Archive of Our Own ^beta

Angel Dust almost didn’t want to head back to the hotel today. He sure as Hell hadn’t wanted to stay at work, but considering how exhausted he was after work, all he wanted to do was…

Well, he wasn’t sure what he wanted to do, but Angel sure knew he didn’t have the patience for any of Charlie’s activities after the shit Valentino had put him through. Maybe he could have managed, but Cherri was taking care of stuff at her territory and wouldn’t be around today to make things more tolerable.

It was somewhat disingenuous of him, but it was the mood he was in. Angel really just wanted to wash up and go to bed. Not go to sleep, but lounge for a while and pretend like he hadn’t gone to work.

Steeling himself for whatever the far too cheerful Princess of Hell had planned, Angel entered the hotel. And found it quiet.

Angel stared at the empty entrance. “What the fuck?”

His eyes made their way to the bar, where the sole person in the entire area was currently cleaning glasses. Angel couldn’t tell if he was cleaning them because they had actually been used recently or because he was holding off from taking another bottle off the shelf himself. Angel made his way over and slid onto a stool.

“Did I miss a field trip or something? Where is everyone?”

“Eh.” Husk shrugged. “Haven’t seen anyone but Niffty in a while. And she got into some cough syrup and is out for the count.”

Reaching under the counter, Husk pulled her out. A sleeping Niffty was a fairly cute Niffty. One could almost forget the inane behaviour she pulled out at all times. Almost.

Angel patted her on the head before Husk put her back where she’d been. “Cough syrup?”

“Don’t ask me where she got it. I’m not her keeper.”

“You’re literally keeping her right now, whiskers.”

Husk rolled his eyes as Angel laughed. However, as if the universe though to answer Angel’s question, he heard someone come down the stairs. It definitely didn’t sound like Charlie and it didn’t have enough accompanying dread to be Alastor. Angel guessed at it being Vaggie long before her glanced over his shoulder to see her advancing on them.

“Uh oh. Commander looks serious.”

“You know she doesn’t like you calling her that,” Husk muttered.

Angel ignored him, but didn’t mention it as he raised his voice. “Charlie fallen behind on whatever the plans were for today?”

“You could put it like that.” Vaggie folded her arms over her chest. “Charlie’s sick.”

Angel blinked. “Sick? Ain’t that… I don’t know, impossible?”

“Why would it be impossible?”

“Devil’s daughter and all that.” From Vaggie’s expression and how Husk didn’t give him any support, apparently it was only Angel who found it weird. He shrugged and leaned back against the counter. “Okay, whatever. I’m just surprised, is all.”

“I’m just asking you to behave. Just because she isn’t around to be upset, doesn’t mean do anything that will upset her because she’s not around. Where’s Niffty?”

“Sleeping,” Husk repeated.

“We taking the day off then?” Not really how Angel wanted to get his day of relaxation in, but he would still take it.

“Charlie still had a group activity planned she was hoping the rest of us could do.” Vaggie pulled a paper from her pocket. Angel could see the colourful explanations even from the back of it. “I haven’t gotten it set up yet. If Niffty is out and Cherri Bomb is… out, I guess it’s just the three of us.”

Alastor and Lucifer didn’t count, Angel supposed, but he wasn’t sure he wanted to do any of the bonding activities with either of them without Charlie there as a buffer anyway. But… as much as Angel considered bargaining with Vaggie about just waiting until more of them were around to make the most out of the activity, he felt the stirrings of empathy rattling around inside of him where he didn’t want them. Or where he did?

Charlie had done well in bringing those back. “It’s not too bad, is it?”

“I assure you, you and Husk will survive the activity.”

Husk snorted.

Angel shook his head, getting to his feet. “Nah, nah. Not what I meant. I meant Charlie. She okay?”

Vaggie blinked, her stern expression dropping. “She’s… Well, not great, considering she’s sick. It’s not too bad, but I didn’t want her running around and making it worse.”

“Then I’ll take a rain check on that activity!”

Vaggie’s eye narrowed, but before she could say anything Husk burst into laughter. “Okay, man. What did you have in mind?”

“I’m gonna go out and get Charlie something.”

The frustration melted off Vaggie’s face, but she still looked hesitant. “What Charlie would like for you to do would be to do the day’s lesson though.”

“Yeah, but are we going to trust Smiles to make her a soup meant to cure what ails her?” The only reason Angel ate anything Alastor prepared for the hotel was because Charlie kept reminding him not to serve them other Sinners. “And I don’t know what her pop’s bedside manner is like.”

Vaggie pursed her lips. “His bedside manner appears to be treating Charlie like a baby. Which is stressing her out.”

“I’m sure you’ve only managed to keep him kicked out by also kicking out Alastor.” Husk sighed, resting a forearm on the counter.

“Niffty just drank the cough syrup. I’m sure there’s stuff you’d like to pick up, right Vags?”

And there went away Charlie’s therapy plan of the day. “I’ll make a short list.”

“And I’ll make sure he stays on target.” Husk jerked a thumb in Angel’s direction.

Angel smirked. “You just wanna excuse for hanging out with me!”

“I don’t need an excuse for that.” Husk still looked amused. “And both things can be true.”

“I’d stay on target!”

“You’re distractable.”

“Am not!”

“Don’t make me change my mind about this.” Vaggie shook her head. “I’ll be writing that list.”

“I’ll clean up and be right back down!” Angel felt renewed. He definitely had enough energy for this and if he was going to be walking around town, he didn’t want to look bedraggled. Let alone getting to go out was a perfect time to get Nuggets some fresh air.

It was still easier to frame this as something to do for himself than it was something to do for Charlie, but that was only if he thought about it too hard. It should have been impossible for Charlie to get sick. Nothing about that felt right. But if Vaggie said it wasn’t too bad, he’d believe it.

They would get her something to help out.

Waiting on Angel Dust wasn’t an issue. In fact, Husk was more surprised when Angel didn’t actually take too long in coming back down. Husk was staring at the list Vaggie had given him as Angel took the stairs about five steps at a time. All he meant to do was glance up before continuing to read the list, but Husk couldn’t help but do a double take.

There were two reasons for this. First there was Angel’s outfit. Husk had actually expected Angel to get all dolled up as he usually preferred, but what he wore was actually something casual. Sure, the shorts were short and the boots were high, but there was nothing revealing about the hoodie, which was actually a little baggy and mainly grey. Husk hadn’t known Angel owned anything in grey.

The second reason was Fat Nuggets’ outfit, which was definitely more what he had expected Angel to get into. Cotton candy coloured and frills and a skirt—something which would have looked just acceptable enough on a Sinner, but did not look great on a pig.

So while Husk wanted to say something about how Angel looked nice in something so comfortable and casual, what came out instead was: “you sure we should be bringing the pig?”

“Why not?” Angel brought Fat Nuggets up so he could rub his face against the pig, who looked happy enough to receive the attention and not like he was stuck in some horrific clothes. “He doesn’t get to go out much.”

“I guess.”

“It’ll be a good outing if we’re getting everything on that list.” Angel plucked the page from Husks hands to look over it himself.

“The only things Vaggie said we had to get are the cold compresses and the stuff for the soup. The rest is just if we happen to spot it.”

“Why not get everything?”

Budget, mostly. But if Angel wanted to buy the rest of it on his own dime, Husk wouldn’t stop him. Angel went out the door as he read the list and Husk had missed the most natural moment to compliment Angel’s outfit, but then figured if he complimented Angel and not Fat Nuggets Angel might get huffy. Yeah, he didn’t want to have to tell the truth about that one unless he was forced to.

“DVD player? What happened to the last one?”

“There’s the one downstairs, but maybe they don’t have one in their room?” Husk followed Angel out.

“I’ve got one they can borrow. Can’t believe she doesn’t have her own DVD player.”

“Maybe they’ve only got a Blu-ray player?”

“A what?”

Husk hesitated, trying to determine if Angel was being legit or fucking with him. The pause did it, because Angel couldn’t keep up his poker face. He was only saved from being laughed at because before they made it a yard from the hotel the King of Hell dropped in front of them.

Before Angel could pull out a gun, Husk grabbed him by the wrist. Fat Nuggets screeched in either surprise or because Angel had squeezed him too tightly—Husk wasn’t sure which.

“What the fuck?” Angel demanded.

“Can we help you, your Majesty?” Husk tried instead.

“You’re headed out to get things for Charlie, yes?” From his expression, Husk didn’t know how to judge the man. Was it rare for Charlie to get sick? Did he just not know what to do about it? Couldn’t he pop into existence anything he wanted?

Angel soothed Fat Nuggets with two handed petting. “Uh, yeah.”

“Excellent! I’m sure Maggie means well, but this is definitely what she needs!”

As opposed to Vaggie’s list, Lucifer’s was on gold paper and written in fancy script which Husk thought he had left behind decades ago. Unfortunately he could still read it, even if he had to squint at the paper. To be honest, several things on the list were the same as Vaggie’s. He did have a very specific brand of noodles on there, several different desserts which had to be apple-based, and then some other musical stuff.

“We’ll keep an eye out for this too,” Husk said, because there wasn’t really anything else to say.

“Nuh uh.” Angel shook his head. “I recognize those. I’ll buy a lot for Charlie, but if I’m getting her a candied apple pie that would be the only thing I could get. Those go for—”

Lucifer handed out a card. It took Husk a while to realize it was a credit card, because he had thought golden cards were out of style. He supposed Lucifer wouldn’t know the difference. Nor did it matter, considering how it had his emblem on it.

“Whatever you need to get her,” Lucifer said with the air of not understanding how much he had blown Angel’s mind.

This was making Husk uncomfortable. “We shouldn’t—”

“We’ll look for everything on the list!” Angel exclaimed, snatching it from Lucifer’s hand.

Or they should. Husk frowned.

“You may take the car.” Lucifer waved down to where a limo was parked. Husk wasn’t sure if it was the same one Charlie used, because he didn’t spend a lot of time staring at it. “Try to get back as soon as possible.”

“Gotcha!” Angel hooked an arm in Husk’s and dragged him down to the car. Whether it was because he was excited to get started or he didn’t want Lucifer to give any other conditions, Husk didn’t know. All he knew was he didn’t want to get in a limo.

But he was in it. Angel said something to the driver (how long had he been there?) before sliding into one of the seats across from Husk. Fat Nuggets snuffled around on the floor of the limo as if he might find something interesting. Husk tried to pretend he wasn’t exactly where he was and tried to read Lucifer’s list again. He didn’t even recognize the title of the musical in question.

“Something wrong, Husk?”

Husk grunted. As much as he wanted to shrug it off, he wasn’t about to be fake about it. “This sort of thing makes me uncomfortable.”

“Oh? Cars?”

Shaking his head, Husk felt his ears droop. He couldn’t make himself say it. Like an idiot. He could tell Angel was staring at him, but instead of pressing he moved from the seat he was on to sit next to Husk and Husk found Fat Nuggets in his lap. Fat Nuggets snorted and Angel took one of Husk’s hand, making him pet the pig’s back.

The costume was in the way, but Husk couldn’t argue that stroking Fat Nuggets didn’t calm him down. Angel reached into his pocket and pulled out small treats, feeding them piecemeal to Fat Nuggets who happily squeaked and ate them.

“How long is he going to be this small?” Husk asked. He had no idea how Hellboars grew.

“Beats me.” Angel shrugged. “You going to be big and fat some day, Nuggie?”

Not like he wasn’t already fat, but Husk didn’t know that much about pigs. Fat Nuggets snorted up another treat.

The drive wasn’t as bad as Husk had felt it might be.

With Lucifer footing the bill for everything for Charlie, Angel planned on getting everything on the list. Now that he wasn’t paying for any of it, he could even afford to get something for himself too. Not to say he wasn’t tempted to use Lucifer’s card for something for himself, but Angel still didn’t know how he felt about pushing it with Lucifer yet. It wasn’t like messing with a Sinner, after all, and Angel had already made mistakes with which Sinners he had messed with since his arrival in Hell.

“Let’s get the easiest stuff first. The food!” Stepping out of the limo, Angel kept Nuggets under one of his arms. As much as he wanted to let him walk around on his harness, he knew better than to let him down where others might step on him. Deliberately.

“Shouldn’t we get the food last?”

Angel raised an eyebrow as Husk slammed the door shut behind him. “Nah. We can always send it back with the car.”

“And walk back?”

“Course not! We’ll tell them to come back. Might as well make the most use outta everything the king’s letting us use, yeah?” Angel glanced over Vaggie’s list. “Plus, I know where to get food. And I guess I know where to look for a DVD player. But I don’t know if this DVD is for something current?”

“Uh…” Husk looked at the one Lucifer had put on his list, then glanced at the list in Angel’s hands. “I think I saw some new release for that. The king didn’t ask for a DVD. Just some merchandise.”

“For what?” Angel caught the name. He recognized the musical in question, knew he had seen it at some point, but for the afterlife of him couldn’t remember what actually happened. “The Music Hound, huh?”

“Didn’t think Charlie would be into that one.”

“Why not? It’s all about music.”

Husk gave him a look, but didn’t elaborate. Instead he jabbed a finger at the other one. “I haven’t heard of The Queen and Her.”

“Me neither. Must be an older one.”

It was definitely better to wait on figuring those out. They went grocery shopping.

Soup supplies were easy and Husk even found some of the heating pads nearby. Angel didn’t want to think about what Charlie was sick with which had Vaggie asking for heating pads and ice packs. Poor girl.

“Lucifer wants some of these really special apple treats. You think Charlie actually like these or that he just thinks she does?”

“That can go for anything on his list, Angel.”

Husk was right, of course. There was nothing wrong with getting everything, because even if Lucifer’s unique requests were wrong, Vaggie’s would make up for them. At least Vaggie’s requests were more specific. Angel was even able to find the stationary based on Twisted she had asked for.

“Ain’t this a topside musical?”

“When has that ever stopped people down here from making money off it?” Husk asked, looking over it. “Cute.”

“You think they might have already had a DVD, but Al fucked it up?”

Husk rolled his eyes. “Don’t ask me why some technology sometimes works around him and other times he fucks it over.”

“Ah, so it’s really be choice. Why he actually could help us record a commercial.”

“Did that ever get another chance to air?”

Angel didn’t remember. Too much had happened since and if it had, it hadn’t done anything. He shrugged and moved the package of noodles away from Nugget’s mouth before he gnawed a hole in the bag.

Hanging out with Husk while doing something as mundane as grocery shopping was oddly comforting. Someone tried to call Angel out and tripped when Husk “stretched” out a wing. They bought Charlie’s stuff, but Angel caught Husk paying for something else on his own and it looked like more of Nugget’s treats. It gave Angel that weird warm feeling that was in his chest and not in his stomach or crotch.

He hated how often he felt that as of late. It felt good, but Angel didn’t know what to do with it. Especially when it came from things Husk did.

“So these apple fritters and apple turnovers… There a specific place we go for those? I figure he wasn’t asking for the cheap apples.”

“Crop On The Pan.” Angel tried not to think about the last time he had been there. It was when Val had been in a good mood and Angel’d had a good time. Al lies, of course. “They have apples that almost taste like they’re from the living world.”

Husk chuckled. “Really? That’d I’d pay to taste.”

“If Charlie doesn’t want it, I’ll definitely eat anything she passes up.”

Because despite a name like Crop On The Pan, it was expensive. They entered the bakery and the smell hit Angel like a wave. It covered up all the disgusting fumes from just outside, like this place was actually pleasant. Fat Nuggets kept snorting up the scents and Husk looked more than a little surprised.

“Hungry?” Angel asked, checking him lightly with his hip.

“A little. I figured it had to be someplace nice, but… uh…”

“Yeah. But… uh is the word for it.”

Husk grinned shaking his head as he followed Angel along to the display cases. Everything Lucifer had asked for was there, so Angel picked everything out. It would have been so easy to add in a couple pastries for himself. Lucifer wouldn’t notice. Husk wouldn’t notice. Angel’s fingers twitched. It had been so long since he was given this sort of cash. He wanted to buy himself everything.

Fat Nuggets oinked. Angel tried to remember what Charlie said about grounding techniques, but he couldn’t remember them and also he remembered when he did try it that it didn’t work very well.

So easy.

“Hey. Wait a second. I know you.”

Angel was ready to shrug the fan off, but the tone was definitely not someone in awe or about to ask for a taste. Dragging his attention away from the pastries one of the staff was already packaging up for him, he noticed the call out wasn’t toward him.

Husk didn’t look toward the ant Sinner, whose antennae twitched in agitation.

“Did you need somethin’?” Angel asked.

“I wasn’t talking to you!” The ant tried to step closer to Husk, but Angel stepped between them.

“Don’t bother with him, Angel,” said Husk.

“I wouldn’t if he’d go away.” Angel heard the person behind the counter clear their throat, so he handed the card over. He kept his eyes on the ant Sinner, who glowered at Angel from not that far away. He was almost as tall as Angel. “We’re busy. Buzz off.”

“You’re Husk, aren’t you?”

Husk sighed. The person behind the counter cleared their throat and Angel barely glanced over as Husk took back the card and the two bags. Okay, he had bought everything Lucifer had wanted, but had it really filled two bags?

“If you follow us out, I’ve got a gun,” Angel jabbed the man in the chest with a finger before putting a hand at Husk’s back and moving out. He glanced back, but despite the rage vibrating in the Sinner he didn’t seem to want to risk some death—even if temporary.

The awful outside air came back to him, reminding Angel that everything was awful again. He glanced down, but Husk’s expression hadn’t changed. “You okay?”

“Yeah, thanks.”

It was hard to know how true that was. Husk didn’t seem too tense, but Angel wasn’t stupid enough to think it hadn’t bothered him at all. “You want to talk about it?”

Husk shook his head. “All in the past.”

Apparently not enough in the past for the idiot harassing him inside the bakery. Angel checked over his shoulder once more, but they were not being followed.

“Eh, we’ll take the car to a place where we can look for the musical stuff. No way to run into him again.”

Nuggets shuffled in Angel’s arm, attempting to get closer to Husk. Or at least the bags.

“Those are for Charlie,” Angel chastised him.

At that, Husk laughed. “No way she’s eating all these. Even if she was healthy and starving.”

“It did look like a lot more than what I’d ordered.” Angel glanced into the bag, confirming it all. How had that happened when he hadn’t risked asking for anything himself? “Should… We go back and tell them they gave us too much?”

A Charlie thought. Angel never would have brought it up except it was for her. He felt weird again and this time it wasn’t because he still had his hand against Husk’s back. (Husk didn’t tell him to stop.)

“Probably wouldn’t work. You missed her look when she saw the King’s card.”

Ah. Of course. Angel should have felt great about it, because it meant he could have some of these too, and for free, but it just reminded him how things went again. Lucifer could create whatever he wanted—including wealth. People were terrified of him, so gave him more than what he might ask for.

“Why can’t things just be nice?” Angel muttered.

Husk chuckling was not what he expected and Angel glared at him. Shaking his head, Husk went to the limo to open the door for him. “Not laughing at you, legs. Just thinking how Charlie would appreciate you right now.”

Angel frowned. “Of course she’d appreciate me. I’m the one who wanted to get her stuff.”

He stepped in, with Husk coming in right after. “I meant you could probably tell her about that and she’d consider it a good lesson.”

Would she? “Enough that she might not make me do whatever today’s lesson was going to be when she’s feeling better?”

“Are you kidding? Group activities need as many people as possible.”

“You’re just saying that because you’d miss me.”

“Ah, you got me.”

Angel gave their driver the next location. He didn’t know if he wanted to talk about it all with Charlie. It felt embarrassing when Husk put it that way. But she was sick and maybe telling her about it would make her feel better.

If Husk was so sure she would find it a good lesson.

Apparently Angel didn’t think twice about buying from secondhand stores in the Entertainment District. Considering the Vees’ whole brand, Husk had to admit he hadn’t expected to find anything like a DVD around. But Angel knew where he was looking and they were not only able to find the topside musical in question, but the soundtrack for it.

They also found the soundtrack for The Music Hound, which Husk had Angel listen to. At first, with those headphones on, he just looked at Husk like he wasn’t sure what to expect.

“Listen to the lyrics while remembering Hellhounds are, you know, people,” Husk offered.

Angel pulled the headphones off. “Okay, you’ve made your point. Charlie definitely wouldn’t approve.” And Lucifer wouldn’t think anything of it. Well, the man was old and racist against Sinners too. Being racist against Hellhounds too shouldn’t have been a surprise. “If he asks, we’ll say we couldn’t find it.”

Like anything about The Queen and Her. Even asking the employees in the shop got blank stares. Which Husk was expecting to receive even from helpful Sinners at this point, but Angel had managed to fish someone out who was definitely trying to be helpful.

A squat fox Sinner, perusing another aisle, was the one who helped out. “Oh, The Queen and Her hasn’t run for, like, three hundred years!”

“Musicals are that old?” Angel asked.

“Lots of things are older than you’d think.” Husk gave the Sinner a grateful nod.

“Is that a dig at me?” Angel teased before looking back at the fox Sinner. “You seen it? Was it any good?”

“Oh, it was excellent!” Her ears stood straight up. “All fictional, of course, but it was about a relationship between Lilith and a member of her court. They were friends in reality, but the play was about a maaaybe more relationship between them. Queen Lilith herself was flattered! She and the king would watch it all the time!”

Would that be a good thing to find for Charlie or a bad one? She had so much to unpack about her feelings for her parents and was only just starting to work through things with her father.

“If she liked it so much, why hasn’t it run in so long?” Angel asked.

“Oh, the leading actresses died in an Extermination!” The Sinner sighed wringing her hands. “They ran a few shows after with their understudies, but they did not do as well. I guess no one else has tried since? It was such a good show!”

There definitely wouldn’t be a recording of that, but Lucifer hadn’t asked for one. It just said anything of The Queen and Her.

“Don’t suppose there’s any merch of it?” Angel asked. “We’re looking for a friend.”

The Sinner shrugged.

They bought the stuff for Vaggie’s suggestion. “That’ll probably be it then.” Husk rolled his shoulders back.

“…Charlie would really like it though.”

Uh oh. Husk studied Angel’s face. Fat Nuggets had put his front hooves on Angel’s chest and was trying to lick his face, but Angel’s brow furrowed in consternation.

“She might, but I think we’ve got enough. She’ll still be happy with everything you already got her.” Husk thought he sounded pretty sensible, but he could see the way Angel’s mind wrapped around the problem.

Even worse, he saw the moment Angel came up with an idea.

“Can we check out one place?”

“One.” Husk wasn’t sure if he believed it would only be one or if he should just be worried about what the one place was.

It turned out it was the latter. He couldn’t believe they were standing outside the Vee Tower. Angel handed him Fat Nuggets.

“No. No way. Angel, you are not going in there on your day off.”

“I’m not headed into the studio!” Angel protested. “But… Other than Charlie, Vox is the biggest musical guy I know! I’m not about to ask him about it, but I figured if there was something he had I could at least take a picture of it.”

At least he hadn’t lost his mind and thought he could steal something from him. Husk rubbed his face, not taking Fat Nuggets from Angel’s hands. “You don’t think he’ll see you in there?”

“And what? He hates when Valentino spends time with me, so he ain’t about to call the boss on me.”

It was really sweet that Angel was so invested in doing something nice for Charlie that he was risk this, but also Angel apparently couldn’t even do that in a healthy way. Husk was no counselor, he was a bartender. And he had only figured that part out through trial by fire anyway.

“Isn’t there anyone else in Hell who might have something based on it?” Husk tried.

Angel shook his head. “If there’s anything, and it was really that good, Vox will have it.”

Fuck. Husk took Fat Nuggets. “Well then. Let’s go.”

About to turn inside, Angel stopped and stared at him. “You… You’re not coming.”

“Why not? You seem so sure we won’t be coming across the head honchos. So what’s the problem with me walking with you?”

Angel spluttered. “Because you don’t work here! That will get us in trouble!”

“As much trouble as you muscling in on whatever secret shrine Vox has for musicals?”

“It’s not a secret—” Angel stopped, rubbing his face with his upper hands, his lower hands on his hips. “Ugh. Fine. Don’t say anything to anyone.”

As if that would be hard. But at least he could keep an eye on Angel, no matter how bad this idea was. He could tell he and Angel looked out of place from the moment they stepped inside. If anything, Fat Nuggets was the one dressed up like he belonged. Still, Angel strode in like no one should question him and so no one did. Husk could feel the eyes which weren’t from the people they passed.

Cameras everywhere. How did anyone survive like this? Well, he had Alastor. Husk didn’t know which was worse and he wasn’t about to make the comparison. There really was no comparing one Overlord to another. He thought he could make it when he was an Overlord, that he was better than the others, that his casino was nothing like any other territory. Perhaps it was true, but when it came to the souls he had owned and how they had decided to take his fall?

Not enough of a difference to count. Husk couldn’t believe he had agreed to do this either. There was no way they would be getting out of this without something going wrong. Whether that be now or later.

Angel went for the elevator and headed for a relatively low floor in the tower. Husk glanced up and saw yet another camera with them. His mouth twitched, but he kept quiet. Angel said not to say anything to anyone and he was starting to think Angel meant even to him. Fat Nuggets, for his part, was starting to huff. He wasn’t being loud, but Husk was under the impression he might.

His whiskers twitched. He glanced at Angel, who was doing his best impression of looking bored. The elevator doors opened and they stepped out onto a floor which didn’t look much different from the entrance. Down another hallway, then another, and the door Angel opened brought them indeed to a museum.

Husk wasn’t sure if he was impressed or disgusted. It would have been a nice display of musical history if it was somewhere anyone else could see it. Props and costumes from various runs were set up in sections by play and era. It was organized enough Husk could even follow why Angel went the direction he went in. Something at least three hundred years old.

The display for The Queen and Her was extensive. There was a gown for Lilith’s character that caught Husk’s attention. It was definitely the elegance of a different age, in deep purple and crimsons. He found himself thinking about how nice it would look on Angel if the sleeves were different.

Not the time for that. Angel was taking pictures of everything. Fat Nuggets had stopped squirming so much, so Husk patted his head and went to look at some of the plaques put up about the pieces. Even the plaques were digital, which almost made him roll his eyes, until he spotted something.

“Hey, Angel.”

Angel hissed, but was at Husk’s side in an instant. Before he could whisper any harsh words into Husk’s ear, he let out a soft gasp which made Husk’s ear twitch instead. Because Husk had found the director’s copy of the script.

Hands on the tablet in front of it, he went through what was said about it and pulled up a transcription. Angel’s face brightened, then darkened as he bit his lower lip. Husk couldn’t figure out what the problem was. He went to check how big the file would be. It wasn’t small, but it would fit on a phone. Husk pulled his own out and plugged it in.

“You got a cord?” Angel asked, seeming to have forgotten how he wanted them to be quiet.

“I’m more surprised they had something for me to plug into.” It was like this place might have been some museum others would be allowed in, which felt weird. Husk wasn’t going to think too hard on it. All they needed were the pictures and the script. It was weird using this phone for something like this.

How they had gotten in and out, with the success of finding things, Husk had no idea. He wanted a drink, but all he got was to shake out his tremors by walking as fast as he could (and Angel could) away from the Vee Tower.

“See?” Despite Angel acting up for being right, the grin on his face was infectious. As well as the two arms around Husk. There was some shakiness there, because of course Angel hadn’t been completely nerves of steel about his own plan. “Getting Charlie a copy of the script has to be the best gift ever!”

Husk chuckled. “If it weren’t about her mother, I’d say we could put on the play at the hotel. But…”

“Eh, we can leave that up to her. I’m not about to bring it up.”

Just like Husk wasn’t about to bring up that he really, really hoped Lucifer at least had this right about his daughter, because if this was something only he liked and Charlie didn’t? Husk didn’t know how Angel would take that. They had no idea if Charlie had ever had the chance to see this play. Either way, Husk was definitely done with the day.

The bullet which tore through his shoulder agreed with him.

It wasn’t his first gunshot wound, so Husk’s first reaction was to shove Angel and Fat Nuggets away from him before moving to the other side of the road. It didn’t take him long to catch sight of who had shot him. The fucker from earlier. How he had found them, Husk had no idea, but he definitely hadn’t had that gun before.

Despite how Angel should have kept out of the way, it didn’t surprise him in the slightest that before he could bring out an explosive that Angel responded with gunfire of his own. The ant wasn’t fast enough, let alone Angel’s spray of bullets ripped a line across the street which could have only been avoided if the Sinner had ducked. Which he hadn’t.

Angel stalked over to the corpse and kicked it. “What the fuck?”

Fat Nuggets waddled out by Angel and headbutted the corpse next, looking just as angry. It was interesting to see.

Rubbing his shoulder, Husk joined them. “Weirdly persistent, considering it’s not like I haven’t been around during the last couple decades.”

“I was starting to wonder if you even remembered him.” Angel gave it another kick before looking at him. “You okay?”

It stung a bit, but Husk shrugged his other shoulder. “Will be. I guess.”

Then more bullets came in their direction. This time it was Angel who grabbed him and took them out of the clearing. There was angry screaming.

“He brought shitty slow reinforcements!” Angel spat, glancing around the corner of the building.

Husk’s ears twitched. “I, uh, don’t think this one’s with him.” Not from what he heard being screamed.

“What?”

“I think you nicked someone else.”

Angel groaned. “Great. And you know Vaggie’s gonna complain when we come home a mess. Like it was our fault.”

“Definitely not our fault.” Husk wasn’t about to comment on Angel’s aiming when he had killed the other guy so fast. They had gotten out of the Vee Tower way too easily—of course something else shitty had to happen. But at least this was something on their level.

Nuggets oinked, sitting neatly against the alley wall and completely out of sight. Somehow his costume was still completely pretty too. Somehow, Husk knew he had to keep it that way.

Reaching for his wings to where he kept his cards, he pulled one out. Concentrating the energies in a simple object until it would combust felt the same, no matter how much power he did or didn’t have. And Husk would always have the same sharp eye as he had in life. It was a group of three and his card entered their midst before exploding, throwing them all to the side.

Angel stepped out to shoot again. He aimed at the biggest one and covered half of him in bullets, but this Sinner (a large bull) was definitely able to take more than the ant Sinner from before. He wavered on his feet, but sent a volley of his own bullets back. Angel deftly stepped out of the way.

The other two Sinners were birds. Before they could try and get Angel while he was distracted, Husk threw another card. He blew the head off one, but that Sinner didn’t fall. The corpse mindlessly continued to shoot his gun.

Fucking chickens. Husk moved in closer, because at least that one couldn’t aim. He shifted so the shooting body was between him and the other rooster Sinner, trying to blow him back with an explosive die, but happy enough when the gangster simply moved back to get out of the way of the explosion. He heard Angel laugh behind him.

Diving in by the corpse’s feet, he turned him around so the bullets whizzed around the bull Sinner before jumping back into cover behind a car. His shoulder twinged, but he ignored it. Another card and he managed to stick it right in the hand of the third Sinner, blowing it and the gun away from the rest of them.

At least when that one died he was dead. Husk took a quick look to make sure Angel had dealt with the bull (he had) and blew up the last of their assailants just about the time the gun finally ran out of bullets.

Viscera rained down on the street, but far enough away from him. Husk straightened himself up as Fat Nuggets ran out of the alleyway, squealing, and into Angel’s arms.

“Aw, were you scared? I’m sorry, Nuggies.”

Husk didn’t actually know if Fat Nuggets had been scared. For a piglet, he had been awfully sensible to stay out of the way and calm while Husk and Angel dealt with the mess. Angel still kissed over him like Fat Nuggets was a kid.

“He okay?” Husk asked, despite knowing the answer.

Angel nodded, lowering Fat Nuggets from his face. “Yeah. I think you’re the only one who got had. And by the easy one too.”

The insult didn’t sting. Husk grinned. “It happens.”

“Let’s get outta here and get you patched up, Whiskers.”

This time when Angel’s hand pressed against his back, it was gentle. Husk was starting to wonder if he was in trouble. And not because of the gunshot wound.

Once the limo had shown up to pick them up, Angel took off his hoodie to put it around Husk’s shoulder.

“Hey!”

“Shut up. This is so you don’t bleed on Lucifer’s stuff.” Angel didn’t know how the King of Hell would be about Husk bleeding in his limo either, so it was a good excuse.

“Didn’t have to use your clothes.” Husk sighed, but didn’t push him away. Angel finished tying the sleeves around him to keep it in place.

“And use your lack of clothes? Right. I’m not about to use Nuggets’!”

Nuggets was back to searching the floor of the car. Husk rolled his eyes, and propped his head in his other hand. If anything, he had seemed more upset earlier when the ant Sinner had first called him out. Less so about getting shot by him.

Maybe Angel was wrong, but he had to call him out on it anyway. “You’re not okay. What’d you do to him?”

Husk’s eyebrows shot up. “You mean… to the guy I cheated?”

“Well I know what you did to the three that came after! By the way, loved how you used the shooting dead guy.” Angel nudged Husk’s hip, remembering not to elbow him up higher at the moment. “So just cheated him? Wow, he held onto that grudge for a while. Was it that bad?”

“Do you… do you really want to hear about this?”

Now Husk sounded tired. Angel shrugged, leaning back in his seat. “It doesn’t affect me either way. But if you’re going to be a loser about it, it means you have to tell me.”

Husk stared at him, then chuckled. Just like that, the tension was broken. “You say just cheated like that can’t complete destroy someone.”

“Swindle him out of house and home?”

“He thought he could cheat in my house. So I cheated him back.” The moment he finished saying that, Husk’s smile fell. “Though… most of the time it wasn’t like that. That makes it sound like it was just revenge on my part. I did a lot worse to people for nothing.”

“Like an Overlord.” Angel wasn’t particularly bothered by it. He knew how Overlords worked. Thinking about Husk as one was weird at times, but he wasn’t one now. Really made it seem like he’d had time to reflect on it. Angel couldn’t judge anyway. What would he have done with power? Probably a lot worse than what he had done with the influence Valentino had given him.

“Yeah. Like that.” Husk stared at where Nuggets was making his way to the front of the limo, then turning back and checking under the other seats on his way back. “I always thought I was better than the others. When I did bad things? It was… preemptive. Not for nothing. Excuses, all of it.”

Fake. Had Husk really been the sort of person he hated now? Angel supposed he had been. Maybe Husk even hated that more than having hurt others. “But today’s idiot tried to cheat in your casino first.”

“Yeah.”

“It might not have been equal in revenge, but that’s sort of how it all goes down here, yeah?” Angel leaned forward and picked Fat Nuggets up, placing him between himself and Husk. “He risked it and reaped what he sowed. It’s all the past now anyway. He could have been doing something else today, but decided it was worth getting killed after I’d warned him I had a gun.” Idiot should have shot Angel before going for Husk. Talk about another loser.

Husk nodded slowly, the right corner of his mouth quirking upward. “Yeah. I guess you’re right. Thanks, Angel.”

“It’s how it is!” Angel shrugged, then lowered his hand to scratch the back of Nugget’s head. Instead, his hand landed on Husk’s. He quickly moved it to scritch Fat Nugget’s flank instead and tried not to think about his hand on Husk’s. It was no big deal.

When they entered the hotel, it was Lucifer who was waiting on them. Probably because Vaggie had managed to keep him from keeping Charlie awake. Angel handed his card back to him. Lucifer gave them (specifically Husk) a look.

“Some gangsters just didn’t like the look of us.”

“Hm.” Lucifer snapped his fingers. Husk’s fur bristled up, then went back to place as bandages were wrapped around the wound. Lucifer took the card back. “Did you get everything?”

“Most everything. But most important is we got a copy of the script for The Queen and Her. You think Charlie will want it printed out?”

Lucifer’s affected nonchalance melted. Angel didn’t mind if it was a gift for him too, but he sure hoped it was a gift primarily for Charlie. Even if she might say something like oh, it made dad so happy! that wasn’t the reason Angel had decided to brave entering his place of work and potentially seeing Valentino.

“Y-Yes. I’m sure she will love to have it as a book.”

Husk handed out his phone. “Got the files on here, if you know the best way of doing that.”

They left Lucifer to stare at the phone. Angel thought Husk might go back to the bar, but he actually followed Angel up the stairs. After getting to the top floor, Angel put Fat Nuggets down. Nuggs would be happy walking around now and Angel would undress him later. Lucifer was distracted and he wanted to know if Vaggie had made the soup. Or if Alastor had managed to make the soup.

As long as Charlie got it, after all. He walked up to her door and knocked before opening.

“Charlie?”

It occurred to him then she might have fallen back asleep, but she was up and sitting with her back against the headboard. Vaggie sat on the edge of the bed next to her. Despite how Charlie looked tired, her smile was still bright as ever when she looked at him.

“Angel! And Husk! I hear you went shopping for me! Thank you sooo—”

Her voice was raspy and the attempt at putting her usual pep into her gratitude sent her into a coughing fit. Vaggie sighed, rubbing her back. Then she did a double-take—likely catching Husk’s shoulder.

“I wanted an excuse to go shopping,” Angel said as he handed out the bag with the other electronics. “This Twisted musical any good? It’ll be weird to see something topside.”

Charlie’s eyes widened as Vaggie took it and pulled it out. She handed the DVD and the soundtrack to Charlie as she moved the DVD player to their television. She whispered something to Husk as she passed him, but Angel heard him whisper back it’s fine.

“I can’t believe you found it! Oh! And…”

“Yeah, the stationary is cute. You don’t have to talk so much while you’re sick.” Angel eyed the tray. The soup bowl was empty, so it had gone over well no matter who had made it. She had even eaten most of a pastry, if not more than one. “Your dad wanted us to get the stuff from the bakery. Hope that was fine.”

“They were… nostalgic.” Charlie managed to keep herself whispering. “And good. You should have some too. I can’t eat them all.”

“Don’t you worry about it. We’ll definitely scarf some of these down to save you from stuffing yourself.” Knowing they weren’t Charlie’s favourite things in the world made it easier to grab a couple of the boxes. “There’s another thing your dad asked us to find, but he’s putting it together now. Hopefully it’s an even better nostalgic or whatever than the fritters.”

Curiosity overcame her, but she managed to swallow it back. “Thank you.”

“You get better. It’s ain’t a happy day in the hotel unless you’re bothering me, got it?”

She giggled. Why did she make him feel like this? Like doing all of that was worth just her smiling and nothing more? Had Angel ever been a person to only want that or was this new? He couldn’t remember. Angel gently ruffled her hair before leaving her and Vaggie to relax and watch that movie. He would make Charlie show him later. It had been so long since he saw a movie with human cast.

Vaggie mouthed thank you as he walked out. Angel gave her a thumbs up, then wondered why Charlie hadn’t gone off on Husk. He must have managed to keep his injured shoulder out of Charlie’s line of sight—proven again by how he made sure to be ahead of Angel on his way out.

“What do you want?” Angel asked, opening one of the boxes.

“Cider and a nap.”

Angel guffawed, took out a tart, and jammed it into Husk’s mouth. He narrowed his eyes, but when he bit down he grabbed the rest of it so it wouldn’t crumble to the floor.

“Good?”

Husked chewed thoughtfully, then nodded. “Not bad at all. I guess I’d better keep you from eating all of those.”

“Save my figure!” Angel bent in instinctively and pecked Husk on the cheek. “Thanks, Husk.”

It was a little thing. For once, Angel didn’t mean anything by it other than gratitude. But the colour in Husk’s cheeks wasn’t the same as when he drank and Angel felt that warmth in his chest again. Not the same as he had felt for Charlie. More like it had been earlier.

Oh, were they in trouble.