Archive of Our Own ^beta

Angel rolled over as his alarm blared, slamming his pillow over his head and groaning, "Off."

Husk slammed his hand down on the phone. "Gotta get up. Meeting at 10."

"No."

"Meeting's at 10, Ange, which means we leave at 9:30, up at 9. It's 9. Get that lil' ass up."

"Y'like my ass in bed. I can keep it here."

"Up, Anthony," Husk laughed, clapping a hand gently over Angel's ass and rolling out of bed. "I'll be in the shower, if you wanna join me."

"Mm... no."

Husk paused in gathering his suit, then turned slowly to face Angel. "... What?"

"Don't wanna."

"... That's fine, Sweetheart. Y'don't have to." 

Angel nodded weakly into his pillow, eyes still shut and expression pinched. 

Husk sat back down on the bed beside Angel's hip, stroking his sleep-messy hair back from his forehead. "You feelin' okay, Princess?"

"... Uh-huh." 

"Convincing." Husk pressed his palm to Angel's forehead, then frowned. "You're warm." 

" 'M under, like... six blankets. 'F course, I'm warm."

Husk chuckled. "Alright. I believe you. If you really don't wanna go to the meeting, I can make up an excuse."

"... Like?"

"Like... you were scalin' the building, then got stuck at the top."

"You can fly. Wouldn't you save me?"

"I'm in a rush t'leave!" Husk laughed, leaning down to kiss Angel's forehead. "How about you get yourself ready, Sweetheart? We can grab breakfast on the way out, you can eat in the car. No problem."

Angel nodded weakly. "What color're you wearin'?"

"I was thinkin' the deep purple suit. You want me to grab you somethin'?"

"Mm... silver jumpsuit. The one with the beads."

Husk grinned. "That's a good choice. Always looks pretty on you."

"Everything looks pretty on me," Angel scoffed. 

Husk laughed. "This is true." He grabbed Angel's requested outfit, then laid it out on his side of the bed. "I'll be in the shower; holler if you need me."

"Mm."

"You should actually get up, Anthony. Get dressed, get all... prettied up." 

"Y'mean I shouldn't conference in like this?" Angel gestured down at himself, dressed in a shirt of Husk's and a pair of pink, lacy panties. His hair was flattened on one side, drool was dried in the fur on the side of his mouth, and there were still creases from his pillow on his cheek and temple. 

"I think--" Husk kissed Angel gently, "-- you're the prettiest person in the history of Hell and Earth. I'm lucky I get to see you every day." 

"You're deflecting."

"Mm." Husk stood again. "Showering. And pointedly not answering." 

Angel squawked in offense, and Husk laughed, pressing another kiss to his temple.

"I love you." 

"... Love you, too."

Husk left the bedroom, and Angel rolled back over to bury his face against the pillow. 

"Nuh-uh. Up." Husk snatched the blanket from the bed and dumped it on the floor, where Nuggets immediately curled up in the pile. "We have a meeting, Anthony." 

"I have a headache." 

"I'll have the extra-strength pain meds ready in the kitchen for when you're up and outta bed."

"I'm gonna kick your ass."

"Gotta get outta bed for that," Husk told him as he left the bedroom again. 

"Gonna kill you!" 

"I'd like to see you try!" Husk laughed from the bathroom. 

Angel groaned and rolled out of bed. 

Angel leaned heavily on Husk as they rode the elevator in Carmilla's tower. "I need a line."

"No." 

"Please?"

"What, you think I have a baggie of coke in my pocket?"

"... Please?"

"Still 'no', Anth. Sorry. Don't think that'd make your headache any better, either."

Angel sighed, nuzzling between Husk's ears. "You might have t'tie me up when we get home."

"Why?"

" 'Cause, if you don't, I might go out 'n find myself a vending machine."

"Don't do that," Husk murmured, bringing Angel's hand up to his lips to kiss the back of it. "You're doin' so good at stayin' clean."

Angel whined, eyes pinched shut. "It hurts."

"I'm so sorry, Sweetheart. Meeting should be short, I promise. Just a quick touch-base, and we'll be out in less than an hour."

Nodding, Angel squeezed Husk's hand tighter. "D'you have a smoke? I think I'm gonna... step outside. Clear my head."

"Sure." Husk fished out a pack of cigarettes and a lighter to hand to Angel. "Go out on the balcony; Carmilla's gonna kill you if you smoke inside."

"Mm."

Husk kissed Angel's middle right shoulder. "You sure you're feelin' okay?"

"Kinda wanna die, 'cause'f this migraine, and I feel like there's cotton in my ears."

"Don't die on me," Husk whispered. "I like you too much t'let you go that easily."

Angel whimpered at the pressure in his sinuses when he leaned down to kiss the tip of Husk's ear. "Everything hurts and I'm dying."

Husk glanced at the screen, blinking numbers as the elevator ascended. He tugged Angel down and said, "Shut your eyes for me?" 

Angel let his eyes shut, and Husk pressed the pads of his thumbs to Angel's sinuses, massaging the muscles around his nose and eyes. 

"Fuck." Angel winced at the pain, then whispered, "Little harder?"

"I don't wanna hurt you--"

"Nothing you can do t'me'll be worse than my sinuses right now."

Husk pressed harder, massaging Angel's sinuses to try and drain them. "I'm so sorry you're sick, Sweetheart. D'you think you picked somethin' up at the club this weekend?"

"Cherri hasn't said anything 'bout bein' sick, and she's got a worse case of 'man-cold' than you. I would've heard about it."

"Hey, now."

Angel snickered, the sound muffled and nasally. "Sorry. I'm mean when I'm sick."

"I'd be upset, but I like it when you're mean to me."

"Oh, I know," Angel purred, leaning in close to tap his nose to Husk's. He let out a cough into his shoulder, then groaned. "This sucks."

"I'm sorry." Husk grabbed Angel's hand when the doors of the elevator slid open. "C'mon. We'll sit together." 

"Like middle school," Angel murmured as he leaned into Husk's side. 

"Yeah, Princess, just like that." Husk kissed Angel's shoulder, then brought him to one of the open chairs around the conference room table. He pulled the chair out for Angel, then sat beside him. 

Angel kicked his feet up onto Husk's lap, resting his cheek on the back of his chair. 

"Well, don't you look like death warmed over?" Velvette asked, sitting beside Angel to prop her feet on the conference table. She pulled out her phone. 

"Shh..." 

"Did you-- Oh, I know you did not just shush me!" 

" 'M sick, Vel. Your voice? Hittin' frequencies that are makin' my sinuses tense up."

"Have you tried snortin' chili? Won't kill ya, but you'll wish it would."

"... No?"

"Try it when you go home. Clears ya right out."

"Just... what--" Angel let out a sneeze into his elbow, "What, snort a line of chili powder?"

"Yep." Velvette tapped on her phone. 

Angel sighed, turning back around to face the front of the conference room and lean into the back of his chair. 

"You can step out whenever you need to," Husk whispered to him, tapping the box of cigarettes in Angel's lowest right hand. "I can cover for ya."

"Mm... 'M fine, I think." 

Husk nodded, massaging Angel's ankle through his boot. 

As Carmilla and Zestial spoke through the meeting, Husk stole occasional glances at Angel. 

He was dozing with his head propped in his hand, eyes barely remaining open. 

"Are we boring you, d'Amore?" Carmilla asked, turning to Angel with her fierce stare. 

"No, promise. Just... feelin' a lil'... under-the-weather."

She huffed. "And you brought yourself and your illness to my territory because...?"

"We... had a meeting?" Angel tried.

Carmilla sighed and massaged the bridge of her nose. "We'll send you the minutes. Please leave. I don't have time for illness, nor do my employees."

"I'm fine," Angel assured her with a wobbly smile. "Seriously, think I just picked up a bug while I was clubbin' last weekend."

"Get out," Carmilla told him. "Husker, take your husband home."

"Yes, ma'am." Husk stood and tried to help Angel to his feet, but Angel remained in his chair, waving Husk off. 

" 'M fine--" Angel hacked a cough into his elbow, then winced at the pressure still building up in his skull. "Fine, Carmilla. No problem."

"There's something green on your elbow," Velvette pointed out without looking up from her phone. The neckline of her designer blouse was pulled up over the lower half of her face. 

"Whose side are you on?" Angel tried to hiss. 

"Honestly? Not yours. You're gonna get me sick, and I've got shit to do this week." 

Angel opened his mouth to answer, but his eyes widened, and he looked at Husk to whisper, "Help?"

Husk lifted Angel out of the chair. "Apologies, everybody. Please, continue. We would appreciate those minutes, if anyone can drop them off sometime this week."

Zestial nodded once. "I will send one of my minions to bring thee thy minutes. Prithee, take the pox away from here."

"I am not fuckin' poxxed," Angel scoffed, coughing into Husk's shoulder with a whine. 

"We'll head out. Sorry." Husk left the conference room with Angel in his arms, shouldering the door open and murmuring, "Told you we should've stayed home."

"If you 'told you so' me again, I don't care how sick I am, I'm gonna kick your fuckin' ass."

"You're coughin' up green slime, 'n you're sweatin' through my clothes." Husk kissed Angel's neck. "You're lucky if y'don't fall over the second you try t'stand on your own two feet."

Angel shook his head. 

"How 'bout we bring you to the infirmary? See if they can get you some meds."

" 'T's fine. Don't wanna bother 'em."

Husk scoffed as he pressed the elevator button with his elbow. "They're on payroll so we can bother 'em." 

Angel shook his head, burying his face in Husk's neck. "Don't wanna--"

"Anthony, you're getting snot all over my suit. You are very sick. You sure you weren't feelin' this yesterday?"

"Sorry--"

"Do not be sorry. I'm worried about you, Sweetheart. I hate seein' you... not feelin' your best."

"Feel like shit."

"I'm sorry." 

"If I can't be sorry, you can't be, either." Angel sniffled, wiping his nose on his sleeve. "Fuck, can you just... kill me? I'll come back all better, 'n it's no big deal--"

"No." 

Angel groaned. "Please? You always tell me that I can have whatever I want. I want you to kill me!" 

"No. We'll get you some meds 'n you can rest."

Angel whimpered, held tight in Husk's arms as he stepped out into the lobby of the Carmine tower. 

"I promise, Princess, I'm gonna make this better. I'll do anything I can." Husk buckled himself and Angel into the same seat in the back of their car, Angel Straddling his lap with his face shoved into Husk's shoulder. "Home, please, Chuck."

"Is he alright? Should I stop anywhere?"

"Just... Go in the back entrance, by the infirmary. See if you can get Erla on the line, let her know we're comin'."

"Will do."

Husk rolled up the partition, then pressed a kiss to Angel's temple. "Alright, Anth, we're on our way home. Just... breathe for me."

"Hurts."

"Do it anyway."

"Francis?"

"Yeah?"

"You sure I can't convince you t'take those pretty lil' claws'f yours 'n slit my throat or somethin'?"

"Not a chance."

Angel groaned, head dropping back. He didn't move, then murmured, "This feels better."

"Then stay like that. Probably helpin' to drain some'f the gunk cloggin' you up."

Angel nodded weakly. 

Husk massaged Angel's hand, both thumbs kneading the meat of his palm. "Any other symptoms?"

"Mm... Stomach feels like shit, chest is all rattly, been coughin' up gunk all night..."

Frowning, Husk wrapped his hands around Angel's waist again to pull him even closer. "Okay. I'll let Erla know. You just... keep yourself comfortable."

"Mm."

Husk lifted Angel out of the car when they stopped in the casino's garage. "Thanks, Chuck."

Chuck nodded, opening the door to the infirmary. "Let me know if I need to run out for medicine or anything."

"Thank you. I'll get you an update, soon as I have one."

Chuck nodded once. 

Angel curled into Husk's arms with a whine as Husk tried to set him on one of the infirmary beds. 

"Sweetheart, I've gotta go get Erla--"

"Please don't leave me," Angel whispered. 

Husk's eyes softened, and he sat on the bed beside Angel. "Okay. Anything you want, Anthony." He pressed the 'call' button on the railing of the bed, and Erla appeared, seemingly out of nowhere.

"Mr. Husker, Mr. d'Amore. Whats seems to be the problem?"

Angel whimpered. 

"Anth's sick. He's... His sinuses are all plugged up, and he's coughing up gunk, and he says his stomach and head hurt, and--"

"Hold on, hold on," Erla told him, sitting on the side of the bed opposite Husk. "Mr. d'Amore, can I look in your nose and ears?"

Angel nodded. 

Erla pulled out her otoscope, checking Angel's ear canal, then his nose. Her eyes widened. "What color mucus are you coughing up?" she asked as she stood. 

"Green. Like... nasty, bright green."

"Shit. Fuck. Okay. Mr. Husker, I'm going to need you to take a few steps back."

"Don't go--" Angel pled, coughing into his elbow again. 

Husk squeezed Angel's hand. "I'm here, Sweetheart."

"Mr. Husker, if this is what I think it is, it's highly contagious. You need to take a step away from the bed and put on a face mask."

Husk's brows furrowed, and he stood up to accept the mask from Erla. "What--"

"Mr. d'Amore, you said you had a headache?"

Angel nodded weakly. 

"Where?"

"Uh... I mean, everywhere? But 'specially behind my sinuses 'n eyes."

Erla sighed and nodded, adjusting the ear-loops of her mask against her horns. "I need to take a sample of your mucus, as well as your saliva and blood, but I... I don't know if it'll be good news."

"What's it gonna do? Kill me?" Angel laughed weakly. 

Erla smiled weakly at him as she prepared test tubes and vials. "Let's hope not."

Angel whimpered, grip tightening on Husk's wrist and forearm as Erla drew a vial from his top right arm. "Fuck. Can I have somethin' for the pain?"

"Not if I don't know what you have. Some meds would make it worse, some would-- probably-- kill you instantly."

"I'll take it."

"No, he won't," Husk told her. 

Angel groaned and dropped his head back. "Fuck you."

"No, you won't." Husk kissed the back of Angel's hand through his mask. 

Angel whimpered again at the pain in his muscles. 

Erla approached the bed with a test tube in hand, saying, "Head back, please. I'm going to take mucus samples from each nostril; this is not going to feel good."

"I've had worse shit than a Q-tip up my nose. Hit me."

Erla sighed and nodded, then swabbed the insides of Angel's nostrils, holding his head in place with one hand as the other collected the necessary sample. "I'm sorry. I wish I didn't-- Hold still--"

Angel wrenched his head away from Erla to sneeze loudly, wiping his nose on the hospital blanket in front of him. 

Erla's nose wrinkled, crinkling her mask. "Shit. Okay. Um... Mr. Husker, if you could step outside with me for a moment--"

"Don't leave," Angel begged, eyes watery.

"I--" Husk stood and kissed Angel's sweaty forehead. "I'll be right back, okay? Promise. Just gonna talk to Erla for a minute."

"Please, Francis, I can't--" 

"Anthony. I promise." Husk cupped Angel's face and kissed his nose through his mask. "I will be back. Nothin' could keep me away from you. Just give me two minutes."

Angel whined, letting his death-grip on Husk's forearm slip as Husk moved away from the bed. "Don't-- Don't go, please, I promise, I'll be good."

"You did nothing wrong," Husk assured him, leaning down to cup Angel's face with both hands. "I want to see how best to help you, and Erla and I are gonna work on that."

"I don't wanna be alone."

Husk sighed, glancing at Erla. "Could we talk here?"

"I... suppose. Let me put the tubes in the scanner, and I'll be back in a moment."

Husk nodded. He brushed Angel's hair back from his forehead, frowning at his labored breaths. "Hey, Sweetheart, try to breathe deeper for me? Big, deep breath."

"Hurts."

"I know. I know it hurts, Anthony, but... you need to breathe."

"Not really..."

"Breathe," Husk whispered, massaging the center of Angel's chest with the heel of his palm, his other hand holding Angel's tightly. "I'm here. I'm not goin' anywhere. Here forever; that was the agreement."

"Forever's a long time."

"Fuckin' better be." 

Husk kissed Angel's shoulder, patting his back through his next coughing fit. 

"Mr. Husker, please step away from the bed."

Angel whimpered. 

"What Mr. d'Amore has is highly contagious; you need to move away from him."

"Don't care if I get sick."

"Mr. Husker. I will call security in."

Husk's ears flicked irritatedly. 

"Just... go..." Angel breathed. "What'm I gonna do, keel over the second you're outta my sight?"

"I'm not leaving," Husk said firmly as he stood. He stepped backwards towards Erla. "What is it?" he asked under his breath. 

"If the tests come back with a few certain markers, it's... not good news."

"Spit it out, Erla. What does he need?"

"Um... Well, I'd need to-- He'd need--" 

"What is it?" 

"It only affects cold-blooded demons. There's only been a few cases in the last..." Erla exhaled hard, "40 years? Maybe 50? I'm... vaccinated against it, 'cause I work in healthcare, but... I don't... he's not."

"Okay, well... What can we do?"

Erla shook her head, staring at Angel. 

"Erla."

The chameleon demon turned to him, barely able to tear her eyes from Angel's weak, pale form. 

"What are you not saying?"

"The only treatment is-- well, the only known treatment-- is to... um... administer a lethal injection. Allow the body and the infected cells to decay and replanish."

Husk's stomach dropped. "And the other options?"

"There... are none. That I know of."

"Well-- Fuckin' look for them, Erla!" Husk snapped, turning to her with a growl as his tail flicked and his ears lowered. 

Erla nodded rapidly. "Yes, Sir. Right away, Sir."

She scurried off, and Angel weakly said, "Don't yell at her."

"Hey, Anth," Husk whispered, approaching Angel to sit beside him and brush his sweaty hair away from his face. He removed his mask. 

"Wait-- Erla said it was contagious--" Angel pulled his blanket over his face with wide eyes. 

"To cold-blooded demons only. I'll be fine. Erla's vaccinated. The rest of the team probably is, too." Husk cupped Angel's face. "How're you feelin'?"

"Same's the last time you asked, like, five minutes ago. Like shit."

"I'm sorry, Love." Husk sighed shakily and kissed Angel's knuckles, resting his forehead against Angel's hand and whispering, "I'm so sorry."

"What're you sorry about, huh? I'm the one who's makin' a big deal outta a lil' cough."

"'Lil' cough'," Husk whispered. "Right."

Angel's brows furrowed tightly together. "What aren't you sayin'?"

"Huh?"

"That's your 'I've got a secret' face. And probably not a happy one, if your lip's all shaky like that." Angel ran a thumb lightly over Husk's lower lip. 

Husk sobbed, pressing his face to Angel's shoulder. "Fuck, Anthony, I love you. I love you so much, Anthony, you don't-- You have no idea..." Husk whimpered and buried his face against Angel's chest fluff through his shirt, ignoring the dried tears and mucus. 

"Why are you cryin'?" Angel asked with a dry laugh, running his fingers through Husk's braids. "When you cry, I cry. And I can't cry right now, 'cause my tear ducts are all clogged up."

Erla returned with a page of test results, and Husk sobbed again. 

Angel coughed roughly into his blanket. "What the fuck is happening?!" he asked over Husk's yowling cries. He stroked Husk's ears and shushed him gently. 

"Mr. d'Amore--"

"Erla, we are so past that-- It's 'Angel', or 'Tony'. Either is fine."

"... Angel. Um... Your results came back."

Husk's breath hitched as he kneaded Angel's stomach through the blanket and his clothes. "Anthony..."

"Someone tell me what's goin' on," Angel demanded, nasally and hoarse. 

"Your test results came back. You're suffering from an... incredibly rare... disease. Um... It's called 'hypothermic myodeterioration'."

Angel blinked hard, then scrubbed his eyes with the heels of his palms, still stroking Husk's head and neck with his middle and bottom sets of hands. "What's that... What's that mean?"

"Your muscles... were exposed to the cold for too long. They're starting to-- Well, past 'starting to'-- They're decaying. The waste from your decayed muscles is entering your bloodstream, urine, mucus, and... every inch of your body, essentially. The infection can spread to other cold-blooded demons, if they don't already have the antibodies. Since you didn't, it's affecting every part of you."

"Explains why I feel like I got hit by a bus."

Erla chuckled weakly. 

"Alright, well... stick me with whatever med I need, I don't care what it is. IV, shot, feed a tube down my throat, nothing can be worse than what I'm dealin' with right now."

Another sob escaped Husk's throat. 

"What the fuck did you say to him?" Angel asked Erla, exasperation leaking through his cracking voice. 

"Mr. d-- Angel. The only cure for this, when it's progressed as far as it has, at least-- is...  a lethal injection."

Husk whimpered and hugged Angel tighter, unconsciously pulling him away from Erla. 

"... Oh." Angel looked down at Husk. "That's why you're... yeah. Okay. Uh... Francis, Honey, take a breath--"

Husk shook his head, hyperventilating. 

"We can do that," Angel agreed, smiling at Erla. "Thanks for your help, Doll. You're always a joy."

"Sorry I didn't have better news." Erla left the room, poking her head in for just a moment to say, "You two... take a few minutes. I'll be back with the treatment in a little while."

Angel nodded with a smile. He kissed the top of Husk's head and whispered, "Hey. Baby, look at me."

Husk looked up at Angel, tear tracks streaked down his cheeks and jaw. "I'm so sorry, I had no idea--"

"Neither did I. No one did." Angel kissed Husk's forehead. "Wait, we're sure you can't get this?"

Husk nodded. "I'm here. Not leavin'. The Exorcists can walk through that door 'n stab me in the head, but I'd still be right here with ya." Husk kissed the backs of Angel's knuckles. "Fuck, I'm so sorry. I wish... I wish we'd caught it sooner." 

"Eh. Not the first time I'd willingly take a drug that'd kill me."

Husk's jaw set. 

"Sorry. I know y'don't like when I talk about that--"

"It's part'f your history," Husk whispered, shaking his head. "Made you who you are. I don't like thinkin' about you... hurtin', or overdosed, or d--" Husk choked on the word. 

"... Right." Angel cupped Husk's face to turn it towards him. "Hey. I have died and come back more times than I can count. I will be fine. I'll take the med, come back in a few... hours or days, and we'll go right back t'how we were last week. No problem."

"Except it is a problem," Husk breathed, tears brimming over at his waterline, "Because I'll have seen you dead. You'll be here, and I'll have been here, and I won't have done anything, 'cause there's nothin' I can do."

" 'Cept be here?" Angel offered. "You can sit with me. Talk me out. Let me go out peacefully. Sing for me, and hold me, and be here while I... leave."

Husk sniffled and wiped his nose on the back of his wrist. 

"You know what Val did when I overdosed... what, the month before I got here?"

"Anth--"

"Listen to me. Dying man's wish." 

"Do not joke like that," Husk told Angel, voice cracking. 

"Sorry. I... I didn't think about it."

" 'T's okay. I... I should be more... here for you, not for myself."

Angel sighed, brushing Husk's twists away from his forehead. "When I overdosed, Val tied me down 'n had his wicked way with me. I remember... all'f it. 'Til I blacked out, I remember... all of it."

Husk growled. 

"And... you... You're here, more upset about it than I am, and beggin' me not t'do it, 'cause you don't wanna see me... hurt."

" 'Course, I don't. You're my everything, Anthony." Husk kissed Angel's rings, the ones matching his own, gently. "I'll... see if Erla can get you some pain meds. Make the way out... easier." 

Angel smiled softly and sniffled. "Thank you, Baby." 

"Anything you need. You want anything?"

"I... I just want it to stop..." Angel breathed. "I need it to be over."

Erla coughed from the doorway. "Angel, I have... the IV bag, whenever you're ready."

"Thought it was an injection?" Angel asked. 

"Oh-- I... uh..." 

"No problem," Angel assured her quickly, inhaling roughly until he coughed into his sleeve. "I-- Okay, whatever it needs to be, it needs to be. Can I... change? Outta this, outta my heels?"

"Yeah, of course," Erla told him, smiling. "Would you like me to... get you some clothes?"

"I'll do it," Husk told her, standing. "Stay with him, please? Don't... do anything until I'm back."

"On your word, Sir." 

Husk stood, kissed Angel's forehead, and whispered, "I'll be right back. Any specific pajamas?"

"... Daisies. And the sweatshirt that matches yours."

"Alright. I'll be back in a couple minutes. Get comfy. You want me to bring Nuggets down?"

"Nah. He doesn't need t'see me like this."

"Okay." Husk kissed Angel's face a few more times, then, reluctantly, pulled away. "I'll... be right back."

"If y'stop tellin' me when you'll be back, you'll be back sooner."

"Right." Husk left the infirmary, all but jogging to the elevator to go up to the penthouse. His wings fluttered in irritation as he stared at the climbing numbers on the display above the door. 

He gathered the pajamas that Angel had asked for, as well as his pillow, a blanket from their bed, and a couple of stuffed animals. 

Nuggets sniffed around his feet, tapping a hoof against his calf with a whine. 

"Sorry, Nuggs. I'll send Niff up in a little bit, okay? I'm-- I can't-- Not right now."

Nuggets whined again. 

Husk left the penthouse, nudging Nuggets out of the elevator with one gentle tap of his foot. "Not now."

Nuggets dropped into a sit with a disgruntled snort. 

Husk watched the elevator descend, ears pinned flat against his skull as he suppressed another round of sobs. 

When he arrived back at the basement, he beelined for the infirmary, letting out a sigh when Angel grinned at him.  

"Hey. Welcome back. I'm miserable. How are you?"

"Probably right there with ya, actually." Husk handed Angel the pajamas. 

"Can... Can you help me? My legs're wobbly."

Husk nodded wordlessly. 

Angel crawled out from under his hospital blanket, letting himself slip from the bed and into Husk's lap. He buried his face in Husk's neck. 

"Hey." 

"Mm..."

Husk hugged Angel tight, hands roaming over every inch of Angel that he could reach. "Fuck, Anth, I can't-- I had no idea... I'm so sorry." 

"I didn't know, either. Thought it was just a bug or somethin'. No one's fault."

Husk sniffled. "How 'bout we get you comfy?" He tugged down the zipper on the back of Angel's jumpsuit. 

Angel squirmed out of the stiff fabric, then sat on the edge of the hospital bed to let Husk pull on his pants, t-shirt, and sweatshirt. 

"Anthony?" Husk asked as Angel climbed back onto the bed. He removed the mucus-covered hospital blanket, dropped it to the side, and covered Angel in the fuzzy purple blanket from their bed. 

"Yeah, Baby?"

"I love you."

"You sound like you're sayin' 'goodbye'. I'll be back in a few days; Erla said. When I'm back, we can do whatever you want, okay? I'll be all better."

Husk whimpered, ears pinned back. 

"Oh. Okay. C'mere, Baby."

Husk climbed onto the bed beside Angel, scenting his neck with the side of his muzzle. He sniffled and buried his face against Angel's shoulder. 

"I'm here, Sweetness." Angel stroked Husk's tense ears and neck. "I've got you."

Shaking his head, Husk murmured, " 'M s'pposed t'have you..."

"You always have me. Let me hold you for a bit, Baby." Angel kissed the top of Husk's head.

"I don't want you t'go..."

"I'll be here the whole time. Not goin' anywhere."

Husk released a shaking breath. "I'll... I'm not goin' anywhere, either. I'm gonna be here the whole time. Promise. Not gonna leave your side, even for a second."

"You have a casino t'run, Baby," Angel told him, shaking his head. 

"Doesn't matter."

"It does--"

"It can close for a couple days. I can delegate. Whatever. Doesn't matter; you're here."

Angel sighed, dropping his head back with a groan. "Everything hurts. I just... I need it to stop. Please."

"Okay. Anything you need." Husk pressed the 'call' button, then climbed off of the bed. "Fuck, I don't-- I don't know if I can do this," he breathed. 

"You can, and you will. If you leave before I'm dead, I'm gonna come back, just t'kill ya."

Husk let out a weak, shaky laugh. "Noted."

Erla appeared in the doorway. "Are you ready?"

"Ready as I can be." Angel took both Husk's hands in his left hands, then asked Erla, "Will it hurt?"

"It's completely painless. You'll fall asleep, then your body systems will shut down. You'll regenerate sometime in the next... probably five days, or so, based on the current deterioration rate. We'll keep a close eye on you."

Husk nodded, eyes watering. 

"See? I'll be back in just a little bit," Angel promised him, kissing Husk's knuckles. "Like I wasn't even gone. I'll be here the whole time."

Husk nodded again. 

"Promise me somethin'?" Angel asked.

"Anything. Name it, it's yours."

"Promise?"

"Promise." 

Angel extended a hand for Husk to shake, and Husk took it without hesitation. 

"Don't just sit here the whole time I'm out. Y'can come visit, but... you shouldn't shut down, just 'cause I'm... not here."

Husk's eyes widened as their clasped hands glowed gold, Angel's magic diminished and barely-there with a tiny swirl of pink magic around their hands. "Anthony." 

"Please? I'll feel bad if you're lettin' everything fall apart."

"You don't-- Anthony, I can't--"

"You promised. You shook on it."

Husk sighed, nodding. "Alright. I'll... do my best."

"I can take that." Angel turned to Erla with a sigh, then nodded once. "Go ahead. I think... I don't think I'll ever be ready-ready."

"Okay. Let me know if your pain changes; that means something's going wrong."

Angel nodded, turning to Husk to whisper, "I'm sorry. I love you."

"I love you, too, Anthony. I love you so much; I'll be here when you come back."

Erla pressed the needle into Angel's upper right forearm. 

Angel cupped Husk's cheek, whispering, "Take care'f Nuggs for me. Give 'im lots of treats."

"Alright."

"And tell Niff that I'll take 'er shoppin' when I'm up and at 'em, again."

"Will do."

"And tell my husband that he's perfect and wonderful 'n I don't think I could do this without him bein' here by my side."

Husk sniffled. "Okay," he whispered weakly. "Anything you want."

Angel's eyes fluttered shut, and his hand fell from Husk's face to land on the bed between them. 

Husk sobbed, taking Angel's hand in both of his to kiss the back of his knuckles. "I love you, Anthony. I'm here. I'll be here."

Erla inspected the IV bag, letting Husk whisper against Angel's hand and knuckles. 

Angel's hand fell limply to the bed when Husk released it. 

Husk adjusted the blanket around Angel, laying all three sets of his hands over his chest and stomach. He combed Angel's hair back with his claws, then massaged his scalp gently. 

"He should be... fully gone, now," Erla said softly. "He'll recover naturally within the week."

"Okay," Husk whispered. 

Erla stood at Angel's bedside. "Mr. Husker?"

"Uh-huh?"

"You... You can leave whenever you need to. I'll be here."

"I don't... want to leave. I need to be here... for a bit."

"Okay." Erla set Angel's clipboard on the end of the bed, then whispered, "Time of death, 13:22, Friday."

Husk sniffled, still stroking Angel's hair, neck, and shoulder. "Is there... anything I can do?"

"He needs to stay warm while he recovers. You're already doing it."

Nodding, Husk gently lifted Angel's head to pull up the hood of his sweatshirt. "Anything else?"

"He'll be sore and weak when he wakes up; his muscles will still be regenerating, even after his brain is functioning. He'll probably need help with... pretty much everything. He'll be hungry. Takes a lot of calories to regenerate... everything, y'know?"

Husk nodded. He kissed Angel's cheek once more. "Anything he needs."

Husk adjusted Angel's pillow again, then sat back down beside him. 

Erla entered the room again, and she asked, "Do you need anything, Mr. Husker? I can have the cafeteria bring you something, or I can fetch it myself--"

"No. Thank you."

With a sigh, Erla sat on the side of the bed opposite Husk. "Sir, if I may...?"

Husk said nothing.

"You've been here all day. It's nearly midnight. You haven't moved, haven't eaten, and haven't had a single sip of water. If Mr. d'Amore was here--"

"I know. I just... I don't want to leave him like this."

Erla sighed. "I... I'm sure. I'll go get you something to eat. There's extra scrubs in the cabinet under the sink; extra large should fit you, if not, 2XL should."

Husk nodded wordlessly, staring at Angel's lax face. 

"Sir," Erla said, firmer than before. 

Husk glanced over at her, fingers wrapped around Angel's wrist, where, no matter how long he pressed his fingers to Angel's pulse-point, he found nothing. 

"Please. Take care of yourself. I'll stay here with him; won't even leave the room. I'll contact you if anything changes."

"You'll... stay here?"

"Yeah. You go eat something... sleep for a bit."

"I can't sleep without him."

"I'll... set up a cot down here, then."

Husk sniffled and whispered, "Thank you, Erla."

"Of course, Sir." She sat down on Angel's other side, adjusting his pulse oximeter, as well as his blood pressure cuff, both devices reading 'NO SIGNAL'. She rested a clawed hand on Angel's thigh through his blanket. 

Husk stood up, backing away from the bed without tearing his eyes from Angel's lax face. "I... I don't know what to do without him. What do I... What did I do before he came along?"

"... Do you want the honest answer?"

"Huh?"

"Drank. Gambled. Yelled more. Didn't take care'f yourself nearly as well as you do, now."

Husk scoffed. 

"Go eat. Shower. Change outta that suit. Use the bathroom, get some water-- maybe booze, honestly, lookin' at how stressed you are-- and then come back."

"But--" 

"Doctor's orders!" 

Husk let out a chittering growl, but Erla pointed to the door. 

"You can't pour from an empty cup. Go."

Husk left the infirmary, eyes not moving from Angel's face until the door shut between them. 

He trudged down the hall to Niffty's workshop and knocked on the open door. "Niff?"

"Hi, Kitty!" She slipped off of her chair to run over to Husk and scale his leg, petting his whiskers. "You look tired. Are you tired? Why are you tired? And where's Spider? He's always with you."

Husk's lower lip wobbled, and he dropped Niffty to the floor to grab a dusty bottle of alcohol from the cabinet above her workroom sink. "He's sick."

"Oh! Sick! Not good to be sick. Does he want soup? I make good soup, 'specially if people are sick. I can bring ice cream, too, 'cause ice cream is good for sore throats. Does he have a sore throat?"

Husk scoffed and scrubbed his eyes with the inside of his wrist, holding his bottle tight. 

"Can I go visit? Is he with Erla?" 

"He's... uh..." Husk sighed and dropped to the floor, arms resting on his knees as he whispered, "He's not sick, Niff."

"He's not? Why'd you lie?"

"I didn't--" Husk stifled a groan and whispered, "He's dead, Niff."

Her eye widened, and she grabbed two needles from the pocket of her apron. "Who did it? Was it ugly TV man? I can kill him; he's a little bitch."

"No. No, it's-- He was sick, and the-- It--" Husk sobbed and buried his face in his arms. 

Niffty's head cocked to the side, and she put her needles back in her pocket. She sat down beside Husk, legs straight out in front of her, and patted his leg twice with a gentle hand. "I'm sorry." 

Husk chuckled wetly.

When he moved his arms to wipe at his eyes, Niffty crawled into his lap and curled up against his chest. 

"You miss him?" she asked, stroking Husk's chest fur through his unbuttoned dress shirt. 

"So bad. It's been... what, 12 hours? If that? And I'm lost."

"You're in my workshop," Niffty told him matter-of-factly. "I know where you are."

Husk chuckled weakly, holding her closer. "Thanks. Um... If you wanna go visit him, he's in the infirmary. 'M sure he'd appreciate... knowin' you came to visit."

"Maybe later."

"Oh. Okay."

"Did you eat, yet?" she asked, poking Husk's stomach. 

"Uh... no. I've been... busy."

"Uh-huh." Niffty stood up and grabbed Husk's hand, leading him out of her workshop and towards his private elevator. "Up to your house."

"Apartment," Husk grumbled, scanning his thumb, anyway. 

Niffty nodded, holding one of Husk's fingers above her head as she said, "Okay. With the Nugget. Does he wanna go see Spider, too?"

"I think it'd freak him out."

"Oh. Yeah. Dead people are scary." 

"He's not dead--"

"You said he was. Don't lie to yourself. It's bad for you."

Husk groaned, the hand that Niffty wasn't holding clenching into a fist. "I can't... I don't want to think about him being... anything other than... Angel."

"He's still Angel," Niffty said simply. "He's just... paused. Like a TV. He'll be back, right?"

"I... Yeah. In a few days."

"Okay! No biggie dealio!"

"Stop," Husk pled, massaging the bridge of his nose. 

"It's what the 'NBD' on my phone means. 'No Biggie Dealio'."

"Uh-huh."

"And the 'TTYL' means 'Tell Tacos You Like'."

"... You like what?"

"Tacos!" 

"No, 'Tell Tacos You Like'... what?"

"... I don't know what you're asking me."

Husk snorted and shook his head, whispering, "I love ya, Niff. Ya get me outta my head."

"Big head. Kinda... cat-shaped."

"Stop. I take it back."

"I love you, too, Kitty!" she cooed, leaning against his leg and batting her lashes up at him. 

Husk scratched at her head gently with the tips of his claws. "While I... shower 'n get changed, can you take care'f the pig? He'd like t'see ya, I'm sure."

"I brought him for a walk at lunchtime."

"Oh, you did?"

"Uh-huh! Scared Helen when he tried to eat all'f her olives."

Husk snorted at the mental image. "Did you feed 'im, too?"

"Nuh-uh. Gonna do it now, though! Then we can go see Spider and give him a big hug."

"You don't wanna do that, Niff--"

"I want to hug Spider. He's my bestest friend, and I miss him, and I'm sad he's a-sleeping. I wanna cuddle him and tell him a story."

"... Okay," Husk whispered, crouching down to pull Niffty against his chest and standing up to hold her tight. 

She scrambled over his shoulder to hang off of the back of his neck, nails dug into his neck scruff. "Husk?"

"Yeah?"

"You love him."

"Yeah, 'course I do."

"And he loves you."

"... Yeah. 'Course, he does."

"He would want you to take care'f you. Shower. He doesn't like it when you're stinky."

Husk snorted, shaking his head as he grabbed Niffty by the scruff of her neck to dangle her in front of his face. "You're a little shit. Y'know that?"

"Uh-huh!" she chirped. "But I'm real good at takin' care'f you, 'n Spider always says: 'If I'm not here, you're in charge'. And I think he means it."

"I think so, too." The elevator dinged as it arrived at the penthouse. "Well, Niff, if you're in charge, you take care'f the pig, and I'll shower 'n change. Got it?"

"Uh-huh! Can I dust your bookshelves? They're dusty."

"... If you want. Yeah, go ahead."

Niffty grinned and leapt off of Husk's shoulder, using his chest as a launch-pad to dive for Nuggets, who squealed at their arrival. 

Husk trudged to the bedroom, blinking back tears as he stubbornly refused to look at the still-unmade bed. He caught a whiff of Angel's perfume as he opened the closet. 

Steeling himself with a deep breath, Husk collected a comfortable set of clothes, fresh boxers, and a towel from the hall closet. He turned on the shower. 

Niffty's tiny hand rapped on the door. "Kitty!" 

"Yeah, Niff?" he asked, holding the shower curtain closed on both sides, despite Niffty's voice coming from the hall. 

"Can I have a cookie from the fridge?"

"Sure, ya can. None for the pig, though; he's not allowed to have chocolate."

Niffty huffed, and her tiny heel stamped on the floor, but she muttered, "Okay..." before leaving Husk to his devices. 

Husk scrubbed his fur clean with Angel's shampoo, then used his matching conditioner on his ears and head. 

He let his tears flow freely as the water cascaded around him. 

Clean, dried, and changed, Husk sat down on the couch beside Niffty, who was stroking Nuggets' back with both hands as he rested beside her. 

"Thanks." 

"For what?" Niffty asked, blinking up at him in confusion. 

"You... I think... you bein' here helped. If I was alone, I wouldn't do shit. But... you're here. Held me accountable."

Niffty nodded with a grin. "Yep! I'm good like that."

"The best, Niff. You wanna grab somethin' to eat? We can sit with Anth while he's... out."

"Maybe. Can I have macaronis and cheese?"

" 'Course." 

"Yes. Excellent. I'm gonna have that."

Husk snorted, shaking his head. "C'mon."

Niffty grabbed Husk's sweatshirt as he braced his hands on his knees to stand up. 

"What?"

Niffty stood up on Husk's thigh to wipe the drying tears from under his eyes with her tiny hands. "You're still cryin'." 

"If anyone says shit about it, you have my full permission to stab 'em."

"I can stab anyone?!"

"If they comment on me crying," Husk clarified. 

"Oh."

"Don't--"

Niffty hopped off of his lap with a sigh, falling on her face before scrambling to her feet to run to the elevator, grab Husk's tennis shoes, and return to him to drop his shoes at his feet. "Wear!" 

Husk pulled on his shoes. "M'kay." 

Niffty tried to pull him to his feet, but Husk picked her up and sat her on his shoulder. "C'mon."

"We need to eat!" Niffty told him. 

"Mm. We will. I wanna check on Anthony, first."

Niffty sighed. "Not like he went anywhere."

"No. Too far. Don't... say things like that."

Niffty huffed as she stroked his ears. "M'kay." She tugged gently at his twists to lay them flat against the bases of his ears. 

Husk stepped into the cafeteria, rummaging through his and Angel's private pantry in the kitchen to find a jar of Angel's pre-made pasta, as well as a container of red sauce. He stood at the stove and set a pot of water to boil, ignoring the other people in the kitchen. 

Niffty hopped up onto the counter beside the stove, legs swinging as she munched on handfuls of cold macaroni and cheese. "Kitty?"

Husk hummed absently as he stared at the bubbling water in front of him. 

"Do you... want a hug?"

"Might cry if I get a hug, right now," Husk warned her.

"I didn't ask if you were gonna cry. I asked if you wanted a hug. That's different."

"It... is." Husk sighed, scrubbing his palms into his eyes to dry the tears brimming up in them. "Yeah. Please."

Niffty set down her plastic container of pasta and climbed up Husk's side to wrap her arms around his neck and squeeze tightly. 

Husk released a shaky sob. He supported Niffty's weight with the back of his forearm as his other hand came up to wipe his eyes. 

"Oh! Mr. Husker, Sir. Helen was looking for you--"

"Go away!" Niffty growled, eye glowing over Husk's shoulder. 

The chef who had entered backed out immediately at her volume. 

Niffty snuggled closer to Husk. 

Husk entered the infirmary again to find the lights in Angel's room dimmed, a cot set up against the right side of Angel's hospital bed, and Erla sitting beside Angel as she filled out paperwork. 

"Thank you," Husk told her, offering her a few large bills from his wallet. 

"I don't take tips--"

"Call it a..." Husk glanced at the lock screen of his phone, then said, "'September 23rd bonus'."

"What's... September 23rd?"

"The day you got a bonus."

Erla chuckled weakly. "Okay. Thanks, Boss. Press the call button if you need me for anything. Bathroom's right there--" She pointed to a door behind him, "-- And there's a cabinet of snacks and drinks above the sink, if you get hungry or thirsty."

"Thank you."

Erla nodded and left the room, shutting the door behind her. 

Husk sat down on the edge of Angel's bed. He brushed a thumb gently over Angel's cheekbone and whispered, "I don't think you can hear me. Wouldn't make sense, if you could, I guess, but... I'm gonna talk at you, anyway, 'cause you like it when I talk, and... I'm not used t'sittin' in a silent room with ya." He let out a wet laugh. "I don't... I don't like it. At all."

Angel said nothing. 

"Fuck, Anthony. I can't... I don't know how you got sick, but... you can bet your ass that I'm never lettin' you outta my sight again." He paused. "Okay, that's... a lie. Big lie. You can do whatever you want. But I'm dyin' next. Can't do this again." He gestured between them. 

When the silence dragged on between them, Husk swore, "When you wake up, you're gonna be hoarse from how much I'm gonna make you talk. I can't remember the last time I went this long without hearin' your voice, and I hate it." 

He reached up to adjust the blanket around Angel, tucking it in around his sides, legs, and shoulders. 

"You wanna know somethin' crazy? When people're... gone... like, at funerals, 'n stuff... everyone always says 'oh, they look so peaceful, they may as well be sleeping!'... but... I never understood that. Especially now. You're not snorin', you're not... all sprawled out on top'f me..." Husk sniffled. "It's been a day," he whispered. "How'm I gonna do this all week?"

Husk woke up curled up on Angel's lap, back and neck stiff, wings wrapped around him in the fetal position, and tail wound around Angel's leg through the blanket. 

He stretched with a chittering yawn, back arched down towards the bed in a cat-like motion to stretch his back, wings, tail, and shoulders. 

Unconsciously, he nuzzled Angel's chest fluff through his shirt and sweatshirt. 

At the absence of a heartbeat, he pulled back with a growl. 

Angel's lax face didn't move. 

Husk sighed and nudged his head up under Angel's chin to scent his neck. "Love you. Missed you. Fuck, I can't believe you're gone..." 

He laced his fingers with Angel's relaxed hand, curling Angel's fingers around his own. 

Erla knocked on the door, and Husk slipped off of the bed to sit on the edge of his cot before calling out, "C'mon in."

"Good morning, Mr. Husker. How are you doing today?"

"My husband's layin' dead in front'f me."

"Temporarily," Erla reminded him. She checked Angel's pulse and blood pressure again, both without results, then hummed. She drew a vial of blood with a specialized machine, due to the lack of blood flow in Angel's body. Inspecting it, she informed Husk, "The muscle deterioration has already slowed to almost a full stop. Once it stops, it should take less than 24 hours for Mr. d'Amore's body to start regenerating."

Husk smiled weakly at her. "How long... does that take?"

"Well... based on his current numbers..." Erla put the vial of blood into her machine, watched it spin a few times, then told Husk, "I'd estimate that he'll start to--"

"When will he wake up?" Husk asked. 

"... Hopefully within the next day." She sighed and said, "Mr. Husker, there are a number of people outside of your office, asking where you are."

"Tell 'em to fuck off."

"One: I'm not your assistant. Two: you cannot just... leave everyone to fend for themselves."

Husk huffed and growled, "Says who?"

"Says your husband, for one. And says me, who is giving you advice on how to help him recover."

"What, is my not being here gonna make him better faster?"

"It'll certainly seem to go by faster, if you aren't staring at him the whole time."

Husk growled again, but Erla simply raised one scaly brow at him. He sighed, rubbing his face, then said, "Sorry. I didn't... I'm tired, 'n... I want him back."

"I'm sure. Go help your people. I'll be here with him all day. You can come visit three times during the day. No more."

Husk huffed. 

"Go," Erla told him. "People won't even care if you stay in your sweats. Just help 'em solve problems."

Husk stood, kissed Angel's forehead gently, and told Erla, "Call my office if anything changes. Anything." 

"I was already planning on it, Sir." 

Nodding, Husk left the infirmary, his hands tucked in his pockets as he rode the elevator up to the penthouse. He caught a glimpse of himself in the polished chrome doors and sighed at his sleep-rumpled appearance. 

Husk sighed as another of his employees left his office, scrubbing the corners of his eyes. He glanced at the clock beside the door. 

Someone knocked on the door, and he called, "C'mon in." 

Yelena, one of the chefs from the cafeteria, entered and sat in the seat across from Husk. 

"Make it quick. I've got plenty of meetings to get to today."

"I just need you to sign off on this week's food and alcohol order. Look it over, make sure--"

"Yep. I know the drill. Been doin' this longer than you've been dead."

Yelena chuckled and handed him the list. "Yes, Sir."

Husk looked over the list, making two special orders for himself and writing 'deliver to penthouse' in the margins. "Yeah, looks good." He signed at the top, wrote the proxy in as 'Yelena K.', and handed her back the form. "Go ahead."

"Thank you, Sir."

Husk nodded with a soft smile. "Yeah." 

"Oh, before I go--" Yelena turned around and opened her mouth, but Husk's phone rang. 

He held up one finger and said, "Hold that thought." He picked up the phone and said, "What is it?"

"Mr. Husker. I thought I would call to inform you: Mr. d'Amore's pulse has returned. He is still comatose, but his bodily functions are picking up again. Do I have your permission to insert a catheter?"

"Uh... Wait 'til I'm there, please. 10 minutes or less."

"Yes, Sir." Erla hung up the phone. 

Husk put the phone back in its cradle, then asked, "Yes, Yelena?"

"I wanted to ask if we could prepare a specialty dinner to be available for the casino's anniversary, later this month."

"Yeah, sure. Go ahead." Husk gathered his things and said, "I have business to attend to."

"Of course, Sir." Yelena left the office, and Husk followed, not bothering to lock the door behind him as he usually did, instead rushing to the stairs to run to the infirmary. 

Erla startled when he entered, standing from her stool and greeting, "Mr. Husker."

Husk rushed towards the hospital bed and pressed two fingers to Angel's carotid pulse, which thrummed slowly and weakly under his fingers. 

"You wanted to be present when I inserted the catheter?"

"Yeah, uh... Anth prefers to not... be alone when... doctors are doin' stuff like that."

"No problem." She lifted up the blanket to start the process. 

Husk nuzzled against Angel's neck, whispering under his breath against his fur. 

"Alright. The catheter is in."

"Thanks." 

"Of course. This is a good sign for his recovery, really. He should wake up by tomorrow."

"And... if he doesn't?"

"He will wake up," Erla promised Husk. "His body is doing what it naturally should. It may take longer, it may be quicker, we just need to be patient."

"You ever been married?" Husk asked Erla, stroking Angel's hair gently. 

"Not technically. Lived with my girlfriend for... about 30 years, though."

Husk nodded weakly. 

"Had to watch her leave me," Erla whispered. "Breast cancer. And she didn't... didn't come back."

"I'm sorry. I can't... I can't imagine."

Erla chuckled and shook her head. "She told me I wasn't allowed to be upset, 'cause she hated when I was upset. She told me to move on."

"... Did you?"

"Never fully. There's no way to recover from losing someone that important."

Husk nodded. 

"You get your person back, though. Don't take that for granted. Might take a while, but... he's coming back."

Still nodding, Husk held Angel's hand, brushing his thumb over Angel's knuckles. 

"I'll be here the rest of the day," Erla promised him. "You can go back to work."

"Just a little longer," Husk whispered. He kissed Angel's knuckles. "I can't... My heart beats wrong when he's not around."

Erla nodded in silent understanding. 

Husk leaned in to press a soft kiss to the pulse point on Angel's neck, licked over it once to smooth Angel's fur down, and nuzzled his nose into the softness of Angel's shoulder through the stretched neckline of his shirt and sweatshirt. 

Erla left them alone in the room. 

"Hey, Sweetheart," Husk breathed, his cold nose pressed to Angel's neck. "You might actually be able t'hear me, now. It's been... almost a full day, now. I slept here last night... couldn't force myself t'leave you alone all night. Niff came t'cuddle for a few minutes before we-- I-- fell asleep. I worked all morning, it's... almost 2, now. I should probably eat somethin', huh?"

Angel said nothing. 

"I made your pasta last night. Think I fucked it up, though, 'cause it didn't taste the same. Which is so fucking stupid, 'cause it's the exact same thing, but... I think you're right; you put love into it." He combed his claws through Angel's hair. "I showered with your soaps, 'n I got myself excited, 'cause I caught a whiff'f it, and I thought you were... back..." 

Husk sighed and rested his head on Angel's shoulder, body twisted awkwardly to rest beside Angel, as opposed to on top of him. "I just want you back. It's wrong t'be here without you around."

With a gentle hand, Husk adjusted Angel's right arms, opposite him, to rest gently on Angel's stomach and chest. He repeated the process on Angel's left side, then slid off of the bed to sit on the edge of his own cot. 

"I miss sleepin' in the same bed as you. I technically did last night, but... without you snorin', 'n starfish-in', 'n wrappin' yourself all 'round me... not the same. And it's worse than when you go off for work, 'cause you're here... physically here... not... actually here."

He pressed his hand to the center of Angel's chest to feel his slow, unsteady heartbeat, letting out a shaky exhale before dropping his head to Angel's chest. 

"I love you. I miss you so much. I dunno what's... goin' on. I feel like I'm just... free-floating. Untethered. Didn't realize how much I... needed you. Like, obviously I knew it, but... didn't know how much."

With one more kiss to Angel's forehead, he whispered, "I love you, Anthony. Come back to me, alright? Sooner rather than later." He pressed the call button on the side of the bed and stood to play with Angel's hair. 

Erla appeared with a smile. 

"Thank you for... staying with him. I know you probably have other things to do--"

"That's why I have employees."

Husk chuckled and nodded, kissing Angel's nose once more before leaving the room. 

Husk returned to Angel's curtained-off hospital room with a tray of food for himself and Erla, having picked up her specialty meal while he was in the cafeteria. 

"Here," he said, handing her the plastic clamshell with her name on it. "Figured I'd grab it, as a... 'thank you'."

"The $500 bonus you gave me yesterday for doing paper one room to the right of where I normally do it was 'thanks' enough."

Husk shook his head. "It isn't. I can't... I wish I could be here, 24/7, but... I appreciate you keeping me updated when I can't be."

"Of course, Sir." Erla took her insect-larvae and lettuce salad from Husk, then left him and Angel alone. She poked her head back in for a second to inform Husk, "His urine output is good, and his pulse is steadier than it was before. His numbers have been consistent and very good since this morning."

"Thank you."

Husk pressed his lips to Angel's forehead and whispered, "I'm back for the night, Sweetheart. Changed outta my work clothes, grabbed myself dinner, 'n I'm here for the rest'f the night."

He opened his pre-packaged meal and set it beside Angel's hip, careful not to let it spill onto the soft purple blanket that Angel was under. 

"I don't wanna say that I'm 'used to' seein' you like this, now, but... it's easier, knowin' you're at least on your way t'bein' back," he said, mixing his dressing into his salad with his fork. 

As he chewed, he pulled his legs up to sit cross-legged on his cot. 

Without warning, Angel sucked in a strained breath, wheezing it out lowly. 

"Erla!" Husk yelled, standing up to cup Angel's face in both hands. 

Angel breathed again, fast and deep, then released it in a rush. 

Erla appeared in the room, stethoscope already in her ears as she approached Angel. "Step back, please." 

Husk laced his fingers with Angel's limp ones. 

Erla nodded, as though her suspicions had been confirmed, and removed her stethoscope from her ears. "Okay. Good sign."

"What-- What's happening? It sounds painful. Is he okay?"

"Cheyne-Stokes respirations. On Earth, usually, they're associated with final minutes or hours. However, here, they're a sign that his lungs are regenerating."

Husk grinned, pressing a kiss to Angel's cheek. "Good. Good... That's good, right?"

"Very. This is the fastest I think anyone has recovered from HTMD. He's very strong."

"He is," Husk whispered, squeezing Angel's hand. "Stronger than I am, that's for damn sure."

"It may be hard for you to sleep here tonight, with all the noise he's making," Erla told Husk, "So you're more than welcome to leave for the night. I'll stay here, if you do."

"No chance. I'll stay up all night, if I have to. Can't sleep without him anymore."

"Okay. Coffee cart comes at 4, 6, and 8 in the morning."

"Noted," Husk chuckled, moving to pull out his wallet. 

"No. Enough."

"C'mon," Husk said, offering her a few bills. 

"No, thank you. Give Shanna a bonus, if you wanna give it to anyone; she's the one who was here when I had to step away."

Husk sighed and pressed the bills into Erla's hand. "Give it to whoever you want to. Keep it, pass it off, whatever. Thanks for all the hard work you put in, all the time."

"Thank you, Sir."

She left again, and Husk watched Angel's chest rise and fall unevenly. 

"It's almost as loud's your snorin'," Husk chuckled weakly, kissing the backs of Angel's knuckles. 

Angel's breaths came even louder and more strained, and Husk winced at the painful-sounding respirations. 

Husk had dozed off beside Angel's bed, ears pinned back to his skull when he woke up every once in a while to Angel's breathing picking up again. 

When he woke up in the morning, he blinked up slowly at Angel, whose chest was rising and falling in a slow, steady rhythm. 

"Anthony?" he asked in a whisper, sitting up to shake Angel's arm. 

Angel didn't respond, and Husk sighed in disappointment. 

With a soft kiss to Angel's temple, Husk sat back down on his cot. " 'T's alright. Good sign. You're breathin' normally, just like you do all the time."

"His breathing's changed?" Erla asked from the doorway, where she was scrubbing hand sanitizer into her palms. 

"Yeah. Less... painful-sounding. Regular."

"Good. That means his brain is properly communicating with the rest of his body about his oxygen needs. Should speed up his recovery nicely."

"What's... What's next?" Husk asked. 

"Hopefully, he'll wake up at some point today. He may not be fully conscious, or understand what's happening, but his brain activity will kick up again. More than it did yesterday."

"I'm stayin' here today," Husk decided. 

"I figured you would. Would you like someone to fetch your laptop?"

"... Yeah, actually. That'd be great, thank you."

She nodded, finished taking Angel's vitals and a vial of his blood, then left Angel and Husk alone. 

"Maybe you can hear me, now," Husk murmured against Angel's knuckles, pressing his lips to them in a soft kiss. "Whenever you can hear me, and whenever you can manage it... try to find a way to let me know. Squeeze my hand, or make a noise, or somethin'. Anything. Just... let me know you're comin' back to me."

Nothing happened, and Husk sighed. 

"No problem. 'M sure you'll be back soon. You'll be able t'tell me all the nice, peaceful dreams you're havin'..." He brushed Angel's bangs away from his face. "I oughta grab you your silly lil' pig headband that you use while you're doin' your skin-care. Keep havin' t'push your hair outta your face. No wonder you're always playin' with it."

He kept stroking Angel's hair with his palm and claws, massaging his scalp. 

"You're the most beautiful person I've ever seen," Husk whispered. "Even asleep like this, even..." He sighed. "You're perfect. I say it, and I know you tell me that you hear me... But I don't think you believe me fully. I can't think of a single thing I would ever change about you, Anthony."

"Here you go, Sir," Erla said, handing Husk his laptop and a travel cup of coffee. "That's black. Need anything in it?"

"Nah. Thanks, Erla." He looked up at her from where he was sitting on the edge of his cot. "There's a reason I put you in charge'f the infirmary, y'know."

"I've noticed."

"You're good at what you do, 'n you're professional, 'n you're... You go above and beyond. I appreciate everything you do."

"Thank you, Sir." She left the room, and Husk turned back to Angel. 

"You're gonna sit with me while I work. You like doin' that." 

Angel shifted ever-so-slightly, and Husk's grip on his hand tightened. 

"Anthony? Princess?"

Angel said nothing, settling back against the pillows with a soft exhale through his nose. 

"Okay. Um... That's good. That's... progress. I think-- Are you comfortable? Shit, you can't... You can't answer that. Yet. Um..." Husk adjusted the pillow around Angel's head and shoulders, then tugged up his blanket. "Hope that's... better."

He watched Angel for another few minutes, but, when he didn't move again, Husk opened his laptop and started his spreadsheet program. 

Husk's ears twitched as Angel shifted in his bed again, and he marked the time in a notepad with a quick glance at the clock on his screen. "Good job, Princess. Just an hour since your last movement. Less than that, actually. 56 minutes." Husk squeezed Angel's hand and whispered, "Proud of you."

"Mm..." Angel groaned under his breath and turned his head away from Husk. 

"... Anthony?" Husk whispered, standing so fast that he knocked his cot backwards with the backs of his knees. "Hey, Honey, are you there? Can you open your eyes?"

Angel blinked one of his secondary eyes open, then shut them again. "Mm-mnh."

"What? What's wrong? Are you in pain? I can get Erla to up your meds--"

"Li--" Angel winced and pinched his eyes shut. 

"Leg? Is your leg hurting?" Husk lifted the blanket to peer at Angel's legs, running his hand over Angel's left thigh gently. 

"Lights," Angel managed, voice hoarse and weak. 

"Lights," Husk whispered, nodding as he rushed towards the lightswitch next to the door. He slammed his hand down on it and, as the room was plunged into darkness, he asked, "Better?"

"Mm."

"Okay." Husk sat back down on his cot and took Angel's top two left hands in his. "You can just answer with grunts, okay? One for 'yes', two for 'no'. You know the drill." 

Angel nodded weakly. "Mm."

"How're you feelin'?"

Angel blinked one of his main eyes open to glance warily at Husk. 

"Right. 'Yes' or 'no'. Uh... Are you in pain?"

Angel grunted once. 

"I'm sorry, Sweetness. I'll call Erla in to up your pain meds." He pressed the 'call' button. "She'll be here in a minute." 

Angel nodded weakly, wincing at the movement in his stiff muscles. 

"I'm so sorry you're in pain, Anthony," Husk whispered. "I'd take it all away, if I could."

Erla stepped into the room, asking, "Is he still moving?"

"Better," Husk said with a grin. 

Angel lifted one hand a few inches from the bed and opened his eyes to smile half-heartedly at Erla. 

"Welcome back to the land of the damned, Angel," she chuckled. "Good to see your smilin' face. You feelin' okay?"

"He said he was in pain--"

Erla held up a hand. "All due respect, Sir, but, if Mr. d'Amore-- If Angel is awake, I'd like to hear his thoughts."

"He can barely keep his eyes open," Husk scoffed. 

"Can too," Angel rasped. He peeked one eye open to look at Husk, then opened both to turn his head slightly to the side to face Erla. "What's--" He coughed. 

Erla took the pitcher from the bedside table, poured Angel a plastic cup of water, and dropped a straw into it. "Here. Little sips."

Angel, despite her advice, chugged the cup in just a few gulps. 

"Okay, not what I said," Erla sighed. 

"Thirsty," Angel told her. "Fuck, everything hurts."

"I will be upping your pain med. It might knock you out, so I'd like to ask you some questions before I do."

"Hit me." Angel squeezed Husk's hand and tried to lift it, but winced. "Ow. When'd your arm get heavy?"

"I've always been heavy, Honey," Husk chuckled. 

Angel shook his head. "I can-- I can lift you. So easy."

"Your muscle deterioration came to a head while you were asleep. You lost about 95% of your muscle mass," Erla informed him, two fingers pressed to Angel's radial pulse. 

Angel's nose wrinkled. 

"Your muscles will re-grow," she promised him, "But it'll take a while. You're going to need a lot of help--"

"No..." Angel groaned. 

"I can help him," Husk agreed. 

"I've been listenin' to y'all talk around me for what feels like forever. Stop that." Angel tried to sit up, but fell back on the bed as soon as his arm shifted under him. 

Husk lifted Angel to sit up, then propped a pillow behind him. "Good? Comfortable?"

"Other than the pain in every inch'f my body?" Angel flexed his fingers as much as he could. "Eh. Pretty okay." 

Erla nodded. "Good. You're not... having trouble breathing? Your nostrils are open?"

" 'T's like that feelin' when you take a shit. I feel empty."

"Anthony," Husk sighed half-heartedly, pressing his forehead to Angel's upper arm. 

"It's true!" Angel told him. 

"I've heard worse," Erla assured them. "You can hear and see okay?"

"M-hm." 

"Good. Focus on my fingers for me? Don't move your head, just your eyes." 

Angel followed her fingers with his eyes. 

"Excellent. Your brain seems to be fully recovered, considering you're talking, feeling thirsty, feeling pain..."

"I'm hungry. Am I allowed t'be hungry?"

"You're allowed to be hungry," Erla assured him. "You've been on an IV for the last day or so, as soon as your blood flow returned. If you want the pain meds, you need to wait at least half an hour after you eat until I give you more pain meds."

Angel's nose wrinkled in distaste. "Oh."

"If you're hungry, you should eat," Husk told him. "Do you-- I mean..." He looked at Erla. "Do you think he can have something... not as strong? Like... a Motrin or an Advil or somethin'?"

"I... think that would be okay."

Husk nodded once. He stroked Angel's hair and whispered, "That what you want?"

"Please. Haven't been this achy since my pornstar days."

Husk frowned, whiskers twitching as his ears pinned back. 

"Sorry. Didn't mean to-- Sorry."

"Memory's intact," Erla noted in the awkward silence that followed. 

"Good sign," Husk murmured. He kissed Angel's top left shoulder through his clothes. "Not upset, Anth, promise. Are you warm? Cold?"

"Just right, Goldilocks," Angel whispered. 

"Okay. Whatcha wanna eat?"

"Uh... Anything?"

Husk looked to Erla. 

"Things with heavy protein might make it harder for the pain medication to work. Grapefruit would nullify it completely."

"No meat, no grapefruit," Angel said with a weak nod. He turned to Husk. "Can y'get me pasta with alfredo? I know y'don't like the smell'f it, I do, but... I really want pasta with alfredo."

"Princess, you can have anything you want," Husk told him, already pulling out his phone to order the food that Angel had asked for. "Anything else?"

"Chocolate. Chocolate anything. Ice cream, chocolate bar, hell, a bowl of chocolate chips, I don't care."

"Done." Husk pressed 'order', then set the phone down, then leaned over to kiss Angel's temple. 

"Hey."

"Did I hurt you?" Husk asked, smoothing his hand over Angel's hair. 

"No."

"... Then what's 'hey'?"

"Real kiss." 

"I don't wanna--"

"You don't wanna kiss me?"

"Of course, I do--"

"Then kiss me."

"I could hurt you--"

"Only way I'm gonna get hurt is if I strain myself tryin' t'grab you t'kiss you for real."

Husk chuckled, glancing up at Erla. "Think he'll be okay if I kiss 'im?"

"I think you won't be okay if you don't."

Nodding, Husk leaned down to kiss Angel, barely brushing their lips together before pulling back. 

"I am gonna kick your ass," Angel laughed under his breath. 

"I can't wait."

Erla chuckled and said, "Call me 25 minutes after you're done with your food."

"Yes, ma'am."

As soon as Erla left, Angel's eyes drifted to the ceiling. "Francis?"

"... Yeah, Principessa?"

"Were you talkin' to me?"

"While you were out?"

"Uh-huh."

"Yeah."

"Just like I asked you to?"

" 'Course." Husk kissed Angel's knuckles. "Do you... remember any of it?"

"I remember... it was dark. And I heard your voice, 'n it was... warm. Like a blanket."

"Might've been the fact that you're under a blanket."

"No. It was... like... y'know in the cartoons, when there's a pie? And the smell's all floatin' through the air, 'n the character, like, flies through the air towards it?"

"... Yeah, sure."

"That's what it was."

"My voice... was pie."

"Uh-huh." 

Husk stifled a laugh. 

"Shut the fuck up," Angel scoffed as he glanced at Husk. "Your voice is 'melted chocolate on a baby's ass' smooth. You know I like your voice."

"I know you like my voice," Husk whispered with a smile. He kissed Angel's knuckles again. 

"Gimme your hand."

"You have my hand." Husk wiggled the fingers on his left hand to show off his wedding and engagement bands. 

"Hand, Lawrence."

Husk's eyes widened, and he slipped his fingers back into Angel's. 

"Bring 'em to my mouth. Lemme kiss you."

Husk pressed the backs of his knuckles to Angel's lips, then lowered their hands back to the bed. 

"Thanks."

"Anything you want, Honey. Whatever, whenever. Got it?"

"Uh-huh."

"Is there anything else I can... do? Get you?"

"Kiss me again. And... don't leave."

"I wasn't plannin' on it. Hell could freeze over; I wouldn't move."

"Good." Angel squeezed Husk's hand as hard as he could, then let his head fall back. "I wish I could sleep."

"Eat, first. Then we'll pump you so full'f meds that you won't feel anythin' but good. Then you can sleep."

Nodding, Angel let out a weak exhale. 

"I'm sorry you're in pain," Husk whispered. 

"Eh."

Erla came back into the room with two pills and a fresh glass of water. "Here. Ibuprofen." She handed Husk everything. 

Husk placed both pills on Angel's tongue, then held the straw to Angel's lips so he could swallow them easily. 

Angel chugged the rest of the water, then relaxed into the bed again. "Thanks, Erla."

"Of course. Holler if you need me... or have your hubby holler. I know you're probably too sore t'do it yourself."

Angel nodded as much as he could. "Yeah, definitely."

Erla scurried out of the hospital room again, the door shutting slowly behind her. 

With a long sigh, Husk nuzzled Angel's shoulder, nose pressed to his skin through his fur as he scented Angel. 

"Hey, Baby," Angel whispered. "How're you doin'? I know you were worried."

"Don't worry about me," Husk told him.

"Let me worry about you," Angel argued back. "It's my job. Just 'cause I'm stuck in a hospital bed doesn't mean I can't worry about ya."

"I think that's a perfectly fine reason for me to ask you not to worry, actually." Husk reached up to cup Angel's cheek, causing Angel to lean into his touch. 

"Humor me?"

Husk sighed and let his hand drop. "I dunno."

"You... don't?"

"My husband's been... basically in a coma for almost three days. I've been worrying myself sick, but... you're okay. You're here, and talking, and... makin' jokes..." Husk sighed. "I'm so glad you're okay."

"I'm always okay, you know that."

Husk sniffled. "I... I just... I need you t'be okay."

Angel tried to lift his arm, but groaned in frustration when it trembled and fell to the bed after a few seconds. "Help."

"Whatcha wanna do, Honey?"

"Let me hold your face." 

Husk brought Angel's top set of hands up to hold his cheeks. "Good?"

Angel nodded. "Listen to me: You are never gettin' rid of me. There is nothin' that could take me away from you."

With a weak nod, Husk tipped his head to kiss Angel's palm. 

"You and me? That's forever, Baby. We don't end; never have, never will. You're the other half of me." 

Husk sniffled. 

Angel wiped his thumb over the damp fur of Husk's cheek. "I love you."

"I love you, too," Husk breathed. "You're everything. I couldn't breathe right when you were away from me."

"Cheesy."

"It's true. My heart was beatin' wrong, I couldn't breathe, 'n all I could think about was you."

"Is that all that different from usual, though?" Angel asked with a cheeky grin. 

"Shush, you." Husk leaned up to kiss Angel's cheek, then lingered with his nose pressed to Angel's temple. "Fuck..." 

"C'mere."

"Huh?"

"Lay with me."

"I don't wanna crush you--"

"I'll tell you if it hurts too bad. I need you t'hold me."

Husk climbed into the bed beside Angel, careful to stay off of the various tubes and wires that were attached to him. He wrapped Angel's top arm around his shoulders. "Happy?"

"Very..." Angel nuzzled into Husk's hair. "You smell like my soap."

"Mm. Showered with it."

"Aww, did ya miss me?" Angel cooed. 

Husk sniffled and nodded, burying his face in Angel's shoulder as he suppressed a sob. 

"Whoa. Hey. Okay. Uh... I was just kiddin', Baby. It's okay-- It's sweet! It's sweet that y'missed me."

Husk wiped his nose on the back of his shirt sleeve, then looked up at Angel with watery eyes. 

"There's my pretty boy," Angel whispered. He lifted his head to kiss Husk's nose. "I wasn't upset."

"I missed you so bad," Husk told him. 

"I'm sorry. I wouldn't've left, if I didn't have to."

"Don't be sorry," Husk told him again. "Y'didn't do anything wrong."

"But I left you all alone--"

"You literally died," Husk reminded Angel, reaching up to cup his cheek. "You were sick, and no one could do anything about it."

"Yeah, but--"

"Stop." Husk licked the side of Angel's neck with his rough tongue. "You didn't do anything. I missed you, same as I do when you're working at Vee Tower, or when you're off on a work trip. I miss you all the time. You could be three feet away from me, and I'd be upset that you're not touching me."

"Francis--"

"Fuck, sometimes, you're laying on top'f me, and I can't help but think, 'I wish Anthony was even closer to me'. Which is batshit insane, and I'm aware of that, but--"

"Let me fucking kiss you, Husker," Angel ordered, digging his nails into the back of Husk's hand to cut him off. 

Husk leaned over to kiss Angel, and he didn't pull away until Angel let his own head drop. 

"Thank you. Normally, I'd grab ya, but--"

"I know." Husk kissed Angel again. "Sorry. I've been in my head for days, now, 'n I'm used t'you not responding."

"I'll change that real quick," Angel chuckled. 

Someone knocked on the door, and Husk called, "Come in!"

Someone on the kitchen staff rolled a cart over to the bedside, saying, "We brought extra. We heard Mr. d'Amore was sick, so... we picked all his favorites. Brought 'em up."

"Thank you," Angel said with a smile. "You're the best."

Husk nodded into Angel's collar bone, tail and wings hanging awkwardly off the side of the bed opposite the rolling cart of food. "Thanks."

"Of course, Sirs. Is there anything else I can bring you?"

Angel shook his head. "Nah. Thanks, though. You're a peach."

The employee left, and Husk burrowed even closer to Angel.

"Anth?"

"Yeah?"

"Whatcha wanna start with?"

"Alfredo. Give." 

Husk slid off of the bed and grabbed the covered plate. He scooped up pasta on the fork, blew on it for a long second, then said, "Open up."

"You don't need to--"

"What, you gonna feed yourself?"

Angel scoffed. 

Husk blew on the forkful of pasta again, then offered it to Angel. 

"You're not gonna spit on it, first?"

"Not while you're still recoverin'."

Angel pouted. 

"When you're not all laid up in a hospital bed, then we can revisit the spit-talk."

"... Fine."

Husk was sitting at his desk in the penthouse while Angel lounged on the couch, TV remote in hand. 

"... Francis?" he asked after a while. 

"Yeah?"

"I need t'pee."

Husk lowered his glasses to the desk as he stood. "Alright." He approached the couch, waiting for Angel to wrap his top set of arms around his neck, then picking him up. "There we are."

"This fucking sucks," Angel groaned into Husk's shoulder as they entered the bathroom. 

"What sucks?"

"This!" Angel scoffed, gesturing to himself and Husk with all six arms. "Havin' t'be carried everywhere! If I'm gonna be carried everywhere by a hot, stocky man with a big dick, it's gonna be because I say so! Not 'cause my legs don't work and I can't get myself to the bathroom for a piss!"

"Don't yell at me." 

Angel huffed as Husk helped him pull down his pajama pants and sit him on the toilet. 

"I'm sorry you're sick. I am. But you have to know that I don't mind--"

"I do! I hate having to rely on you, 'cause then I'm just..."

"'Just' what?" Husk asked, a warning edge to his tone. Before Angel could answer, he continued, "Speak very carefully about my husband, Anthony."

"... I just... I feel like I'm useless. I know I'm not, but... not even bein' able to... refill my water, or use the bathroom, or walk Nuggets... I hate it."

"You've been fiercely independent your whole existence here," Husk reminded him, straightening out the items on the bathroom vanity for the umpteenth time to give Angel some semblance of privacy. "You're not used t'havin' someone help you when you need it; you're used to just pushin' through."

Angel nodded weakly in the corner of Husk's periphery. 

"I hate that you feel that way, but I get it. You know what I'm like on my bad days: I can barely stand, and you've gotta help me. Have you ever-- even once-- thought that I was useless?"

"No?"

"So... What... What am I doin' wrong that you think that I feel that way about you?"

"Nothin' wrong," Angel assured him. "I'm... It's not my voice."

"Whose is it?" Husk helped Angel to his feet, pulled up his pants, and stood behind him to support him as he washed his hands. 

"... Valentino's."

"I figured." Husk kissed the back of Angel's neck. "What does my voice tell you?"

"Huh?" Angel looked at Husk through the mirror. 

"When you hear my voice in your head. What do I tell you?"

"You call me 'Princess' a lot, 'specially when I'm upset. Tell me that you're waitin' for me at home, that you love me, and that you like me, no matter how much'f a dick I am."

Husk grinned against the back of Angel's shoulder. He lifted Angel into his arms as the faucet turned off. "Well, all those things are true. What Valentino tells you: is that true?"

"Never. He was a dick."

"Yep."

Husk pressed Angel against the door to the rooftop, looping Angel's legs around his hips as he pulled Angel into a kiss. "Princess, you are perfect. I will always wait for you, no matter how long. I love you, more than every molecule in the universe, multiplied by themselves, multiplied by infinity. You get that?"

Angel grinned and surged forward to kiss Husk again. "I've heard somethin' along those lines before, yeah."

"I love you, and I like you, and I love likin' you, and adore lovin' you, and all I can ever do is adore you, 'cause it's as easy to me as breathing."

Sniffling, Angel whispered, "I think you should write poetry."

"I think I'll save it for you." Husk kissed Angel's neck and asked, "You need anything else before I bring ya back to the couch?"

"... Think you could spare an hour for a nap?"

"I..." Husk sighed and looked up at Angel's pout. "Yeah. I can." He kissed Angel's neck again. 

"To bed, then, Handsome."

Husk brought Angel to their bed, laying him down against the copious amounts of pillows and crawling over him to lay against his side. He licked Angel's neck, then whispered, "You cold? Warm? Need your water? Need--" 

"Hold me. That's it. That's all I need."

Husk nodded, wrapping his arm around Angel's middle to tug him close. "Any pain?"

"Nope. Still on the good shit."

"Good." Husk let his hand wander under Angel's shirt to rest on his stomach. "I love you so much. You know that, right?"

"I know. I don't... like myself, all the time."

"I know." Husk kissed the side of Angel's neck, then whispered, "I'll do enough lovin' you for the both'f us."

"... What'll I do?"

"Eh. Just... look pretty, I guess. Cook every once in a while, if you wanna."

"And suck your dick?"

"When you're better? Whenever you want."

Angel snickered and snuggled back into Husk's arms. "I'm gonna get better just for that."

"If that's what motivates you, more power to ya."

Husk woke up to a thump, then a string of curses. 

"Anthony?"

"Living room. Living room floor, t'be exact."

Husk got up, stretching his wings behind him as he approached Angel. He sat cross-legged beside Angel, asking, "You good?"

"I am a heap on the floor 'cause I stopped lookin' at my feet while I walked."

"Sorry. You could've woken me--"

"I am better than that."

"You are--" Husk sighed, kissing Angel's forehead. "Sit up. C'mon." Husk braced his hands under Angel's shoulders to help him up. He held Angel's hands to keep him upright, then said, "I'm hungry. You want dinner?"

"... I could eat."

"Whatcha thinkin'?"

"Ooh, maybe... Uh... Something with mashed sweet potatoes."

"That's a side dish. Main course?"

"Steak. And steak fries. And custard!"

"Done, done, and done." Husk kissed Angel's nose, then licked it once, making Angel snicker. "I'll order whenever you're ready t'get up."

"Never. I've got a very hot man lookin' at me like I'm everything; I don't think I wanna move anytime soon."

Husk grinned and leaned forward to lick the tip of Angel's nose again. "I don't want ya goin' hungry, so... 10 minutes?"

"I can lay on the floor for 10 minutes."

"Excellent." Angel slowly climbed into Husk's lap, leaning into his chest with a groan. "Think I twisted my elbow funny on the way down." He offered his bottom right arm to Husk, who turned it slightly to inspect it. 

"Mm. Think so. I'll wrap it while we wait for dinner." He kissed the already-swelling joint. "Next time, wake me, please. I don't like wakin' up to you in pain."

"Hey, I made it to the bathroom, then most'f the way back to the couch. I... I thought you'd've been proud'f me, if I'd made it."

"I'm proud'f you regardless. You've been home for... two days?"

"Uh-huh."

"You were dead last week. Cut yourself some slack."

Angel scoffed. "Hey, this is nothin'. One time, the day I regenerated, Val made me shoot a gangbang for 18 hours as punishment for overdosin' in the first place."

Husk's jaw clenched. "This is one'f those rare times I wish he wasn't dead, just so I could punch him again."

"You're not the only one." 

Husk nuzzled Angel's chest through his fluff. "Well, here, when you die, I say 'no workin' 'til you feel 100%'. No lyin' about it, no fakin' it... I want you okay before you go back to work. That includes walkin' yourself places."

Angel pouted.

"Yes, you're adorable, but I'm not changin' my mind."

"Please? I'm so bored."

"You want me to call Niff up again? I'm sure she could think of somethin' t'do."

"... Not that bored."

Husk snorted, holding Angel even closer. "I've got tomorrow off. We'll spend it together, doin' whatever you want. Okay?"

"Okay." Angel stretched his arms over his head and leaned back on Husk's lap, laying across his legs and pinning him to the floor. "Francis?"

"Yeah?" 

"I have an idea."

"What's your idea?"

"I think you should kiss me, then make me cocoa."

"I think that's a fantastic idea," Husk chuckled, picking Angel up easily to dip him, still sitting with Angel in his lap. "Fuck, I love you. You're so cute." 

"Cute," Angel scoffed, letting Husk stand so he could pull Angel to his feet. "I was Hell's Sexiest Demon, 22 years running."

"That, too," Husk said dismissively as he brought Angel to the couch. He leaned down to kiss Angel, then asked, "Milk and marshmallows in your cocoa?"

"Yes, please."

Husk draped the softest blanket from the basket beside the couch over Angel, kissed the tip of his nose, and whispered, "Anything else?"

"... Can you find Nuggets for me?"

"He's--" Husk huffed and looked around. "He's here... somewhere. Nuggets!"

Nuggets squealed from the bedroom. 

"Come!" 

Another squeal, followed by a thud, then silence followed. 

"I'm gonna fuckin'--"

"Don't talk about your son that way," Angel warned. 

Husk entered the bedroom, finding Nuggets curled up in a pile of dirty clothes in the bottom of their closet. 

Nuggets stared up at him in a silent challenge. 

"What're you lookin' at, Porkchop? Your Pops wants you."

Nuggets' head cocked to the side. 

"Come." 

With a sigh, Nuggets rested his head on a sequin-covered dress again. 

"Nope. C'mon." Husk lifted Nuggets with a grunt, ignoring the pig's dismayed squeals and snorts. He deposited him on Angel's lap. "Hold on tight. He's gonna try 'n run off."

"Not for me!" Angel cooed, lifting Nuggets to his face to kiss his snout. 

Nuggets, with a happy squeal, pressed one hoof to Angel's cheek and turned to look at Husk. 

"You're a little shit," Husk hissed. 

"Hey!" Angel swatted Husk's thigh. "Mean! That's my baby!"

"I thought I was your Baby," Husk pouted, his faux-stern demeanour crumbling when Angel beamed up at him. 

"He was here first, and he'll probably outlive us both."

"... Fair enough." Husk kissed Angel gently, gave Nuggets a pat on the head, and went to the kitchen to prepare Angel a mug of hot cocoa.

Angel rolled over with a groan, stretching stiff muscles and twisting his back to work out the kinks. "Francis?" he called upon finding the bed empty. 

Husk cleared his throat from where he was kneeling on the floor on Angel's side of the bed. "Here."

"What're you... doin' down there?" Angel asked, reaching down to run his fingers through Husk's twists, anyway. He kissed the tip of Husk's right ear. 

"I... uh... I had a thought."

"What kind'f thought?"

"Thought... you might wanna be in charge today. I'll do whatever you want, but it's more... on your terms. Not... medical terms."

Angel looped his finger in the thin gold chain around Husk's neck, then pulled him close to whisper against his ear, "I think you're a genius."

Husk grinned. "Yeah?"

"Yeah." Angel kissed Husk's nose. "How 'bout you bring me to the bathroom, then... make me breakfast?"

"What do you want to eat?"

"Eggs. Scrambled eggs with... chicken sausage, spinach, and tomatoes." 

"Okay. Coffee?"

"Always. Cream and cream and sugar and sugar."

Husk nodded. "Yes, Princess."

"And... we're gonna watch Real Housewives of Greed while we eat, then, when you go to work, you're gonna sit with me. Not at your desk. I get lonely when you're at your desk."

"Yes, Princess." 

Angel leaned down to kiss Husk. "Alright. Help me up, then. Help me walk. I don't want-- None'f this 'carrying' shit."

Husk nodded as he stood. He offered Angel a crooked elbow, which Angel looped two of his left arms through. 

Angel, leaning heavily on Husk, walked to the bathroom, falling onto the toilet gracelessly. "Fuck me, I can't wait to walk by myself."

"Me, either. Can't wait t'see you spinnin' around a pole again, or chasin' Nuggets around the casino, or doin' your silly lil' dances while you cook." 

Angel smiled up at him. He shooed Husk towards the door and said, "I'll holler if I need ya."

"Are you--?"

"Who's in charge t'day?" Angel asked sharply. 

"You are." 

"Okay. I can make it to the sink, then the couch."

"You couldn't yesterday--"

"Nuh-uh. No back-talk. I will holler if I need you," he enunciated. He shooed Husk again. "Buh-bye."

Husk left the bathroom to start preparing them breakfast. He listened out for Angel with a swivelled ear. 

Angel made his way into the kitchen, sliding onto a stool at the island. 

Husk slid him his coffee in his tall cup. "Here ya go. Just like you like it."

"Good Boy."

Husk flushed. 

Angel snorted and sipped his coffee. "You're so goddamn cute." 

Husk returned to whisking the eggs in the pan in front of him, tail swishing along the floor as his wings fluttered in agitation. 

Angel hummed to himself, scrolling through his Sinstagram on Husk's phone as he cooked. "Y'know, I'm hot as fuck."

"I know that." Husk turned around to point at Angel with his whisk. "You think I didn't know that?"

"No, I know you know that. I'm just sayin'... Some'f these pics are, like... fine. Y'know?"

"I'm aware." Husk transferred Angel's eggs to a plate and slid it across the island to him, as well as a fork. "Here ya go, Beautiful."

Angel grinned and dug in, mumbling, "Thank you!" through his first bite.

Husk chuckled and returned his attention to he stove to make himself breakfast, the sounds of Angel and Nuggets eating their own keeping him company in the mid-morning light. 

Angel laid on Husk's chest as Husk worked, his laptop resting on Angel's back as he typed with one hand and played with Angel's hair with the other. 

"Francis?" Angel whispered, not moving. 

"Mm?"

"Think you could let me up so I can use the bathroom?"

"I can help you--"

"That is not what I asked."

Husk removed his laptop from Angel's back to allow him to stand. "If you need help--"

"I will. Stop babying me." Angel leaned down to kiss Husk's nose. 

"If you're not back in five minutes, I'm comin' t'get you."

"Noted." Angel stretched his back and arms, then walked stiffly to the bathroom. 

Husk watched him until he disappeared into the bathroom, then returned to his work, laptop on his stomach instead of Angel's back. 

Angel returned after a few minutes to fall into his beanbag chair with a groan. 

"Y'okay?"

"Yeah. It's easier than it was yesterday, at least."

"Good. Glad t'hear that."

"I'm gonna sleep here," Angel decided, reaching above his head to turn on the heat lamp above his beanbag. "You need anything from me?"

"Sleep well, Principessa." Husk winked at Angel with a grin. 

"Alright." Angel curled up on his side. He yawned, pulled one of his many plush blankets over him, and shut his eyes with a soft sigh. 

Husk glanced between his computer screen and Angel, then set his computer aside. He padded over to the bean bag, just to flop onto it with a groan. 

Eyes blinking open, Angel smiled at him. "Hi. You joinin' me?"

"Figured I might as well. Not gettin' anythin' done while you're over here lookin' like the prettiest Princess I've ever laid eyes on." 

Angel chuckled, moving slowly and deliberately to curl around Husk from the side. "You stayin' for a nap?"

"If you want."

"Always. I will never turn down a chance t'sleep with ya."

"Horny. Anyone ever told you that you're horny?"

"A couple times, yeah."

Husk snorted, lapping at the hair at the crown of Angel's head. He picked a clump of thick white hair off of his barbed tongue. "Think we can take a bath tonight?"

"Mm... If we can order dinner up 'n eat it in there, yeah."

Husk nodded and nuzzled Angel's hair, inhaling deeply. "Can I borrow your phone?"

With a hum, Angel dropped his phone into Husk's hand. He burrowed deeper into Husk's side. 

Husk scrolled through his contacts with the hand not playing with Angel's hair. He called Niffty and held the phone to his ear. 

"Hi, Spider! Feeling better? Ready for soup things?"

"It's me, Niff."

"... This isn't your phone."

"Nope."

"Boo."

"Don't fuckin' boo me-- No. Y'know what? You wanna scrub our bathroom?"

Niffty gasped. "Me?!"

"Yeah. You."

"You'd let me?!"

"Sure, Squirt. No mustard gas, no any kind'f gasses. Just clean. Get it sparkling before..." He covered the receiver, then asked Angel, "5 o'clock okay?"

"M-hm."

"Before 5."

"Done! Be there with my bucket in a minute!"

"See ya soon, Niff."

Niffty hung up, and Husk returned Angel's phone to the pocket of his hoodie. 

Angel leaned up to kiss Husk's jaw, then whispered, "Can we order pizza for dinner?"

"Sure, we can."

"... Extra cheese and stuffed crust?"

"Yep." 

"And an order of garlic knots?"

"Whatever you want, Sweetness." Husk kissed Angel's hair. 

Niffty scrambled out of the elevator with her cleaning bucket in tow, dragging it behind her and calling, "Nugget! We're cleaning!" 

Nuggets followed her, then dropped into a sit outside of the bathroom doorway with a sad snort. 

"Come!" 

"He's not allowed in there when we clean," Angel informed her. He coughed into his elbow when his throat spasmed at his volume. 

"Deep breath," Husk reminded him. 

Angel nodded. 

Niffty sighed from the bathroom, and the sound of her various brushes and sponges started up as she scrubbed every inch of the bathroom from floor to ceiling. 

Angel tucked his head under Husk's chin with a sigh. "Ask if she wants t'cuddle with us when she's done."

"I'll do that. She'll probably smell like bleach."

"She always kinda smells like bleach."

"... Fair enough."

Husk kissed Angel's hair and cupped one hand over the ear that wasn't pressed to his chest. "Sleep. I'll wake you in a bit."

"Don't. Lemme wake up when I wake up."

"... Okay. Y'might not sleep tonight, though."

"Then I'll do somethin' else."

Husk nodded. He kissed Angel's hair. 

"Francis?"

"Yeah?"

"Hold me tighter."

"Yes, Sir." Husk's arms tightened around Angel. 

Angel shifted in his sleep as Niffty crawled into his lap. "Hey, Niff," he whispered, letting her bury her face in his fluff. "You done in the bathroom?"

"Uh-huh! Cleaner than clean! Scrubbed it so good."

"Thanks."

"Thank you! Can I come back and clean tomorrow, too?"

"... If the bathroom's dirty, we'll give you a shout. Okay?"

"... Okay." She patted his fluff, then Nuggets' head, then Husk's nose, before sliding off of Angel's lap to bring her bucket back to the elevator. "I'll bring you a cookie later! Lots of chocolate."

"Thanks, Niff." 

"Thanks, Babe!" 

The elevator doors slid closed behind Niffty. 

Nuggets approached the Overlords with a whine. 

Angel picked him up with a grunt, wincing at a pull in his bicep as he set the Hell-hog in his lap. "Hey, Bubby. I've missed ya."

Nuggets snorted happily as he buried his face in Angel's unruly chest fluff, smelling Niffty's shampoo from where she'd buried her face. 

"When I'm feelin' better, we'll go out to the park. Let you run around. Alright? I'm sorry I haven't been walkin' you."

Nuggets squealed at the mentions of both 'park' and 'walk'. He danced happily in Angel's lap. 

Angel winced. "Ow, Nuggs--"

Husk picked up the pig easily, kissing the top of his head, then Angel's shoulder. "You're beatin' up your Pops," he scolded Nuggets gently, pointing to the divots in Angel's thighs. "Your hooves are no joke."

Nuggets lapped at Husk's chin. 

Angel leaned closer to Husk to scratch at the underside of his chin. 

Husk purred. 

"You're so pretty," Angel breathed, long nails carding through Husk's thick fur. He frowned at the amount of fur that came off when he pulled his hand away. "You been brushin'?"

"... Not really."

"Francis--"

"I've been worried 'bout you. Not my fur. Alright? It's not too big'f a deal."

"But--" Angel sighed, then asked, "We still doin' the 'Anthony's in charge' thing?"

"Yep."

"We're takin' a bath. Two baths, actually. Me first. You're gonna help me get washed up, brush out, trim my fur... All my self-care shit I haven't done these last... shit, like... two weeks?"

" 'Bout there."

"Fuck. Hate that. Okay... uh... Yeah. You'll help me. Then you're gettin' a shower-- with the hair-catcher in the drain, 'cause I'm not tryin' t'get on Niff's bad side-- and I'm gonna brush you out, do your hair, 'n do your nails. Got it?"

"... Yeah. On one condition."

"Name it."

"You take breaks if you start gettin' tired or achy. No excuses not to."

"... Alright." 

Husk grinned and licked Angel's nose once. "Whenever you're ready, then."

"Now. I need to wash my hair."

Husk lifted Angel into his arms before standing. "As my Princess commands."

Angel snickered and buried his face in Husk's neck. 

When Husk set Angel down on the closed toilet seat, he turned around to start the water as hot as it would go. "Want bubbles?"

"Sure. Everything bath deserves bubbles."

Husk snickered. He opened the doors under the sink to hold out the basket of Angel's bath supplies, then directed, "Pick one for me?"

"The pink."

Husk selected three different pink bottles and asked, "Cherry blossom, strawberry, or champagne?"

"Cherry blossom. Please."

Husk's brows furrowed as he dumped some of the soap under the running water. "What's the 'please' for?"

"... I dunno."

"You feel like you're botherin' me by askin' for things?"

"Lil' bit."

"You're not." Husk sat cross-legged in front of Angel and kissed his knee. "I'd tell you if I needed a break, or if I didn't wanna do somethin'. You know that."

"I know." Angel nuzzled Husk's nose. "I... Yeah. Alright. Uh... Can you help me paint my nails, too? when we're done with your shower, I mean."

"I'd love to."

Angel grinned. 

"Alright, use the bathroom, and I'll grab you somethin' to change into. Anything specific?"

"Shorts. I've been too warm all week."

"You got sick 'cause you got too cold. Excuse me for wanting you to be warm."

"We've got half a dozen blankets on the bed; I think I'm fine."

Husk chuckled and nodded, using the edge of the sink to stand himself up. "Noted."

Angel grabbed Husk's wrist gently to pull him down for a kiss. "Hey."

"What's up?"

"I love you."

"I love you, too, Principessa." Husk cupped Angel's face in both hands. "You're so fuckin' pretty."

"... Thanks."

"You are." Husk licked Angel's nose again. "I know y'probably still feel kinda like shit, but... you are."

Angel smiled weakly up at him. "Tell me again when I'm all showered 'n pretty again, then I'll agree."

"... Noted." Husk stepped out of the bathroom to gather one of his own t-shirts, a pair of underwear, socks, and a pair of shorts, gathered into a bundle with a stick of deodorant and a few bottles of red, black, and white nail polish. When he returned, he lined everything up on the counter, then helped Angel into the bathtub.

"Fuck, that's good," Angel breathed. "Warm."

"It's surface-of-the-sun hot," Husk laughed as he sat on the stool beside the tub. "More than 'warm'."

Angel sunk into the water, submerging himself fully and getting his entire body wet. When he emerged, he asked, "Can y'wash my hair?"

" 'Course."

Husk poured shampoo into his palms, lathered it, and started working it into Angel's scalp, working it through his hair with the tips of his claws. "Here, if y'turn, I can massage your head."

"Ooh!" Angel turned to sit horizontally in the massive tub, leaning his head back so Husk could scratch at his scalp. "Fuck, you're everything. Need those claws everywhere."

"Hate t'be the one to break this to ya, but they have been pretty much everywhere on you-- and in you."

Angel snorted. 

Husk finished massaging Angel's hair, then told him, "Don't move. I can do your skin-care, if y'want."

"You know all the steps?"

"The bottles are numbered. I can figure it out."

"Okay. I switch 6 and 8, 'cause'f my fur."

"Noted." Husk stood to gather the basket of skin-care products from Angel's vanity in the bedroom. He returned, then asked, "You wanna turn around, or should I get you a towel so you can rest your head here?"

"... Towel, please," Angel whispered. 

Husk rolled up a towel to prop Angel's head on, then tugged his head to lay him back. "Hey, Pretty Boy."

"Hi, Baby."

Husk kissed Angel's forehead, wiping the soap from his chin back onto Angel's head. "Ready?" 

"More than ready. I feel so gross."

"I get it." Husk lathered Angel's first skin-care product on his hands, then said, "Eyes closed."

Angel's eyes shut, and he hummed when Husk's hands started massaging his face. " 'M gonna marry ya."

"Lookin' forward to it," Husk laughed. 

Angel sat on the edge of the tub his in oversized shirt, shorts, and knee-high socks. "Can you go, now?"

"I can. You sure you're not--"

"I wanna get my hands on ya. Stop tellin' me to take a break."

Husk sighed and nodded, stripping off his shirt and kicking off his jeans and boxers. "Fine. I'm gonna shower, first; try 'n get most'f the loose hair out. Alright? Then you can help me brush 'n preen 'n shit."

"Yes, Sir," Angel said with a playful salute and a cheeky grin. He stood up and wrapped his upper-most arms around Husk's shoulders. "Hop in there, Handsome."

"Alright." Husk lifted Angel out of his way, making Angel squeal, and set him on the sink. "Sit there. Talk at me." 

" 'Bout what?"

"Anything. Just... fill the silence."

"Done!" Angel launched into an excited monologue about a new makeup palette being released, weighing its pros and cons as Husk stepped under the shower's spray. 

With the handled back scratcher, he worked over the fur on his back to try and loosen the strands that had been falling out throughout the week. He worked between his wings, over his chest and stomach, and down his arms and legs. 

"... Francis?" Angel asked after a few seconds of silence. 

"Yeah?"

"I'm horny."

"... Sorry t'hear that."

"No," Angel whined, "I want you t'do somethin' about it."

"You haven't been cleared for physical activity, yet--"

"I didn't fucking ask," Angel huffed impatiently. 

Husk tugged the shower curtain aside to raise a brow at Angel. 

"You're s'pposed t'help when I'm horny."

"I... Anthony, you have to understand--"

"I haven't been fucked in weeks. I need it!"

"I will-- Anthony--" Husk sighed and massaged the bridge of his nose as he tried to think of a compromise. "How 'bout you sit on my cock while I do your nails?"

"... I can accept that."

Husk nodded once and retreated back into the shower. He poked his head out again and pointed firmly at Angel. "You wanna get fucked, you tell me. Don't even think about doin' it yourself."

"I won't!" Angel laughed. 

Husk nodded again. He disappeared back into the shower. 

Angel continued talking about nothing in particular, just following his train of thought as Husk scrubbed the long-handled brush through his fur again to rake it out. 

"Alright, can y'check me?" he asked, tugging the curtain aside a few inches. 

Angel flung it open with a grin, making Husk yowl at the sudden noise. "Yes. Obviously." He took the paddle brush from the sink's edge to start brushing out Husk's fur, made smooth by the conditioner. "Can I oil it, too? When I do your wings?"

"... Yeah. Yeah, Princess, you can do whatever you want."

"And I can spread you all out on the bed and have my wicked way with ya?"

"... Sure."

"Well, don't sound too eager."

"I just... You don't need to--"

"I really wanna pamper you tonight," Angel told him softly, kissing Husk's ear as he dragged the brush down Husk's shoulder and arm. "You've been at my beck and call all week, 'n I wanna return the favor."

"You don't have to--"

"Please."

"... Okay."

Angel grinned and directed, "Turn around. Careful of the wings." 

Husk, minding his wings, turned to face Angel, who leaned down to give him a soft, chaste kiss before brushing out the fur on his chest and stomach. "Fuck, I've missed touchin' you."

"You could've touched me whenever you wanted--"

"Whenever I touched you this week, you asked what I needed. I just... stopped, after a while."

Husk frowned and reached up to cup Angel's jaw, thumb brushing over his cheek. "You could've... said that, Honey."

"I didn't want you t'think I wasn't grateful."

Husk shook his head with a soft, close-lipped smile. "I know you are. You can have anything you want, whenever you want."

"Then... I wanna spread you out on the bed, preen your wings, oil your fur... make you all pretty, then we can sit 'n eat dinner together."

"We... can do that."

"Excellent." Angel kissed the tip of Husk's nose. "Rinse off. I'm gonna brush you out again."

When the curtain closed, Husk stepped back under the spray of hot water. 

The curtain opened again, and Angel brushed out Husk's front again. "You did your legs?"

"Yeah, three times over."

"Then I think those're probably good."

Husk nodded. He leaned up to kiss Angel and nuzzled the underside of his chin with his nose. "Sit down for me, Princess? I'll be out in a few minutes, 'n you can do whatever you want with me."

"Mm..." Angel licked his lips and looked Husk up and down. "Anything?"

"Anything that won't strain your body," Huck corrected him, poking Angel in the chest with one claw to push him out of the shower. "Pervert."

"Just for you, Whiskers."

Husk grinned to himself and shook his head. 

With Angel straddling the backs of his legs, Husk was spread out on his stomach on their bed, wings relaxed at his sides and arms folded under his head. 

"Let me know if anything hurts."

"Your muscles aren't even fully back, yet," Husk reminded Angel. "If you hurt me, I'll be proud'f your recovery."

Angel snickered as he warmed the feather ooil between his palms. "Noted." He started at the feathers on the ends of Husk's wings, brushing his long fingers through them to loosen the broken ones and straighten out the intact ones. 

Husk groaned happily as his back arched into Angel's touches. 

Angel snorted as Husk's purr kicked up under him. "You're just a touch-starved lil' kitty-cat, huh?"

"Mmph."

Angel hummed to himself as he worked over Husk's wings, taking breaks to stretch each pair of hands when they started getting sore or stiff. 

When the backs of Husk's wings and his back had been fully oiled, Angel smacked his hip gently and dismounted from his straddle. "Flip over, Baby; gotta get your front."

"Mm." Husk rolled over and tugged Angel close for a kiss. "Hey."

"Yeah?"

"I love ya."

"Love you, too, Baby." Angel nuzzled Husk's nose, butted his forehead gently against Husk's, and pushed Husk to lay down on his back. 

Husk shut his eyes. 

Angel, starting at the outside of Husk's left wing again, preened the feathers, oiled them, and massaged the joints and muscles. 

Husk's purring resumed, rumbling the entire bed. 

Angel laughed and shook his head at Husk's relaxed state. "Think you needed a lil' pamperin' this week, huh?"

Husk shrugged, boneless and content to let Angel have his wicked way with him.

Angel and Husk sat bundled up in numerous blankets on the couch, boxes of takeout spread over the coffee table at Husk's feet and TV playing a quiet animated movie at Angel's command. 

"Gimme the wontons," Angel ordered, accepting the box that Husk was holding with a happy hum. "I forgot how good food is."

Husk snorted. "How so?"

"I... I dunno. I think I just... took it for granted before. This whole time we've been together, I hadn't regenerated, so... I never got, like, a hard-reset of my taste buds. Food just... got to the point that it was mostly an obligation."

"Is... Has the time we've been together been the longest you've ever gone without regenerating?"

"Uh... what, 15 years?"

"Almost 16."

"Yeah. Before that, think the longest was... 7? Back when I first got with Val, 'n he gave me the good shit, not the shit that'd... get me got, y'know?" Angel mumbled through a dumpling as he handed Husk the white paper box again. 

"Mm."

"You ever regenerated?"

"Bits and pieces, here and there. Like... a leg, when I first fell down here. Broke at the femur, someone caught me off guard 'n just... ripped it off. Had t'let it grow back in a shitty motel."

Angel's nose wrinkled. "Nasty."

"Yep. Uh... Liver. Gone through lots'f livers."

"I'd imagine."

Husk poked Angel's nose in gentle admonishment, grinning up at him as Angel pressed his chopsticks, holding a small eggroll, to his lips. "But... uh... nothin' since you've been here, I don't think."

Angel nodded, staring blankly at Husk's lap, where his legs rested. 

Husk reached up to stroke Angel's hair. He sighed. "Can y'pass me my drink?"

Angel reached down to retrieve the bottle of beer to hand it to Husk. He pressed the bottle into Husk's palm with a soft kiss to his forehead. "Payment," he clarified in a whisper. 

"Mm. Okay. Inflation's up, though."

Angel grinned ear-to-ear and kissed Husk properly, teeth clicking together as they pressed their lips together. 

"You wanna do anything else tonight?"

Angel hummed, counting things off on multiple sets of fingers. "Bath, shaved, shaped fluff, shampooed and conditioned, leave-in, skin-care, trimmed my hair, manicure, you painted my nails... washed you off, preened your wings 'n did your nails, got shitty takeout 'n silly movies... Yeah, I think I'm good. Why? Did we forget somethin'?"

"Not that I know of." Husk set the box of food from his lap on the coffee table, then lifted Angel with one arm to pull him closer. He kissed Angel's forehead. "And... you're feelin' alright? Not sore or anythin'?"

"Eh. Just tired, but, like... regular amount of tired."

"Alright." Husk lapped at the side of Angel's neck to smooth out the fur against the neckline of his t-shirt. "You think you wanna take some'f the pain meds that make you sleepy? Just to make sure you're well-rested tomorrow?"

"I don't like the way I feel comin' off'f those."

"Mm. Alright. Regular sleep meds, then? Maybe an ibuprofen?"

"... Yeah, alright."

Husk smiled into Angel's skin and nodded. "I'll grab that for ya on our way t'bed." He glanced up at Angel after a minute, then asked, "You still horny?"

Shifting his weight from side to side, Angel considered the question, then shrugged. "Could take it or leave it."

"Alright, never mind, then. Figured if you still wanted to, I'm down, but... if you're not, no problem."

Angel nodded. "It's... fleeting, nowadays. Since I've been sick."

"Think your libido's reset?" Husk chuckled. "You're not used t'bein' taken care of every day, so your body doesn't crave it?"

"... Maybe. Wouldn't shock me."

"How 'bout this: you want somethin', you tell me. Unless you wanna take care'f it yourself, which is always fine--"

"I haven't been fucked properly in weeks. Alright? If I'm gonna get off, it's gonna be on your tongue, then on your dick. Understood?"

"... Understood."

Angel snorted and shook his head with a grin, leaning down to kiss Husk. "You're so sweet. You know that?"

"I'm a fuckin' Overlord, Anthony."

"So am I, Francis. Doesn't make you any less of a Sweetheart."

Husk snorted. "Whatever you say, Principessa. Always."

"I say... hand me a fortune cookie."

Husk tossed one of the plastic-wrapped cookies from the bag beside him in the air before presenting it to Angel on his open palm. 

Angel cracked the cookie open, chewing it as he read his fortune aloud. "'You will overcome a challenge no one ever has'."

"I mean, you just had the Hell equivalent of a deadly illness, now you're on the couch in a tequila shirt eatin' wontons 'n makin' fun of fortune cookies. I'd say that's pretty accurate."

"It says I will. Not that I have. Keep up, old man."

Husk flicked Angel's nose with one claw to make him giggle. "It was probably printed before you got sick. Maybe you're just late in reading it."

"Maybe." Angel grabbed another cookie to hand to Husk. "Your turn."

"I don't wanna--"

"Eat the cookie, Husker."

Husk snorted and unwrapped the cookie, handing it to Angel as he unrolled his own slip of paper. "'The thing you love most will be with you forever'. Hell yeah, he will." 

Angel snickered when Husk pulled him into a kiss, more teeth than lips. "The thing you love most, huh?"

"'Thing' being a loose term," Husk assured him. "I think it's a typo."

"What's it supposed to say? 'The twink you love most will be with you forever'?"

"Doubt it." Husk leaned up to whisper, "Doesn't matter. You're not leavin'."

"Nope."

"Remember our vows?"

"' 'Til double-death do us part'?"

"Yep. Even double death ain't gettin' you away from me, y'hear?"

"Hey, same goes for you!" Angel poked Husk's wedding and engagement bands with two fingers. "Stuck with me, Francis."

"Obsessed with you, Anthony."