"So your my sponsor, huh?" Angel flashed a playful smirk, leaning one elbow on the bar top and setting his pale pink furred head in his pink gloved hand. Both brows were raised up in intrigue towards the tall grey and white furred demon cat.
"I didn't volunteer." Husker growled, his black lips forming a grimace as his shoulders hunched, clearly unimpressed.
"Heh. I figured. Don't worry about it." The spider demon drawled then glanced around the bar before turning back. "I'm actually glad it's you. When Charlie told me I was gonna have a sponsor I for sure thought it was gonna be Miss Psycho Bitch. She's a real drag.." He exhaled heavily reaching into the 'bust' of his fluffy chest and pulling out his red Hellphone. He had got as far as to turn it on and see a voice message and a few missed messages but had not inspected any of them yet, nervous about what he would find waiting there.
Husk merely grunted vaguely in response, returning to his single player card game.
"So..... Any chance of a drink? Preferably somethin' stiff, I may need it." The cat demon gave him an odd look so the effeminate spider demon exhaled, "Yeh, yeh.. I know I would usually make some kinda sex joke but this no time for that.."
"Whatever you say." Husk replied unemotionally getting a glass and casually pouring him out a drink from the bottle he had been drinking from then slid the glass over.
"Oh. By the way Charlie thinks it's a good idea if we switch numbers, that way we can contact each other if we think we're gonna 'slip'.." Angel added casually deciding to be open the messages in his HarassApp first feeling it would be safer since he wouldn't actually have to listen to any voices. One of his gloved hands accepted the glass of cheap booze and lifted it to his lips. He took a slow but shaky sip as another hand rubbed his facial fluff nervously, those odd sclera eyes gazing at the screen as his pink pupils ran over the text.
~~~~HarassApp~~~~
CherriB: Hope your not dead Bitch, hit me up when you get this!
~~~~~
A smile curved the spider's lips for a moment at his best friend's message, she was always looking out for him. It vanished when he realised the rest were from 'Big Val'. The first couple were angry messages, written in all capitals uttering profanities and threats. This was the usual 'rage phase' that was the Pimp Demon's first reaction. The rest were sweet messages, or at least they would be if Angel didn't already know about Valentino's 'bullshit phase' this was always the tactic he used when intimidation and fear didn't work. These messages were filled with phony apologies and false promises of things being better. In times before this had been enough to win the spider back but he wanted to be better than this.. He needed to be strong.
"Hah! Good luck.. I don't have one.." Husk's rough response made the spider blink in shock as he came back to the present, looking up from his Hellphone.
"Excuse me?" Angel blinked again in disbelief. "You don't have a Hellphone? How is that possible? Everyone has a Hellphone!" Two of his four arms stuck out expressing his surprise at this information.
"Not me.. Never had use for one." The cat demon replied unperturbed by the spider demon's shock.
"So how am I supposed to contact ya if I need ya?" Angel Dust frowned in a slight deadpan expression. This was ridiculous.
"You don't.." Husk smirked making the spider demon roll his eyes.
"Well then, I'll just have to come find ya then, won't I?" Angel purred in a sultry voice reaching over to pet Husk, only to have his hand slapped away.
"Bite me.." The tall winged cat snapped back with a deep furrowed glare, he wasn't in the mood to be flirted with at this moment.
"Is that an invitation?" The spider demon smirked unable to resist the teasing, there was something very sweet about watching the tall winged demon in front of him get flustered by him. There was definitely an attraction there. Angel had always liked guys that were taller than him and a little heavier built but not too big. Husk definitely ticked those boxes for him and despite his rough edges and difficult to know persona Angel liked the fact that he didn't just fall at his feet and just want to screw him. He actually had to work hard to get noticed. It was refreshing.
".....No! Cut that shit out!" Husk scowled at the spider demon reaching for the bottle and drinking heavily.
"What, you not into guys.." Angel Dust raised a brow curiously. "I've flipped guys who've claimed that before.."
"Good for you.."The cat demon sounded bored rolling his eyes unimpressed. "And I never said I wasn't.."
"So what's the problem—?" He broke off as Husk reached across the bar, gripped the spider demon around his slim neck and hauled him close now scowling deeply.
"Did it ever occur to you that I don't want to be fucking used! I'm not going through that shit again!" He snarled before throwing the lightweight spider back down, making him flop down and slide off the bar stool. "That's it, I've had enough!" He added and swung the top of the bar that locked the door open and walked out from behind it, stalking towards the main doors of the hotel slamming them as he left.
"What the fuck!" Vaggie's voice screeched out. "Why did he leave? What did you do?!" The moth demon who had been on her way to the bar herself, most likely to get a non-alcoholic drink and complain about the Radio Demon hogging all her girlfriend's time, had seen Husk stalk out in annoyance and found Angel putting two and two together.
"Hey, it's not my fault he's sensitive, alright?" Angel scowled in annoyance, taking a defensive stance.
"You better hope he comes back!"
"Pffft, of course he'll be back.." The spider flashed the moth demon an unconcerned look though internally he was cursing himself for causing Husk to leave in the first place. "Where else is he gonna go?"
"You don't know that!" Vaggie screeched before Alastor, who had obviously been attracted by her loud voice, manifested out of shadows between them.
"What is the commotion about?"
"This idiot chased off your barman!" The moth demon smirked as Angel glared at her for throwing him under the bus.
"You little bitch, why I oughta—" Vaggie had glared back with equal daggers as he started.
The Radio Demon merely chuckled which sounded like jumping radio stations making them both blink in shock by how unperturbed he was.
"I wouldn't worry about Husker, he'll be back and if he isn't by sunset I will summon him myself. Don't worry, everything is in hand." Alastor said smoothly flashing Angel Dust a knowing look. "Though, if you wish my old friend to be more amicable might I suggest switching tact.." He then began humming a happy tune unconcerned as both hands curved behind his back as he strode off, leaving both Vaggie and Angel looking somewhat confused.
........
The bar at Hazbin Hotel remained shut for the rest of the day, which actually left Angel Dust feeling a little depressed since he knew he was the cause of Husk leaving in the first place. It was long after sunset and the tall but lithe spider had found himself back on the turret roof snorting a little powder with a paper straw. He had naturally run out of booze and without his sponsor about and with now way to contact him and apologise he had slipped back into his drug habit. It hadn't helped that he had chosen to listen to the voice message left by Valentino after Husk had gone. It contained the Pimp Demon's final phase 'hard truths' this had been a message where he reminded the spider demon that he owed him, that at some point he was gonna have to come back if he expected that debt to be repaid.
Usually if he heard this type of message in a state of depression similar to this he would just slink back to Valentino like the coward he was but this time he hadn't. He had walked himself in his room, turned off his Hellphone and chucked it, not caring if the screen broke more since it was already bust.
Everything had gone to shit.
The drugs weren't helping him either. Not knowing what else to do Angel just flopped his head forward and let his tears fall. He was only sat silently crying into his four hands for a moment before the sound of scratching and gruff cursing hit his tiny unseen ears.
"Arh! Shit.. Son-of-a-bitch.. Why'd I think this was a good idea?" A clawed hand appeared followed by another and Husk's head appeared as he pulled himself up.
"Husker?" Angel uttered softly, staring at disbelief at the hulking demon cat who was clearly drunk but somehow able to climb the treacherous climb to get to this turret that looked beyond the huge letters of the hotel.
"Aw fuck!" Husk uttered scowling at the sight of Angel Dust on the roof already.
"Wait— wait.. Don't go.." The lithe spider scrambled forward when the cat made to go back the way he came. "Please... I'm sorry about upsettin' ya earlier. I didn't mean to.. Now will ya come up here and sit with me.."
Husk exhaled heavily flashing the slightly smaller and much skinnier spider demon an unreadable gaze.
"Ya may as well, ya made it this far.." Angel added offering two arms to help him up.
"Urh.. Fine.." Husk added stiffly before accepting one of the spider demon's hands and letting him help him up.
"So.. How come you didn't just fly up here?" Angel asked curiously as Husk settled himself down next to him on the roof.
"Too lazy.." The cat demon responded pulling a bottle of cheap booze and opening it with his sharp yellow teeth before drinking.
"Pfft.. What? So ya climbed?" Angel couldn't help but snigger at this, thinking that flying might've actually been the faster and lazier option. It felt good to be able to laugh, especially after such a crummy day.
"Yeh, yeh.. Keep laughing." Husk drawled after pulling the bottle away from his lips, his yellow eyes narrowed a little towards the spider.
"Heh, sorry. Been a rough day, I needed to.." Angel fell silent feeling a little awkward while gazing a little forlornly out towards the lights that was Pentagram City. The usual screams, gun shots and car hooks just a distant noise from where they were.
"Let me guess, the prick's been in contact.." Husk finally spoke after taking another swig of booze then offered the bottle to Angel who looked surprised but accepted.
"How'd you guess?" Angel took a mouthful of the strong booze before handing it back.
"It was obvious." Husky replied simply. "He wants you back, don't he?"
"You know it... But I don't want to go back.."
"He can't force you while your here, Alastor would consider that war.." The cat demon spoke before drinking then passing the bottle back to Angel.
"Yeh, the one time Smiles actually comes in handy." The spider demon sounded in agreement taking a large drought from the bottle. He then started sniggering once more as he returned the bottle.
"What?" Husk quirked a brow.
"Hehe, we suck at this sponsor-thing don't we?" The much younger looking spider demon laughed easily. "I mean, you've probably been drinkin' booze all day and I've been snortin' dust ever since I ran outta it... We are the fuckin' worst!" He continued laughing and couldn't help but smile wider as Husk chuckled with him. His depression lifting now that he was back on speaking terms with the one demon he had secretly been crushing on since the moment he manifested into the hotel. He felt a small stab of sadness knowing that he should probably not act on his 'boy crush' especially since Husk didn't seem interested in him.
The cat demon sighed peacefully then took a drink from the bottle.
"Your alright Angel.." He uttered making the spider demon turn his eyes back to him as they continued to pass the bottle trough their conversation.
"It's Antony, but nobody here knows that apart from my family." Angel admitted. It had been so long since someone had called him by his real name and it felt odd telling this to the cat demon next to him but he wanted to be honest.
"Well, it was obvious that 'Angel Dust' was a stage name.." Husk replied. "Anything specific you like being called?"
"Tony but I'm not too crazy about the others knowing right now.."
"Hmh. Your looking at the master of secrets.." The talker cat demon replied continuing the exchange of the booze bottle.
"Thanks. I like hanging out with you Husk, even if your not into other guys.." Angel smiled watching the cat demon finish off the booze and toss the empty bottle casually off the roof.
"Oh, we're not back to this again. I never said I didn't like guys!" Husk reached one hand over and pulled the lithe spider demon to him, holding him close and muttering, "I'll prove it.." He then pushed his lips squarely over Angel's and began kissing him. The kiss was soft and surprisingly gentle, it deepened a little when the cat demon used his claw-like fingers of his free hand to gently tilt the spider's pale pink kiss.
Whatever Angel expected to happen this was not it but damn, he wasn't about to ruin the moment and kissed fiercely back allowing Husk to push his tongue into his mouth. Usually it was him that had to initiate this kind of thing with punters, they expected it but it was nice to sit back and let someone else do it. A small noise left Angel's mouth mid-kiss as the cat hit a pleasurable spot. He didn't have to fake enjoying this, he actually was fit a change.. It was so indescribably beautiful that he didn't quite fully realise that they had parted lips and breathed in a slow but heaving way as Husk smirked at his dazed expression.
"Oh.... Wow.." Angel finally uttered and bit his bottom lip wanting to remember and savour this moment.
"Told you I wasn't straight.." Husk said feeling vindicated and the spider demon continued to look blown away.
"Nope, no.. Straight men don't kiss like that.." He agreed before finally seeming to pull himself back into the present. "Where in Hell did you learn to kiss?"
"Not in Hell, that's for sure.." Husk replied before getting himself up. "I'm gonna hit the hay. I need to be up for my shift tomorrow.." He then moved to the edge and began climbing down.
"Whoa.. Hold the fuckin' phone Husk. That was it? One kiss?" Angel looked confused at the fact that the cat demon was now leaving. What was happening? Was he losing his touch?
"Yup. One kiss.. That's it." Husk smirked moving across the roof with his wings out for balance.
"But that won't hold me over.." Angel followed him down, a little less gracefully since he didn't have wings or full motor control.
"Tough." The cat demon slid easily down off the roof and dropped off the side of the building, landing easily on his feet by using his tail to guide his fall. He held his arms out with a slight jaded roll of the eyes as Angel followed and he easily caught the lithe spider demon, holding him momentarily in a bridal carry before putting him down on his feet.
"Seriously? What have I gotta do?" The tall but slim spider dressed in his usual striped suit, hot pants and thigh high boots uttered in disbelief. This was the first guy to end things after one kiss. One mind-numbingly hot kiss that was making him hot for more and the guy wasn't putting out. Instead he opened the back door to the hotel and gestured Angel inside.
"Hmm, knock off the flirting shit and the persona. That might work on the clients but not a guy that's pan, I'm only interested if what you show me is the real deal.. Night Tony.." Husk said plainly before waving Angel Dust off and heading for the staff quarters, leaving him in the darkened hallway looking thoughtful.