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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"Oh, Husk..." Angel sets the glass down, taking his hand. "Because you were that miserable without me, I bet. I'm so sorry."

"I... don't exactly do well with bein' abandoned." He shrugs. "All the good things in my life tend to walk away."

A long pause. "And, well, let's be real, I'm a bit of a drunk." That might be a bit of an exaggeration.

"And I was almost one of them." Angel hugs him tight. "I'll never leave you again, though, I promise, even if Vox gets his body back and tries to brainwash me again to get revenge for Val."

"I'm not sure if he could." Husk takes Angel's hand where his ring is. "I have a sneaking suspicion that this would protect you. Vox could only do that because Val allowed it. While our marriage is different than just a contract, I don't think he could do that to you."

"You're right." Angel smiles, looking down at his ring and then at Husk's. "I've got my soul back. Head's probably not much fuller than it was back then, but Vox can't get in there."

"You got plenty under that fluff, Legs." Husk reaches up and fluffs Angel's hair. "I wouldn't fall for just any empty-headed pretty boy, you know."

"Thanks." Angel laughs softly. "I did okay in school but I was never the genius Molly was, my thing was people smarts," he says. "All of us had to be, yeah, but Molly...she was a bit like Charlie, liked to assume people were typically good. Nicky, though? He was a hothead and a dumbass."

"I might've seen him the other day. Guy looks like you, but like... the dark side of you. Then again, I was a couple bottles in, so it might have just been drunk goggles or something."

Husk smiles. "You're better at people than you realize, Legs. Hell, you won this crusty loser over easily enough."

"Yeah, he's...a piece of work. I cut off contact with my family after we all ended up down here, but I'd still run into the fucker once in a while." He strokes Husk's fur. "Sometimes I used to wonder if my people skills died along with me, I fell for Val pretty easy. When I was alive I got crushes easily but I had standards, even at the underground clubs if some guy got too fresh I'd make him think twice."

"Oh, I see." Husk smirks a bit, clearly teasing. "What does that say about me, then? Falling for this loser just after dancing in the gutter?"

He leans into the petting. "I'll throw him out next time I see him if you want me to."

"That you have a thing for losers crying over their self-inflicted misery?" Angel teases back. The fact is, Val manipulated him and now he knows it. He'll still blame himself now and then, but he does so less than before, so. Progress!

"If he comes to the casino or the hotel, tell him mafia assholes don't get in."

"Will do." Husk smiles. "Ex-mafia pretty boys get everything, though." He leans over, kissing Angel gently.

"He's definitely not going to be a guest at the hotel. I don't think I'd trust him to be there for the right reasons. I'll talk to Charlie and Vaggi if I have to." A pause. "Although, part of me wants to see if he'd get in enough debt to me to be A Problem." There's that Overlord smirk again.

Angel kisses back, feeling much more like himself again. That shaky feeling is gone and his head is clear.

"Yeah, he aint interested in redemption. He'd probably be one of those fuckers who comes in tryin' to get free booze or somethin'." Angel grins. "Is it bad that I kinda want that, too? I mean, it'd be on-brand for the guy, he was a good shot and a good threat but he's got a lousy track record for personal responsibility."

"Well in that case, I'll let him in if he comes back. See how big of a hole he digs for himself, and maybe you'll come out on top this time."

Husk kisses Angel's nose. "You look like you're feeling better, baby."

"Much better." Angel strokes Husk's cheek. "Thank you. I think I can get back to sleep now."

"Any time, Legs. 'S part of my job now. Always makin' sure that you're ok."

He moves a bit to get the blankets back up around them, and leans over, kissing Angel gently. "I'll be here when you wake up, beautiful."

Angel snuggles as close as he can to Husk, closing his eyes. "I know...thank you, Whiskers."

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

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