Fannish Friday
Oct. 17th, 2025 08:52 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
cornerofmadnessOkay I forgot I had a ghost thing today so you'll get the history stuff tomorrow.
As for the ghost thing, I went with TH to the Bossard Library for Stories of Ohio's Haunted Places. It was entertaining but not what I was hoping for. I was expecting paranormal investigation. I got stories instead. He was in his 70s and as he told the stories he'd reveal an antique that somehow linked into the story. So for me it sort of made them feel more like campfire stories than real but some I know of from other places like the Gray Lady of Camp Chase Cemetery in Columbus.
ALso he was a bit of a show man. Each item did a little 'haunted item' thing so he has some stage magic training. Over all he was fun.
Title: Can't Ever Keep From Falling Apart at the Seams
Summary: Angel has been pushed one step too far by Valentino’s abuse and comes undone. Luckily Husk is there to help him pick up the pieces only he’s not sure if his advice is helping.
Rating: teen
Notes: Written for whumptober 2025 for the day 9 prompt - “We’ll make it alright to come undone.”
Also written for Spikesgirl58’s six word challenge. The words were Pudding, Ground, Produce Continuous, Irony, & Illustrate and the lyrical titles bingo challenge for the prompt a 90s song. I chose Come Undone by Duran Duran
This was inspired in part by the S2 trailer where we learn Valentino has a hidden talent. I’m sure this is not the only time I’m going to revisit this topic.
Who do you need?
Who do you love?
When you come undone
Husk slid Charlie and Vaggie their drinks as they tried to shelter from the loud voices in the lobby, all of whom were unlikely candidate for residency; several discussing their desire to yank angels from the sky, dragging them to the ground and have their way with them. His heart broke a little for Charlie whose crestfallen, shellshocked expression reminded him of veterans he’d known, had been himself, the ones who had seen too much and Charlie was on the verge of seeing her dream shatter, even knowing Heaven was ready to broker peace talks.
A sudden silence fell like fog over the lobby and Husk glanced up to see Alastor much taller than usual, antlers nearly tangling in the chandelier. His shadows wreathed around him. He was done listening to them piss on Charlie’s dream. Husk only wished he understood Al’s motivations with the hotel. It sure as fuck wasn’t a desire to get into heaven. This was a man after Lucifer’s job only Charlie didn’t see it.
Into this silence the front door slammed open nearly jarring the glass free from its panel. Angel ran in, smeared in blood and god please don’t let the thick brown goop in his fluff be shit. He staggered – not to the bar like he usually did – but for the elevator. One of the newbies ran up to him.
“Angel Dust, I’m such a fan. Can I touch-”
The perv’s questions was cut short by Angel’s fist, knocking him out cold, delivered without any of Angel’s trademark banter.
“Angel!” Charlie cried.
Angel whipped around, all eight eyes wide open, tears streaming down his face. He shook his head wordlessly and stormed off into the elevator. As he disappeared into the car, Charlie exchanged horrified looks with Husk. Together, along with Vaggie, they raced for the elevator. Angel had chosen the top floor of the hotel with its larger suites as his home, along with Charlie and Vaggie at one end and Husk as well. Alastor and Niffty had preferred to be elsewhere closer to his radio tower and Cherri was still only semi-permanent. No one wanted to stair climb all the way so they waited for the solitary elevator to return.
I should fly up there myself! Vaggie can fly Charlie up. Husk eyed the stairwell. It was tight maneuvering with wings and in the end neither of them tried it.
By the time they got upstairs, Angel was behind his decorated door, throwing things and continuously swearing. Fat Nuggets oinked worriedly but didn’t sound injured, not that Angel would knowingly throw anything at his baby.
Charlie knocked. “Angel?”
“Leave me the fuck alone!”
“Angel, what happened?” Charlie persisted.
“I mean it, Charlie, I want to be alone.”
Charlie reared back at the violence of his tone. This was not Angel-typical. Husk waved them back.
“The ladies will be leaving. I’ll be here in the hall.”
“Go, Husk!”
“No,” was his simple answer.
Breaking glass was Angel’s answer. Husk shooed Charlie and Vaggie away, promising he’d take care of Angel or call them if need be. He sat down opposite Angel’s door and waited for Angel to rage it out as hard as that was, especially when Angel started screaming wordlessly and sobbing so loud Husk could heat his chest rattling. When the sobs finally dulled to nearly inaudible he stood up and knocked.
“I’m coming in now, okay?”
Hearing no response, Husk opened the door. Everything from Angel’s vanity was on the floor. The shelf of awards he’d brought from the studio after the rebuilt were also on the floor and broken glass and ceramic was everywhere. The only thing untouched was Fat Nuggets’ adorable bed that looked like a pink ruffly tent covered in white hearts.
Angel’s bed had been torn apart down to the fitted sheet. Angel was stretched out on it. Fat Nuggets licked his wet mess of a face. Near his one had was a collection of picture frames and near the other was a metal straw and a mirror now empty of even the slightest hint of coke. Angel had no doubt licked it clean so his baby wouldn’t get into it.
Husk stretched his wings and fluttered at the edge of the bed, so he wouldn’t step on broken glass. He quietly extended a hand, letting Angel decide if he wanted physical comfort or not. Angel grabbed him and yanked him onto the mattress. He burrowed into Husk who held him as he shook and cried himself completely out. At least the brown goop caked into his fur didn’t smell like shit – more like chocolate – but he did stink of sex. Whatever had happened at the studio, he hadn’t washed up, which was unusual.
Finally, he pushed away from Husk, his eyes swollen, even the little ones which seemed too puffy to close. He sniffled, rubbing at his eyes. “How can I produce so many tears?”
“I’m assuming bad shit happened and you’re allowed as many tears as it takes to get the pain out, Angel.” Husk stroked Angel’s cheek.
Angel let out a bitter laugh. “It ain’t going nowhere.”
“Do you want to talk about it?”
“I want a bath.”
Angel’s broken tone shattered Husk’s heart. He stood on the mattress and held out his arms. Angel shook his head.
“It’s six feet to the door. I can walk.”
Angel kicked his way through the debris on the floor and Husk glided over it. Angel thumped down on the toilet, his energy gone. Husk plugged the tub and planned to put in an extra helping of the bubble bath Angel liked. He thought maybe Angel should shower first.
“Want to shower the worst of it off first and then I’ll fix you up the bath just like you like it?” he asked and Angel started crying again. “I’m taking that as a yes, kid. What the hell is all the brown junk?”
“Pudding.” Angel stripped out of his shirt. Bruises spread like continents over his torso, spacious, horrible. One pec had a vicious bite mark. “We were doing foxy boxing sort of thing in chocolate pudding until….” He shook so hard, he nearly toppled off the toilet.
“I don’t need to know, Anthony. If you don’t want to tell me, I don’t need to know but if you need to talk it out, I’m here for you,” Husk promised, kneeling in front of Angel. He unzipped his boots for him, keeping his gaze on Angel’s face. He’d promised to not look at Angel’s feet even though of course he had. He thought the pink little claws – hooves? Angel wouldn’t let him touch them to find out – were cute but he hated his own body. He understood all too well how Angel felt. He never pushed the issue.
“He held my face under it and let them…” Angel let out a hiccupping sob.
“Shh, Tony, you don’t need to relive it.”
“I think I need to.” Angel stood and staggered toward the tub.
Husk helped him in. More bites and bruises marked his back. He held in the swears he could produce nonstop for an hour on the topic of Valentino and his abuse. Angel didn’t need to hear them. “Do you need help?”
Angel shook his head and turned on the shower without pulling the curtain. When Angel didn’t continue the tale, Husk stepped to the doorway and texted Niffty to bring him a broom and dustpan and his slippers. She was there within two minutes and launched into cleaning before he could. He let her get most of before stopping her before she tackled the awards and tossed them. He got his slippers from her and put them on to keep the glass from his feet.
“Thanks Niff, I’ll take it from here.”
“Okay.” She waved and disappeared out the door.
“Husk?”
At Angel’s frightened tone, he left the cleaning and went back into the bathroom. Angel had sat in the tub, turned off the shower, and was filling the tub.
“Right here,” he said. “Need some bubble bath?”
Angel nodded, hugging his knees to his chest. Husk dumped in a little extra of Angel’s favorite bubble bath and sat on the edge of the tub. Do you want me to wash your back?”
“Please.”
Husk got a towel and gently sponged the torn and now freely bleeding tissues. Angel must have brushed himself hard to get the pudding out and reopened the wounds. That was for the best. Now he could clean them out properly.
“Charlie is mad at me,” Angel muttered.
“Not at all. She’s worried.”
“I coldcocked a patron.”
“You punched a dick who thought he could paw you two seconds after meeting you. Trust me, Charlie is worried, not mad. I’m worried too.”
“Didn’t mean to fall apart.”
“Anthony, you have every right to come undone. I don’t know how you hold it together like you do. This is gonna sting. It looks deep.” Husked cleaned blood off a bite wound.
Angel barely flinched. “Val’s mad at me. Said if I ever loved him, I’d talk Charlie into letting us film a series of movie here. Guess he heard about the sexy new pool and the functioning carousel. It gave him ideas.”
“Tell me you didn’t say ‘I never loved you’ to that psychopath,” Husk groaned.
Angel snorted “I ain’t that dumb, babe. I did say I wouldn’t ask because I knew she’d never say yes and you can see the result.”
“I don’t know if telling Lucifer that Valentino wants this will be good and tears that mother’s head off or if it’ll just get you beaten worse.”
“I know where my money is.”
“Yeah, kid, me too. Okay, you’re looking good back here. Do you want to soak a bit?”
“Honestly no, I still feel gross sitting in it.”
“Let me help you up.”
Husk did and walked him to the stool under the heat lamps and driers in the nook that Lucifer had put in some rooms for his fluffier and feathery patrons. He also wrapped Angel in big fluffy towels, snoodling him up topped with a gentle kiss to his forehead. “You dry off and I’ll come take care of bandaging you up. Right now, I’m going to finish getting the broken glass off the floor.”
“You’re too good to me,” Angel buried his face in his towel.
“You deserve help, Angel. I’m here for you.”
When Angel didn’t respond, Husk set about his task. He put things on the vanity in a heap and stood the awards along the wall. Angel could redecorate as he wanted later. He scooped Fat Nuggets off the bed. The pig oinked loudly when Husk woke him up.
“Sorry, buddy.” Husk deposited him in his pig bed. “Your daddy’s sheets are a mess. I’m not letting him get in this bed smeared with blood and pudding.”
Husk moved the coke straw and mirror to the vanity and put the picture frames on the nightstand. He stripped the fitted sheet and pillowcases off and grabbed the top sheet off the floor. He put it outside the door along with the broom and dustpan and texted Niffty to let her know it was there.
He remade the bed with sheets covered in pigs with bows on their heads. “Where the fuck did you find these, Tony?” he muttered to himself and since Fat Nuggets was wandering around now, he put the pig back on the bed. He sat and looked at the pictures out of curiosity. He’d never seen these frames in this room before. To Husk’s shock, they were all of Angel, every one of them hand drawn in gorgeous detail. They were intimate in tone if not actual poses, though there were two of those too, including one done while Angel was obviously drowsing. Who had done these?
Angel should put these…do, damn. I think I just answered my own question. Husk’s gut twisted.
“Husk!” Angel snapped, standing in the doorway wrapped in a towel. “Those aren’t for you.”
“Sorry, Anthny, I had to move them to make the bed.”
Angel dropped the towel and stomped to the bed naked to grab them away. He crumpled onto the mattress, clutching them to his chest. Husk stood and went to find him some sleep shorts before going into the bathroom for the first aid kit. He rejoined Angel who had set the pictures aside and had pulled on his shorts. He turned his back to Husk to bandage.
“I didn’t mean to yell.”
“It’s fine. I was being nosy. They’re beautifully done. Valentino did them, didn’t he?”
“When we first got together. I’ve had them in the studio for years. I don’t…why did I bring them here? I should throw them in the fireplace.”
“Part of me says to do it, but the smarter part of me says you kept these for decades for reasons.” Husk padded one of the bites with gauze. “Why?”
“Because I felt so special when Val asked to draw them. No one ever alive or in hell had ever said I was so beautiful they wanted to make art of me. Val was so tender then, loving. I…I never had a relationship like that, Husk. You know what it was like when we were young. We’d have gotten beaten or jailed or slammed into a nut house for being gay if we tried to have a long term, open relationship. It was all brief sexual release for me and it kinda continued in hell. I had a few longer relationships before Val but they weren’t great ones.” Angel traced his own lines in one of the pictures.
“Hell ain’t a place for many great relationships.”
“I know. But Val made me his world and it was so sweet and I fell for it so hard and it was all a fucking lie. That’s why I should destroy these pictures but I’m stupid and weak and I keep them.”
Husk kissed Angel’s shoulder where it wasn’t bandaged. “You are neither. Stop saying that. I’m going to hate myself for asking but has Valentino ever offered to illustrate any of his other lovers?”
“Not that I know of, well Vox but he don’t count. Val sees him as an equal. He’s always drawing Vox and Velvette. I’m not like them. I’m the dummy who could be talked out of his soul for pretty pictures, sweet loving, and the chance to be famous.”
“Better than gambling it away, Ant. Vox’s portrait in his office, Val did that?”
“Yeah, how did you know?”
“Who do you think did my security systems in the Jackpot and my other casinos? He probably remembers me. Valentino has talent. He should have stuck with art and not script writing, no offense.”
Angel let out a hysterical laugh. “I wondered what he might have been like if he had a better life. I don’t think he was born evil any more than I was but life warped us. Him, more so.”
“I think they believe true psychopaths like Val and Al are born that way but might not hurt people. Others do even if life was good to them. Val loves his violence, Alastor too I n his way and I’m sorry valentine wasn’t what you thought he was.”
“If he had been, we wouldn’t be we. Why did you say you’d hate yourself for asking about him drawing others?” Angel looked over his shoulder at him.
Husk grimaced. “Oh the irony in what I’m gonna say next but I think you need to hear it, Anthony. If you and Vox are the only ones he’s drawn like this, you weren’t completely wrong and you aren’t stupid. You meant enough for him to draw these.”
Angel’s expression pinched, pain in his eyes. “Why are you saying that?”
“Because you’re convinced you’re stupid for falling for him, seeing something that wasn’t there but maybe it was sort of was. Only psychos feel and see it differently.”
“He did love me?”
“He felt something. Love is probably not something he really feels but he won’t let you go, and no offense, kid, yes you can fuck but he could replace you on screen easily enough if he wanted to.”
“I make him money.”
“So could anyone with a big dick or any power bottom with a pretty face. You’re more than both those things. Neither are your best attribute.”
“You seem to like them.”
Husk smiled. “Oh, I do but you’re also sweet when you want to be. You have a kind heart when you allow yourself to. You are fiercely protective of your friends. You are so much more than the size of your dick or your capacity to take them. If that’s all you were, Val would trade you in for a fresh ass in a heartbeat.”
“What are you trying to say, Husk? You’re confusing the hell out of me.”
“I’m saying, maybe you fell for it because there was something there. I’m not saying you need to hold on to that because we both know Valentino is a toxic psychopath who is always going to abuse you. Always. But I want you to be kinder to yourself and not think you’re completely stupid for falling for it. I’m not say you should keep the art but why did you, really?”
“Because in the studio, when he’s been horrible, I look at them and remember it wasn’t always this way and I feel a little better which is, I’m sorry, Husk, but it’s true, it’s stupid.”
“Maybe not. Sometimes if we’re able to tell ourselves, the relationship is bad, that we’re not going back to it – and yes, I know you have no choice – maybe we can give our hearts a little solace by remembering the good times but only if we don’t let it replace the knowledge that this partner is bad for us.”
Angel leaned against him. “You sound like you know.”
Husk put his arms around Angel. “I had two big loves in my life. I had more marriages than that but I think that’s because those two women broke me. The first was my high school sweetheart. She was being torn apart by her desire to be with me and her wanting her parents to not hate her. They didn’t want her with a jazz man which was what I was going to be in those days. I wanted to be a magician, was working on it and jazz helped me stay afloat to do that. Mom worked at a casino. Dad was gone and they hated that too. I let her go because she would never have been happy to have her gamily cut her out. I couldn’t do that to her. Moved to New York City for a while. Jazz and magic took me all over the world. I was in Paris a couple of years.”
“Really? One night, you need to tell me all about this…not tonight but a night when I’m not a mess.”
“I will tell you all you want to know about Paris but for now know, I met a woman there, loved her dearly and she was absolutely my Valentino.”
“Did…she hurt you?” Angel shuddered against him.
“Once. It was a lot of gas lighting and toxic arguing and then she cut me with a knife, needed a dozen stitches and I took off for freaking Vegas after that because I could. You can’t. I know that but my point is I was lucky to dodge that bullet as much as I had loved her. Even know I sometimes think about the good times with her, because they were good and they did make me happy, even knowing how bad it was. That and I was also lucky that we didn’t live in current times. Back before I lost The Jackpot and my freedom, I had this woman who came to my private poker matches and she’d brag about how she’d play the ‘he hit me’ card to get lovers she was mad at arrested, would even hit herself to get a bruise to make it look good. Wouldn’t have worked back in our time.”
“Mrs. Graziano, what did you do to provoke your husband,” Angel said, parroting an authoritative tone. “It takes two to argue, Mrs. Graziano.”
“Exactly, which is another whole tangent I don’t need to go down but I shudder to think what Daphné would have done if she thought a phone called would have gotten me arrested but the reason I’m telling all of you this is she had given me a medallion with a saxophone on it. It was a simple thing but it had meant so much to me and I kept that, even after I left her far behind. Sometimes I’d take it off, put it on the nightstand and think about those good times. And yes it hurt because I’d remember the bad too. So don’t ask why I’m babbling about all this. I’m not saying keep the art, Angel but will you regret it if you destroyed it?”
He took a deep breath. “I think maybe I would.”
“So maybe take them back to the studio, keep them there to calm yourself or whatever it is they gave you there. This suite is your safe space. Maybe we don’t need to let Valentino in here.”
“Is it wrong that I wish he had been the man I thought?”
“Only if you keep going back and say, ‘next time it’ll be better, he won’t do it again’ when you know he would.”
Angel put his hand over Husk’s. “I go back because I hafta. I don’t want to be with anyone but you. And I know it wasn’t easy trying to show me that maybe I hadn’t been entirely wrong about Valentino. I wish I knew if that made things better or worse.”
“I don’t either. Told you I’d hate myself for bringing it up.” Husk said, taking Angel’s hand. “But I want to be with you and I’m glad that you feel the same. We haven’t been lucky in love but this is a new chance, right?”
Angel sighed, nodding. Tears started to fall again. Husk kissed his wet cheek and stood up. He gathered up the pictures and put them on the vanity.
“There, let’s get those out of sight right now. You can make your choices about them tomorrow when you’re not so wrung out.” He put one of the rumpled wigs over them.
“Don’t use my wigs like that,” Angel whined.
“Babe, they’re full of broken glass and dirt. You’re going to have to deal with that later. The least of your worries is them hiding your pictures.”
Angel flopped back on the bed and Fat Nuggets snuffled at him. “might have to throw it out.”
“You can deal with that in the morning too.” Husk walked back to the bed. “Do you want me to stay tonight or do you need to be alone?”
“I want you next to me if you can stand me tonight.”
“Anthony, what did you just say to me? I don’t want to be with anyone but you. Even when you’re messy, maybe especially then because you need someone to lean on and there is nothing wrong about that.”
“Do you want me to come to your room?”
“I think you might need your own space tonight.” Husk swept Angel’s legs around so he was on the bed properly orientated.
“Thanks. Nuggsy is snuggly tonight too and you don’t have litter for him in your room.”
Husk reached over and scratched Fat Nugget’s head. “I was going to surprise you with it but yes I do. I got him a litter box and another bed, only the best for hell’s most spoiled pig.”
Angel looked up at him with a fragile smile. “You’re the best.”
“Not really but I’m trying.” Husk kicked off his slippers and stripped to his boxers. He climbed into bed with Angel and pulled the sheet up over them and Fat Nuggets.
“If I can’t say I’m dumb, you can’t say you’re bad,” Angel tapped his nose. “Anyone who can accept that I might want to hang onto Valentino’s art, is good.”
“Like I said, I’m trying. I’ve been a shit partner in the past and we both deserve better.” Husk settled a hand on Angel’s hip, feeling the bandages under the silky sleep shorts. “I wish I could draw pictures of you but I’m no artist.”
Angel laughed. “Sorry, just thinking of Vox. He loves to draw out his plans and you want to talk zero artistic ability. I don’t need you to draw me pictures.”
“I could write you a jazz song,” Husk slid his hand up Angel’s side. “Or a drink. I could definitely make you a drink.”
“Can it have a name that ain’t sexy? I…I’m tired of that being my own persona.”
“I’ll make it, you name it.”
“I’ll be looking forward to your song,” Angel said, his voice thickening with sleep.
“I will play it whenever you want,” Husk promised. He kissed Angel. “Get some sleep, baby. You’re exhausted physically and emotionally.”
“I will. I’m tired,” Angel nestled his face next to Husk’s on the pillow. “You are the best, you really are.”
Husk kissed him again. He wished he were as good as Angel thought he was. This is your chance to be that man he deserves. You can’t save him from Val, not completely but you can be everything he needs here. He shut his eyes, content with that thought. The advice he’d given Angel might not be good. Valentino would always find a way to make things worse. But here, in this room, they could be happy and for now, that was enough.
And now some stories.
Kiss Her Goodbye Torchwood
Remorse Babylon 5
I Will Never Forget This Hazbin Hotel
Made to Be Broken Oz
Ending and Beginning Oz
Merry-Go-Round Oz
Routines Oz
Holidays in Oz OZ
Always Going Home Torchwood
Hangover Hell FAKE
Fool Me Once T he Owl House
It's Rather Complicated Hazbin Hotel
On Little Cat Feet The Trixie Belden Mysteries The Three Investigators
TOH Cookbook zine: From scones to hearth (my art contributions!) The Owl House
Do We Have a Plan? Helluva Boss
This Business is Cereal The Owl House
That’s Entertainment! Torchwood
Distracted The Fantastic Journey
Does This Help You Addams Family
failure shouldn’t be this cute 陈情令 | The Untamed
Changes in Leadership Teen Wolf
Essentials. Torchwood
As for the ghost thing, I went with TH to the Bossard Library for Stories of Ohio's Haunted Places. It was entertaining but not what I was hoping for. I was expecting paranormal investigation. I got stories instead. He was in his 70s and as he told the stories he'd reveal an antique that somehow linked into the story. So for me it sort of made them feel more like campfire stories than real but some I know of from other places like the Gray Lady of Camp Chase Cemetery in Columbus.
ALso he was a bit of a show man. Each item did a little 'haunted item' thing so he has some stage magic training. Over all he was fun.
Title: Can't Ever Keep From Falling Apart at the Seams
Summary: Angel has been pushed one step too far by Valentino’s abuse and comes undone. Luckily Husk is there to help him pick up the pieces only he’s not sure if his advice is helping.
Rating: teen
Notes: Written for whumptober 2025 for the day 9 prompt - “We’ll make it alright to come undone.”
Also written for Spikesgirl58’s six word challenge. The words were Pudding, Ground, Produce Continuous, Irony, & Illustrate and the lyrical titles bingo challenge for the prompt a 90s song. I chose Come Undone by Duran Duran
This was inspired in part by the S2 trailer where we learn Valentino has a hidden talent. I’m sure this is not the only time I’m going to revisit this topic.
Who do you need?
Who do you love?
When you come undone
Husk slid Charlie and Vaggie their drinks as they tried to shelter from the loud voices in the lobby, all of whom were unlikely candidate for residency; several discussing their desire to yank angels from the sky, dragging them to the ground and have their way with them. His heart broke a little for Charlie whose crestfallen, shellshocked expression reminded him of veterans he’d known, had been himself, the ones who had seen too much and Charlie was on the verge of seeing her dream shatter, even knowing Heaven was ready to broker peace talks.
A sudden silence fell like fog over the lobby and Husk glanced up to see Alastor much taller than usual, antlers nearly tangling in the chandelier. His shadows wreathed around him. He was done listening to them piss on Charlie’s dream. Husk only wished he understood Al’s motivations with the hotel. It sure as fuck wasn’t a desire to get into heaven. This was a man after Lucifer’s job only Charlie didn’t see it.
Into this silence the front door slammed open nearly jarring the glass free from its panel. Angel ran in, smeared in blood and god please don’t let the thick brown goop in his fluff be shit. He staggered – not to the bar like he usually did – but for the elevator. One of the newbies ran up to him.
“Angel Dust, I’m such a fan. Can I touch-”
The perv’s questions was cut short by Angel’s fist, knocking him out cold, delivered without any of Angel’s trademark banter.
“Angel!” Charlie cried.
Angel whipped around, all eight eyes wide open, tears streaming down his face. He shook his head wordlessly and stormed off into the elevator. As he disappeared into the car, Charlie exchanged horrified looks with Husk. Together, along with Vaggie, they raced for the elevator. Angel had chosen the top floor of the hotel with its larger suites as his home, along with Charlie and Vaggie at one end and Husk as well. Alastor and Niffty had preferred to be elsewhere closer to his radio tower and Cherri was still only semi-permanent. No one wanted to stair climb all the way so they waited for the solitary elevator to return.
I should fly up there myself! Vaggie can fly Charlie up. Husk eyed the stairwell. It was tight maneuvering with wings and in the end neither of them tried it.
By the time they got upstairs, Angel was behind his decorated door, throwing things and continuously swearing. Fat Nuggets oinked worriedly but didn’t sound injured, not that Angel would knowingly throw anything at his baby.
Charlie knocked. “Angel?”
“Leave me the fuck alone!”
“Angel, what happened?” Charlie persisted.
“I mean it, Charlie, I want to be alone.”
Charlie reared back at the violence of his tone. This was not Angel-typical. Husk waved them back.
“The ladies will be leaving. I’ll be here in the hall.”
“Go, Husk!”
“No,” was his simple answer.
Breaking glass was Angel’s answer. Husk shooed Charlie and Vaggie away, promising he’d take care of Angel or call them if need be. He sat down opposite Angel’s door and waited for Angel to rage it out as hard as that was, especially when Angel started screaming wordlessly and sobbing so loud Husk could heat his chest rattling. When the sobs finally dulled to nearly inaudible he stood up and knocked.
“I’m coming in now, okay?”
Hearing no response, Husk opened the door. Everything from Angel’s vanity was on the floor. The shelf of awards he’d brought from the studio after the rebuilt were also on the floor and broken glass and ceramic was everywhere. The only thing untouched was Fat Nuggets’ adorable bed that looked like a pink ruffly tent covered in white hearts.
Angel’s bed had been torn apart down to the fitted sheet. Angel was stretched out on it. Fat Nuggets licked his wet mess of a face. Near his one had was a collection of picture frames and near the other was a metal straw and a mirror now empty of even the slightest hint of coke. Angel had no doubt licked it clean so his baby wouldn’t get into it.
Husk stretched his wings and fluttered at the edge of the bed, so he wouldn’t step on broken glass. He quietly extended a hand, letting Angel decide if he wanted physical comfort or not. Angel grabbed him and yanked him onto the mattress. He burrowed into Husk who held him as he shook and cried himself completely out. At least the brown goop caked into his fur didn’t smell like shit – more like chocolate – but he did stink of sex. Whatever had happened at the studio, he hadn’t washed up, which was unusual.
Finally, he pushed away from Husk, his eyes swollen, even the little ones which seemed too puffy to close. He sniffled, rubbing at his eyes. “How can I produce so many tears?”
“I’m assuming bad shit happened and you’re allowed as many tears as it takes to get the pain out, Angel.” Husk stroked Angel’s cheek.
Angel let out a bitter laugh. “It ain’t going nowhere.”
“Do you want to talk about it?”
“I want a bath.”
Angel’s broken tone shattered Husk’s heart. He stood on the mattress and held out his arms. Angel shook his head.
“It’s six feet to the door. I can walk.”
Angel kicked his way through the debris on the floor and Husk glided over it. Angel thumped down on the toilet, his energy gone. Husk plugged the tub and planned to put in an extra helping of the bubble bath Angel liked. He thought maybe Angel should shower first.
“Want to shower the worst of it off first and then I’ll fix you up the bath just like you like it?” he asked and Angel started crying again. “I’m taking that as a yes, kid. What the hell is all the brown junk?”
“Pudding.” Angel stripped out of his shirt. Bruises spread like continents over his torso, spacious, horrible. One pec had a vicious bite mark. “We were doing foxy boxing sort of thing in chocolate pudding until….” He shook so hard, he nearly toppled off the toilet.
“I don’t need to know, Anthony. If you don’t want to tell me, I don’t need to know but if you need to talk it out, I’m here for you,” Husk promised, kneeling in front of Angel. He unzipped his boots for him, keeping his gaze on Angel’s face. He’d promised to not look at Angel’s feet even though of course he had. He thought the pink little claws – hooves? Angel wouldn’t let him touch them to find out – were cute but he hated his own body. He understood all too well how Angel felt. He never pushed the issue.
“He held my face under it and let them…” Angel let out a hiccupping sob.
“Shh, Tony, you don’t need to relive it.”
“I think I need to.” Angel stood and staggered toward the tub.
Husk helped him in. More bites and bruises marked his back. He held in the swears he could produce nonstop for an hour on the topic of Valentino and his abuse. Angel didn’t need to hear them. “Do you need help?”
Angel shook his head and turned on the shower without pulling the curtain. When Angel didn’t continue the tale, Husk stepped to the doorway and texted Niffty to bring him a broom and dustpan and his slippers. She was there within two minutes and launched into cleaning before he could. He let her get most of before stopping her before she tackled the awards and tossed them. He got his slippers from her and put them on to keep the glass from his feet.
“Thanks Niff, I’ll take it from here.”
“Okay.” She waved and disappeared out the door.
“Husk?”
At Angel’s frightened tone, he left the cleaning and went back into the bathroom. Angel had sat in the tub, turned off the shower, and was filling the tub.
“Right here,” he said. “Need some bubble bath?”
Angel nodded, hugging his knees to his chest. Husk dumped in a little extra of Angel’s favorite bubble bath and sat on the edge of the tub. Do you want me to wash your back?”
“Please.”
Husk got a towel and gently sponged the torn and now freely bleeding tissues. Angel must have brushed himself hard to get the pudding out and reopened the wounds. That was for the best. Now he could clean them out properly.
“Charlie is mad at me,” Angel muttered.
“Not at all. She’s worried.”
“I coldcocked a patron.”
“You punched a dick who thought he could paw you two seconds after meeting you. Trust me, Charlie is worried, not mad. I’m worried too.”
“Didn’t mean to fall apart.”
“Anthony, you have every right to come undone. I don’t know how you hold it together like you do. This is gonna sting. It looks deep.” Husked cleaned blood off a bite wound.
Angel barely flinched. “Val’s mad at me. Said if I ever loved him, I’d talk Charlie into letting us film a series of movie here. Guess he heard about the sexy new pool and the functioning carousel. It gave him ideas.”
“Tell me you didn’t say ‘I never loved you’ to that psychopath,” Husk groaned.
Angel snorted “I ain’t that dumb, babe. I did say I wouldn’t ask because I knew she’d never say yes and you can see the result.”
“I don’t know if telling Lucifer that Valentino wants this will be good and tears that mother’s head off or if it’ll just get you beaten worse.”
“I know where my money is.”
“Yeah, kid, me too. Okay, you’re looking good back here. Do you want to soak a bit?”
“Honestly no, I still feel gross sitting in it.”
“Let me help you up.”
Husk did and walked him to the stool under the heat lamps and driers in the nook that Lucifer had put in some rooms for his fluffier and feathery patrons. He also wrapped Angel in big fluffy towels, snoodling him up topped with a gentle kiss to his forehead. “You dry off and I’ll come take care of bandaging you up. Right now, I’m going to finish getting the broken glass off the floor.”
“You’re too good to me,” Angel buried his face in his towel.
“You deserve help, Angel. I’m here for you.”
When Angel didn’t respond, Husk set about his task. He put things on the vanity in a heap and stood the awards along the wall. Angel could redecorate as he wanted later. He scooped Fat Nuggets off the bed. The pig oinked loudly when Husk woke him up.
“Sorry, buddy.” Husk deposited him in his pig bed. “Your daddy’s sheets are a mess. I’m not letting him get in this bed smeared with blood and pudding.”
Husk moved the coke straw and mirror to the vanity and put the picture frames on the nightstand. He stripped the fitted sheet and pillowcases off and grabbed the top sheet off the floor. He put it outside the door along with the broom and dustpan and texted Niffty to let her know it was there.
He remade the bed with sheets covered in pigs with bows on their heads. “Where the fuck did you find these, Tony?” he muttered to himself and since Fat Nuggets was wandering around now, he put the pig back on the bed. He sat and looked at the pictures out of curiosity. He’d never seen these frames in this room before. To Husk’s shock, they were all of Angel, every one of them hand drawn in gorgeous detail. They were intimate in tone if not actual poses, though there were two of those too, including one done while Angel was obviously drowsing. Who had done these?
Angel should put these…do, damn. I think I just answered my own question. Husk’s gut twisted.
“Husk!” Angel snapped, standing in the doorway wrapped in a towel. “Those aren’t for you.”
“Sorry, Anthny, I had to move them to make the bed.”
Angel dropped the towel and stomped to the bed naked to grab them away. He crumpled onto the mattress, clutching them to his chest. Husk stood and went to find him some sleep shorts before going into the bathroom for the first aid kit. He rejoined Angel who had set the pictures aside and had pulled on his shorts. He turned his back to Husk to bandage.
“I didn’t mean to yell.”
“It’s fine. I was being nosy. They’re beautifully done. Valentino did them, didn’t he?”
“When we first got together. I’ve had them in the studio for years. I don’t…why did I bring them here? I should throw them in the fireplace.”
“Part of me says to do it, but the smarter part of me says you kept these for decades for reasons.” Husk padded one of the bites with gauze. “Why?”
“Because I felt so special when Val asked to draw them. No one ever alive or in hell had ever said I was so beautiful they wanted to make art of me. Val was so tender then, loving. I…I never had a relationship like that, Husk. You know what it was like when we were young. We’d have gotten beaten or jailed or slammed into a nut house for being gay if we tried to have a long term, open relationship. It was all brief sexual release for me and it kinda continued in hell. I had a few longer relationships before Val but they weren’t great ones.” Angel traced his own lines in one of the pictures.
“Hell ain’t a place for many great relationships.”
“I know. But Val made me his world and it was so sweet and I fell for it so hard and it was all a fucking lie. That’s why I should destroy these pictures but I’m stupid and weak and I keep them.”
Husk kissed Angel’s shoulder where it wasn’t bandaged. “You are neither. Stop saying that. I’m going to hate myself for asking but has Valentino ever offered to illustrate any of his other lovers?”
“Not that I know of, well Vox but he don’t count. Val sees him as an equal. He’s always drawing Vox and Velvette. I’m not like them. I’m the dummy who could be talked out of his soul for pretty pictures, sweet loving, and the chance to be famous.”
“Better than gambling it away, Ant. Vox’s portrait in his office, Val did that?”
“Yeah, how did you know?”
“Who do you think did my security systems in the Jackpot and my other casinos? He probably remembers me. Valentino has talent. He should have stuck with art and not script writing, no offense.”
Angel let out a hysterical laugh. “I wondered what he might have been like if he had a better life. I don’t think he was born evil any more than I was but life warped us. Him, more so.”
“I think they believe true psychopaths like Val and Al are born that way but might not hurt people. Others do even if life was good to them. Val loves his violence, Alastor too I n his way and I’m sorry valentine wasn’t what you thought he was.”
“If he had been, we wouldn’t be we. Why did you say you’d hate yourself for asking about him drawing others?” Angel looked over his shoulder at him.
Husk grimaced. “Oh the irony in what I’m gonna say next but I think you need to hear it, Anthony. If you and Vox are the only ones he’s drawn like this, you weren’t completely wrong and you aren’t stupid. You meant enough for him to draw these.”
Angel’s expression pinched, pain in his eyes. “Why are you saying that?”
“Because you’re convinced you’re stupid for falling for him, seeing something that wasn’t there but maybe it was sort of was. Only psychos feel and see it differently.”
“He did love me?”
“He felt something. Love is probably not something he really feels but he won’t let you go, and no offense, kid, yes you can fuck but he could replace you on screen easily enough if he wanted to.”
“I make him money.”
“So could anyone with a big dick or any power bottom with a pretty face. You’re more than both those things. Neither are your best attribute.”
“You seem to like them.”
Husk smiled. “Oh, I do but you’re also sweet when you want to be. You have a kind heart when you allow yourself to. You are fiercely protective of your friends. You are so much more than the size of your dick or your capacity to take them. If that’s all you were, Val would trade you in for a fresh ass in a heartbeat.”
“What are you trying to say, Husk? You’re confusing the hell out of me.”
“I’m saying, maybe you fell for it because there was something there. I’m not saying you need to hold on to that because we both know Valentino is a toxic psychopath who is always going to abuse you. Always. But I want you to be kinder to yourself and not think you’re completely stupid for falling for it. I’m not say you should keep the art but why did you, really?”
“Because in the studio, when he’s been horrible, I look at them and remember it wasn’t always this way and I feel a little better which is, I’m sorry, Husk, but it’s true, it’s stupid.”
“Maybe not. Sometimes if we’re able to tell ourselves, the relationship is bad, that we’re not going back to it – and yes, I know you have no choice – maybe we can give our hearts a little solace by remembering the good times but only if we don’t let it replace the knowledge that this partner is bad for us.”
Angel leaned against him. “You sound like you know.”
Husk put his arms around Angel. “I had two big loves in my life. I had more marriages than that but I think that’s because those two women broke me. The first was my high school sweetheart. She was being torn apart by her desire to be with me and her wanting her parents to not hate her. They didn’t want her with a jazz man which was what I was going to be in those days. I wanted to be a magician, was working on it and jazz helped me stay afloat to do that. Mom worked at a casino. Dad was gone and they hated that too. I let her go because she would never have been happy to have her gamily cut her out. I couldn’t do that to her. Moved to New York City for a while. Jazz and magic took me all over the world. I was in Paris a couple of years.”
“Really? One night, you need to tell me all about this…not tonight but a night when I’m not a mess.”
“I will tell you all you want to know about Paris but for now know, I met a woman there, loved her dearly and she was absolutely my Valentino.”
“Did…she hurt you?” Angel shuddered against him.
“Once. It was a lot of gas lighting and toxic arguing and then she cut me with a knife, needed a dozen stitches and I took off for freaking Vegas after that because I could. You can’t. I know that but my point is I was lucky to dodge that bullet as much as I had loved her. Even know I sometimes think about the good times with her, because they were good and they did make me happy, even knowing how bad it was. That and I was also lucky that we didn’t live in current times. Back before I lost The Jackpot and my freedom, I had this woman who came to my private poker matches and she’d brag about how she’d play the ‘he hit me’ card to get lovers she was mad at arrested, would even hit herself to get a bruise to make it look good. Wouldn’t have worked back in our time.”
“Mrs. Graziano, what did you do to provoke your husband,” Angel said, parroting an authoritative tone. “It takes two to argue, Mrs. Graziano.”
“Exactly, which is another whole tangent I don’t need to go down but I shudder to think what Daphné would have done if she thought a phone called would have gotten me arrested but the reason I’m telling all of you this is she had given me a medallion with a saxophone on it. It was a simple thing but it had meant so much to me and I kept that, even after I left her far behind. Sometimes I’d take it off, put it on the nightstand and think about those good times. And yes it hurt because I’d remember the bad too. So don’t ask why I’m babbling about all this. I’m not saying keep the art, Angel but will you regret it if you destroyed it?”
He took a deep breath. “I think maybe I would.”
“So maybe take them back to the studio, keep them there to calm yourself or whatever it is they gave you there. This suite is your safe space. Maybe we don’t need to let Valentino in here.”
“Is it wrong that I wish he had been the man I thought?”
“Only if you keep going back and say, ‘next time it’ll be better, he won’t do it again’ when you know he would.”
Angel put his hand over Husk’s. “I go back because I hafta. I don’t want to be with anyone but you. And I know it wasn’t easy trying to show me that maybe I hadn’t been entirely wrong about Valentino. I wish I knew if that made things better or worse.”
“I don’t either. Told you I’d hate myself for bringing it up.” Husk said, taking Angel’s hand. “But I want to be with you and I’m glad that you feel the same. We haven’t been lucky in love but this is a new chance, right?”
Angel sighed, nodding. Tears started to fall again. Husk kissed his wet cheek and stood up. He gathered up the pictures and put them on the vanity.
“There, let’s get those out of sight right now. You can make your choices about them tomorrow when you’re not so wrung out.” He put one of the rumpled wigs over them.
“Don’t use my wigs like that,” Angel whined.
“Babe, they’re full of broken glass and dirt. You’re going to have to deal with that later. The least of your worries is them hiding your pictures.”
Angel flopped back on the bed and Fat Nuggets snuffled at him. “might have to throw it out.”
“You can deal with that in the morning too.” Husk walked back to the bed. “Do you want me to stay tonight or do you need to be alone?”
“I want you next to me if you can stand me tonight.”
“Anthony, what did you just say to me? I don’t want to be with anyone but you. Even when you’re messy, maybe especially then because you need someone to lean on and there is nothing wrong about that.”
“Do you want me to come to your room?”
“I think you might need your own space tonight.” Husk swept Angel’s legs around so he was on the bed properly orientated.
“Thanks. Nuggsy is snuggly tonight too and you don’t have litter for him in your room.”
Husk reached over and scratched Fat Nugget’s head. “I was going to surprise you with it but yes I do. I got him a litter box and another bed, only the best for hell’s most spoiled pig.”
Angel looked up at him with a fragile smile. “You’re the best.”
“Not really but I’m trying.” Husk kicked off his slippers and stripped to his boxers. He climbed into bed with Angel and pulled the sheet up over them and Fat Nuggets.
“If I can’t say I’m dumb, you can’t say you’re bad,” Angel tapped his nose. “Anyone who can accept that I might want to hang onto Valentino’s art, is good.”
“Like I said, I’m trying. I’ve been a shit partner in the past and we both deserve better.” Husk settled a hand on Angel’s hip, feeling the bandages under the silky sleep shorts. “I wish I could draw pictures of you but I’m no artist.”
Angel laughed. “Sorry, just thinking of Vox. He loves to draw out his plans and you want to talk zero artistic ability. I don’t need you to draw me pictures.”
“I could write you a jazz song,” Husk slid his hand up Angel’s side. “Or a drink. I could definitely make you a drink.”
“Can it have a name that ain’t sexy? I…I’m tired of that being my own persona.”
“I’ll make it, you name it.”
“I’ll be looking forward to your song,” Angel said, his voice thickening with sleep.
“I will play it whenever you want,” Husk promised. He kissed Angel. “Get some sleep, baby. You’re exhausted physically and emotionally.”
“I will. I’m tired,” Angel nestled his face next to Husk’s on the pillow. “You are the best, you really are.”
Husk kissed him again. He wished he were as good as Angel thought he was. This is your chance to be that man he deserves. You can’t save him from Val, not completely but you can be everything he needs here. He shut his eyes, content with that thought. The advice he’d given Angel might not be good. Valentino would always find a way to make things worse. But here, in this room, they could be happy and for now, that was enough.
And now some stories.
Kiss Her Goodbye Torchwood
Remorse Babylon 5
I Will Never Forget This Hazbin Hotel
Made to Be Broken Oz
Ending and Beginning Oz
Merry-Go-Round Oz
Routines Oz
Holidays in Oz OZ
Always Going Home Torchwood
Hangover Hell FAKE
Fool Me Once T he Owl House
It's Rather Complicated Hazbin Hotel
On Little Cat Feet The Trixie Belden Mysteries The Three Investigators
TOH Cookbook zine: From scones to hearth (my art contributions!) The Owl House
Do We Have a Plan? Helluva Boss
This Business is Cereal The Owl House
That’s Entertainment! Torchwood
Distracted The Fantastic Journey
Does This Help You Addams Family
failure shouldn’t be this cute 陈情令 | The Untamed
Changes in Leadership Teen Wolf
Essentials. Torchwood
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