Angie's drink was being poured for him the moment he set foot through the door. A few months ago Angel would've made some quip about Husk being excited to see him or about him jumping the gun or some shit, but right now? Angel just needed a moment. He was too tired and too sore and honestly too fucking angry to talk to anyone.
Husk was able to tell all of this from just a glance. He didn't know how or when he somehow learned to read the spider's mind but he had gained the ability to tell Angels good days from the bad ones within twenty seconds of seeing him. Today was one of the bad ones.
Without exchanging a word Husk handed Angel his drink and Angel slumped down onto the bar, letting himself close his eyes for a moment.
This routine of theirs had gotten more and more common since the last extermination, Val had lost a lot of his best stars, meaning he was being even more of an asshole than usual. Not to mention the demand for even more work that it created for Angel. The last extermination had proved to be surprisingly good for business though. Angeldust films were selling like hotcakes since he was seen on channel 666 news fighting actual angels - not that Angie ever saw a penny of it.
Husk knew better than to ask any questions, but he was worried. He'd seen Angel stumble through the hotel doors at all times of day and night and in all kinds of moods. Happy Angie, High Angie, Silly Angie, Flirty Angie, Sweet Angie, Angry Angie but this?... quiet Angie?... this was the most worrying of all.
Husk would prefer Angel yelling and throwing bottles around than... this.
He opened his mouth to say something, Anything, Anything at all, but one look from Angel told him to shut it. So he did. The two sat in a somewhat comfortable silence whilst Angel drank and Husk started cleaning up the bar. It was an unspoken agreement between the two that, unless Angie had to stay overnight, the bar would always stay open until he got back from work. It had been that way ever since the night Husk stopped Angie drinking a spiked cocktail and the pair took on some mobsters together. Since that night Angel had also quit it with the excessive flirting at Husk, which was appreciated.
Even though he'd never admit it in a million afterlives - at least not whilst he was sober - the bartender genuinely cared a lot about Angel, and the flirting was getting confusing. The second Husk thought they were building an actual connection, Angel would take the first opportunity to push his buttons and spoil the moment. It left Husk wondering where they actually stood, which wasn't helped by how goddam well Angel pushed his buttons. Since then there was a mutual respect, an understanding of sorts.
Husk took a deep breath and closed his eyes. He needed to say something, even if it could cause an argument. It was clear Val took it too far tonight. He started clearing some of the empty whisky bottles scattered about the bar so he would have something to focus on whilst he worked out the right thing to say.
"Legs, listen, I'm not gonna ask you anything, I promise, so don't worry about that, but I just wanted to say if you want to talk I'm-"
"Whiskers please just shut the- SHIT"
Husk caught Angel before he landed on the floor and helped him to his feet before he even realized what he was doing. He blinked, looking around to see if he could work out what had made Angie jump like he'd touched a live wire. The quick movement had caused Husk to drop the bottle he was holding, sending the contents flying. He'd be cleaning alcohol out of his fur for weeks but he didn't care.
Husk tried but couldn't see what set Angel off, he didn't have the smell of alcohol on him when he walked in and he hadn't finished his drink so he wasn't wasted yet, his pupils were dilated so maybe he slipped off his seat because he was high? A closer look told Husk that Angel's pupils were less dilated than when he was high so that was probably just due to shock. Angel could be jumpy and sloppy sure but he wasn't the type to fall off his chair over nothing. He could take care of himself.
There was a pause. A long pause. Neither of them knew what to do or say next. A stalemate formed that neither wanted to break first. Angel felt his cheeks getting warmer and warmer.
Husk looked around yet again, there must've been a reason. There was nothing out of the ordinary except some spiders crawling around near the oil painting of Sir Pentious and Nifty launching after them with a knife (where in the nine rings did she get them from anyway???)
"Angel what the fuck? Are you hurt? What-" The cogs in his brain started to whirr as he desperately tried to put two and two together, then something clicked. He hated cats and was a cat, Angel was a spider so...
"Angie. Did you jump because you saw a fucking spider?"
"......."
"Angel?!"
"... they're fuckin creepy okay!"
