Chapter Text
Vaggie's anger was amusing, as Angel Dust was able to observe for probably the thousandth time since knowing the woman. When she was angry, everybody could read it from her face, the sheer, deep, pure rage she seemed to exude with every fiber of her body. Her wide eye was fixed on Angel, lips pressed tightly together, prominent nose wrinkled, and hands tucked under her armpits as if a way to stop herself from lashing out at the spider in front of her, the source of her anger. Angel could feel the corners of his mouth turn up of their own accord as he leaned back and wrapped his tongue masterfully and demonstratively around the half-frozen popsicle he fished out of the hotel's non-functioning fridge. He narrowed his eyes slightly, his grin even wider than before, like a silent challenge. Vaggie snorted, yanking her hands from under her armpits and ruffling her light gray hair. Mission accomplished.
Vaggie was so effortless to mess with, had so many buttons Angel could push without difficulty, it was almost too easy. What did they even expect when they tried to rehabilitate sinners? Did they think he was really here to redeem himself? Did they assume he believed in their ridiculous little charity project just because Charlie had decided to trust in him for no reason? This is exactly what they got for literally scooping up the first whore off the side of the road. It was a ridiculous idea, a sinner who wanted to change. How long will he be able to pull it off before he lost the only bed that was not Valentino's? Had he gone too far today? Are they going to kick him out now? No, Vaggie yes, but not Charlie, the far too kind-hearted idiot that she was.
He even felt a little sorry, just a little. After the failed interview – what exactly had she wanted to accomplish? Did she think she could walk into Katie Killjoy's show, sing a song and everyone will give her flowers for it? Katie Killjoy of all people? The woman would probably start a fight with Lucifer himself to boost her ratings and even more so she definitely will never let Miss Sunshine and Rainbow mess with her – Charlie was looking sad and for a tiny moment Angel had even felt a little bad about it, but then…what had she fucking expected? That all of Hell was going to be cheering her on for opening a run-down hotel to achieve a goal that was not and will never be possible? All of them were down here for a reason and to think anything could change that was a lie. He had done her a favor by exposing her on camera. This way her ridiculous, impossible dream could shatter into pieces before she could get hurt.
But still Angel hoped they were not going to kick him out just yet and at least keep the hotel open for a few more months. He did not want to have to go back to Val quite yet. It had been so hard to get away from him, to at least separate his private life from him when he had to work for him. Even if his soul no longer belonged to the moth, he still had power over Angel, after all, he had nowhere else to go but him or this broken, rundown hotel.
"Uhm, Vaggie…" Charlie stepped out of the hallway, her eyes wide and her face even whiter than usual "the radio demon is here" the Princess of Hell urged a wide, forced grin onto her lips and Angel felt his heart sink into his heels. The grip on his popsicle loosened, and it almost slipped from the corner of his mouth before he was able to catch it. This could not be happening. Why would he be here? Why now? One of his hands moved to his throat, as if of its own accord, while he felt the ghost of the collar around it and nonexistent static filled his ears. Vaggie gave him a strange look, and he hurried to force his usual mask onto his face. Was he here because of him? Had he finally found a use for him? He forced his hands into the hem of his jacket so the two of them would not see his fingers trembling and straightened up. He could not allow them to see it. Even if Alastor had come here because of him, it was not something he could change. It was better for everyone if he kept his head down and if the radio demon needed him for something, went along without a fuss. He was an actor; he could do that. Angel forced his attention to the two women talking slightly away from him.
"Don't let him in, he…" Vaggie warned Charlie…or at least tried to. It was good advice, even as the Princess of Hell, Charlie would not be able to do much against the radio demon.
"Don't worry, Vaggie, everything will be fine. I can't just turn someone away. Maybe he wants to change" Charlie grinned broadly before returning to the door in order to let the monster behind it in.
"What's wrong with you?" Vaggie leaned against the armrest of the sofa next to Angel, her eye fixed suspiciously on the spider.
"Nothing" Angel grinned broadly and falsely. Vaggie raised a fine eyebrow in response, almost looking like a challenge "I just wonder what that radio prick is like in bed, Baby" Vaggie just huffed in response and stomped off fuming. Good.
Angel felt the static more than heard it when Alastor entered. He barely listened to what he had to say, the man who now owned his soul and had done nothing with it so far and was creepy, and he suddenly regretted not getting another pack of PCP from the vending machine after the battle. How was he supposed to know today was going to end like this? Charlie led Alastor further into the room. The gaze of his bright red eyes wandered to Angel for a few moments, his perpetual grin widening as he recognized one of his souls. Had he known Angel was here? Was he the reason the other was here, now taking this opportunity to pull his voodoo shit on the Princess of Hell? Had he dragged her into his mess? Even if he did not take the hotel seriously and considered Charlie a stupid dreamer, he never wanted to put her in such a situation. Charlie, who was nice to everyone and who probably puked rainbows and was the first person since Molly to think – however deluded that opinion might be – he could be better than he actually was. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Angel was getting ready to straighten up and look for a way to get Alastor out of here when he heard a familiar voice, accompanied by static, breath softly in his ear.
"Ah, I did not expect you here, my friend" the voice whispered in Angel's ear, probably so softly the others were unable to hear it, sending a cold shiver down his spine that was in no way pleasant. Even though Alastor had done nothing to him in the fifteen years he had owned his soul, he was still so much more frightening than Valentino could ever be "I would prefer to keep our acquaintance a secret for now" the voice continued unperturbed "this is nothing for our delicate princess to concern herself with, is it not?" Angel nodded gently and Alastor's gaze finally, finally, finally slid away from him. At least he knew now the radio demon was not here for him. Vaggie gave him another suspicious look.
"So, what's up with Mr. Smileface over there?" Angel forced himself to ask. Vaggie's eyebrow twitched, but she sank back into the sofa next to him while Alastor talked to Charlie.
"That's the radio demon" Vaggie replied, her eyes still fixed on her girlfriend who was talking to the most dangerous monster hell had to offer "you don't know him? You've been in hell longer than I have" she puffed.
"I was never big on politics" Angel shrugged. Vaggie sighed deeply and finally turned towards him as she started to tell him about all the atrocities the radio demon was known for and which Angel had long been aware of. He still pretended not to know any of this.
"He looks like a strawberry pimp" the spider just shrugged as Vaggie finished. She gave him another strange look, as if recognizing his lie, and yet dropped it to take Charlie aside again and hopefully, hopefully, hopefully convince him to kick Alastor out again before he could accomplish what he was here for – whatever that might be. And Alastor just stood there completely motionless, grinning his wide, familiar, inscrutable grin.
After that, everything happened very quickly. Charlie, the good-natured, silly soul she was, let Alastor stay and help her with her hotel. Alastor asked Angel what he could do, as if they never met and as if he did not own his soul, and the spider replied something expected from him, hopefully able to quell Vaggie's suspicions. Then Alastor summoned Niffty and Angel wondered if he owned her soul just as his own. And then, then Alastor made an entire bar – greenish, with card decorations and completely out of place with the hotel – appear in the lobby and for a moment Angel thought to himself it might be nice to have a bar in the hotel after all. But then he saw the man behind the bar and his heart slipped into his heels for the second time today. Fuck, this too.
Angel almost didn't recognize Husker, he looked so different today. Gone were the tailored suits and gold cuff links. Instead, he wore only scuffed trousers with suspenders over his shoulders and a worn top hat on his head. He wore neither shirt nor shoes. His dark fur was disheveled and no longer neatly groomed. The feathers of his wings were dull and Angel could see some of them missing, whether torn out or otherwise lost, Angel was unable to tell. And he looked tired, tired like a man who lost everything he ever owned, and for a moment, Angel felt corrosive, malevolent satisfaction in himself. Husk had deserved to lose everything, he had brought it on himself after all. He would have felt sorry for him if he had not dragged Angel into the abyss with him. And yet, Angel's traitorous heart skipped a beat when Husk snapped at Alastor in that familiar deep baritone, as if he had a choice to be here. And Alastor played along, bribing him with cheap booze, whether it was a sick joke or meant to manipulate Charlie, the spider was unable to tell. And Husk went along with it, of course he did. What other choice could he have?
Husk's golden gaze finally swept across the room as he brought the bottle to his mouth and Angel was able to pinpoint the exact moment his former overlord recognized him. His eyes widened slightly, the bottle almost slipped from his grasp and he opened and closed his mouth as if to say something. Angel clenched his fists. Everything inside of him was screaming to take out one of his guns and blow the cat's head off his shoulders. Fuck Charlie, fuck Vaggie, fuck Alastor. Husk deserved it after what happened. Husk more than deserved it, and yet a tiny, little, traitorous part of Angel longed to throw himself around his neck and beg him to make all the way it used to be. Husk had never hurt him physically, never left bruises or scrapes, and the rest…He had always been so tender, Angel had never met a man who had been so tender not only before and during sex, but after as well. But then he remembered what happened, and he turned his head away hastily, breaking eye contact before he could lose himself in that gold again and clenching his fists to keep from reaching for his weapons. Once upon a time, Angel had thought he would never be able to love and hate someone as much as Valentino. Then Husker, the gambling overlord, had won his soul in a poker game.
***
17 years ago
The day Angel Dust met Husker, the gambling overlord, for the first time should have been just like all the other miserable days before. Valentino had dragged Angel to a casino with the not particularly original name 'Dime Cat' in the gambling district, a huge, multi-story building with glowing billboards and tall, broad demons in fancy suits at the entrances. Angel cared little about any of this, he may have many liabilities, but luckily gambling had never been one of them. Why lose his money in a game when you could buy drugs with it? It made little sense to him. And so, the spider paid little mind to his surroundings as Valentino was led by a large dog demon into a private gaming room, past regular patrons, shiny card tables and flashing and beeping slot machines. He paid just as little attention to the host, who shook Val's hand and pointed to a red velvet-covered armchair at the other end of the table. Only for a moment Angel's gaze slid over the winged cat in the tailored suit with a golden bow tie and gallantly combed back hair streaked with silver. He was nothing special, neither particularly tall nor particularly broad. Nothing more than another overlord, he already had a total of three in his life, he did not need another one and since Val had no intention of putting his services in the pot, he did not have to. Would he have noticed the lie in Husk's golden gaze if he had just looked at him long enough? Some days Angel still wondered if there was anything he could have done if he had only seen the trick beforehand. Would his life have taken a different direction? Probably not. There was nothing he could have done, no way to stop it, helpless as he was.
"It's nice to finally be able to play against the gambling overlord himself" Valentino grinned broadly, as if this was some kind of achievement, lasciviously lowering himself into the proffered armchair and pulling Angel onto his lap with practiced ease. The spider barely managed to suppress an eye roll.
"I'm always up for a good game, 'Tino" Husker replied in his warm baritone. It seemed to fill the whole room, that voice. Probably the most impressive thing about the cat "so, shall we begin?" Angel could hear the rustling of cards and still kept his head down, not looking at the other overlord. Luckily, they did not want him to join in. He just had to let the evening pass. Oh, if he had only known…
"I thought you'd never ask" Valentino said. One of his hands cupped Angel's face tilting it up "you're going to bring me some luck today, aren't you baby?" he crooned falsely, a silent warning, almost a promise in his voice dripping with sweet venom. Should Val lose, he will blame Angel, no matter how little he had to do with it. Still, he forced a smile onto his lips.
"Of course, Val," Angel returned quietly, pretending not to see through the feigned affection and meeting him halfway when the other pressed their lips together. Valentino's tongue brushed gently over Angel's lips, worming its way in with his usual corrosiveness as the latter hastily opened his mouth. Angel struggled to meet Val's tongue with his own as his mouth was mercilessly plundered. Val hated it when Angel did not kiss back. For a tiny, tiny moment, the spider wanted nothing more than to bite down on it, here in hell his teeth were sharp enough to bite the damn thing off if he tried. For a tiny, tiny moment he told himself he would shit on the consequences just to hurt the overlord. But of course, he did not, and of course Val did not notice or care about his favorite toy's aversion. Angel was glad when the kiss was finally, finally, finally over.
"That's what I wanted to hear, mi amorcito" Val purred "ready to begin, Husker?".
Angel paid little attention to the game, but Valentino seemed to win the majority of the time. The so-called gambling overlord only won four of the twelve games and after each of his victories, Valentino whispered satisfied in Angel's ear about how exactly he was going to have fun with him once they were back home to celebrate his victories. It did not matter how the game played out today or what mood the moth returned home in, Angel was still going to end up in his bed, no matter how much he did not want to. At least his grip was not tight, at least he was probably happy enough to be at least somewhat accommodating Angel's wishes when the time came. Angel escaped back to his cell phone, using it to pass the time, simply to avoid having to think about overlords. The phone buzzed, and the spider lowered his gaze in relief, ready to read Cherri's new message.
And then I broke one of his egg minions in half, stuck a bomb in it and threw it at him.
Angel had to grin slightly as he read the message. He liked hearing Cherri talk about her wild fights. He would have loved to come along again, but Valentino was going through another of his possessive phases. In the last two months, he had only let Angel out of the house when he had a client or was accompanying Valentino himself. Maybe he will be in a better mood after all the games he won today. Maybe Angel will manage to spin it as if it was his doing, as if he had brought his overlord enough luck and now deserved a reward?
And the fucking dumbass caught the thing, Cherri continued. Angel could almost hear her laughter in his ears, and his mouth formed a small affectionate smile of its own accord, so different from his wide grins. The playroom blurred around him as he finally managed to escape back into the conversation, the sucker flew at least ten feet away.
"Straight Flush" Valentino laughed, slamming his cards on the table cockily and snapping Angel out of his thoughts. The spider barely managed to suppress another eye roll.
"You're really ripping me off today, 'Tino" Husker snorted, his voice strangely cheerful. He did not sound like a man getting fleeced like a goose in his own casino and his own game. Angel might have noticed if he had not been occupied with Val's grip on his chin as the moth pressed their lips together again "I'm actually a little embarrassed. But I don't want to give up just yet" the other overlord continued "so how about we add some spice to the game?" Valentino let go of Angel as he lifted his head and turned his gaze back to his opponent, interested and hungry for a new challenge.
"What do you have in mind, gatito?" the moth asked eagerly, and Angel felt an icy chill run down his spine. He did not know what it was, but something about the cat's words made him sit up and pay attention, made the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. Something was wrong here, even if he was unable to say what. He finally turned his gaze to the other overlord. Husker was sitting perfectly still in his armchair, his gold-knobbed cane leaning loosely against his leg and a glass of whiskey resting next to his arm. He did not look like a man who had just lost a hefty sum and a whole lot of two buildings to the possibly worst poker player hell had ever seen. Valentino had forced Angel to play strip poker with him a few times. The overlord had hardly won one game, he had no poker face and could barely see his cards. There was no way Valentino was able to win so many games against a professional player. So what was Husker planning? What? The cat's golden gaze slid over Angel for a few moments, hungry and in anticipation. Like a cat about to pounce, knowing it will soon be able to dig its claws into the flesh of a mouse. The left corner of his mouth twitched gently and barely noticeably upwards. A cold shudder ran through the spider, a strange, unpleasant foreboding crept over him and…
"As you know, I also deal in souls" Husker continued calmly. Fuck, that did not sound good. He surely was not going to…? The cat continued before Angel could finish the thought "So how about we both bet a soul. I know you've never done anything like this before, but believe me, there's nothing more thrilling than dealing in a soul" he finally finished.
"Which soul exactly are you thinking of?" Valentino asked and his grip on Angel became a little tighter, possessive, as if Husker had already stretched out his hands towards him "not every soul is of equally value"
"Val" Angel started and broke off again as his boss's grip tightened painfully. The metal fingertips of the gloves he was wearing today dug warningly into Angel's thigh, so hard he was sure to leave bruises. Fuck.
"Any will do" Husker shrugged casually "it doesn't matter which one. How about him?" he finally pointed at Angel, almost disinterestedly, as if his choice was random and casual. The trap was laid out, ready to snap shut. Fuck "his soul is yours, isn't it? Since he's here, we might as well gamble for him" Husker's voice sounded indifferent and yet, the corner of his mouth twitched upwards again, barely noticeably and briefly. If Angel had not gotten into the habit of paying more attention to the expressions of others in order to read them better, to be prepared when a john or Val was in the mood to hit, he certainly never would have noticed. His heart hitched in his heels, his fingertips going numb as panic reached for him with cold fingers. Fuck, fuck, fuck. When signing away once soul, there was always the risk of the master selling or transferring the contract to someone else. Many people only thought of this possibility after the contract had already been signed, which is why very few contracts contained a clause ruling it out. Angel's contract was one of them. When he had sold his soul all those years ago, he had never thought Valentino might simply pass him on as if he were nothing more than an object. He had been too high on love and hope for a better life back then to even think about it. And now there he was. He hated Valentino, he wanted out of the contract, but he did not want to be sold to a stranger, for Val was at least a monster he knew. Husker, however, he had met only today, did not even exchanged a single word with him. He might be worse than Valentino could ever be. Angel swallowed hard and looked back up at Husker. Their eyes met and the overlord's golden eyes narrowed slightly in a silent promise. Fuck.
"You want my highest earner?" Valentino huffed and for a moment Angel felt relief and a hint of gratitude. Val was possessive, he certainly was not going to give away the toy he was still playing with "why should I trade him for any soul?"
"That's your highest earner?" Husker raised one of his long, red eyebrows, as if not knowing who Angel was. It sounded like a lie "Then how about this? I'll offer five of my souls as stake against him. You can choose the five souls yourself. That's more than fair, isn't it? I mean, what do you have to fear? With your luck and your skill…" Husker let his words hang in the air like a particularly sophisticated bait. Valentino looked like he was thinking about taking it.
"Val" Angel hissed softly at him and continued, even as the grip tightened "you can't seriously want to consider it. It's a fucking trap!"
"Shut up, slut" Valentino hissed back "you think I might lose? I?"
"I think" Angel continued, even as Valentino's hand grabbed his face and his fingers dug roughly into his cheeks "that the fucking overlord whose fucking casino we're in is planning something and wouldn't bet five of his souls without…" his tongue no longer obeyed him as Val took a big drag from his cigarette and released the pink smoke into Angel's open mouth. Immediately, the spider helplessly felt the drug inside of him, the familiar wadded feeling of the smoke in his mouth spreading slowly and surely throughout his body. His tongue became habitually fleshy in his mouth, the cell phone slipping from his grasp, falling to the floor as his fingers went numb not obeying him anymore. He could no longer feel his hands and legs, only Val's grip, multiplied by the drug. Fuck.
"That's better, Baby" Valentino purred with satisfaction, pressing Angel's limp form against him like a dead doll. Fuck "don't worry, Daddy'll take care of everything. Daddy won't lose. Husker. I accept" Val said, turning to the other overlord. Angel managed to lift his gaze to the cat and even through the drug's foggy veil, he was able to see the wide grin spreading across his face now that he had achieved what he wanted. How could Val not see it? Valentino was an excellent manipulator, and yet often unable to realize when he was being manipulated himself.
"Excellent" Husker nodded with satisfaction. The game did not last long, and yet to Angel it felt like a small, agonizing eternity. He could almost physically feel the little freedom Valentino offered him slipping through his numb fingers, could almost feel a new chain around his neck, a foreign chain, a heavy chain, a chain so tight it choked him. He could feel the drug slowly wearing off, fortunately he had developed at least a hint of tolerance to Val's saliva over the years, as often as he had been exposed to it. But the numbness, the numbness remained, even if no longer born from the drug but from helplessness. Angel glanced dully at Val's cards. A pair of kings, pick and heart, not a bad hand and for a moment, hope stirred in him, helpless, small hope able to bring some feeling back to him. He glanced at the community cards on the table. The remaining two kings, an ace of diamonds, a six of clubs and a ten of diamonds.
"You see, Baby" Valentino purred softly in Angel's ear "there's nothing for you to worry about" yet Angel had the feeling Valentino was going to lose "four fine gentlemen" Valentino laid out his cards with satisfaction "I want to see the list of souls right now and make my choice today. What do you think, Angel Cakes? Feel free to pick one of them as your new shooting partner as a little reward for all the luck you've brought me today" he purred in Angel's ear "I'm sure Husker has someone here to suit your tastes, Baby"
"I think it'll have to wait, 'Tino" Husker leaned back "Royal Flush" he laid his cards on the table, expression utterly calm. A queen of diamonds and a jack of diamonds, together with the king of diamonds, the ace of diamonds and the ten of diamonds on the table it made a Royal Flush. Fuck, thought Angel as his heart echoed loudly in his ears, the implication of all of this mercilessly sinking in. Val just lost his soul in a game of poker "and now get your hands off my property and get the fuck lost" the overlord snorted gruffly. Within a few moments, it seemed like the cat had changed completely. Gone was the calm, the mild shame about his previous losses and the courtesy of a perfect host. It was the way he held himself, the way his eyes filled with triumph and the corners of his mouth formed into a wide, almost mischievous grin. He looked like a scumbag who had managed to not only lure his opponent into a trap, but to let it snap shut effortlessly as well. He rose from his chair, towering over the table and reached for his cane. His wings rustled gently behind him and the tip of his tail swept lightly across the floor. He raised his right hand and a glowing contract immediately appeared in his claws, the golden thing Angel was cursing day in and day out like nothing else, be it in the world of the living or the dead. The spider felt the new collar form around his neck. It was heavy, but not as tight as Valentino's had been. What did that mean? Never-mind, later. The chain that came from it glowed golden and went into Husker's hand. The cat had caught the mouse and sunk its claws into soft flesh – too bad Angel had to be that mouse.
"Val?" Angel breathed softly, his voice hitching. What else was there to say? What else could there even be to say? Val had sold him, thrown him aside, even worse, gambled him away carelessly. Angel had hated Valentino for years, but at least there had always been the certainty the other will not give him away easily. Now he had done just that. Fear suddenly gave way to anger, pent-up over years of abuse and humiliation and cruelty "Let go of me, Val" Angel continued as the anger crept into his voice. He welcomed that anger, reaching for it and letting it move into every fiber of his body. Valentino had sold him like he was nothing, like he did not matter, like the overlord had not built his empire on his back, on his suffering, like he had not spent the last thirty years doing everything the bastard before him had asked without getting more in return than the deceptive, pretentious security an overlord could offer. As if he had not sold his body to strangers or used it himself. As if he had not mercilessly exploited his addiction and filled his mind with the intoxication of drugs to make him submissive. As if he had not made a fortune on him. As if none of this mattered. Thinking back on it all, Angel could name the exact moment, the precise second something inside of him broke, the cruelly necessary cocoon holding back his pain and rage "you fucking bastard!" Angel pressed his hands against Valentino's chest and his former boss's grip slipped from him, weak with confusion, as he jumped up and stumbled a few steps away from him.
"Angel Cakes?" Valentino spoke in bewilderment. His red eyes behind the ridiculous, heart-shaped glasses were wide open and his mouth kept opening and closing like a fish out of water.
"No Angel Cakes for you!" the spider huffed back "you fucking lost me in a fucking poker game!" that seemed to break Valentino out of his stupor, his shock. He stood up jerkily and towered in front of Angel.
"You dare talk to me like that, you ungrateful little whore" he raised his hand and took a swing. Whatever, whatever, whatever, whatever…still Angel closed his eyes and turned his head away slightly as he waited for the blow. Theoretically, he could have finally fought Valentino now. He no longer possessed his soul, he no longer had any power over him. Everything inside of him screamed to reach into his other, magical room, the only magic Hell had given him allowing him to store things. He should reach for the weapons in there and finally, finally, finally turn them on Valentino. Yet, he stood there, paralyzed, waiting for the blow, as if an invisible force were keeping him in place, completely motionless and helpless. But the blow never came, instead he heard one of Valentino's little squeaks. He opened his eyes and saw red wings, built up in front of him, as if shielding him from Valentino's rage.
"I think that's enough, you should go 'Tino" Husker's warm baritone rang out with notes of danger in it. Angel glanced past the wings and could just make out Husker showing Valentino slightly forward, effortlessly despite his smaller size. Val held one of his hands pressed to his chest. Blood seeped through the fingers of his other hand. Angel let his eyes wander to Husker's right hand, the one not holding his new chain. Blood seeped from the sharp claws and dripped monotonously onto the floor, "I don't like it when others damage my property. I don't think you should come back here for a while. We'll send your winnings to your tower"
"This isn't over yet, Husker" Valentino hissed, but took a step back.
"Oh, isn't it?" Husker tilted his head a little "but for my part, it is. I got exactly what I wanted today and now go, please, or I'm sending you to your little boyfriend in boxes" Valentino opened and closed his mouth a few times. He took a step forward and the bodyguard, the same dog demon who had led them into this very room and stood like a statue behind Husker's chair the whole game, put his hand on his gun holster. Valentino hissed something unintelligible and finally left, his coat flowing, slamming the door noisily behind him.
"Bill" Husker said to the bodyguard "grab Gary and go to the Vee-Tower, get the kid's stuff. Hey, kid" the cat turned to Angel for the first time "do they have to keep something in mind?"
"No…" Angel uttered from numb lips. Fat Nuggets, it suddenly flashed through his mind. Nuggets was still in his room, waiting for his Daddy to come home, something he will not do, never again. Val will kill him to vent, he'll tear him to pieces and, cruel as he was, send Angel a photo of the result, "yes, my pet" he managed to get out before he could stop himself "he's in my room, he's…he's a good boy, he won't cause any trouble and…please" he finished quietly. Nuggets was all he had, all he was allowed to have. He could not lose him, he was not allowed to lose him, there was no way he was losing him on top of everything else.
"Get the creature. Hey, I bet you've got a picture of the thing on your phone" Husker pointed with his chin at Angel's cell phone, still lying forgotten on the floor. Angel picked it up, the golden chain rattling gently as he moved. How much longer was Husker going to leave it there? He scrolled across the screen with numb fingers and finally showed Bill a picture of Nuggets.
"Don't worry, we'll bring him to you safely" Bill said in a warm voice, nodded to his boss and left the room.
"Will you cause me any trouble?" Husker asked grimly, pulling lightly on the chain, not hard enough to make Angel stumble forward, more a reminder and a silent threat than anything else. Angel took a deep breath and exhaled, straightening up, tucked his cell phone away and brushed his hair out of his face in a practiced motion. He pushed his irritating fear aside, pushed it into the farthest corner of his mind, locked it away so it will be unable to harm him. The next few hours were crucial. He had to find a way to please Husker, prove to him, he was not stupid enough to disobey him, find out what he wanted and what he expected of him. The next few hours will decide what kind of cage he will have from now on, how tight the leash will be around his neck. It will decide what kind of life he will now lead with this new overlord.
"Of course not, boss, why should I?" Angel forced the most flirtatious smile he could manage onto his lips. He could do this, he could be smart and not get himself into more of a mess than he already was. He will find a way to please the cat, figure out his kinks and fulfill all of them. He will become what the other wanted. He could do this. Husker raised a skeptical eyebrow, but the chain melted into golden light, and Angel felt finally able to breathe again.
"Good" Husker offered him his elbow and reached for the cane he had leaned against the armchair "then we'll go to my office and discuss everything" Angel just nodded and put his hand on the offered elbow. He could do this. He now had the once-in-a-lifetime chance to start over and this time, this time he was going to do it better. This time he knew better. He could do this. It was a lie and wishful thinking and deluded, cruel hopes.
***
Angel Dust felt like a blind tightrope walker as he followed Husker through the brightly lit hallway, wallpapered in scarlet and gold, leading to his office. He felt as if he was balancing high up on a thin, invisible rope, an abyss on both sides he will certainly fall into if he takes a single wrong step. However, he had no way of knowing which step will be the wrong one, when exactly his feet will inevitably miss the rope and he will fall. Still, he made an effort to feel for the rope, carefully and slowly.
The strangely delicate lamps on the walls bathed the hallway in a dim, almost ominous light. It felt like walking to the gallows, into the unknown, the uncertainty so much more terrifying than anything Valentino's sick imagination could conjure up. Still, Angel held his hand calmly in the crook of Husker's arm. Still, he kept the gentle, flirtatious smile on his lips, even if he have liked nothing more than to shout at the overlord who had won his soul and demand to finally be told what the other wanted to do with him. But he remained silent and followed the cat, of course he did. What kind of monster was Husker? All overlords were some kind of monster, even if not the same; otherwise they could never have stayed on top. He was probably going to find out soon enough. Husker came to a stop in front of a locked door and pulled a card through the slit. The door clicked as the lock opened.
"Sit down" Husker pulled his elbow back as they entered the office behind it, impatiently snapping to a red velvet trimmed armchair standing in front of a heavy, dark wooden desk and unceremonially throwing his cane in a corner. Angel lasciviously slid in, leaned back, crossed one long leg over the other and folded his lower arms to push his chest fluff up to display it a little better. As usual, he pushed his fear and worry aside, he did not need them now, more than that, they were dangerous. He needed to focus on surviving this day and the ones after in one piece now, and there was only one way to do that.
All right, how should he go about it? It was not very often Angel had to seduce someone; after all, most customers booked him with the intent of sleeping with him. He glanced at Husker. The cat was standing in front of a bar made of fine, dark wood that took up the entire left wall of the office. He was hard to read. Since winning Angel, he had barely looked at him, as if not interested in him at all. But he must have won him for something, right? The only question is what for. What could he want to do with someone like Angel? Did he want to…fuck. They were in a casino and Husker seemed to not only be the owner, but also a gambler. There was only one thing Angel could think of the other could want him for. The spider was well aware how many of his so-called fans would be willing to bet to win a night with him and live out all their sick fantasies. The thought alone sent icy shivers down his spine. Valentino had been able to lure him in so easily because he had been tired of having to sell himself to every perverted asshole hell had to offer, thinking porn would surely be better than hooking up on the street. It had been a lie, of course, nothing more than wishful thinking. Val still sent him out on the street when he was angry, and he still let johns book him, only this time it was…more exclusive. Val's price for him was high, and not everyone could afford it. But there, at least, he had the vague hope his overlord will not allow a john to damage him too much. In most cases, Val did not like it when someone else raised a hand against his favorite toy. But what will Husker think? How will it feel to be bet so naturally in a game, to have even less control over everything than he already did? No, it will be even worse. He had to find a way to prevent this as soon as possible, earn at least a hint of Husker's affection and…
"Want a drink?" the overlord threw gruffly over his shoulder, snapping Angel out of his thoughts. The spider was unable to suppress a wince. He should stop thinking too much and act instead. What would someone like Husker like? What would he be into? Was he even into guys? He certainly would not have won him if he was not, right? The cat was hard to read, impossible almost. He was an overlord, and overlords loved power, every single one of them. Angel could not be too aggressive in his approach, not too direct. He needed a scalpel rather than a sledgehammer today, so his usual direct facade was not going to work, he definitely should not make Husker feel like he was not in control. Fuck, why did it have to be so complicated?
"Sure" Angel put on his best bedroom voice. Husker gave him a slightly puzzled look, grumbled quietly to himself, but came back to Angel a few moments later with a martini glass in one hand and a whole bottle of whiskey in the other. He handed the martini glass to the spider. The alcohol in it was pale pink and a strawberry, impaled on a thin plastic skewer, floated in it. It was probably sweet, Angel rolled his eyes inwardly, and weak, most people thought he liked sweets and could not hold his alcohol. He sipped the glass gingerly anyway, it will certainly not look well if he refused the drink, he just hoped the cat was not planning on drugging him just yet. The alcohol burned surprisingly strongly on Angel's tongue and ran hot down his throat. It was not sweet, as he had expected, but rather woolly and burning, immediately shooting into his head. Husker had hit his taste perfectly. And it had no trace of drugs in it. Angel was able to identify most drugs after the first sip, sometimes even by smell, for all the times someone had slipped something into his drink, but there was no trace of it in this one. At least something "so, boss, what exactly are you going to do to me now?" Angel asked as the alcohol wore off a little, leaving him with a fuzzy, warm, familiar feeling instead of the burn. He encircled the plastic skewer with his fingers and slowly and lasciviously slipped the strawberry into his mouth. Husker's gaze lingered on the berry for a few moments, following it as it disappeared between Angel's lips, and he bit into it, also slowly, with his teeth. The spider made sure to let some juice run over his lower lip and lick it up with his tongue. Husker swallowed hard and hastily turned his head away. Good "or should I call you master instead?"
"Call me Husk" the cat leaned against the tabletop directly in front of Angel's armchair and took a hefty swig from the neck of his bottle, pointedly disinterested, as if to distract from his gaze "I don't do all that shit and what I am going to do with you?" he raised one of his long, red eyebrows "I want you to work for me of course" then he put the bottle back to his lips and drank like it was water.
"I'm well aware of that, Husk" Angel replied, making an effort to emphasize the name more, letting his tongue caress each syllable as if it were a kiss "it's not so much about what you want me to do at work, but rather about what you want me to do for you personally, here and now, at this very moment. So, how do you want me, Husk?" finished Angel, letting his words hang in the air, and hoping, hoping, hoping they would have the necessary effect on the cat. Husk choked on the alcohol. He slammed the bottle loudly on the table beside him and thumped his massive fist against his chest. Angel would probably have laughed if his life had not depended on the outcome of this conversation.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Husk managed to get out through another fit of coughing "and stop saying my name like that"
"How exactly do I say your name, Husk?" Angel ran his tongue over the name again. The cat coughed once more "Oh, please" Angel finally snorted as his façade slipped away mercilessly, and he was no longer able to suppress an eye roll. Was the overlord…what? A prude virgin? It was ridiculous. He needed to find out, what buttons he had to push to stop his life turning from one nightmare to the next. He had to find a way to satisfy him and hope to get at least some good out of this fucked-up situation, a way to survive halfway unscathed. And there was only one way he could do that, there was only one value he had to the world, and that was how well he was able to satisfy a man in bed. And yet, it slipped away from him, his protective, lascivious façade like water through his fingers and his voice took on soft notes of frustration "you know damn well who I am. We both know you didn't win me by accident. We both know I've been your fucking target from the beginning" he could not help but snort. He should not, he should not snort, and he should not lose his temper, and yet, he was unable to help but finally let out his pent-up frustration "so, how exactly do you want me, Husk?" Angel managed to force his bedroom voice back into his words, hoping the cat will not pay much attention to his tiny little outburst "I'm a professional, I can make you feel real good, Husk" he finally ended, letting his words hang in the air like bait, hoping and praying, praying, praying the overlord will finally take it.
Husk swallowed hard, gripped the bottle strangely helplessly, as if it were a lifeline, and took another big swig. His gaze slid over Angel, nonetheless, as if he was seeing him for the first time. The gold of his eyes traveled over the skimpy, black sequined dress Valentino had chosen for tonight, lingering for a few moments on the hem of the skirt that barely concealed the spider's lap, on the low, strapless décolletage perfectly encircling his chest fluff, on the pink stone attached to his choker, on his lips. Husk looked at Angel as if he had never thought of this possibility before, as if he had not won a porn star, but…what? What had he intended to do with him, if not that? That was irrelevant, the important thing was that the overlord had finally taken the bait.
"I don't fuck my employees" the cat finally said tonelessly and strangely helplessly, as if it was a matter of fact he had to cling to.
"Really? That's too bad" Angel purred softly, letting his foot travel up the inside of Husk's leg, stopping just a finger's width short of his crotch. He watched with satisfaction as the overlord flinched slightly, but still made no move to remove the foot "You've won me. So go get your prize. Shouldn't you find out what I can do before you decide what you're going to do with me? Husk?" Angel could pinpoint the exact moment Husk took the bait completely and finally went for it. He pushed himself off the table, Angel's foot slid off his leg and the overlord braced both hands on the armrests of the armchair as he leaned forward slightly, towering over Angel, bringing them both to eye level. Angel could feel a shudder coursing through him, very gentle and woolly, and it took him a few moments to realize it was not born of fear. The way Husk was suddenly looking at him, a gentle hunger in his golden eyes, the way he leaned over him, leaving him no way out and yet not grabbing him – suddenly the overlord looked incredibly hot and Angel's body reacted mercilessly to it. Good, that was exactly what he wanted and maybe, maybe it was a mistake. At the beginning of their relationship, Valentino had triggered the same woolly feelings in him, and he had burned himself unbelievably cruelly on it and yet…and yet, he reached for that feeling, allowed it to sweep over his body, roll over him like an unyielding avalanche and fill him to the brim. He needed it, this feeling, if he wanted to continue to survive. He needed it if he wanted to get through this evening in one piece. It always felt less awful when he found his partner attractive – which was happening less and less often lately. Maybe this time he would manage to enjoy it again. Maybe this time he will not have to take refuge in his mind to escape the pain and hopelessness. Maybe this time he will finally manage to break the monotony, after all, he liked sex, had always liked it far too much and had let it rule his life far too often. Maybe he could manage to start this new life fate had thrown at him with something positive. Good, he thought contentedly, he should think like this, he should feel like this, he had to feel like this.
"Oh, what should I do with you, huh?" Husk asked in a deep voice that almost made the surrounding air vibrate.
"Anything you want" Angel returned with ease.
"You're scared of me" Husk raised one of his long, red eyebrows, more a statement than a question. He spoke as if Angel's opinion mattered. Ah, the sweet illusion.
"Of course I'm scared of you" Angel snorted and for a moment the cat looked like he wanted to stand up, disappointment in his eyes "you could be a pervert with a foot fetish" the spider hurried to say before the other could. After all, he had already come so far.
"Foot fetish?" snorted Husk "that's the worst you could come up with?"
"Everyone has their limits" Angel shrugged and Husk actually laughed. His deep laugh hummed through the spider's body and traveled purposefully between his legs. Fuck, the old man was really hot. Angel had never actually expected the overlord to have such an effect on him, and yet it was welcome. He reached for it again, forcing his body to lose itself in it "but you know what might drive away my fear?" Angel continued to purr "if you show me exactly how you want me, Husk"
"I generally don't sleep with people who don't want to" Husk continued, as if he still had to find an excuse not to.
"Don't worry, I'm perfectly willing" Angel laughed. When was the last time someone had asked him if he wanted to sleep with them? He could no longer remember.
"Fuck, usually I don't do things like that" the cat replied.
"Then maybe it's finally time to give it a try" Angel lifted one of his upper hands and placed it on Husk's cheek, burying it in his thick, surprisingly soft fur and pulling his face slightly towards himself "if you think there's nothing more exciting than dealing in souls, how about sleeping with one, huh?" Angel straightened slightly and pressed their lips together.
Husk tasted like whiskey and smelled like cigar smoke, a strangely captivating mixture. His lips were soft and opened without resistance when Angel ran his tongue over them. The tongue that met his own was rough, like a cat's, and scratched strangely pleasantly over Angel's own. They entwined, as if in a dance, pressing against each other. Husk followed him as Angel lured his tongue into his own mouth and there, on a new dance floor, they continued their dance. He was not a bad kisser, a little awkward, strangely hesitant for an overlord probably able to take anyone to his bed, and yet a strange kind of dominance seemed to sleep beneath that uncertainty.
Ah, there it finally was, for even though Angel had initiated the kiss, Husk had taken the lead as soon as his tongue was in Angel's mouth. It was as if he grew more confident and bold with each and every second the kiss lasted. He snatched control like the overlord he was. And Angel happily surrendered it to him, as was fitting. At the same time, however, he was not invasive, did not choke him and triggered a fuzzy, warm feeling in him. A feeling whose existence he forgot on some days, a feeling that immediately traveled between his legs. When was the last time he had enjoyed a kiss like this? When was the last time a man had kissed him as if wanting to make sure they both enjoyed it? He could no longer remember. Lately, Angel's kisses had always been reserved either for the camera, where they were almost artificial to look good, or for Valentino, where they were accompanied by the numbing venom of his pheromones. Angel could not remember when he had allowed himself to enjoy a kiss, and he was almost disappointed when Husk broke away from him, only a thin thread of saliva still stretching between them, as if the universe itself did not quite want to cut their connection yet. The cat straightened a little, but still remained bent over him, his golden gaze foggy with lust. Good.
"You know what? Fuck it" Husk said, still a little breathless after the kiss and his voice even deeper, with almost animalistic dominant notes in it. In that moment, Angel knew he had him. Husk's right hand detached itself from the armrest and placed itself on Angel's cheek. Sharp claws pressed gently into the spider's skin without breaking it and then moved downwards, very slowly down his face, over his jaw and finally along his throat. They left a slight pressure and made him gasp for air for a moment, he realized with relief "but we will only do this if you really want it. One 'no' from you and I'll stop immediately. This 'no' will have no consequences for you, no disadvantages and no punishments, understand?" the clawed tip of his index finger pulled Angel's décolletage down a little, and he had to gasp again, fuck, this guy was good "and none of that fake bullshit from your movies, understood? If I can't get a real reaction out of you, then there's no point in any of this" the cat finished in a tone that brooked no argument and stroked Angel's submissive streak in just the right way. Husk raised one of his long, red eyebrows at the lack of response. Normally, Angel would have laughed at such words, no one gave a fuck about a 'no' coming from him and yet, a small, tiny, weak part of him believed it, that stupid little traitorous thing.
"Understood, Husk" Angel smiled up at him. Maybe having a new overlord might not be so terrible after all. Maybe he will not be like Valentino, or at least not as bad as Valentino. Hope was deceptive and false, and he should have known better. If he had not let it happen, might it have hurt less? If he had not tried? If he had not let that deceptive, false hope sprout its poisonous buds and not grown genuinely attached to Husk? No, probably not.
"Shall we go to my bedroom then?" Husk straightened up and held his hand out to Angel, waiting for a reaction.
"Gladly" Angel placed his hand in it, which disappeared between the claws, and he suddenly wondered what it was going to be like having those claws run over not just his face and throat, but the rest of his body. He will find out soon enough.
Husk pulled him effortlessly to his feet and led him to a door Angel had previously not noticed next to the bar, hidden as it was. It was a plain door, blending in almost perfectly with the wood of the bar. Husk pushed down on the shimmering golden handle and pulled the spider gently inside, flicking on the light with his other hand. Behind it was a bedroom. It was huge, larger than the office, and one part was taken up by an enormous four-poster bed with dark red velvet curtains pulled tight. On either side of the bed were small side tables made of dark wood, one of which had a bottle on it. The far wall was taken up by a huge, ceiling-high wardrobe and the other…another bar, albeit smaller than the one in the office. Did the guy have a bar in every room? Thinking back Angel remembered, there beeing also been a bar in the playing room. He could get used to that. Further on was a sitting area with red velvet sofas and armchairs by a sprawling fireplace without any fire burning and a soft red carpet in between. A kitchenette and a massive dark wood dining table completed the picture. Everything in this room screamed luxury and Angel suddenly wondered what his new room would look like. It obviously will not be as luxurious as the overlord's, but perhaps still better than his shabby little room in the penthouse.
"Do you really want this?" Husk asked suddenly as he turned to Angel. There was something strange in his gaze, something almost – and the spider hardly dared to call it this way – vulnerable "You don't have to if you don't really want to. Just because I own your soul now doesn't mean I can force you into my bed"
"Oh please Husk" Angel snorted emphatically "I would never say no to sex…and you're killing the mood" he was unable to suppress an eye roll.
"All right" Husk rolled his eyes as well "you know, I've wondered a few times what it would be like to sleep with one of my souls" he pulled Angel close with a tug and Angel crouched slightly to mask their height difference "may I take your dress off?" the cat breathed into his ear. His words traveled gently over his skin, almost caressing it as they penetrated every pore of his body. Angel nodded and Husk laughed "I need words, Baby" he returned.
"Yeah" Angel managed to say softly. Husk turned him around gently, his hands resting on his shoulders, claws pressing lightly into his skin without breaking it. The hands traveled down his shoulders, down his arms, as if the cat wanted to explore him first before taking more. A claw-tip gently wandered down his spine, and Angel was suddenly grateful for his backless dress. The other hand made its way down his left side, stroked lightly over one of his lower shoulders and finally came to rest on his ass, squeezing gently, tracing the outline and finally brushing over the crack of his cheeks. Light kisses blossomed on his shoulders, his back, delicate, as if butterflies had landed on them.
Was Angel not supposed to be the one seducing here? The one proving his worth and convincing the overlord he was not a bad investment? Was he not supposed to be the one going out of his way to show Husk a good time? All of that suddenly faded into the background, his fears, his worries, his expectations, as if they were nothing and should be nothing. Angel surrendered to the feeling on his skin, foreign hands on his body that were neither demanding nor painful. Even at his best moments, Valentino had never been this tender. How long would it be before Husk was there as well? Until he showed his true colors just as Valentino inevitably had? It did not matter, all that mattered now was this moment, the one where it did not feel horrible. The sound of the zipper almost surprised the spider as Husk finally pulled it down and let the dress slide off Angel's body.
"Now I get how 'Tino was able to make so much money with you" Husk said softly as he turned Angel back to face him and let his gaze wander over his almost naked body, again with that hunger in his eyes "you look beautiful, Baby" he grinned broadly and hungrily. Then he reached for one of Angel's hands and slowly slipped the glove off, pulling the fingers up one by one in a strangely intimate gesture, as if he wanted to delay the process and savor it fully. The glove also landed on the floor. Husk repeated the process with all four gloves. When he was finished, he placed his hands on Angel's hips, let them slide down his legs, move backwards over his ass and finally come to rest on the hem of his boots. Only when there was another sound of the zipper opening did Angel realize what he was about to do. Fuck. Angel could not help but flinch. Fuck, he hated it when others saw his feet. He just had to endure it for now and…
"What's wrong?" Husk asked, confused, as if reading Angel's mind. Double fuck.
"Nothing" Angel tried to wave it off hastily. Denying his new overlord something just yet was certainly not going to end well. He simply had to endure it this one time. Husk seemed to see through that as well and raised one of his long, red eyebrows in a silent question. Maybe he could at least ask "can I keep my boots on?" Angel managed to get out before he could stop himself. Stunned, Angel could feel Husk wordlessly pull the zipper up and take his hands off his boots.
"Better?" the cat then asked in that warm baritone. Angel managed nothing more than a gentle, still stunned nod "perfect" Husk reached past Angel, pulled aside the curtains of the four-poster bed and gently pressed the spider onto the scarlet sheets "you are beautiful, and you are mine now, with every millimeter of this stunning body, with every fiber of your soul" he stripped off his own jacket and with a strong, almost hasty tug loosened his bow tie, tossing it carelessly onto the floor, where it joined Angel's dress and gloves. His words sounded as though he needed to remind himself in order to get drunk on this knowledge of power "I own you and I can do whatever I want with you" he climbed over the edge of the bed, his knee pressing into the soft comforter next to Angel's hip "you know, I think you're right, it will be thrilling to sleep with one of my souls. Will you submit to me, Baby?" he asked as he leaned over Angel and pressed their lips together again. This time it was Husk's tongue that wandered over Angel's lips, begging for entrance, worming its way in as that entrance was given to him without resistance. Their tongues entwined again, moving back and forth in their dance of pleasure "Will you writhe and moan beneath me?" he broke away from Angel's mouth and kissed his way down his neck, scraping his sharp teeth gently across his soft throat and Angel was surprised at himself when a real moan escaped his mouth, not an act, not a façade – real. He had expected it to be difficult to let genuine reactions out, and yet it was not. Somehow Husk managed to push all the right buttons in him. Every single kiss sent another fuzzy warm wave through Angel's body. Good, that was how it should be, how it had to be.
"Will you let me enter you and thrust into you?" Husk continued to ask mercilessly as he sank his teeth lightly into Angel's neck without breaking the skin. In response, Angel managed nothing more than a groan "I need words, Baby" the cat had the gall to grin against his neck.
"Yes, Daddy!" his façade slipped into Angel's voice without his doing, more a reflex than anything else. Husk suddenly straightened up.
"Hey, I told you, none of that fake bullshit. That's a mood killer" the overlord rolled his eyes "so, can I do all of that with you?"
"Yes" Angel straightened up as well and kissed the other gently "you can't say things like that and expect anything else from me" he breathed into the cat's ear and felt him shudder with satisfaction "besides, it's unfair, I'm lying here almost naked, and you're still dressed" he unbuttoned the other's shirt with practiced fingers and finally tore it over his shoulders with a single jerk. Husk helped him free his arms and wings. Shirt and suspenders joined the jacket and dress on the floor. Angel let his hands wander over Husk's chest, stroking through surprisingly soft fur. They sat like that for a while, perfectly still, but eventually Husk gently pushed Angel back into the bed, taking control once more.
"I own you" the overlord breathed gently into his soul's ear once again, as if needing to remind himself of this fact. Valentino had liked to say that, very often in fact, but with him, it had always sounded vicious, like a threat, even when he did it in bed. Husk made it sound possessive, too, and yet…Angel succumbed to the feeling, to the gentle shudder that Husk's amazingly skillful hands caused, the shudder purposefully traveling between his legs. He was already completely hard. Husk let his hands roam further now, stroking shoulders and finally kneading the chest fluff Angel was so proud of, tracing the heart-shaped pattern on it, sliding his claws gently through the soft strands and finding the nipples hidden beneath all that fluff, pressing the tip of his claw into one of them and earning another genuine groan. Angel placed his lower hands on Husk's shoulders and his upper ones on the back of his head, stroking his ears lightly with his fingertips, through his hair and smiling when he found a spot at the base of his ear that made the cat shudder as well. Husk kissed his way down Angel's chest, burying his nose in the chest fluff and biting gently into one of the nipples before he began to suck on it. Fuck was this guy good. Angel gasped as his nipple hardened and tangled his hands in Husk's hair when he had the gall to grin. Then this amazingly skilled mouth slowly moved to the opposite side and closed around the other nipple until it became hard as well. Fuck, that was almost unbearable. It was as if the asshole knew every trick and every turn to reduce Angel to nothing more than a pile of mess. He was a professional, and yet, he suddenly felt like a delicate, inexperienced virgin. Then Husks hands moved further down, over his stomach, down his hips. It was as if he wanted to explore him completely, this willing body that now belonged to him. It was as if Husk wanted to savor every nook and cranny before he took the most important part. He straightened up before he reached Angel's crotch, and the spider almost cried out in frustration.
"Can I keep going?" the cat asked, prompting a groan from Angel, that should have been answer enough "I need words, Baby" he had the cheek to look amused.
"Yes" Angel rolled his eyes. Why could he not just take him already? He had agreed by now after all "Mood killer" he could not help the snort.
"Consent is important, and it turns me on" Husk laughed out "and don't worry, I can retract my claws" he raised his hand suddenly. The claws really retracted into his fingers; without them, they looked oddly short. Husk did not give Angel a chance to think about it for too long. One finger stroked slowly along the inside of his thigh, along the hem of his panties and finally over the all too obvious bulge beneath. He took his time, the sadist that he was, slowly stroking Angel's erection again and again, caressing it, looking like a smug cat that had managed not only to eat the canary but also to get away with it while the other was squirming and panting beneath him "Can I take your panties off?" the cat asked at last – finally – in his warm baritone.
"Yes!" Angel almost shouted, and the fucking overlord laughed again. He pulled the panties down Angel's legs very slowly, freeing the hard length of the spider from its ruffled prison and sending a wave of pleasure through his whole body from the friction alone. It was as if he wanted to savor that as well. Then he finally threw the panties on the floor to the other cloth.
"Fuck, I don't have any lube" Husk suddenly straightened up, looking oddly helpless. Rolling his eyes, Angel reached into his other room and fetched one of the many tubes of lube he kept there "Where the fuck did that come from?" the cat took the tube in confusion, but popped the cap before Angel could answer.
"I'm always prepared" the spider rolled his eyes and spread his legs impatiently. He better get fucking started. Husk just shrugged and finally lowered himself between Angel's legs. Finally. Angel felt the overlord gently kiss his way up his thighs, clawless wet with lube fingers pushing his buttocks apart and pressing against his entrance. Then suddenly a rough tongue dragged along his length, and he gasped loudly in surprise. Husk had the cheek to smile as he slowly took in the tip of Angel's cock and pushed a finger inside him at the same time.
"Fuck" Angel could not stifle a moan as Husk's mouth moved mercilessly around him and the finger moved slowly inside him "Please" he moaned further as the cat sucked him off and another finger joined the first, making scissor like movements to widen him. Fuck, he screamed in his own mind as this merciless combination pumped the feeling of pleasure through his body. When was the last time someone had done something like this for him? He was usually the one sucking dick, and he was good at it, damn it. Husk's mouth felt wonderful, the movements of his fingers careful as he widened Angel so he could take him later. The pressure was building inside him, merciless, like a dam that was going to break very soon. Everything suddenly faded into the background: soul contracts and Valentino, even his own survival. All that mattered was the warm mouth around him and the gentle fingers inside him. He was a mess as he writhed beneath the other. He will come soon, Angel realized strangely helplessly. He did not want to come yet, he did not want to come until Husk was inside him "stop" Angel managed to whimper softly. The mouth immediately disappeared and the fingers stopped.
"What's wrong? Did I hurt you?" the cat straightened up, strangely alarmed.
"If you keep this up, I'm going to come" Angel managed to get out breathlessly "and we don't want that just yet, don't we? So go on, take me as hard as you can, kitty cat"
"Kitty cat?" Husk raised one of his long, red eyebrows and pulled his fingers back. Angel felt strangely empty without them. Husk hastily pulled off his pants and boxers. Were there gold card symbols on them? Then he positioned himself back between Angel's legs, placed his hands on them and pulled him towards himself, pressing the tip of his cock gently against his entrance without breaching in yet "Ready?" he then asked.
"Shut the fuck up and take me already!" Angel snorted in frustration. Why the fuck was he just not finally doing it? Sadist. Husk laughed again, that deep, vibrating laugh, and finally, finally, slowly and gently slid inside. He was bigger than his fingers, comfortably big and able to fill Angel completely. When he was finally inside, the spider hastily crossed his legs behind him to prevent him from getting any ideas. Husk waited the few moments Angel needed to relax around him and finally began to move his hips, each thrust so gentle, as if he was trying his best not to cause any pain. Finally. Angel met his thrusts practiced, gripping Husk's shoulders again with his lower hands and clawing his upper ones into the bedspread "yes, harder" Angel moaned, unrestrained and Husk obeyed, his thrusts becoming faster, harder, finally hitting the one spot that sent a wave of pleasure rushing through Angel's body. He groaned out. For a moment, all he saw was white, but it was the good kind of white.
"Fuck, you're tight" the cat panted, finally gibing a reaction, finally Angel was not the only one moaning and squirming here "you feel so good, Baby" he kept thrusting and thrusting and thrusting, seemingly struggling to hit the one spot again. Angel groaned as he finally managed to. They moaned and gasped and everything blurred around them, everything except that feeling of two bodies melting together. But this time, this time it was not because Angel disassociated into his mind when it became too awful to bear, no, this time he wanted to feel all of this, every single thrust and every single grip. He had no idea how long they had been at it, he did not care how long they had been at it or what was happening around them. All that mattered was this one, rare moment when he felt good, when the horror of his previous existence leading him to this exact point receded into distance. All that was left was the sweet orgasm building up inside him, swelling and swelling and swelling. And he wanted to hold on to this moment until he felt it completely. But then, after a while, Husk's thrusts slowed a bit and Angel gasped in disappointment "I want you to cum first, Baby" Husk said breathlessly, this mesmerizing dominance in his voice again "can you do that for me?" he clenched his hand around Angel's length without waiting for a response and began to jerk it "I own you, and you'll do what I tell you to, won't you Baby? You want to be a good boy for me, right?" he squeezed a little harder, and that was enough to finally push Angel over the edge. The orgasm swept mercilessly over his body, driving into every pore as he cum into Husk's fist. The cat picked up speed again, his wings fluttering wildly around them, a few feathers sailing down as the overlord reached his climax as well. Then he finally came too after only a few thrusts and caught himself with his arms before he could collapse on top of Angel. He straightened up, stroked Angel's sweaty hair and pressed a gentle kiss to his lips. Then he slowly and carefully slipped out of him, stood up and left. Angel looked after him, disappointed. When will he kick him out of his room? That was not unusual, after all, he had already gotten what he wanted. Angel just hoped the cat will allow him a few more minutes to catch his breath before he had to leave.
"Here, drink this, Baby" Husk pressed a cool glass, filled to the brim with a clear liquid, against Angel's hot forehead. What? Angel sat up, perplexed. Husk was standing in front of the bed, holding another glass against his own lips, quickly emptying it "come on, drink up" Angel obeyed confusedly. It was water "do you want to take a shower?" he asked gently. Angel looked down at himself. He felt damp and sticky, used in a pleasant way. A shower would still sound good, though. He nodded gently. Now that it was done, all the thoughts and worries came ruthlessly back. He suddenly wanted a few moments alone with himself to catch his breath. A shower sounded like a lifesaver right now "the bathroom is over there" Husk pointed to a door next to the closet that Angel had not noticed before. Angel rose and disappeared into the bathroom on shaky feet.
***
Today
It was the dead of night when Angel Dust made his escape, well, at least as much as there could be a night in Hell, after all, the deep red sky did not look much darker at night than it did by day. He had chosen this time carefully, had listened at his door until he could be sure everybody had gone to bed to avoid meeting anyone or having to explain himself. To avoid having to meet Husk. Everything in him screamed to get out of here as soon as possible, every fiber of his body roaring in worry he might have to exchange so much as a word with Husk. Fuck everything, he would rather return to Valentino's bed than stay under the same roof as the former overlord who had ruined his life for even one more moment. Run the risk of having to meet him, of having to hear his voice one more time, his deep laugh always managing to send a pleasant shiver down his spine. Run the risk of accidentally touching him or talking to him. Running the risk of feeling something again. Was that not just ridiculous? Valentino had hurt him far more and far deeper, had been far more horrible to him than Husk ever could, and yet he hated the cat so much more. He was a mess, he was broken, he made no fucking sense. He needed to get out of here and never look back. There had been no point in being here to begin with. Redemption was impossible and out of reach, especially for him. The last two weeks had been a pleasant break, now it was time to return to the place where he belonged.
His pink suitcase with his meager belongings rolled across the floor with a soft squeak as Angel snuck through the corridors. At each particularly loud squeak, he stopped for a few moments and listened, afraid someone might hear him and come to see. Fat Nuggets huffed and grunted discontentedly in his arms and kept glancing up at his owner with his tiny beady eyes, as if trying to say how much of an idiot he was, as if to remind Angel of the hell he was about to return to.
"Everything's fine" Angel breathed softly to the piglet "your Daddy will figure something out" even to his own ears he did not sound very convincing. How angry was Valentino about Angel leaving? His texts had been very angry during those two weeks. Angel hoped the money he had earned from Travis would at least soften the moth's mood. Maybe he could stay with Cherri for a few nights? Irrelevant, he just needed to get out of here.
Angel exhaled with relief as he finally reached the lobby. He took a cautious look at the new bar and breathed out another sigh of relief when he found it empty. He had no idea what he would do if he had to face Husk alone now, of all times. The lobby was strangely gloomy, deserted as it was and with all those shadows in the corners. Only the perpetual glow of the pentagram moon bathed the room in an eerie red light. Angel quickened his pace, no longer paying attention to the creaking of his suitcase as he moved purposefully towards the exit. He had almost made it.
"Ah, I figured you might do something like that, my friend" a voice filled with static suddenly rang out and Alastor stepped out of the shadows he seemed to be so comfortable in. Fuck. The radio demon stepped into Angel's path, blocking his only means of escape. He leaned slightly on his red microphone, as if it were a cane, and his grin looked even wider than usual, almost flashing out of the darkness.
"You know, I didn't expect to meet one of my souls here off all places" Alastor circled Angel like a shark its prey "and then you on top of that…you didn’t strike me as someone believing in redemption"
"I don't" Angel just snorted and pressed Fat Nuggets a little closer to himself "it doesn't matter anyway, I'm getting the fuck out of here"
"Oh, what a shame" Alastor continued.
"What the fuck were you expecting by bringing him here?" the spider replied "the fuck you even care?"
"My, my, of course I care" Alastor stopped again "after all, a hotel without guests is nothing more than a building. No, that wouldn't be very entertaining. So, no, you're going to stay here"
"Fuck you" Angel flipped him off and pushed past him.
"I think you misunderstood, my friend" Alastor continued unperturbed and Angel instantly felt the collar form around his thin neck. It was heavy and almost pulled him to the floor, it was tight and mercilessly choked him, it was icy cold and bit into his skin as if wanting to remind him of the monster it held. Fuck.
"I take back my previous words, by the way" Alastor said completely calmly as he wrapped the green chain on his microphone and slowly approached Angel. The spider felt the static, the oppressive, thick magic of the overlord in front of him, pushing him mercilessly to the ground and forcing him to his knees "I've finally found a good use for you. You will stay here, we don't want to disappoint our lovely princess, don't we now?" Alastor leaned over Angel, his form shot up, his horns rose above his head and his eyes turned into glowing red disks with a radio regulator instead of a pupil. And his grin, his wide, crazy grin. Fuck "do we understand each other, my friend?"
"Yes" Angel managed to get out.
"Excellent" Alastor straightened up, the oppressive feeling of static and the chain disappearing as if never there "I'll be happy to help you with the suitcase" the radio demon snapped and shadows grew from the floor, catching Angel's suitcase and carrying it up the stairs "have a good rest of the night, my friend. And not a word to Charlie. This is nothing we should burden the delicate mind of our lovely princess with" Alastor added, melting into his shadows. It took Angel a few minutes to calm his wildly beating heart and pick himself up from the floor.
"It seems like we'll have to stay here for a while" the spider sighed tiredly and with resignation. Whatever, he will simply have to avoid Husk and put as much distance between himself and the jerkass as possible. He was an actor, he was able to convince the others there was nothing wrong, he was even able to convince himself nothing was wrong. He could do this, he could do this, he could do this. He will not give Husk or Alastor the satisfaction of showing his pain. And yet, he could not help but think back to how good Husk's hands had felt on his body, how happy those two best years of his life had made him. It was like a wound not healed properly, now tearing open, oozing with pus and so much more painful than at the moment he had gotten it. And he had no choice but to live with it.
