Chapter Text
“What kind of fucking punishment is this?”, Husk asked, clearly peeved. Fur bristling as Alastor only took an unbothered step towards his property .
“Come now, Husker. I’m sure you’ll enjoy some time away from the bar. I’d go as far as to say it’s a reward, really.”, the freak’s smile was sharp and knowing, his words selected carefully as to keep appearances in front of Charlie.
The princess clapped her hands together, smiling innocently.
“That would be amazing! Angel can get a little-“
“Unreliable?”, Vaggie rose a questioning brow.
“- distracted ,”, Charlie settled with a small, awkward laugh, looking over at Angel on the lobby couch, “so someone keeping him on track when shopping would be really helpful.”
“Then go yourself. I’m not in the mood.”, Husk crossed his arms, uncomfortably. Today was a really bad day to go out.
Most days, when the bartender woke up, he’d grumble at his ridiculous reflection and just go on with his day. Today, however, was different. He saw his reflection and barely stopped himself from smashing the reflective surface.
Sure, during his overlord days he thought he looked ridiculous, too, but at least then he took care of himself. Looked forward to something in this pathetic excuse of an afterlife.
Hell really felt like hell today, and Husk just wanted to drink himself to sleep.
“You’re never in the mood.”, Vaggie shot back angrily, “you’re going to help because you’re staff .”, she emphasised. There was no negotiation there.
Alastor’s smile couldn’t be wider. The fucker knew it was one of those days. He knew Husk was going to be miserable and he relished in the fact.
Normally, on these days, Alastor would feign pity. He’d send Husk to his room early, only to show up there and belittle him. Pet him like a fucking stray. Make the cat stare into a mirror as the radio freak brushed him.
‘Look how cute you are!’
‘You’d do well to take care of yourself, Husker, you’ve really let yourself go.’
‘You’re lucky I’m so fond of cats, aren’t you?’
Always trying to break the former overlord. Finding his twisted pleasure in watching someone once powerful purr pitifully as he’s being brushed.
Once Niffty had asked if she could join in. It had been the first time Husk heard Alastor threaten the small woman.
‘Husker is mine , Niffty. You’d do well to remember that.’
Why couldn’t Alastor just kill him like the rest of the souls he’d own? If Husk didn’t know any better he’d think Alastor was getting off to his suffering.
“Geez Whiskers, I’m not that bad company.”, Angel finally spoke from the couch, hand over his heart dramatically as though offended.
Husk didn’t respond. He couldn’t in fear of throwing up whatever booze had had for breakfast. He could only look up at Alastor, golden eyes pleading .
‘Don’t make me do this. Not today.’
“Have a fun trip, Husker! I’ll give you the rest of the day off upon your return.”, Alastor only smiled sadistically.
“Awe! You’re being so nice Alastor. Maybe you should try your hand at redemption, too?”, Charlie exclaimed happily, her eyes much too soft and innocent for hell.
Husk excused himself as those in the lobby chatted, going to the bathroom. This time actually throwing up.
——
“Honestly, you blow some money on crack once and Charlie decides ya need a babysitter.”, Angel rambled a bit as the two walked, already a few shopping bags into their trip.
Food had been the priority, thankfully not taking too much out of the bartender. The places they went to were thankfully void of many patrons- though that could have been due to the fact they bought ‘organic’ things. How that worked in hell, Husk didn’t care.
If expensive taste led them to places with no people, the cat demon could probably get through this. There had only been a few more things on the list, consisting of cleaning supplies. Likely for Niffty.
But that also meant they’d have to go back to the hotel.
Back to Alastor.
“You alright, Husky? You’ve been extra quiet.”, Angel’s surprisingly gentle voice startled Husk out of his thoughts.
The cat demon looked up, watching Angel’s expression furrow in genuine worry. Ever since what had transpired at the club, the two of them had inevitably grown closer. They spent hours together at the hotel talking before going to bed. Bitching about Valentino and (very occasionally) Alastor.
Husk would like to say they’re friends. And that maybe he’d even enjoyed Angel’s company beyond friendship. But that was something Husk intended to keep secret until his double death.
He didn’t want Alastor hurting Angel.
“I’m fine.”, Husk turned away, looking at the ground for a moment, regretting it the second he caught glimpse of his form, looking straight ahead instead.
And Angel didn’t push it. Not yet, anyway, likely hoping they’d get to talk about it back at the hotel. At their little sanctuary, even if Husk only really felt safe with Charlie around.
Yet he couldn’t even tell the princess .
“Oh! Now look at this,”, Angel purred, stopping by a window. It had been a white one-piece with red accents, “let’s see if they have other colours.”, the arachnid decided for both for them, grabbing Husk’s arm before pushing past the many people waiting to go inside.
There was a bouncer of some sort at the door, yet let Angel Dust in without a second glance. He did look down at Husk, but seeing the vice grip Angel had on him he let the cat through, too.
And that’s when things got really bad.
Angel gasped lightly as he noticed something in the distance, muttering a ‘c’mon, Husky!’ Before jogging off, leaving the cat demon to fend for himself.
The shop was packed . Sinners piled upon sinners. There was ear piercing shouting that came from two demons fighting over a dress.
Some baby crying.
People on phone conversations. People were gossiping, whispering, yelling and screaming and it felt as though all of it had been done right by Husk’s ears.
The cat demon flattened them as best he could, trying to drown the sound out as he tried to walk forward. Where Angel ran off to.
But with every step someone bumped into him. Grabbed him. Pushed him.
Someone stepped on his tail, but before the cat had a chance to do so much as hiss in pain, someone else pushed his wing in a way that forced Husk to turn around.
Husk no longer even knew which way he should go. He looked around, Angel had been tall, after all, but didn’t immediately spot the spider. Cat vision, being as shit as it was when people were up close, meant that every fast moving blur caught his attention. Even if for a split second.
Husk wanted to scream . To tell everyone to give him some fucking space. He couldn’t hear himself think . Couldn’t see anything because of course every other demon was taller than him.
And then he started purring.
And that. That really pushed the ex-overlord over the edge.
Husk urgently pushed himself through the people. Uncaring as to how much force he put into it. He just picked a direction and shoved himself towards it, ignoring annoyed words and sharp eyes following him. It had honestly been a miracle he even still held onto the groceries. And that the paper bags hadn’t ripped to absolute shreds.
Before long, Husk found himself against the wall, breathing in relief. He placed his back flush against the marble, looking around desperately as he slid down to a seated position.
For a moment Husk tried to cover his ears. To drown all the voices and noises. To drown out his own purring.
“What the fuck is wrong with you. Why are you making this noise?!”, Husk desperately asked as he looked down at his chest, as though his body was a separate entity. As though it would answer.
“What about this makes you fucking happy ?”, he asked again, his clawed fingers retracting from his too-large ears, instead grabbing one of his wings.
It was an attempt at distraction. He hated those fucking things, anyway. Not like he used them, either. So husk began to pluck his own feathers. One by one at first, yet soon turning to a handful.
“Are you a masochist ? Why are you purring!?”, Husk grew desperate, his craws turning bloodied. His wing burned. The cat demon could feel his eyes gloss over. Threatening to spill tears.
When was the last time he cried ?
Husk grew desperate. The vibration in his chest only grew louder.
The ex-overlord reached his other paw to the wing, moving both hands to grab along where the bones of his wing were- specifically the radius and ulna- and squeezing .
He had every intention of breaking the useless limb. Pushing forcefully from both sides. Feeling the uncomfortable stretch. The way the wing, as though sentient, tried to free itself from the grasp.
The purring was still there. Still-
“Stop. Purring .”, at this point, Husk was genuinely begging. Yet right before he knew a sickening crack would sound, gentle hands pried his claws away.
‘Husker, you know I hate when you break yourself like that’ , Alastor’s voice echoed in the cat’s mind, casing Husk to flinch. Flinch away from the grasp, subsequently letting go of his wing.
The limb sat lower than the other one. Bleeding and trembling. Hurting.
“Husk, what’s wrong? Talk to me, Whiskers.”, a coherent voice finally came through, Angel’s gentle face coming into view. The only coherent person in the entire space. His features were twisted in worry, eyes desperately trying not to look at his companions massacred wing.
Husk couldn’t explain. Where does he even start?
Angel sat directly opposite him, trying his best to shelter Husk from the onslaught of people. Giving him as much space as he could.
“I can’t.”
“Can’t what, Husk? What’s going on?”, Angel was visibly distraught, yet tried so hard to stay calm for the bartender.
It looked as though Angel was about ready to cry, too. He didn’t understand. But neither did Husk- so how was he supposed to explain it?
“Can’t stop purring.”, he could barely speak above a whisper. His words sounded pathetic- not to even mention how stupid his words had been altogether, “why can’t I stop? What is there to be happy about?”, he asked Angel desperately. Begging for an answer. For anything.
“Cats purr when they’re scared too, Husky. You’re ok. Breathe for me, please.”, Angel shifted where he sat, reaching his many hands out to try and comfort Husk, yet stopped the second the saw the cat demon flinch.
Husk tried to focus on the words. To breathe as evenly as he could. He swallowed thickly, trying to map out everything he saw on Angel’s face. Count every freckle. Every spot of pink.
Breathe.
“Can I get you anything?”, Angel asked weakly, as though he was about to shatter. As though seeing Husk like this hurt him just as bad.
Husk shook his head.
Breathing.
He could feel the purring fade. The rumble slowly die out. Soon replaced by the painful reminder of what he did to himself.
Husk dared to look over at the wing. Pathetic and ugly, feathers a bloodied mess.
When the cat demon looked back at Angel, he found the arachnid had followed his gaze, watching the wing with nothing if not utter horror.
It then dawned on Husk what part of himself he’d just shown the arachnid. What a pathetic display he’d presented. There was a crushing, sobering wave of shame that hit the cat demon.
“Did… you find what you were looking for?”, Husk asked casually. As though nothing had transpired.
Angel looked back into golden eyes, bewilderment clear.
“Are you fucking kidding me right now, Husk?”
“I’m asking if we can leave.”, the cat demon clarified, slowly getting up to his feet. Picking up the shopping bags that sat untouched beside him.
He needed a drink. Really badly, too .
“Can we- of course, I-“, Angel stood somewhat frantically, clearly shaken. He tried to reach for the bags Husk was holding, yet the cat demon’s flinched away again, pressing his back against the wall.
“I’m fine.”, Husk tried to downplay the action, as though it wasn’t about not wanting to be touched.
“Let’s just leave.”, Angel didn’t take offence, retracting his hands and raising them as though surrendering, stepping back to lead Husk towards the exit.
This time round, Angel looked behind him constantly, making sure the other man was following. The arachnid went as far as to push people out of the way in clear annoyance, making sure Husk had enough space to walk.
Husk hated it .
Pity.
Come one come all, look at this pathetic husk of a man .
Thankfully, they had been out of the building quickly. Yet a tense silence lingered all the same. It was clear by Angel’s body language alone that the spider demon had a million questions, yet didn’t know how to ask them. Which had been for the better, seeing as Husk desperately didn’t want to answer any of them.
“What, uh,”, Angel swallowed thickly, as though scared Husk would shatter if asked the wrong thing, “what happened?”
“Nothing happened.”
“That was absolutely not nothing .”, Angel wasn’t having it. He was often too rash and loud, yet was capable of patience where he needed. Like right now.
Husk sighed, deeply.
‘Cats purr when they’re scared too, Husky.’
He looked down at his paws. At the claws. At the ridiculous way he looked.
“I hate this body. It’s just a bad day.”, Husk couldn’t bring himself to look at Angel.
“Oh. Do you have those often?”, there was genuine worry there, one Husk didn’t hear much from the spider demon.
“No. Alastor wouldn’t like that. It’s why he lets me drink so much.”, Husk hated that even talking about himself a little is beginning to reawaken this hatred.
Get the fuck over yourself .
“What… do you mean?”, Angel asked warily, as though afraid of the answer. The ex-overlord didn’t want to explain. Didn’t even want to talk anymore. And yet a little part of him really ached for the chance to let things off his chest.
To burden others with his problems .
“I mean that doing this much-“, Husk lifted his pained wing, finally gaining enough courage to look up at Angel. To watch that soft, scared expression twist, “-will put me in shit with Alastor for at least a month.”
“We can just say we’re were attacked or some shit. He wouldn’t know-“
“He’ll know,”, Husk interrupted. He appreciated what Angel was doing. What he was trying to do, “this is what he was hoping for, anyway.”, the cat demon shrugged.
“He sent you out hoping you’ll hurt yourself?”, Angel clarified, bewildered.
“He… I think he likes to take care of me. It’s some fucked up power trip for him.”
Angel swallowed uncomfortably.
“Should I bandage it up for you? Or-“
“No.”, Husk spoke firmly, stopping dead in his tracks, catching the spider’s attention, “on that note try not to talk to me when he’s around.”
“What? Why? What about the bar after work?”
“He gets really fucking possessive . He doesn’t let Niff near me when this shit happens, let alone ‘outsiders’. Don’t make yourself a target, I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if you do.”, Husk spoke sternly, eyes looking up at Angel with the plea of a promise.
“But when he’s not around, it’s fine to talk to ya?”, Angel asked softly. As though the thought of not having Husk around constantly upset the taller man.
Husk tried really hard not to let himself hope like that .
“When he’s not around, yes.”, the cat demon confirmed, despite knowing full well that Alastor will likely be glued to his side for the following month. Sitting at the bar. Demanding his company.
Angel swallowed. As though understanding Husk’s thoughts.
“Husk?”
“Yeah?”
“That… that really fucked me up, I think.”
And that, Husk understood. Whenever Angel would come back to the hotel, ruined beyond belief, or whenever Angel would have a bad enough shoot to go out and try ruining himself- Husk felt this exact helplessness.
This void of dread at the pit of his stomach. His own powerlessness rendering him hollow.
“I’m sorry.”
“… is that what you feel when I…?”
“Yes.”
“… I’m sorry too, Husky.”, Angel had been hugging himself at this point. Seeking comfort.
This time Angel took a deep breath.
“I really care about you, Husk. I hate the thought of- I can’t- I just hope…”, Angel trailed off for a moment, looking up at Husk with so much turmoil that Husk just wanted to comfort him, “I want to be here for you, just like you always are for me.”
“… thanks, legs.”, Husk tried his best to smile at the taller man, despite all the discomfort he felt. Despite the physical and psychological pain.
Angel smiled back, lightly. The action enough to brighten up even hell. Even the previously mentioned pain seemed to grow subdued.
Angel suddenly coughed, cleaning his throat. Fidgeting and seemingly uncomfortable.
“You know I love ya, Husky.”, Angel couldn’t bring himself to look down at the cat, “both your form and you, in general. I can love it enough for the both of us, if ya need me to.”
Husk chuckled lowly, amused, feeling the weight on his shoulders lift, if even just a fraction.
“I love you too, Angel.”, neither questioned the nature of the words. What ‘love’ exactly entailed. But they both had a pretty good idea.
Angel blinked in surprise at the words, cheeks blooming crimson. Where the two were now, they couldn’t allow themselves the luxury of truly pursuing those words, yet Husk couldn’t help but hope that maybe there was a chance.
They resumed their walk back to the hotel in relative silence after, yet when Angel came to walk a little closer and decided to hold onto the paper bag with Husk, the cat demon didn’t protest.
At the very least, Husk had been glad that the first touch that followed his self inflicted injury had been one he wanted. Had been Angel.
That’ll get Husk through whatever Alastor will inevitably put him through.