Defiance (Husk x Angel Dust)

I'll See You Soon

"I'll make sure you pay for it tomorrow..."

Angel Dust laid silently on his bed. He hadn't slept all night. The threat lingered in his mind and he didn't want to suffer the nightmares that would come from it. He considered taking drugs to forget the night and what was coming tomorrow, but he imagined Husk's expression of pride toward him when he refused them at the club, and he didn't want to disappoint him, show him that he was wrong to believe in him.

So he laid there, ridden with anxiety with no rational coping mechanism. He reached for his phone on the nightstand and was horrified to see he had 200 messages from Valentino. He glanced over at the clock to find it had only been four hours since their run in at the club. He opened his texts feeling the blood drain from his face as he read:

3:07 AM

YOU BITCH! YOU THOUGHT WATERBOARDING WAS BAD? A 16 HOUR SHIFT? YOU'RE GOING TO FIND THAT MERCIFUL BY THE END OF TOMORROW

3:10 AM

Amorcito, i didnt mean to scare u, if ur real nice tomorrow I'll forgive u.

3:11 AM

ANSWER ME, BITCH!

Maybe next time ur a defiant slut I'll go after that fucking cat u seem so fond of

3:15 AM

Angelcakes don't ignore me

Maybe we can go out to dinner like old times

Talk things over

3:20 AM

WTF IS WRONG WITH U? U THINK U CAN JUST TALK BACK TO ME AND THEN GHOST ME?

UR FUCKING DEAD!

Angel Dust couldn't bear to read anymore. He closed his texts, tears streaming down his face.

What the fuck was I thinking?

At the time the rush of finally standing up for himself made it feel worth it, but as he looked at his texts spelling out his doom his fear grew strong enough to make him regret it.

Angel Dust felt something tap his side, and he nearly fell off the bed from how violently he flinched. He looked down and realized it was just Fat Nuggets.

"Hey, buddy," he lightly petted the small pig's head and smiled softly. That was until he comprehended that the trouble he was in with Val might mean Fat Nuggets ending up without an owner by the end of the night, "If... if I don't come back after tonight... I... I'm sure Husk would be willing to take care of you," Angel Dust's smile became forced.

He checked the time. 7:20 AM. He had to be at work by 8. Angel Dust laughed wryly to himself. Is that what he considered it? Work? No. If it wasn't torture before it certainly would be now.

He got out of bed, giving Fat Nuggets a final pat on the head. He rifled through his closet to find something to wear. He felt disgusted with himself as he picked the sluttiest outfit he could. A black, shoulderless dress so short that it could almost pass as a long t-shirt if not for the fact that it squeezed his hips and waist so much that it was difficult to breathe. He had to do something to pacify Valentino. Angel walked into the bathroom where he applied his makeup as perfectly as he could manage.

He walked downstairs, trying his best to sneak out unnoticed.

"Angel?"

Fuck.

"H-hey, Husk."

Husk looked him over and frowned deeply, "Don't tell me that you're actually going to the studio after yesterday."

"I don't gotta choice in the matter, whiskers," Angel Dust said solemnly.

"Yes, you do!"

"He'll find me-"

"Think about where you are. Do you honestly think Valentino would challenge the radio demon and the princess of Hell to get to you?"

"You think she can get you out of work? I own you. Or have you forgotten that?"

Angel Dust swallowed nervously at the unwanted memory recall, "Husk, I can't just leave."

"Please, kid. Don't go to work today. If you won't do it for yourself, do it for me."

He couldn't let this continue, "Aww, does the kitty care about lil' ol me? I can do all sorts of things for you, baby. I only cost-"

"STOP! We both know what you're doing right now!"

Angel Dust scowled, "If it's as simple as just leaving, why haven't you left Alastor!" He regretted the words as soon as they left his mouth, "Husk-"

Husk's disappointed face burned a hole through Angel Dust's heart, "If you're so determined to self-destruct then just... Just go..."

Angel Dust reached a hand out before retracting it and looking down in shame. He didn't deserve Husk. He didn't deserve anything. At least it steeled his resolve as he walked toward the exit of the hotel, "Husk?"

Husk looked at him but said nothing.

"T-Take care of Fat Nuggets for me."

Husk looked deeply unsettled with what looked like the beginning of tears gathering in his eyes, "Don't talk like that."

"Like what?"

"Like you're going to... To die... Or just... Never come back..."

Angel Dust put on his best cheerful facade as he said, "I'll see you soon, Husky!"

They both knew it was a lie, and the sound of the door closing behind Angel Dust was deafening.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

That's the end of the first chapter! Thanks for reading! This is a repost of my fic on ao3, I've been enjoying writing this fic, so figured I would make it accessible to more people.