mazeofrelationships | it's a life he hates, but it's the life he deserves and has always been destined for

it's a life he hates, but it's the life he deserves and has always been destined for

By now, Angel's been through the whole what were you thinking, trying to be better than you are, thinking you could be redeemed, Val was right, druggie whores like you never change, your time at the hotel was a little side trip but it's over now, this is where you'll spend the rest of your afterlife until your story ends. He's back to the grind like nothing happened, the day-long shoots of being fucked sideways and upside down and in every possible position.

Angel Dust, the Pride Ring's most famous cum dumpster.

Val's been sickeningly happy about it, especially now that Vox can't get jealous and borrow his favorite toy. Whenever Angel's not on set or servicing clients, Val's taking every chance to "remind" him of his place. Either fucking him into the mattress or having Velvette doll him up for "dates" to Val's favorite sex clubs and bars.

Tonight, though? Angel wishes it was another sex club. The moment he sees that familiar grinning cat over the door, his heart sinks; it's bad enough that he'll never see Husk again because Husk isn't safe with him and is too good for him anyway. But now it's like Val is just twisting the knife.

He's wearing a dress that covers way too little, holding Val's arm out of habit and fear of refusing to do so. Val is pretending to be a gentleman even as he gropes Angel's ass with one of his lower hands.

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Suddenly being an overlord again was jarring to Husk, especially since he has no fucking clue what happened. At the very least, he has responsibilities now, and can throw himself into running the casino, and falling back into old habits and old patterns.

He still goes back to the hotel at night to check up on Fat Nuggets and everyone, but his heart isn't in it anymore. He's not sure if his heart is anywhere at all other than smashed on the floor into little pieces. Lately, he's been ripping down posters of Angel as he walks by them between the Casino and the Hotel, just not able to see how far he's fallen back into the old fake persona.

One night, though, he's told through one of his bouncers that Valentino, the new CEO of Voxtech is here, along with Angel Dust. Husk's world stops in its tracks. Slowly, a crazy idea crosses his mind, a choice that he feels he has no option but to make. Sending an assistant out to guide Valentino to one of the VIP tables, he puts on his best suit, brushes his fur, and tries to put on a cocky gambler smile. This is going to be the most important game of his life, and he can't afford to lose.

Valentino waits patiently at the table, smiling sweetly at Angel, and Angel wishes someone would come in with an angelic sword and cut his heart out. Just weeks ago he was on that stage feeling beautiful and confident, singing to Husk, hearing the impressed whistles and feeling the respect of the audience. Such a far cry from being Val's arm candy.

"Good luck tonight," he says, putting on his sexiest tone. Fuck, it hurts to don that persona again. The slut he had to be just to escape and forget how much it hurts.

He might not have an angelic sword, or shining armor, but here comes the owner of the casino himself, taking a seat at the table across from Valentino, far enough away that he hopes that the moth's bad eyesight along with the snappy suit will make him not realize exactly who is sitting across from him. "So, what brings the mighty head of Voxtech to my humble casino tonight? This is quite a surprise."

He's trying to keep his voice level and casual, but Angel might notice how he's gripping the table just a little too hard and trying not to look directly at him.

Angel notices, and he wishes he didn't. Being here is painful enough but the last thing he ever wanted was to hear that voice again. For Husk to see him back to his disgusting, worthless slutty ways hanging on Val's arm in a dress that barely covers his ass and chest fluff.

Valentino's eyesight is terrible on a good day, and the lighting in the casino is not helping. He doesn't recognize the man before him. No, not even a voice that should be very easy to pick out in a crowd.

He holds Angel close with one arm, picking up his free hand and kissing it.

"I wanted to take my favorite date somewhere different. We've grown tired of the same old haunts, haven't we?" He grabs Angel's ass again, a none too gentle warning, and Angel nods.

"Yes, Valentino."

"Ah." Husk can't say any more or he'd take a page out of Alastor's book and slash Valentino from ear to ear at the table. His heart's breaking seeing Angel like this again, but it only makes him more determined.

"Shall we play a few hands, then?" There's something in his smirk that even Valentino can't miss. He beckons over a dealer and a waitress for drinks.

The dealer starts, and the games start small, building up. Husk wins some, he loses some. Not enough to make Valentino mad or quit, but enough to keep him going. To anyone who knows him, it's clear that he's playing strategically for some unknown purpose.

That smirk momentarily makes Valentino nervous, but he brushes it off, smiling as he pulls Angel even closer.

Angel was initially going to sit quietly and try to leave his body, to forget where he was and who was here. But he finds himself unable to take his eyes off the game, particularly Husk's side.

He had a straight flush, why did he throw it away?

But as the game goes on, Angel begins to realize there's something else at play here. What it is, he's not sure of, but he suspects he will be soon.

Finally, Husk leans back on the stool, stretching. "What if we raised the stakes a bit? You look like someone who's up for a challenge."

His words are careful, drawn out to draw Val in. "What's the point of being the Gambling Overlord if you can't go big sometimes?" He crosses his arms as if he's thinking. "I know. I'll bet this entire casino on this next hand. Against, hm." He pauses, as if he's thinking. "How about the contract on your little toy here?" Husk practically gags saying the words, but he controls himself. "I can tell he's a good earner, and, well, we could use some excitement around here, if you know what I mean."

Edited 2026-01-25 05:07 (UTC)

As the words leave Husk's mouth, Angel realizes exactly what must be going on here. What Husk's trying to do, why he's been drawing the game out. And he looks like he wants to vomit up an ocean's worth of hairballs just saying all that.

Had this been at any point in time before Angel realized he was just a pawn being used to hurt his friends, he might have dared to hope. But he knows better now, it's impossible, Val would never-

"I like your moxie, sir," Val says, "I accept your challenge."

Well. He must have something up his sleeve, then, he'd never make such a bet if he thought for a minute he'd lose. Val has a hell of a temper that makes him do stupid things, but he's not actually stupid.

"Shall we have the lovely Angel Dust shuffle for us, then?" Husk passes the cards to Angel, brushing his fingers with what he hopes is a reassuring gesture.

This is it. The hand he has to win. Even more important than the one where he lost his soul, he can't lose his luck now. Angel's life is way too important.

Angel both loves and hates the feeling that rushes through him at that mere brush of fingers. That's the worst part, that no matter how hard he tries to grind it down and push it out of his mind he still has feelings for Husk. In that moment where Husk took his hand and begged him to come back, he wanted to.

He shuffles the deck. Husk is terrified, he knows as well as Angel that this is probably going to fail miserably. He'll lose everything all over again because of Angel, because Angel Dust is nothing but rotten luck for whoever gets close to him.

"Don't be so nervous, amorcito," Val purrs, stroking his cheek and licking along one of his fingers in a way that makes Angel's skin crawl. "He can't possibly win. You and I will never be separated."

Something breaks in Husk at that. No. He is not about to let Angel spend the rest of his afterlife with this asshole who doesn't even know who he has. The dealer deals, and there's no indication on Husk's face. Cards are exchanged, and then Husk takes a breath, the only hint of emotion he's shown.

Turning over his cards, he spreads them on the table. "Royal Flush. Hearts." For just a moment, the picture on the queen is Angel, looking happy, comfortable, and free.

Everything seems to happen in slow motion. Husk's hand, the color draining from Val's face, Val revealing his hand.

"Flush," he says, his voice strained, "Aces."

Val lost. Husk gets to keep the casino and Angel's contract. Val fucking lost.

Husk fully drops his poker face and grins. "Well, Valentino, I believe there's a contract that you owe me."

He gets up from his seat and holds out a hand for Angel. "If that is alright with you, Angel?" There's a tiny bit of hope in his eyes, begging Angel to come home.

Before Angel can answer, Valentino growls, turning to him with fire in his poorly-functioning eyes. "You worthless whore! If you had shuffled the deck better, I could have won!"

When he raises a hand to hit Angel, though, something in Angel snaps and he's overcome with a rush of adrenaline. Like Val's done to him so many times before, he grabs the man's wrist in one hand, then lets go...only to deck Val with years' worth of pent-up anger that he could never properly express.

The action causes his chest fluff to pop free of his dress, but he doesn't notice.

Val tumbles backward, landing on his ass, letting out a horrified squeak.

"A...Angel..."

"Fuck you, Val. After all this time I'm done being your whore, you're nothing to me now."

Husk is about to step in front of Angel and defend him, but it seems Angel has it well in hand.

He does notice the chest fluff, and with an idle wave of his hand, Angel is surrounded by golden card suits for a moment, then wearing something much more his style and comfortable ... in black and red.

Turning back to Valentino, Husk holds out a hand. "The contract, please." If Val thinks he can try to win it back with another hand, he's got another thing coming. He steps closer so the moth can see him, even with his bad eyesight. "Never play against the house. You will always lose."

"You?!" It finally registers to Val just who he's been up against. The mangy bartender he fought at V Tower, only he's no longer mangy but an Overlord in his own right.

Between the shock of Angel's smack to the face and such a crushing defeat, Val is powerless. With strangled cry, he hands over the contract.

Angel, meanwhile, sighs with relief. His new outfit covers just a bit more while still letting him look good, feeling less like a chain. He puts a hand to his neck, the choker Val had him always wearing is gone.

He's not technically free, but the person who owns him now will be better to him than Val ever was.

Husk takes the contract, feeling dirty just having it, but he's not about to give Valentino the satisfaction of knowing his actual endgame just yet. He can't look at the words that chained Angel for so long, subjected him to such abuse and torture, but one thing stands out: the signature.

"Anthony." Husk's voice is soft, but as soon as the moment comes, it disappears. Looking at Valentino on the floor, there's a flash of something in his eyes. "If you ever come near this casino or Angel again, I will fucking end you. Get out. The last mercy I will give you is allowing you to leave with whatever dignity you have in tact."

Hearing his real name in that voice does something to Angel's heart; his eyes momentarily blur and his heart races. He watches Val pick himself up, let out another pathetic yowl, and storm the fuck out. Probably to whine to Vox, as if Vox could do anything about it.

"Husk," Angel murmurs, his voice shaky.

"Not here." Husk reaches over for Angel's hand, leading him through the casino and into his office.

When they get there, Husk takes the contract out and shreds into tiny pieces with his claws. "Ugh, I feel so fucking dirty having that even for that long." A pause, and then he flails. "Not because of you! Never because of you, Angel. Just... the thought of owning you." The thought of anyone owning anyone makes him angry, but especially someone he loves.

Taking a breath, he looks up at Angel. "You're free of that bastard. And of me, I guess. Just... promise me you'll find a way to be happy, Angel?"

The adrenaline's worn off along with the rush of finally having given Val what he deserves, and Angel's shoulders slump.

"I wouldn't have minded. You'd still be better to me than Val," he murmurs. "But...it's nice to be free." Husk will notice that his gold fang's white now, and his eyes are the same color. "Thank you, Husk. I...I'll never forget this."

He speaks as if he's going to leave, because logically he should. He may be free from Val, but there's still the matter of his actions against the hotel, his guilt, whether he'll even be welcome back after he abandoned them.

Whether he deserves Husk, the one he's missed most of all. (Aside from Fat Nuggets, of course.)

"Always wondered what your eyes would look like both the same." It tumbles out, soft and gentle before Husk can stop it. His own eyes widen, and he coughs, turning away. Angel just got his freedom. He doesn't need to see Husk breaking at the thought of losing him. In then end, though, all he cares about is Angel being happy.

"Figured it was the least I could do. Are... no. What..." He's a powerful overlord, why can't he ask Angel to stay? Why does it feel like this is the end? After a moment, he finally gets himself back together, still not able to turn around. "Can you stay at least a little bit? It's been too long since we've talked."

Angel thinks for a moment before he nods. It can't hurt, at least they're in a place Angel hadn't spent who knows how long spying on and ratting out.

"Sure."

He hates the way his heart won't stop fluttering and the warmth that's spreading through him. Despite his best efforts not to, he always ended up thinking about Husk; after the long and grueling shoots, after being fucked by Val, anytime he found himself remembering every bad choice he ever made.

Letting Husk in was the first truly good choice he'd made since agreeing to stay at the hotel.

"We've missed you. I... Angel... I"

Here's what he's wanted for months, what he's been looking for in the bottom of every bottle he's drunk, what he's dreamed of, but he can't find the words. It's like he's back in that day where Angel turned around and walked out of his life. He's trying to keep cool, not to pressure Angel into anything, but he has to know.

"Why did you leave us?" He turns, and the utter anguish in his expression is clear. "Why'd you leave me? We already forgave you, you fucking idiot. I know you. I've seen your expression in every new poster in this damn city. You're covering things up again, falling back into that fucking fake persona you know I can't stand. It's like you specifically slapped me and just... disappeared. Did you ever think that we might actually fuckin' care more about what's happening to you than what wasn't your fuckin' fault? You hurt me more by leaving than by anything that fucker made you do."

Everything he's kept bottled up for month is bursting out, and he's trying not to lose his shit, a few tears falling down his cheeks.

"You weren't safe with me! Even if you forgave me there's no telling whether or not they'd still find a way to use me against you, against the hotel!"

Any semblance of calm and control flies out the window the moment Husk goes off on him, the guilt's been crushing enough as it is and as much as he missed and longed for Husk, he knew Husk would never forgive him for leaving like that. Hearing him so raw and hurting, seeing him cry, that just twists the knife further.

This is why Angel Dust can't have nice things. He always fucks them up.

"I'm sorry, okay?! Fuck, everything I do just ends up hurting someone. I try to be better and help Charlie and the hotel and you nearly get hit by a fuckin' train, then I spend months helpin' Vox fuck everything up...I'm sorry, this's why I told you to forget me!"

Edited 2026-01-25 14:46 (UTC)

"I don't care if it's safe or not. I don't care what happened in the past. Nothing could make me forget you, Angel. You've become such a part of who I am, I can't..." His voice breaks. "It's been miserable without you. And now you're going to leave again, and I don't know what I'm going to do with myself."

He takes a breath, digging his claws into his hands, almost enough to draw blood.

"I love you, you absolute idiot!" He spits it out not really realizing what he's saying. "And I'm going to just sit here and let you go if you insist, because more than anything, I want you to be happy and free, Angel. You deserve it."

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I lied, one more tag and then bed x3

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