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Chapter 13

The next morning, Angel woke up feeling strangely comfortable in Husk's bed. He stretched, the heat of last night still lingering in the room, but the memory of Husk's touch made him feel... something. He hadn't expected that level of intimacy from the old doc, especially not after all the jokes and tough talk. It was a weird feeling, but he liked it.

As he rolled out of bed, Angel heard Husk's low voice from the other room. Curious, he tiptoed closer, careful not to make any noise. He peeked around the corner and saw Husk on the phone, his back turned to Angel.

"I'm telling you, it's better if he moves in with you," Husk was saying in a serious tone. "I can't take care of him like this. You know how much he owes Lucifer—this is for his own good."

Angel's heart sank. The weight of betrayal hit him like a punch to the gut. After everything they shared last night—after Husk had been so close to him, touching his scars, saying his body wasn't dirty—and now this? He wanted him out of his house, like he was some burden.

Fury surged through Angel, his fists clenching at his sides. Without thinking, he stormed into the room, his face twisted in anger. "What the fuck, Husk?" he spat, voice trembling with a mix of hurt and rage. "You're trying to kick me out? After last night?"

Husk turned around slowly, hanging up the phone, his expression unreadable. "Angel, it's not what you think," he said, his voice calm, but that only fueled Angel's anger further.

"Oh, I think I get it just fine," Angel snapped, stepping closer to him. "You act all sweet, saying my scars ain't dirty, but you're just like everyone else. You pity me, don't you? Just because my burn marks looked painful, you pitied me."

Husk's eyes narrowed slightly, but he kept his composure. "It's not about pity, Angel. I don't need to turn to guys to relieve my urges," he said, the statement hitting Angel like a slap in the face.

Angel's face twisted in fury. "Oh, so I'm just some charity case now? You think you're better than me, don't you?" Without warning, he lunged at Husk, his hands wrapping around Husk's throat, squeezing hard.

Husk gasped, caught off guard, but didn't fight back. His eyes locked on Angel's, and in that moment, there was no anger, no fear—just sadness. "Why don't you go to Lucifer's apartment?" Husk managed to choke out. "Or try to pay off your debt? You can't stay here forever."

Angel's grip tightened, his breath coming in sharp, angry bursts. His vision blurred with tears he refused to let fall. "You think I want to be here? With you, you impotent bastard?" he spat, his voice shaking with a mix of frustration and heartbreak. He loosened his grip suddenly, pushing Husk back, his hands trembling.

Husk coughed, rubbing his throat, but he didn't move. He just stood there, staring at Angel with a look that cut deeper than any insult. "It's not about that, Angel," he said, his voice hoarse but steady. "I'm trying to help you."

"Help me?" Angel laughed bitterly, stepping back, his eyes flashing with hurt. "You don't know the first thing about helping people."

He turned on his heel, grabbing his jacket off the chair. "Bye, Husk," Angel muttered, his voice low and cold. "Don't worry about me. I'll figure shit out on my own."

Without another word, Angel stormed out to go pack his things, slamming the door behind him. But even as he walked away, the weight of Husk's words lingered, gnawing at him in a way that he hated.

It was already 1 AM, the streets of the city quiet except for the faint sounds of traffic in the distance. Husk and Lucifer stood in the shadows of a dimly lit alley, both leaning against a brick wall as they smoked in silence. The cool night air barely cut through the heat of Husk's conflicted thoughts. He hadn't been able to sleep after the argument with Angel, and now he found himself here, seeking clarity in the smoke swirling around him.

"I never thought I'd find myself in this situation," Husk muttered, taking a drag from his cigarette. His voice was low, heavy with exhaustion. "I never really thought of having a relationship with a guy. Hell, I didn't even know what I was doing, but I offered Angel some cash. Thought it might help him out, you know? He wouldn't take it, though. Said he didn't want my dirty money."

Lucifer stood beside him, smirking as he exhaled a cloud of smoke. There was a wicked glint in his eyes as he glanced sideways at Husk. "Angel has always been a stubborn one," Lucifer said, his tone smooth, almost too casual. "But he'll come around. They all do."

Husk turned his head slightly, frowning. "What do you mean by that?"

Lucifer chuckled darkly, the sound sending an unsettling chill down Husk's spine. "I didn't mention this before, but I've had my eye on Angel from the start," Lucifer said, his voice dripping with malice. "My plan all along was to make him mine. Break him. Make him my bitch, as you say. I want to ram my cock into his pale little body and watch him cry—cry so much he won't know how to stop."

Husk's hand froze mid-air, the cigarette hanging from his fingers as Lucifer's words sank in. His heart began to pound, a cold dread pooling in his chest as he realized the kind of man Lucifer truly was. He had known Lucifer was manipulative, but this? This was something darker, more twisted than he had imagined.

Lucifer's eyes flicked to Husk, noticing the sudden tension in his stance. "What? You didn't think I'd go that far?" he sneered, as if reading Husk's mind. "Come on, Husk. You know how the world works. People like Angel, they're broken. They need someone to take control, to show them where they belong."

Husk dropped his cigarette to the ground, crushing it under his boot. His mind raced, images of Angel—vulnerable, angry, but also lost—flashed in his head. The kid had been through hell, and Lucifer... Lucifer was planning to drag him even further into the abyss.

"You're making a mistake," Husk said quietly, his voice barely above a whisper. He turned to face Lucifer fully, his eyes hardening. "Angel's not some toy for you to mess with. He's been through enough. You don't get to do this to him."

Lucifer raised an eyebrow, a mocking smile playing on his lips. "And what are you going to do about it, Husk? You think you can protect him? You couldn't even keep him from running off on his own. You're in over your head."

Husk clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms. For the first time in a long while, he felt something close to anger bubbling up inside him—not just for Angel, but for himself. He had let Lucifer's influence cloud his judgment, and now, standing here, he could see the twisted reality of the situation more clearly than ever before.

"I made a mistake," Husk said, his voice low but firm. "But I'm not going to let you ruin him."

Lucifer's smile faded, his eyes narrowing dangerously. "Careful, Husk," he warned, his tone icy. "You're stepping into dangerous territory."

But Husk didn't back down. He took one last look at Lucifer, his mind made up. He had to do something, anything, to get Angel out of this mess before it was too late. Without another word, he turned and walked away, leaving Lucifer standing alone in the darkened alley.