Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Angel was desperate for a solid break, he felt like he had been studying nonstop for weeks, and the burnout was rearing its ugly head. Standing in front of the romance section in the large selection of books wasn’t his first choice, but his brain was cloudy with a libido that was getting harder to ignore. Instinctively Angel looked around the college library to see if there were any one-night suitors, but the tall spider shook his head, promising himself to keep his resolve. That was not the life he wanted anymore, and he was working hard to prove it.

He pushed up his round pink rimmed glasses as he skimmed the books and, in his opinion, the lack luster selection. No wonder so many of his classmates were itching for more; this was a sad assortment. He reads the titles with a judgmental look until his heterochromia eyes land on a curious title, ‘My First Time with an Eldritch Horror’ Angel rolled his eyes but picks up the book, not his usual, but by far the most interesting.

As he reads the description, a shiver runs down his spine as he feels hot breath creeping down his neck. Scowling, Angel clenches his fist and grits his teeth, knowing exactly who was panting behind him. He whipped around and glared at the feathered owl man named Travis, who stood too close ogling at Angel with his mouth open wide.

“Get the fuck out of here Travis. I’ve told you to leave me alone,” Angel seethed, planting his legs not afraid to confront the drooling louse.

Travis grinned wickedly, leaning in closer, “Oh yeah? How are you going to stop me huh? You’re the only one that gives a shit about getting expelled. So, what I’m thinking is that there’s noth-” Travis stops short as a large, furred fist slams him hard on the head.

“Ahhh what the FUCK!?!” He yelled, sinking to the floor, gripping his head.

A deep voice rumbled in the corner of the library, “Nice try fuck head.”

Angel looked to see Husk standing over Travis with a grimace on his face. Eyes slit with disgust and loathing as he spread out his large wings in warning. Angel’s heart fluttered for a moment seeing the ex-military cat man looming over the degenerate Travis. He gawks at the normally straight-faced man as he emanated power and danger.

“Did I hear you threatening someone, Travis? You gonna put your money where that mouth is asshole?” Husk glared down at Travis as he cracked his large claws, his yellow eyes glowed with malice.

Travis sputtered, waving his arms in front of him pathetically, “What? No Husk of course not I’d never. It was a joke… Just a joke between old pals”

Angel gave Travis a dead pan look, unsurpassed by the owl's sleazy actions.

“I might be new around here, but I know a bull shitter when I see one. Get the fuck out of here before I make you. Goddamn pervert.” Husk growled through his teeth, and just as quickly as he appeared Travis runs off, knocking over a few students as he flees.

Releasing a breath Angel hadn’t realized he was holding, watches as Husk’s threating demeanor changes back to the stoic one he was used to seeing.

“I fucking hate that guy,” he sighs glancing at Angel.

“You have no idea, he’s a real piece of work. You uh, you know him?”

Husk sighed heavily, rubbing the back of his neck, “Not by choice, he’s on the team with me.”

“Oh right,” Angel looked down, forgetting that he was holding a raunchy book in his hands. He frets nervously, trying to block the book from Husk’s eyes. Angel had hoped to separate his new academic persona from his old promiscuous one.

He was worried that if the students he was tutoring saw him with anything related to the life of lust, that none of them would take him seriously. He tensed imagining no one taking him seriously, removing all the hard work he’s put in up to this point.

“Oh, that’s not a book you want,’ Husk said somberly stepping around Angel to grab a different book, handing it to Angel, “This one is way better.”

Angel was taken aback once again seeing the romance novel Husk handed him titled, ‘Passion and Brimstone’. He looked at the shorter man in surprise but couldn’t help the smirk forming on his face.

“I didn’t take you for a romance reader.”

Husk rolled his eyes, “I don’t have a secret collection or nothing crazy, wipe that smirk off your face. A couple of people in my squad would rave on and on about some of those books. When I came to the academy, I decided to read a few, see what got them so worked up. I’ve only read a few but that one was the best one so far.”

“Oh yeah? What was in it that you liked about this one?” Angel asked, fighting the urge to poke and tease.

“Hmm, well despite how cliché it was, it was a fun read. You like the characters, and you want them not just to be romanced, but you also root for them. It’s about love and second chances and it resonated with me,” Angel smiled softly, it was odd but comforting seeing the normally surly man being so thoughtful, “And it has way better sex scenes then the other ones.”

Somehow the way he said it made Angel flush, Husk’s tone made him believe his words, spreading warmth through Angel’s body. It was brief but Angel knew he saw Husk give him a small smirk, like he knew what he was doing to him.

Angel coughed hoping to cover his blush as he held the book close to his chest, “Thanks I’ll check it out, and thank you for helping with Travis. I can handle him but …thank you.”

“Anytime Specs, that fucker can chew rocks. I’ll see you in study hall later?

“Yeah… yeah see you.” Angel watched as the winged man left the library. He took a breath and somehow the libido elevated tenfold in the last few minutes. He gripped the book tightly telling himself it was because of the stress and went back to his dorm to read his new book. His elevating lust had nothing to do with the person that recommended it. He was just pent up and curious and just needed to read a good book and rest, just rest.

Chapter Text

It wasn’t something Husk was ready to say out loud, he liked studying with Angel. He liked knowing there was someone in the Academy that wasn’t trying to use him or idolize him. The tall spider with the cute pink glasses was always ready to push back and challenge Husk. Make him think about things with a different perspective. He missed having that comradery, even when they argued and bickered it felt like an exercise, like it was something they both needed.

Last week was different, his tutor came into the study late for their meeting. With marks and bruises covering his lithe body, including a black eye. Husk was immediately upset and angry trying to do something, anything, to help, but Angel’s walls were up high.

“Sorry I’m late,” Angel said, slamming his books on the table and staring at them intently.

“Angel… what happened. Who did this to you?”

“Can we just get started? I don’t need the third degree.”

“You’re hurt.”

“I’m fine.”

“You know… it’s okay not to be…”

“No offence Husk, but I ain’t looking for advice from someone who can’t last a day off the bottle.”

Neither of them said a word to each other that wasn’t related to their studies after that.

That memory persisted in his mind as Husk and Angel met up today. Husk bristles still seeing the faint marks of bruising beneath Angel's fur as he sits next to him. It didn’t take long to figure out who caused those marks, the bastard was not subtle, and Valentino had already tried to use his influence against Husk to get information about Angel.

Husk grumbled thinking about that entitled moth and how much he wanted to rip off his stupid wings, especially knowing how he treated Angel.

“Something on your mind Sour Puss?” Angel asked with a glare.

Angel’s tone was still guarded, making the star basketball player's frown deepen. He thought he had been on better terms with his tutor after ‘the incident’ but now he felt he had gone backwards.

“God, don’t you dare pity me soldier boy. I don’t need you to look at me like I’m a damsel in distress,” Angel seethed, his hand gripping his pencil.

“For fuck’s sake Angel being worried doesn’t mean I pity you.”

“Then stop looking at me like that, I thought we were past this shit.”

“I thought we were to,” Husk grumbled despite himself. It was so easy to fall back into this routine with Angel, his temper was a solar flare when he got going. Sometimes Husk wanted to engulf himself in his flames.

“I think I need a break, meet back here in fifteen minutes,” Angel seethed, not waiting for Husk to respond before walking away. Husk sighed, pinching his brows as he walked the opposite direction of Angel and headed to the smoke section outside of the library.

Husk felt the wind rustle his feathers as he took long drags of his cigarette. He wondered if he should find a different tutor, someone as pretty and smart as Angel shouldn’t have to put up with someone like him.

As he headed back to their usual spot Husk’s ears perked up as he heard the annoying voice of Travis, which made the cat demon growl. He tried to ignore it, but a moment later he heard the unwelcome voice of Valentino. Husk couldn’t hear what was being said but it sounded like they were in a group, setting off the ex-solder’s alarm bells. He instinctively looked for Angel as he heard Valantino’s posse getting closer.

Husk doesn’t think, the former soldier lets his instincts take over as he spots Angel heading toward his direction. He rushes Angel and shoves them both into the library’s broom closet, ignoring Angel’s look of shock and surprise.

“Husk what the fuck do you think y-” Husk quickly covers the angry spider’s mouth as he hears the moth’s company get closer.

Husk growls in warning lifting his claw to his lips, “Shhhh… shut that pretty mouth of yours for once,” he says in a rushed whisper.

The look that Angel gave Husk made the ex-soldier genuinely scared of his tutor for a moment before his eyes widened in recognition behind his pink round glasses as he hears Valentino on the other side of the door.

“…ere are they Teddy? I don’t see them. You don't want to disappoint me, do you?”

“Travis boss, but they are usually here I swe..”

Their voices softly disappear as they walk past the broom closet, Husk trembles lightly feeling the presence of his heightened PTSD beginning to fade, the anxiety that came with it quieting down along with the footsteps of their pursuers. He removed his hand from Angel’s mouth and lifted his paws in the air as a silent apology. The confined space and the looming threat nearby triggered old memories. Memories of violence, blood, pain, and loss.

He swallowed hard, fighting off the sensations of war that were trying to resurface in his mind. Husk hisses as his scars ached, making him grip his left side where the pain stung most. He closed his eyes and breathed deeply trying to ground himself and even though he couldn’t see him he could smell Angel’s sent. He smelled like warm spiced coffee, earthy crisp sunflowers, and old books with soft hints of vanilla. As he recognized the cute spider’s aroma it helped Husk relax, his breathing evening as he calmed down.

It was only a few minutes, but it felt like he and Angel had been in the closet for hours. When Husk was ready, he opened his eyes. Prepared to see pity, anger, disgust, but the look on his tutor’s face surprised him. There was a touch of concern, but he was looking at Husk with such intense curiosity. Like he wanted to pull the shorter apart and examine everything that made Husk, Husk. It was so unexpected that his anxiety was replaced with an alluring desire.

Husk coughed, clearing his throat. He didn’t want a repeat of ‘the incident’ and the basketball player had hoped they would actually talk things out if they ever got to that point.

“I’ll make sure it’s clear.” he tells Angel. Having more than one reason to free himself from the small space.

He perked up his ears listening as he skimmed through rows of books and tables throughout the library. Finding nothing, he goes back to the broom closet to release Angel.

“All clear,” Husk said as he opened the door. Angel stood there, arms crossed, his eyes locked onto Husk’s like he was reanalyzing his entire being. Husk was getting nervous again until he saw Angel’s face soften like the spider concluded something he liked.

“I'm not gonna lie. I have questions about what the fuck just happened, but I don’t want to get interrupted again. Let’s get the fuck outta here and finish your music theory paper in my dorm,” Angel started walking while talking. Assuming Husk would follow him, which he did, “You have to swear to secrecy on what you see there. You might also have to deal with my roommate but she’s way better company than if we stick around here.”

“A secret? You?”

“A secret I need you to guard with your life Sour Puss,” Angel said with the seriousness of a mobster as he guided Husk to his dorm, which was luckily roommate free. Husk stood dumbfounded as he saw Angel’s secret. A tiny pink hell guineapig who was busy angrily biting Husk’s claws the moment Angel brought the creature out of his room.

Despite the exhausting day Husk smiled at the absurd situation, “Feisty little thing.”

“My lil Nuggets is my biggest defender.”

“Nuggets?”

“Yes, Fat Nuggets, he is my little man, and you will not let anyone know I have him. I don’t think I'll get expelled for having him, but there are people I don’t want to know I have him and I’m pretty sure you know who I’m talkin about.”

Husk grumbled with understanding, “Yeah, I get it. Your secret is safe with me Specs.”

Angel takes Fat Nuggets back, who snuggles into his chest fluff as the spider sits on the bed. He looks down at the small guineapig with affection, “I know we got a lot of things we need to talk about, but as your tutor I want to make sure we finish what we started first. Your paper is due on Friday, right? How about after you turn it in and pass with flying colors we meet up for lunch or somethin and talk?”

“Oh, uh right. yeah. If you want to stop teaching me, you can tell me. I… I’d understand.”

Angel gave Husk a look like his mother was just insulted, “Okay look, I’m just going to say this once, so you better listen. I’m not mad at you, you frustrate me sometimes sure, and you occasionally have that jock head mentality. I don’t like you thinking I need to be saved all the time, and I’m mad that we are both tangled in with Valentino.”

He takes a breath holding up his finger to say he wasn’t finished.

“But… despite how messy this has been, I like being your tutor. I want to clear up some of the mess and actually get to know you…. If you’ll let me.”

As Husk looked at Angel it felt like he was getting the chance he dreamed of since he first saw the pretty spider’s blush and it wasn’t something he was going to pass up. Even if it cost him everything to get to this point. He wanted a chance to explore this lure of enchantment Angel seemed to pull him in with. The thought surprised him at first, Husk had worked hard to get into the academy and to be on the basketball team. There was something about his tutor that Husk needed more of, and it was exhilarating.

“I’d like that, Angel. You’re a good teacher and lunch with you sounds divine.”

Husk was satisfied seeing a light blush bloom across his tutor’s face making him smirk.

“Alright, alright, Casanova, let’s kick your paper’s ass,” Angel flushes pushing up his pink glasses matching Husk’s smirk.

Chapter Text

The sound of squeaky sneakers echoed in the gymnasium as Angel watched the basketball players from the stands. He lifted his hoodie to hide his face better, not wanting anyone else on the team to see him. Angel hadn’t come to many games, but he had an itch to come tonight, needing to see the star player work his magic.

As he watched the players hover around the ball, Angel’s eyes glimmered seeing the cat demon’s wings fan out as he landed a dunk in the hoop. Husk’s inner wings shined on the tips making him look like a sun when his wings reached above his head. Angel bites his lip, he always thought the scruffy man was gorgeous. His fawning dimmed as he scanned the cat demon further seeing him struggling to play, a far cry from his normal showboating.

Husk was breathing hard, and there was a heavy sweat on his brow. He looked winded and his face was flush. This would be normal for any other athlete other than Husk, the man was obsessed with keeping himself in shape and usually had a playful smug look on his face when he was in a match. Even from only watching a few of his games Angel could tell something was wrong.

Angel’s eyes locked in on his fellow student focusing only on Husk as he played, who still managed to play like the champion player he was. Though Angel could tell it was a strain on the former soldier to keep up. The game ended with the Ducks winning of course, they had been undefeated since Husk joined the team.

Angel waited in the halls keeping his head down and covered just out of sight, watching each member of the team leave the locker room, everyone except Husk. He approached the locker room door and hesitated before entering, this place held some bad memories for the tall spider, and he didn’t want to revisit them. However his concern over his new friend pushed Angel forward bast the threshold. They had become friends, hadn’t they? He smiled at the thought as he walked past the showers.

“You in here Sour Puss?” he said not wanting to creep up on the basketball player.

“Angel? The fuck are you doing in here?” Husk asked with no malice, though his voice sounded rougher than usual.

“I wanted to see you play and you currently look and sound like you’ve been hit by the sick train,” Angel frowned looking down at the shorter. His fur was damp, and he was sweating way more than before, “I was worried about ya.”

Husk grumbled, “No need to worry. I don’t get sick.”

Angel rolled his eyes and crossed his arms, “Everyone gets sick, someone that’s studying medicine should know that.”

“Don’t get smart…,” He sighed with defeat, “I hate when I get sick cause I can’t do shit when I’m like this. I’m deadweight.”

“That’s cause your body is telling you to rest dumbass,” there was a beat of silence and as much as Angel wanted to scold Husk more, he decided to give the tired-looking cat demon a break, “I don’t wanna rush you, but I hate being in here. Mind if we get outta here?”

Angel looks down, the bad memories pushing through the cracks making the tutor rub his arms uncomfortably. Husk watched Angel’s movements, the tired look in his eyes deepening as he registers Angel’s words.

“Yeah, I hate it in here too, but that means something different for you doesn’t it Specs?”

Angel bites his lip, him and Husk had brushed over his history with Valentino but not the specifics.

Before Angel could say anything, Husk interrupts him, “I’m not going to pry, that’s your business but uhh, I think we have a lot more in common than you’d think. I know what it’s like to regret the choices made, knowing you can’t take them back.”

There’s another pause between them, as Husk finishes loading his duffel bag, “We have different shit Angel, but we are in the same shit sandwich.”

“Yeahh... just a couple of losers, aren't we?

“A couple of losers in our own right, but us losers got to stick together.”

Angel smiled at the tired basketball player as they headed toward the exit, not ready to part ways yet he turns to Husk and says, “Listen, I’ve got a recipe that I’m sure will make you feel betta faster, it’s not going to be perfect since we don’t have kitchens, but you’ll get a free home cooked meal, and I’ll feel better knowing you’ve got decent food in ya.”

Husk looked at Angel with hesitant vulnerability, after he thought for a moment, he came to a decision giving the spider demon a knowing smirk, “You’re going to pester me if I say no, aren’t you?”

“You better believe I will,” Angel smirked back at him, hearing the teasing in the other’s tone.

Husk chuckled, “Then I guess I have no choice.”

*******

As the pair walked to Husk’s dorm Angel resisted the urge to put his arm around the swaying basketball player. They had been getting along tremendously lately, but the shorter was hard to gage when it came to touch and Angel didn’t want to push Husk's boundaries. They walked in a comfortable silence, the cool winter air making Husk’s sweaty body shiver slightly despite the thick letterman jacket that was tight around him.

Angel couldn’t resist his instincts anymore and pulled Husk close to him as they walked in the cold, “Don’t want you to catch your death.”

“I don’t want you to get sick either,” Husk mumbles but let’s himself lean into Angel’s warmth.

“Shut up and listen to your tutor,” Angel teases squeezing him gently, securing Husk against his side.

Husk hmphed shaking his head, “Whatever you say Specs.”

The smile on Angel’s face widened as he held Husk close, his cheeks flushed from the cold, definitely from the cold and nothing else.

As they strolled through the campus, Angel was caught off guard as a small pink hair demon ran up to them. Her pink and blue eyes shimmered with excitement as she blocked their path.

“Ohh my gosh, I’m finally meeting thhheeee Husk. I’ve been dying to meet you,” her pitch was high and overly sweet. Angel had gotten used to demons like her, starstruck by Husk’s popularity and talent. Overenthusiastic fans interrupted their study sessions more often than he would like. Every fan got too close to Husk making the spider irritable, Angel wasn’t jealous, he just didn’t like being interrupted. Who said he was jealous?

He watched the shorter demon carefully, not afraid to fight her off if she got too excited. Not a lot of Husk’s fans were like that but enough of them were, and it made Angel stand tall and firm as a warning.

“Emberlynn... you are Nifty’s roommate. We’ve met many times,” Husk sighs with exasperation.

The short chinchilla like demon pouted and whined crossing her arms, “Ugh Husky-Kun! Can’t you see I’m trying to role play?”

“You two know each other?” Angel prods with a smirk. Something about Husk’s demeanor made Angel relax.

“Unfortunately...”

“You know you love me Husky Wusky,” the fan girl gushes, swaying her hips as she frames her cheeks with her palms.

“I’m not feeling good tonight sport, go home,” Husk grumbles.

Angel chuckles, “Maybe your friend here should play nurse for you instead, Husky-kun?”

The pink haired demon’s eyes lit up with excitement, her cat tail wagging franticly, “Husky Boo Boo is not fweeling well? Yes, please, let me nurse you back to health my bushy browed prince.”

Again, Angel chuckles as Husk grumbles next to him, “Please don’t encourage her Angel. Go home Emberlynn, I mean it.”

“Fyyyyne,” she pouts before marching away. Angel still snickering at Husk.

“She’s quite the character.”

Husk scoffs, “You should see what it’s like when her and Nifty are together. They are quite the pair.”

“They sound like a handful.”

“Ehh they are harmless, well mostly harmless.”

They continued their walk, Angel teased Husk along the way. Stopping at Angel’s dorm to pick up supplies for their meal. The lanky spider happily continues to support Husk with one arm wrapped around the shorter as they get nearer to Husk’s dorm. Until out of the corner of Angel’s eyes he sees a figure approach them from the shadows. Angel’s guard immediately goes up expecting another crazy fan to appear as a deer demon draped in red stepped in front of them.

“Well, hello there my fine fellows such a cold night to be taking a stroll is it not?” The man asked smiling widely, too widely if you asked Angel. He couldn’t help but tighten his grip on Husk wanting to shield the cat demon wrapped in his arm. Husk growled in warning at the other man, his body tensing next to Angel’s. The tall spider planted his feet ready to defend Husk, matching the cat demon’s energy.

“What do you want Alastor?” Husk grumbled, clearly unpleased but weirdly meek in his demeanor even with his sickness.

“Just stopping by to ask you a favor old chum.”

“Now'a not a great time. I’m sick and my friend here is taking me to my dorm so I can rest,” Husk huffed.

“My, my Husker I didn’t realize you were so close to such... questionable company,” The man sneered.

“Fuck off Al,” Husk mumbled, the basketball player’s fatigue hitting him hard as he leans into Angel’s support.

The spider demon thought he recognized the deer man; he oversaw one the Academies ridiculous fraternities and seemed to know Husk personally. Angel had learned that he couldn’t change everyone’s perception of him and his past. Though sometimes he used it to his advantage. He returned a sneer to the smiling demon, not liking his attitude.

“Ohh, you’ve heard of me? You want me to suck your dick? Take you to bed to test out the goods?” Angel mocked leaning over to highlight his chest as he talked.

Just as Angel suspected the deer man’s face drained of color stepping back, “Not going to happen. We will talk later Husker, do not make me come looking for you, old friend.”

Angel gritted his teeth as the man walked away, not liking the condescending tone the red demon used when he tacked on the words ‘old friend’ at the end of this sentence. He steered Husk in the direction of the cat demon’s dorm wanting to put as much distance between them and the smiling creep as possible.

As they enter Husk’s room the exhausted basketball player collapsed on his bed. His wings lay loosely on his sides. Angel was surprised to see half the room was cluttered with blueprints, tools, and half completed projects. The other half only had a few items, books, a cat plush dressed in army camo, and a couple pictures but almost completely bare. Angel didn’t want to pry so he let Husk rest while he started to cook the meal he promised.

As he made the spicy nutritious dish, Angel couldn’t help but smile seeing how quickly and easily Husk had fallen asleep. He finishes the dish and lets it cool down on the counter and debates if he should wake up Husk or just leave the food in the fridge. After thinking for a moment, he decides to make sure Husk wasn’t too sick to fend for himself, so he reluctantly wakes him up.

“Hey Husk, the foods ready, do you need medicine or anything else I cou-” Angel gets cut off while lightly rocking the cat demon’s shoulder. Husk flings himself against the wall, his body shaking hard, and his breathing labored and panicked.

“Please Al… please stop... help them,” Husk sputter’s his pupils constricted in fear.

“Shit...” Angel stops his movements fighting his desire to reach out to his terrified friend. Angel leans back slowly, keeping his hands in front of him where Husk could see them, his eyes darting wildly in fear. The spider hides it on his face but his heart breaks seeing Husk’s gorgeous wings trembling. The same wings he was admiring during the game, Angel could now see up close that sections of his feathers were missing on his left wing, like they had been torn or broken off.

Angel berated himself for not noticing earlier, the scars the cat demon gripped often on the same side had more meaning now. Husk shared very little about his time on the front line but from what little Angel could gather, the former soldier had been through a horrible ordeal. He waited a few minutes to give Husk’s panicked, sick mind time to process his surroundings.

“Hey Sour Puss... it’s just me...” Angel says softly seeing Husk’s eye’s gleam with recognition.

“Fuck... Angel?” Husk says hoarsely, “Fuck, I’m sorry I... You shouldn’t have to deal with this.”

He still trembles as he speaks his face pinching in shame as Husk gathers himself. Angel frowns, unhappy with Husk’s words.

Trusting his instincts just like he did earlier in the cold, Angel slowly and gently wrapped his arms around Husk and hugged him close, “You don’t need to apologize,” he said gently, he was worried he overstepped a line until he felt Husk melt into his embrace, hugging Angel back,

“You don’t need to tell me anything you don’t want to. You don’t have to prove anything to me or put up a front for me. I’m here and I want to help, if nothing else believe me when I say that. We’re both losers, baby remember? We gotta stick together.”

Angel didn’t know how long they stayed there, when he started stroking Husk’s back, or how he managed to fit on Husk small bed, but he was pleased when eventually Husk’s trembling turned into soft purrs.

As if Husk could hear Angel’s thoughts he finally speaks, “Not a word about the purring Angel.”

“What? What purring?”

“Smart ass...” Husk sighs mindlessly burying his face in Angel’s chest fluff. Angel didn’t mind at all, the cat demon felt soft and warm in his arms.

Another stretch of silence passed as they lay on the bed and continued to embrace each other. Angel couldn’t help but notice Husk’s scent being so close together, the strongest aroma was the smell of smoke that clung to his fur, it had hints of tobacco, but it was more comforting like a campfire. Beneath the smoke he smelt like worn leather and newly cut wood, and something else Angel couldn’t name, something sour and sweet but also alluring. The lanky spider shook his head to clear his thoughts, this was just him being a good friend, he didn’t need to make it weird.

“You uhh... you can leave anytime you want,” Husk whispered, his body now calmer and more relaxed.

“I’d like to stay longer if that’s alright with you.”

Husk paused, that hesitant vulnerability present once more as he thinks about his next words, “I’d like for you to stay too, Angel.”

Angel smiles snuggling deeper into Husk’s bed, surprised how much he enjoyed lying next to someone like this. It had been a while since Angel felt comfortable enough to be close to someone and not expected to give up anything in exchange. There were so many things he wanted to ask the cat demon. The details during his time in the service, what happened to him? Who was this Alastor person exactly? Why was basketball so important? Why did Husk want to become a doctor? He shakes his head again; Husk’s wellbeing was more important. They had time to answer those questions when they were both ready.

“Hey Specs... thank you for... you know...” Husk murmured as he rests all his weight into Angel.

“Anytime Husk,” Angel smiled feeling Husk’s fever break, while his purrs got louder as the cat demon drifts to sleep next to him.

Angel took a breath, feeling like he had run a marathon. He looked down at his friend feeling a protective bond growing between them. This was something Angel would do for Cherry, nothing to get worked up about. There was no reason to think whatever was growing between him and Husk was anything more than platonic. So, what if they had a very intensive hate fuck early on? That didn’t mean anything, who hadn’t fucked a friend or two? Now they were just a couple of cuddle buddies, their own personal loser’s club, nothing more.