fur and covering it in blood clots. He wanted to stay true to what he promised but he was so tired. He didn’t want to get up.
Husk. He promised Husk. He knew. They always did.
“Fuck,” Angel whispered and coughed out a dry laugh, “ohh fuck.”