today set a standard for bad

[aschmoozerandadummy]

By now Angel's used to it. The abuse, the demands, the sixteen-plus-hour shoots with no breaks unless Val himself needs one or he's feeling generous and decides Angel should drink some water so he doesn't pass out and ruin the shoot. Val helping himself to him afterwards, snide comments from Velvette, Vox rubbing salt in the wounds by being himself.

He hates it, hates everything about it, hates himself for being dumb enough to fall for Val in the first place, but he's used to it.

Today, though...Val was in a mood. A trafficking scenario with lots of violence and a gang rape, knives and claws and teeth. No breaks, just Angel getting his holes stuffed with dicks and his body slashed and cut up until he was sure he'd pass out from the blood loss.

Val did the bare minimum of bandaging him and only so he didn't bleed all over "the nice clean floor" which you could run a fucking wet towel over and it'd be good as new. No ride home, either, so Angel was left to limp back to the hotel, trying to block out the pain. At least the randos trawling the streets tonight weren't interested in fucking a whore when he was down.

It's late when he gets back, and he's trying to hide himself in the shadows so no one sees him and makes a fuss.

Comments

[strutwhenyourebluffin]

Too bad that bars are open late and cats have fantastic eyesight in the dark, then. Husk is behind the bar, making himself some busywork. He's taken to waiting for everyone to get home at night, just to make sure that they're not down a guest or two.

This night, though, it's way past the time Angel usually comes home, and Husk is getting worried. Mostly he's staying up to make sure his... friend gets home alright.

When he hears the door open and sees Angel stumble in, he's beside him in a heartbeat. "Angel? What the fuck happened to you?"

[aschmoozerandadummy]

Fuck. Husk is the absolute last person he wants to see him this way, not because of shame or embarrassment but because he knows how much Husk cares (why) and he's going to worry and Angel always hates himself more when Husk worries.

"The usual. Bad day at the studio," he mutters as the sloppy bandages are peeling and he's still bleeding through his clothes. It's even dripping down his thighs, just visible beneath the hem of his skirt.

[strutwhenyourebluffin]

Husk doesn't miss that blood, and his eyes go wide. "Angel, you're fucking bleeding." He hesitates for a moment before putting his hand on a hopefully unwounded part of him.

"We gotta get you upstairs and some bandages on you. What did that fucking asshole do to you?" And can Husk kill him? He might be mad enough to steal Vaggi's spear at the moment.

[aschmoozerandadummy]

"Nothing outta the ordinary," Angel blatantly lies. Even the worst of it typically fades away by the time he gets back. "I've done worse shoots."

He hurts all over, his ass is sore from being plowed by dicks bigger than even his biggest dildos, he can barely stand. But if he can just take a shower and lie down it should go away.

[strutwhenyourebluffin]

Husk looks like he doubts that, but he just hisses a bit. "This is not ordinary. You haven't ever been bleeding this bad when you get home."

A pause, and he holds out a hand. "Please, Angel. Let me help you. At the very least, you shouldn't be bleeding on the carpet."

[aschmoozerandadummy]

Angel flinches at that last part, reminded of Val's scolding about bleeding all over the floor. Husk didn't know, of course, he didn't mean to, but Angel goes quiet and nods. He reluctantly takes the offered hand, but the rest of his arms are wrapped tightly around his battered body.

[strutwhenyourebluffin]

Shit. Husk looks worried for a moment, before gently guiding Angel up the stairs. He probably said something that asshole moth did.

He stops at a hall closet and grabs some bandages and extra towels, then takes Angel to his room and into the bathroom. "We need to get your clothes off, and get you clean before we bandage whatever's going on." His voice is soft, guiding.

[aschmoozerandadummy]

Angel nods again, a small whimper escaping him. The truth is he feels safe when Husk is this good to him but that makes it hurt more, knowing all he's doing is weak damage control before Angel goes back to the bastard he stupidly fell for and sold his soul to for more abuse.

[strutwhenyourebluffin]

Carefully, Husk starts peeling Angel's clothes off, leaving his socks and underwear on for now.

There's a pained look on his face that even his strongest poker face can't hide. Angel's hurt bad, and he can't do a damn thing about it other than patch him up.

Everything gets pushed aside in a moment, however, as he grabs a washcloth and some warm water. Angel needs him now, and not as an emotional mess. "I've got you, Angel. Unclench just a bit for me, ok? I need to wash you off."

[aschmoozerandadummy]

Angel drops his arms to his sides, whimpering again. "Looks awful, doesn't it. Val...I guess he got in another fight with Vox cause he was in a mood today." He's being more honest about it, at least. Good.

[strutwhenyourebluffin]

"One fuck of a mood, it looks like." Husk takes a breath, centering himself. It's not going to help if he turns into an emotional mess as well.

Gently, he starts washing Angel's wounds, removing the poorly-applied bandages, and carefully cleaning them of dirt, come, and whatever else happened to be around.

He'll pause if Angel seems uncomfortable, but this has to happen. After he's cleaned him, he'll get out some antiseptic, and give Angel a sympathetic look. "This is going to feel awful." He holds out his other hand. "Squeeze my hand if you have to."

[aschmoozerandadummy]

When he feels the first sting he bites back a cry, grabbing Husk's hand and squeezing like it's a stress ball. He's patched himself up enough times that it shouldn't bother him anymore, but today's wounds are unusually brutal.

[strutwhenyourebluffin]

"It's alright, Angel. Just a few more stings, and we'll be done." Husk's voice is gentle, reassuring as he finishes cleaning Angel up.

Once he's done with the antiseptic, he grabs for the bandages, almost reluctantly taking his hand back. "Almost done. You're doing well."

He's not sure why he's acting like this, but Angel seems to be alright with it, so he'll keep going. The endearment slips out before he can stop it. "Just a few more bandages, baby. Then you can go to bed."

[aschmoozerandadummy]

He stays still, letting Husk tend to him, the harsh stabbing pain of the injuries slowly melting away. Husk is kind to him, but he's being unusually tender. Angel must look pretty pathetic, because...there's no way anyone could care that much for him, even a fellow loser.

And then he hears the endearment, not in the company of "loser" but with soft reassurances.

Stay, he wants to beg, the physical pain is melting into emotional vulnerability. All day he's been fucked and beaten and sliced up and verbally lashed at, he craves comfort, but he's terrified of being too needy. Especially considering he's been trying so hard to respect Husk's boundaries and not be a pain in the ass.

[strutwhenyourebluffin]

It doesn't take long before Husk is done, and Angel's wounds are clean and bandaged properly.

There's a long pause as little bits of Husk's walls start chipping off with the sight of Angel so vulnerable, so pained on the floor of his bathroom. He wants to sweep him up in his arms, rock him and promise him that it'll never happen again, but that's so wrong it's almost funny.

Carefully, he wipes his hands on his pants, then holds out his hands to Angel. "Let's get you into something comfortable, ok? Tell me what to get, baby. I'll help."

[aschmoozerandadummy]

And Angel just wants to be held close in Husk's arms, to sob on his shoulder like the pathetic wet rag he is, but he doesn't know if Husk is okay with that. He takes Husk's hand and very slowly stands up, still in his socks and underwear.

He should change the latter at least, there's a bit of blood still on it.

[strutwhenyourebluffin]

Right. So he's going to have to do all of this himself. Husk doesn't mind, he just re-arranges his thoughts, leading Angel back into his own bedroom.

"I... don't know where your stuff is, Angel. You're going to have to help me out here. Sweatpants, maybe a shirt, and... uh. Clean underwear."

There's a pause, and Husk steps up, moving one hand to Angel's upper bicep. "Please, Angel. Let me help you. You don't have to be alone."

[aschmoozerandadummy]

"You...I've done this before, you don't really..." But he wants this, wants to be taken care of, wants to be held. Quietly, he leads Husk over to his dresser; he's not the neatest person but he keeps everything to its own drawer. Slowly, with aching arms, he takes out a pair of plain black panties, nightshirt, and sleep shorts.

[strutwhenyourebluffin]

"Do you want me here, Angel?" Husk's voice is both confident and nervous, a hint of... something in his tone. "I know you've done it before, but that was before."

He takes the sleep top and shorts from Angel, leaving him with his panties to replace himself.

[aschmoozerandadummy]

Angel quietly changes into his clean underwear without even flinching, it's not as if Husk hasn't seen him naked already.

"I...do you want to be here, Husk? I don't...you've got other things to do, right? Like if someone wants a late-night drink or something."

[strutwhenyourebluffin]

Husk glances away as Angel changes, giving him a little bit of privacy that he's rarely allowed elsewhere.

Turning back, he shakes his head. "People can take a bottle and pour their own damn selves a glass if they're that needy." A breath. "If you want me to go, Angel, I will. But... I want to be here. With you."

[aschmoozerandadummy]

"Then stay." The words come out, mingled with a half-choked sob. "Please, stay, today was...everything hurts, I don't wanna be alone, I...please, stay with me."

[strutwhenyourebluffin]

"Angel." Husk closes the distance between them, and before he can think about it, he gently wraps his arms around him.

"I'll stay as long as you need me, alright? You're not alone. I won't leave you alone."

[aschmoozerandadummy]

And Angel finally lets himself fall apart. All the tears he'd been holding back since the shoot spill over and he clings to Husk, trying to bury himself in his arms but he's too damn tall even without his boots on.

[strutwhenyourebluffin]

Husk holds Angel while he cries, gently guiding him over to the bed so he can sit down in his lap.

"I got you, baby. Let it all out. I won't leave." He won't ever leave if Angel would let him stay. He reaches up and gently runs his fingers through the fluff on Angel's head.