Science Fair day
Mar. 22nd, 2025 11:12 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
cornerofmadnessBut getting up before the sun sucked. We had some really good projects. However I was sad to see it was mostly 6-7th graders. We didn't have any high schoolers like we usually do and that's down to the fact that in OH 6-7th grades have to do a science project and then it's never again. They can graduate without much science. It's so sad and it's impacting my university badly, especially my nurses.
I took a nap when I got home which is unusual for me and I felt all the worse for it (as per usual)
I sat down to work on my sabbatical presentation. The power went out. sigh. It did come back soon enough and I'm up to about 40 slides and there is no way I can cover all the women I want to and do them justice.
Here's my friday story only it wasn't for Spikesgirl58's this time. I wrote it for a draw this in your style challenge that allowed authors to play. You can see the art at the AO3 link. It's really a great piece of art so have a look
Title: My Torture, Your Gain. Your Pleasure, My Pain
Fandom: Hazbin Hotel
Summary: Angel knows what he’s just done could set Valentino off. He can only hope Valentino will listen to reason. If not, Angel has solace in knowing someone kind is waiting for him at home, there to take away his pain.
Rating: teen and up
It was my torture and it was your gain
It was your pleasure and it was my pain
Vengeance - Abney Park
Angel took a long drag on his cigarette, letting the nicotine calm his nerves. His big brother had introduced him to that little trick so many years ago. Arackniss regretted it to this day, knowing Angel had tried to calm himself with other drugs. Angel’s biggest regret in life was his actual death and what it had done to his siblings and his mother. Arackniss had not spared him a single detail of the aftermath; neither had Henroin.
Angel didn’t have any drugs in his dressing room or he’d be turning to them. Val had been stingy with the coke tonight but maybe that was just as well given what had happened. Trouble was coming. Valentino’s heels clicked down the hallway at a rapid pace. He’d be here in moments and Angel had to sell his story perfectly.
It’s not a story. It’s the truth.
The truth groaned a little in the corner and Angel curled his lip. He arranged himself on his stool, leaning against the vanity, his back to the shattered mirror with a crack like a mocking smile. Angel maneuvered his thick fluffy boa around his sore shoulders, wincing as the faux fur broke open the fresh scabbing over his torn flesh. He’d better not be bleeding too badly on his new outfit. Angel adored it.
If anyone asked him, Velvette was the easiest Vee to work with. So long as he wasn’t fucking up her brand, she was happy. She’d made him this delightful outfit for tonight’s show, a pink halter that held his chest fluff just right, giving that hint of breast because he was feeling femme tonight. The halter exactly matched his natural coloring, held together little metal heart clasps that were mirrored on the side straps of his barely-there panties. Even his stockings were trimmed with hearts.
Valentino thought Angel had asked for them for his sake to match his ruff – Velvette most likely did too – but no, they made him think of Husk’s cute ears and the marking on his adorable nose. Having things around him to remind him of his friends made doing his job easier these days. Valentino didn’t question the picture he kept of Fat Nuggets and he didn’t understand the meaning of the playing card Angel had tacked to the side of the mirror.
Husk would have approved of him tonight. Charlie a little less so no doubt but he couldn’t worry about her in this moment. What Valentino was going to say was all that mattered right now. Angel posed himself as Valentino threw open the door to his dressing room without knocking or asking to come in because why would he? He owned everything here including Angel. He needed no permission.
Valentino gripped the door frame, scowling as he saw what Angel had left in the corner. “Care to explain, Angel baby? They said they heard a commotion in here but I thought, no, not my Angel. He knows better than to upset the clients.”
Valentino stabbed a finger to what was left of a sinner in the corner. “So, what the fuck is that?”
Angel sucked in a deep breath, keeping his coquettish pose. Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted Valentino’s reflection in the shattered mirror. His face was lost to the cracks but the ruby of his eyes glowed above the mocking mouth of fractured glass. Popping the cigarette filter between his lips, he got to his heels and let the boa slip down to his hips. “You didn’t say I had a client after the show and I was exhausted. You know how demanding your new routine for me is. It’s sexy, beautiful but tiring,” he said and Valentino crossed his arms, not ready to buy what Angel was selling. “But that guy was let into my room so I thought okay, maybe Val forgot to tell me. The client brought me those lovely flowers, after all.”
He kicked the bouquet with the rhinestone-encrusted toe of his high heels. The single rose he had tacked up beside the Ace card he had up for Husk meant far more to him. “And he couldn’t even wait until I was ready for him. He was all over me.”
Angel spun around, showing off the two vicious bite marks on his shoulders and the long cut along his jawline. He could makeup over that for the next show but the bites in his shoulders ached and burned like the cigarettes his father used to touch to his arms when he displeased Henroin as a kid.
Valentino made a deep throaty noise, stalking over to examine Angel’s shoulders. His fingers held the gentleness Angel had long ago fallen in love with. It was a painful memory of a time when they had loved, a time that had never been real but he hadn’t known that then. When Val touched him like this, Angel could almost forget how badly he treated him: almost. Valentino’s fingers held lies in their soft skin. They would tear into Angel’s flesh without hesitation if he gave Val cause, and a beaten potential client very well could be considered cause.
Valentino gently spun Angel around. Those long fingers traced the wound on Angel’s jaw line. “He touched your face. He knew it was one of the rules. Never touch your face.”
Angel shrugged. “I had to hit him once, just to get his fangs out of me. That pissed him off and then it was on. You know the man I was, babe.”
Valentino leaned down, his face close to Angel’s. Crimson smoke curled from his lips and Angel drank it in. He didn’t want the high per se, especially not from Valentino but needs must. The bites fucking hurt. One had to have gone close to bone. Val’s pheromone-rich smoke numbed him.
“I remember you were rough, quick with your fists.” Val glanced back over at the beaten, barely conscious mass in the corner. “You turned so sweet for me. You used to love to please me.”
“I still do.” Angel must have sounded almost convincing based off the look Val gave him. “Wasn’t my performance good tonight? The crowd loved me.”
Valentino traced a finger along the hearts on Angel’s stockings and then tickled it between Angel’s legs, rubbing the sweat-dampened panties against his balls. “You were excellent. Best performance in a long time.” He trailed his tongue along Angel’s uninjured cheek. “Like the old days before Lucifer’s princesa turned your head.”
“Charlie hasn’t turned my head,” he protected her without thinking. The instantaneous heat flashing into Val’s gaze warned him it had been a step too far. He reached back with a shaking hand and put his cigarette in the ashtray. “It’s just…she reminds me of someone, okay? Someone I lost a long time ago, my twin sister.”
Valentino widened his eyes. “You have never mentioned a sister.”
“It’s hard on me, thinking about Molly.” Angel swallowed hard. “Anyhow, like I said, he bit me twice. I elbowed him off me and he cut me. That’s when I brought out my old standard and went at it like it was Brooklyn 1937.” A feral grin slipped across Angel’s face as he nodded to the baseball bat with nails protruding from it. He had tucked it along his vanity just in case the mess in the corner rallied and he needed to beat on him so more. Angel had been sort of hoping he might need to because getting his aggression out had felt far too good. “I know it wasn’t gonna make you happy, babe, but I had to protect myself. If he wanted to play rough, he should have gone through you proper like so I could be prepared.”
Angel was rarely prepared for how violent some of Valentino’s clients were but Val always gave him a heads up and extra pay when it was a rough trade night.
“He never asked me if he could hurt you at all.” Val yanked out his bejeweled gun and shot the sinner a couple of times before bellowing, “Wong, get in here and take out this trash. Have a talk with security about how he got in here in the first place. We never finished a deal for Angel’s time. I don’t care if he’s some up and coming overlord. No one touches what’s mine without permission.”
Angel fumbled up his cigarette again, taking another drag. Crisis averted! Or so he dearly hoped. He’d done the only thing he knew to do: play to Valentino’s jealousy. Had Mr. Up and Coming made a deal with Val and Angel had beaten him like this, Angel would be bleeding worse than he was now. But let Val feel like someone took advantage of him and all of hell would shake loose. What made it better was he hadn’t had to lie, no acting required, not that he wasn’t up to it.
“And get Travis in here. Someone has to take Angel home,” Valentino growled in the general direction of his minions. His attention, however, was on Angel.
He pulled Angel close, plucking the cigarette from Angel’s lips. Valentino kissed him hard, possessively and Angel didn’t fight it as he sometimes did. Tonight, he was getting off lightly after creating a scene so letting Val have a kiss and a cuddle hurt nothing. Not, that he supposed, the way Valentino frottaged against him could be called a cuddle in any sense of the word. The dumber parts of him perked up at the attention, too well trained not to.
Valentino bit Angel over his Adam’s Apple, hard enough to leave a mark but not break skin. Angel mewled, which pleased Valentino who let him go and dug into his pockets. He gave Angel a large baggie of cocaine.
“For you, babe. You’ve had a hard night.” Valentino brushed Angel’s hair back. “That was the type of performance I know you’re capable of. We’ll see it again.” That was a demand not a suggestion. “But let your face heal, amorcito. We’ll see you in a few days.”
Angel sighed softly. “Thank you, Val,” he breathed, meaning it. He’d take any break he could get.
“Remember there are always perks in keeping me happy, baby. Travis! Wong! Where is everyone?” Valentino stamped out of the room.
Angel hurriedly wrapped himself in the long trench coat he kept at the hotel, patched and worn. It said ‘I have no money, don’t bug me’ on the street. Let Valentino think he changed out of the provocative outfit because no good would come of letting him think that Angel had worn it home for someone. He was absolutely wearing it home for someone. Angel buried the baggie of drugs deep in an inner coat pocket and met Travis in the hall.
He ignored Travis’ leer as they walked to the car. He’d made the mistake of fucking him for cash a few times. Travis always wanted more but he did take Angel’s no to mean just that. Most likely that was because he didn’t want to get on Val’s bad side by forcing the matter more so than he respected Angel’s No. Angel sat looking out the side window, quietly smoking like he was his big brother, lighting one cigarette from the one before it until finally the hotel came into view.
He blew Travis a kiss as he bailed out, probably not his smartest move but one so well practiced it had become routine. Part of him wanted to walk into an empty hotel lobby because he was hurting and he hated himself just a little for being attacked because everyone thought he could be bought for a song. Part of him wanted his man to be there to comfort him and be aroused by him because he also loved the power of his body and the way he used it on stage.
It was late and the hotel was quiet except for the click of his heels across the flooring. The greenish light from the bar glowed, backlighting Husk who strolled his way with two bottle necks in one hand and a full glass in the other. He handed Angel the glass without a word. None was needed.
Angel slugged back the reddish liquor that had a passing resemblance to Campari in color and bitterness. Husk didn’t like this liquor, he’d learned, but would drink it if he had to. He bought it for Angel and kept it behind the bar where no one else was honestly likely to touch it except maybe Alastor who liked his drinks strong. The other bottle reminded him of the bathtub gin his mama used to brew up back in prohibition.
“You’re hurt,” Husk said, his eyes somehow soft with concern but still hot and hard with anger about the injury.
“I was bitten and I pounded the asshole into paste.”
“Good for you.” Husk trailed his clawed finger along Angel’s cheek above the knife wound coursing along his jaw. “More than bitten. Come on, let’s get you patched up. Fat Nuggets was a little nervous tonight, almost as if he knew. I got him settled in his bed with a few extra piggy snacks.”
“Thanks for taking care of my baby, Husky.” Angel managed a genuine smile, ignoring the fiery tug of the fresh wound on his face.
Husk slipped a hand into Angel’s and they ascended the stairs toward Angel’s room. Husk put the liquor bottles on Angel’s vanity and poured the two liquors into the emptied glass. He added a third alcohol from the bottle Angel kept in his room, something that could substitute for sweet vermouth. As Husk mixed Angel’s negroni, Angel cuddled Fat Nuggets.
“Daddy’s home,” he told his beloved baby. Nuggs nuzzled his hands until Angel set him down so he could get out of his trench coat. He made it a slow, deliberate act, his gaze on Husk as he did so. Husk was so damn good at hiding his emotions behind that poker face of his but he couldn’t help the dilation of his pupils and the subtle working of his throat as he swallowed down a rush of lust.
“Like it, Whiskers?”
Husk snorted, allowing the nickname this time. “You’re beautiful but you know that.”
“Oh, I do,” Angel replied, pitching his voice down into Anthony’s natural range. That’s what Husk wanted to hear. That’s who Husk was falling for.
Husk slowly worked the heart-shaped clasps to Angel’s halter loose, one at a time, planting a kiss at each heart. Once the halter was off, Angel’s fluff looked less like tits and more like the luxurious chest hair that it was. Husk buried his fingers in it before he trailed them over the hearts at the top of Angel’s stockings, just long enough to tease before backing away with a smirk. “Let’s get you patched up.”
Angel sipped his herby, bitter drink. “No, I didn’t get to shower at work thanks to fuck face. I worked up a sweat. Let me clean up first.”
“Go on. I’ll get everything ready.”
Angel took another sip of his drink, and then carried it into the bathroom, setting it on the vanity. He showered quickly and blew his fluff halfway to dry before walking back out. Husk had the first aid kit out on the vanity there. Angel put his drink down among his cosmetics, half gone now, and he looked over Husk’s shoulder at his phone. To his surprise, Husk was watching a recording of tonight’s show.
“Where in the hell did you get that?” He leaned his damp, bare hip against Husk’s shoulder. He’d gotten completely comfortable with being fully nude with Husk, right down to his stupid pink feet. Husk was cool with them, better than Angel himself was, really. “I know you weren’t in the audience.”
That was the rule. To keep their relationship secret from Val meant they had to be careful with being seen together too often. A club where Valentino was definitely going to be at had been too much of a risk. Maybe if Husk had come with others from the hotel…
“Cherri was there. She recorded it for me. This is my favorite part.” Husk tapped the screen as Onstage Angel went into a horizontal plank on the dance pole and then into a fireman spin and finally into the broken doll, hanging head down by one leg as he spun around the pole. When he swung back to the stage, Angel caught hold of dangling straps and went sailing on them, continuing his routine in mid-air, spinning up and down the straps as he soared. “Like I said, you’re gorgeous.”
Angel kissed the back of one of Husk’s ears. “Thanks, babe. I do look good on that pole, don’t I?”
“You own the stage like you were born for it. I’m a Vegas man. I’ve seen a lot of acts. You’re up in the top ten.” Husk put the phone down and stood so Angel could have the stool. “I can see the shower of money you earn too. Too bad Valentino’s even more of a dick than Alastor and doesn’t give you a tenth of what you earn.”
“I think it actually is a tenth,” Angel replied remorsefully. He hadn’t even had the sense to make sure he was well paid when the contract had been written. That’s how stupid in love he’d been with Valentino when he signed the contract. His current hatred of the man was ten times that original love.
“It’s less than you’re worth.” Husk gingerly examined Angel’s shoulders, making a disgusted sound. He glazed some ointment over the wounds. If nothing else, the hotel had the best care Angel had ever received in hell. Charlie would and could get him anything he needed and Husk had a Baphomet nurse friend who used to gamble to excess in his casinos. He’d allowed her to pay off debts with her medical skill if she got in over her head in the pride ring. He kept himself well stocked in things that would speed up healing.
Once Angel’s bites were bandaged, Husk worked his fingers into Angel’s lower shoulders loosening some of the knots. Dancing then brawling then the tension born of awaiting Val’s temper had taken their toll. He spun Angel on the stool and looked at his wounded cheek. Instead of going straight for it, he slathered some bruise cream into his palm and gently treated the love bite on his throat. Val wouldn’t notice, hopefully, if it faded early.
“Did the bad client mark you?”
Angel shook his head. “Val had to show everyone - you know all three of the people still around after the show – that I belong to him, just in case there was doubt, the chucklefuck.”
Husk snorted and turned his attention to the face wound, fixing it up swiftly. He kissed Angel’s forehead before walking into the bathroom to wash the ointments from his hands. Angel polished off his drink and turned down the bed.
“Are you staying tonight?”
“If you want me to.”
“I could use someone to hold me,” Angel answered honestly, slipping between the covers.
Husk reappeared, nodding. He put his hat on the vanity and shucked out of his trousers. Angel grinned, seeing him wearing the ridiculous boxers he’d bought for Husk: black and covered in red hearts and pink lipstick marks. Husk smirked back.
“I look stupid in these.”
“You do not. They’re cute. You’re cute, my cute grumpy kitty.”
Husk rolled his eyes and shut out the lights before he climbed into bed, settling on his side so his wings could stretch behind him. He held out one arm and Angel snuggled in, scooching down on the mattress so he could bury his face in Husk’s soft, amazing chest fur. He wrapped two arms around Husk.
“I was sure he was going to punish me for hurting that fan,” Angel whispered into Husk’s floof.
Husk hugged him tighter, knowing the one person Angel couldn’t fight back against was Valentino. It gave him such unfair power over Angel and Angel knew Husk hated that as much as Angel hated the complete control Alastor had over Husk. All things considered, Alastor was a better master so long as Husk was obedient but if he wasn’t, Angel shuddered to think. All of hell knew what Alastor did to the souls that displeased him.
“He can’t hold you protecting yourself against you, can he?”
“He has but usually if someone is gonna mess up the merchandise, he wants to know in advance so he can schedule around my injuries and charge more.”
“Mi dispiace tanto.” Husk massaged Angel’s scalp, and repeated himself. “I’m so sorry.”
“Their pleasure, my pain, that’s how it works.” He wished he’d never let Valentino have an inkling that he liked a little pain with his pleasure because Val respected no limits, didn’t remotely care they might even exist. “Sort of ruined it for me.”
Husk kissed the top of Angel’s head, caressing him with his tail. “I wish I could make it better.”
“One day we will. Valentino will be gone. I’ll be free and don’t ask me how I know. I just feel it. Lately, I feel like anything is possible.”
“I’d like to think that too, Anthony.”
“I don’t know why you put up with me and all my drama.”
“You don’t ask for the things Val does to you, Tony. I wish I could help you more, pick up some of your burden.” Husk caressed Angel with his tail some more. “I can't carry it for you but I can carry you. And I will as long as you need me to.”
Angel sighed softly, melting against Husk who purred for him. Those feline features bothered Husk but when Angel really needed it, Husk would purr and comfort him. On reflex, Angel’s legs vibrated setting up their own little spider-purr. The evening might have been rough but this was nice. He could put up with most anything to get to come home to a place that really was a home, to someone who cared for him the way he actually was. Valentino made hell far too real but this hotel, this man he was wrapped around, they made him dream of heaven. Even if he never achieved what Charlie believed was possible, what he had here was enough. He had hope for the first time in so long and he wasn’t allowing anyone to take that from him.
Author Note – The quote used here (by Husk) ‘I can't carry it for you but I can carry you’ is from The Return of the King by J.R.R. Tolkien
And here are the weekly fanfic recs for fannish 50
So, what class are you playing as? The Owl House
Plant Trouble Torchwood
Terminal Boredom FAKE
Unintentional Torchwood
then i will follow you into the dark Arcane
Kill Switch Hazbin Hotel
Beyond the Gates, the Mountain
镇魂 | Guardian
A New Tradition Prodigal Son
Without a 'shadow' of a doubt (Pt 2) Hazbin Hotel
Options Prodigal Son
I took a nap when I got home which is unusual for me and I felt all the worse for it (as per usual)
I sat down to work on my sabbatical presentation. The power went out. sigh. It did come back soon enough and I'm up to about 40 slides and there is no way I can cover all the women I want to and do them justice.
Here's my friday story only it wasn't for Spikesgirl58's this time. I wrote it for a draw this in your style challenge that allowed authors to play. You can see the art at the AO3 link. It's really a great piece of art so have a look
Title: My Torture, Your Gain. Your Pleasure, My Pain
Fandom: Hazbin Hotel
Summary: Angel knows what he’s just done could set Valentino off. He can only hope Valentino will listen to reason. If not, Angel has solace in knowing someone kind is waiting for him at home, there to take away his pain.
Rating: teen and up
It was my torture and it was your gain
It was your pleasure and it was my pain
Vengeance - Abney Park
Angel took a long drag on his cigarette, letting the nicotine calm his nerves. His big brother had introduced him to that little trick so many years ago. Arackniss regretted it to this day, knowing Angel had tried to calm himself with other drugs. Angel’s biggest regret in life was his actual death and what it had done to his siblings and his mother. Arackniss had not spared him a single detail of the aftermath; neither had Henroin.
Angel didn’t have any drugs in his dressing room or he’d be turning to them. Val had been stingy with the coke tonight but maybe that was just as well given what had happened. Trouble was coming. Valentino’s heels clicked down the hallway at a rapid pace. He’d be here in moments and Angel had to sell his story perfectly.
It’s not a story. It’s the truth.
The truth groaned a little in the corner and Angel curled his lip. He arranged himself on his stool, leaning against the vanity, his back to the shattered mirror with a crack like a mocking smile. Angel maneuvered his thick fluffy boa around his sore shoulders, wincing as the faux fur broke open the fresh scabbing over his torn flesh. He’d better not be bleeding too badly on his new outfit. Angel adored it.
If anyone asked him, Velvette was the easiest Vee to work with. So long as he wasn’t fucking up her brand, she was happy. She’d made him this delightful outfit for tonight’s show, a pink halter that held his chest fluff just right, giving that hint of breast because he was feeling femme tonight. The halter exactly matched his natural coloring, held together little metal heart clasps that were mirrored on the side straps of his barely-there panties. Even his stockings were trimmed with hearts.
Valentino thought Angel had asked for them for his sake to match his ruff – Velvette most likely did too – but no, they made him think of Husk’s cute ears and the marking on his adorable nose. Having things around him to remind him of his friends made doing his job easier these days. Valentino didn’t question the picture he kept of Fat Nuggets and he didn’t understand the meaning of the playing card Angel had tacked to the side of the mirror.
Husk would have approved of him tonight. Charlie a little less so no doubt but he couldn’t worry about her in this moment. What Valentino was going to say was all that mattered right now. Angel posed himself as Valentino threw open the door to his dressing room without knocking or asking to come in because why would he? He owned everything here including Angel. He needed no permission.
Valentino gripped the door frame, scowling as he saw what Angel had left in the corner. “Care to explain, Angel baby? They said they heard a commotion in here but I thought, no, not my Angel. He knows better than to upset the clients.”
Valentino stabbed a finger to what was left of a sinner in the corner. “So, what the fuck is that?”
Angel sucked in a deep breath, keeping his coquettish pose. Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted Valentino’s reflection in the shattered mirror. His face was lost to the cracks but the ruby of his eyes glowed above the mocking mouth of fractured glass. Popping the cigarette filter between his lips, he got to his heels and let the boa slip down to his hips. “You didn’t say I had a client after the show and I was exhausted. You know how demanding your new routine for me is. It’s sexy, beautiful but tiring,” he said and Valentino crossed his arms, not ready to buy what Angel was selling. “But that guy was let into my room so I thought okay, maybe Val forgot to tell me. The client brought me those lovely flowers, after all.”
He kicked the bouquet with the rhinestone-encrusted toe of his high heels. The single rose he had tacked up beside the Ace card he had up for Husk meant far more to him. “And he couldn’t even wait until I was ready for him. He was all over me.”
Angel spun around, showing off the two vicious bite marks on his shoulders and the long cut along his jawline. He could makeup over that for the next show but the bites in his shoulders ached and burned like the cigarettes his father used to touch to his arms when he displeased Henroin as a kid.
Valentino made a deep throaty noise, stalking over to examine Angel’s shoulders. His fingers held the gentleness Angel had long ago fallen in love with. It was a painful memory of a time when they had loved, a time that had never been real but he hadn’t known that then. When Val touched him like this, Angel could almost forget how badly he treated him: almost. Valentino’s fingers held lies in their soft skin. They would tear into Angel’s flesh without hesitation if he gave Val cause, and a beaten potential client very well could be considered cause.
Valentino gently spun Angel around. Those long fingers traced the wound on Angel’s jaw line. “He touched your face. He knew it was one of the rules. Never touch your face.”
Angel shrugged. “I had to hit him once, just to get his fangs out of me. That pissed him off and then it was on. You know the man I was, babe.”
Valentino leaned down, his face close to Angel’s. Crimson smoke curled from his lips and Angel drank it in. He didn’t want the high per se, especially not from Valentino but needs must. The bites fucking hurt. One had to have gone close to bone. Val’s pheromone-rich smoke numbed him.
“I remember you were rough, quick with your fists.” Val glanced back over at the beaten, barely conscious mass in the corner. “You turned so sweet for me. You used to love to please me.”
“I still do.” Angel must have sounded almost convincing based off the look Val gave him. “Wasn’t my performance good tonight? The crowd loved me.”
Valentino traced a finger along the hearts on Angel’s stockings and then tickled it between Angel’s legs, rubbing the sweat-dampened panties against his balls. “You were excellent. Best performance in a long time.” He trailed his tongue along Angel’s uninjured cheek. “Like the old days before Lucifer’s princesa turned your head.”
“Charlie hasn’t turned my head,” he protected her without thinking. The instantaneous heat flashing into Val’s gaze warned him it had been a step too far. He reached back with a shaking hand and put his cigarette in the ashtray. “It’s just…she reminds me of someone, okay? Someone I lost a long time ago, my twin sister.”
Valentino widened his eyes. “You have never mentioned a sister.”
“It’s hard on me, thinking about Molly.” Angel swallowed hard. “Anyhow, like I said, he bit me twice. I elbowed him off me and he cut me. That’s when I brought out my old standard and went at it like it was Brooklyn 1937.” A feral grin slipped across Angel’s face as he nodded to the baseball bat with nails protruding from it. He had tucked it along his vanity just in case the mess in the corner rallied and he needed to beat on him so more. Angel had been sort of hoping he might need to because getting his aggression out had felt far too good. “I know it wasn’t gonna make you happy, babe, but I had to protect myself. If he wanted to play rough, he should have gone through you proper like so I could be prepared.”
Angel was rarely prepared for how violent some of Valentino’s clients were but Val always gave him a heads up and extra pay when it was a rough trade night.
“He never asked me if he could hurt you at all.” Val yanked out his bejeweled gun and shot the sinner a couple of times before bellowing, “Wong, get in here and take out this trash. Have a talk with security about how he got in here in the first place. We never finished a deal for Angel’s time. I don’t care if he’s some up and coming overlord. No one touches what’s mine without permission.”
Angel fumbled up his cigarette again, taking another drag. Crisis averted! Or so he dearly hoped. He’d done the only thing he knew to do: play to Valentino’s jealousy. Had Mr. Up and Coming made a deal with Val and Angel had beaten him like this, Angel would be bleeding worse than he was now. But let Val feel like someone took advantage of him and all of hell would shake loose. What made it better was he hadn’t had to lie, no acting required, not that he wasn’t up to it.
“And get Travis in here. Someone has to take Angel home,” Valentino growled in the general direction of his minions. His attention, however, was on Angel.
He pulled Angel close, plucking the cigarette from Angel’s lips. Valentino kissed him hard, possessively and Angel didn’t fight it as he sometimes did. Tonight, he was getting off lightly after creating a scene so letting Val have a kiss and a cuddle hurt nothing. Not, that he supposed, the way Valentino frottaged against him could be called a cuddle in any sense of the word. The dumber parts of him perked up at the attention, too well trained not to.
Valentino bit Angel over his Adam’s Apple, hard enough to leave a mark but not break skin. Angel mewled, which pleased Valentino who let him go and dug into his pockets. He gave Angel a large baggie of cocaine.
“For you, babe. You’ve had a hard night.” Valentino brushed Angel’s hair back. “That was the type of performance I know you’re capable of. We’ll see it again.” That was a demand not a suggestion. “But let your face heal, amorcito. We’ll see you in a few days.”
Angel sighed softly. “Thank you, Val,” he breathed, meaning it. He’d take any break he could get.
“Remember there are always perks in keeping me happy, baby. Travis! Wong! Where is everyone?” Valentino stamped out of the room.
Angel hurriedly wrapped himself in the long trench coat he kept at the hotel, patched and worn. It said ‘I have no money, don’t bug me’ on the street. Let Valentino think he changed out of the provocative outfit because no good would come of letting him think that Angel had worn it home for someone. He was absolutely wearing it home for someone. Angel buried the baggie of drugs deep in an inner coat pocket and met Travis in the hall.
He ignored Travis’ leer as they walked to the car. He’d made the mistake of fucking him for cash a few times. Travis always wanted more but he did take Angel’s no to mean just that. Most likely that was because he didn’t want to get on Val’s bad side by forcing the matter more so than he respected Angel’s No. Angel sat looking out the side window, quietly smoking like he was his big brother, lighting one cigarette from the one before it until finally the hotel came into view.
He blew Travis a kiss as he bailed out, probably not his smartest move but one so well practiced it had become routine. Part of him wanted to walk into an empty hotel lobby because he was hurting and he hated himself just a little for being attacked because everyone thought he could be bought for a song. Part of him wanted his man to be there to comfort him and be aroused by him because he also loved the power of his body and the way he used it on stage.
It was late and the hotel was quiet except for the click of his heels across the flooring. The greenish light from the bar glowed, backlighting Husk who strolled his way with two bottle necks in one hand and a full glass in the other. He handed Angel the glass without a word. None was needed.
Angel slugged back the reddish liquor that had a passing resemblance to Campari in color and bitterness. Husk didn’t like this liquor, he’d learned, but would drink it if he had to. He bought it for Angel and kept it behind the bar where no one else was honestly likely to touch it except maybe Alastor who liked his drinks strong. The other bottle reminded him of the bathtub gin his mama used to brew up back in prohibition.
“You’re hurt,” Husk said, his eyes somehow soft with concern but still hot and hard with anger about the injury.
“I was bitten and I pounded the asshole into paste.”
“Good for you.” Husk trailed his clawed finger along Angel’s cheek above the knife wound coursing along his jaw. “More than bitten. Come on, let’s get you patched up. Fat Nuggets was a little nervous tonight, almost as if he knew. I got him settled in his bed with a few extra piggy snacks.”
“Thanks for taking care of my baby, Husky.” Angel managed a genuine smile, ignoring the fiery tug of the fresh wound on his face.
Husk slipped a hand into Angel’s and they ascended the stairs toward Angel’s room. Husk put the liquor bottles on Angel’s vanity and poured the two liquors into the emptied glass. He added a third alcohol from the bottle Angel kept in his room, something that could substitute for sweet vermouth. As Husk mixed Angel’s negroni, Angel cuddled Fat Nuggets.
“Daddy’s home,” he told his beloved baby. Nuggs nuzzled his hands until Angel set him down so he could get out of his trench coat. He made it a slow, deliberate act, his gaze on Husk as he did so. Husk was so damn good at hiding his emotions behind that poker face of his but he couldn’t help the dilation of his pupils and the subtle working of his throat as he swallowed down a rush of lust.
“Like it, Whiskers?”
Husk snorted, allowing the nickname this time. “You’re beautiful but you know that.”
“Oh, I do,” Angel replied, pitching his voice down into Anthony’s natural range. That’s what Husk wanted to hear. That’s who Husk was falling for.
Husk slowly worked the heart-shaped clasps to Angel’s halter loose, one at a time, planting a kiss at each heart. Once the halter was off, Angel’s fluff looked less like tits and more like the luxurious chest hair that it was. Husk buried his fingers in it before he trailed them over the hearts at the top of Angel’s stockings, just long enough to tease before backing away with a smirk. “Let’s get you patched up.”
Angel sipped his herby, bitter drink. “No, I didn’t get to shower at work thanks to fuck face. I worked up a sweat. Let me clean up first.”
“Go on. I’ll get everything ready.”
Angel took another sip of his drink, and then carried it into the bathroom, setting it on the vanity. He showered quickly and blew his fluff halfway to dry before walking back out. Husk had the first aid kit out on the vanity there. Angel put his drink down among his cosmetics, half gone now, and he looked over Husk’s shoulder at his phone. To his surprise, Husk was watching a recording of tonight’s show.
“Where in the hell did you get that?” He leaned his damp, bare hip against Husk’s shoulder. He’d gotten completely comfortable with being fully nude with Husk, right down to his stupid pink feet. Husk was cool with them, better than Angel himself was, really. “I know you weren’t in the audience.”
That was the rule. To keep their relationship secret from Val meant they had to be careful with being seen together too often. A club where Valentino was definitely going to be at had been too much of a risk. Maybe if Husk had come with others from the hotel…
“Cherri was there. She recorded it for me. This is my favorite part.” Husk tapped the screen as Onstage Angel went into a horizontal plank on the dance pole and then into a fireman spin and finally into the broken doll, hanging head down by one leg as he spun around the pole. When he swung back to the stage, Angel caught hold of dangling straps and went sailing on them, continuing his routine in mid-air, spinning up and down the straps as he soared. “Like I said, you’re gorgeous.”
Angel kissed the back of one of Husk’s ears. “Thanks, babe. I do look good on that pole, don’t I?”
“You own the stage like you were born for it. I’m a Vegas man. I’ve seen a lot of acts. You’re up in the top ten.” Husk put the phone down and stood so Angel could have the stool. “I can see the shower of money you earn too. Too bad Valentino’s even more of a dick than Alastor and doesn’t give you a tenth of what you earn.”
“I think it actually is a tenth,” Angel replied remorsefully. He hadn’t even had the sense to make sure he was well paid when the contract had been written. That’s how stupid in love he’d been with Valentino when he signed the contract. His current hatred of the man was ten times that original love.
“It’s less than you’re worth.” Husk gingerly examined Angel’s shoulders, making a disgusted sound. He glazed some ointment over the wounds. If nothing else, the hotel had the best care Angel had ever received in hell. Charlie would and could get him anything he needed and Husk had a Baphomet nurse friend who used to gamble to excess in his casinos. He’d allowed her to pay off debts with her medical skill if she got in over her head in the pride ring. He kept himself well stocked in things that would speed up healing.
Once Angel’s bites were bandaged, Husk worked his fingers into Angel’s lower shoulders loosening some of the knots. Dancing then brawling then the tension born of awaiting Val’s temper had taken their toll. He spun Angel on the stool and looked at his wounded cheek. Instead of going straight for it, he slathered some bruise cream into his palm and gently treated the love bite on his throat. Val wouldn’t notice, hopefully, if it faded early.
“Did the bad client mark you?”
Angel shook his head. “Val had to show everyone - you know all three of the people still around after the show – that I belong to him, just in case there was doubt, the chucklefuck.”
Husk snorted and turned his attention to the face wound, fixing it up swiftly. He kissed Angel’s forehead before walking into the bathroom to wash the ointments from his hands. Angel polished off his drink and turned down the bed.
“Are you staying tonight?”
“If you want me to.”
“I could use someone to hold me,” Angel answered honestly, slipping between the covers.
Husk reappeared, nodding. He put his hat on the vanity and shucked out of his trousers. Angel grinned, seeing him wearing the ridiculous boxers he’d bought for Husk: black and covered in red hearts and pink lipstick marks. Husk smirked back.
“I look stupid in these.”
“You do not. They’re cute. You’re cute, my cute grumpy kitty.”
Husk rolled his eyes and shut out the lights before he climbed into bed, settling on his side so his wings could stretch behind him. He held out one arm and Angel snuggled in, scooching down on the mattress so he could bury his face in Husk’s soft, amazing chest fur. He wrapped two arms around Husk.
“I was sure he was going to punish me for hurting that fan,” Angel whispered into Husk’s floof.
Husk hugged him tighter, knowing the one person Angel couldn’t fight back against was Valentino. It gave him such unfair power over Angel and Angel knew Husk hated that as much as Angel hated the complete control Alastor had over Husk. All things considered, Alastor was a better master so long as Husk was obedient but if he wasn’t, Angel shuddered to think. All of hell knew what Alastor did to the souls that displeased him.
“He can’t hold you protecting yourself against you, can he?”
“He has but usually if someone is gonna mess up the merchandise, he wants to know in advance so he can schedule around my injuries and charge more.”
“Mi dispiace tanto.” Husk massaged Angel’s scalp, and repeated himself. “I’m so sorry.”
“Their pleasure, my pain, that’s how it works.” He wished he’d never let Valentino have an inkling that he liked a little pain with his pleasure because Val respected no limits, didn’t remotely care they might even exist. “Sort of ruined it for me.”
Husk kissed the top of Angel’s head, caressing him with his tail. “I wish I could make it better.”
“One day we will. Valentino will be gone. I’ll be free and don’t ask me how I know. I just feel it. Lately, I feel like anything is possible.”
“I’d like to think that too, Anthony.”
“I don’t know why you put up with me and all my drama.”
“You don’t ask for the things Val does to you, Tony. I wish I could help you more, pick up some of your burden.” Husk caressed Angel with his tail some more. “I can't carry it for you but I can carry you. And I will as long as you need me to.”
Angel sighed softly, melting against Husk who purred for him. Those feline features bothered Husk but when Angel really needed it, Husk would purr and comfort him. On reflex, Angel’s legs vibrated setting up their own little spider-purr. The evening might have been rough but this was nice. He could put up with most anything to get to come home to a place that really was a home, to someone who cared for him the way he actually was. Valentino made hell far too real but this hotel, this man he was wrapped around, they made him dream of heaven. Even if he never achieved what Charlie believed was possible, what he had here was enough. He had hope for the first time in so long and he wasn’t allowing anyone to take that from him.
Author Note – The quote used here (by Husk) ‘I can't carry it for you but I can carry you’ is from The Return of the King by J.R.R. Tolkien
And here are the weekly fanfic recs for fannish 50
So, what class are you playing as? The Owl House
Plant Trouble Torchwood
Terminal Boredom FAKE
Unintentional Torchwood
then i will follow you into the dark Arcane
Kill Switch Hazbin Hotel
Beyond the Gates, the Mountain
镇魂 | Guardian
A New Tradition Prodigal Son
Without a 'shadow' of a doubt (Pt 2) Hazbin Hotel
Options Prodigal Son
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Date: 2025-03-23 12:38 pm (UTC)Good news: So many women! Bad news: So many women. *g*
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Date: 2025-03-23 05:51 pm (UTC)It's a blessing and a curse. I wish I had taken the year off so I could have written the book too but let's be honest I'd have pissed the time away
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Date: 2025-03-23 10:07 pm (UTC)Ouch, that sucks!
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Date: 2025-03-24 12:18 am (UTC)