Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

"You look like shit, Whiskers."

Angel had arrived back at the hotel a little past noon, after a shift that had started at 6pm, yesterday. He'd been expecting the whole thing with Charlie, making sure he was okay, Vaggie, grilling him about where he'd been, and Niffty, telling him how well-behaved Fat Nuggets had been, but he hadn't been expecting Husk to be already passed out at the bar, when he headed over for a drink.

Angel poked Husk's arm again. "Husky? Hey, you alive?"

Husk groaned, but didn't move.

"Um...could ya pass me a bottle of literally anythin'?" Angel asked.

Husk moved, only one arm, to reach under the bar for something. He leaned too far, and slipped.

"Ow! Fuck." Husk grumbled. He didn't get up.

"What was that?" Charlie called from across the room.

"Uh...I'm dealin' with it." Angel called back. "Husk? Hey, are you okay?" He asked, climbing over the bartop.

Husk was laying on the floor, looking like he'd completely given up. Angel pulled him up by the shoulders.

"What the fuck happened?" Angel asked, as soon as Husk seemed stable enough, sitting beside him against the shelves under the bartop. "Why are you so down, huh?"

Husk turned his head away. "Don't fuckin' matter." He mumbled.

"Hey, no. Yer gonna tell me." Angel insisted. "Tell me, so I can kick the ass of whoever fuckin' hurt you."

"He didn't, I..." Husk was quiet for a long moment, letting his wings curl around himself a little. "I broke up with my boyfriend last night."

"Oh, fuck, I'm sorry." Angel said. He'd had no idea that Husk was even in a relationship. "How long...were you an' him together?"

"Nine years, next month." Husk said. "I don't...even know if he ruined it, or I just didn't listen."

"What'd he do?" Angel asked.

Husk's ears pressed back. "I shouldn't...h-he just...we didn't fuck very often, but he was always the sub, and always the bottom. Things got...intense, sometimes, you know how it is." Angel nodded. "Well, last night, we were gonna fuck, he likes havin' a scedule, so we're gettin' ready to do that, and I realised he wasn't...actin' right. I asked what was wrong, and it turns out he drugged himself, really fuckin' hard, and he was tryin' to act normal as they started to set in, so we'd be too far in for me to stop when I noticed."

"He fuckin' didn't." Angel said. "He didn't tell you at all?"

"I dunno!" Husk said. "I was pretty fuckin' drunk, yesterday, so I might've missed it, but I never fuckin' agreed to that." He grabbed the nearest bottle, and took a long drink from it. "I didn't fuck him, but I stayed with him 'til it wore off. Told him I felt like he'd tried to force me into somethin' I wanted nothin' to do with. Told him, if he wouldn't talk to me, I didn't wanna see him. I...haven't seen him since. I fuckin' miss him."

"That ain't the sorta thing you plan on the day." Angel said. "He didn't give you enough time, even if he did tell you."

And then Husk finally looked up at him, cheek fur damp from crying. "Should I...talk to him?"

"Prob'ly, yeah." Angel said. "Think 'bout what you wanna say, first. Um...when me an' Val are...not doin' good, he's usually more talk-to-able if I suck his dick first."

"No offence, Angel, but your relationship with Valentino isn't the healthiest." Husk said. "At all. Seriously."

"Well, at least yer talkin'." Angel said. "Y'can practice, I can help ya come up with somethin'."

"I'm...not sure that's a good idea." Husk muttered.

"Welp, the only other thing I can offer you is rebound sex." Angel said, leaning back against the shelves. "No charge, I'm off the clock."

Husk looked away, and sighed. "Y'know what?" He muttered. "Why the Hell not?"

Chapter Text

They'd headed straight up to Angel's room, with a bottle of whatever was closest, which turned out to be a fairly strong whiskey. Husk had been drinking from an identical one that was now almost empty.

"Hey, uh...last I checked, you don't normally drink the expensive stuff." Angel said, grabbing lube and a few different condoms, as Husk settled down on his bed.

Husk took a swig of whiskey, and shrugged. "This is...his favourite."

"Oh." Angel said. "Sure. D'you wanna be top or bottom? I'm happy with either. As long as yer better than any'a the guys I work with."

"Top, definitely." Husk said.

Angel smiled at him. "Got it."

"Safewords?" Husk asked.

"Um...traffic lights?" Angel suggested.

"Sure." Husk said. "Anythin' I shouldn't do?"

"Don't call me a good boy, don't say anythin' in Spanish, don't tell me ta take it, an' don't pull my fur." Angel said. "Anythin' I shouldn't do?"

"Don't call me a cat." Husk said. "And...don't pull my feathers."

"Sounds fair." Angel said, climbing onto the bed. "Wanna get started?"

Husk hesitated. "Um...Angel?" He asked. "You should know, I...have barbs."

"You do? Fuck, yes. I love barbs." Angel said. "Hey, it's okay, pretty much no-one's got a totally human dick down here. I have a knot, an' my dick's eight inches long, an' sheathed."

"Yeah. Yeah, no, I just...thought I should warn you." Husk said.

"Thanks." Angel said. "Okay, I'm gonna get ready fer you, so gimme some'a that." Husk gave him the bottle. Angel quickly discarded the skirt he was wearing, and started fingering himself with another hand, while taking a long drink of whiskey. It had never been his favourite, or even in his top five, but right now, after everything at the Studio, the burn in his throat was a welcome change.

So far, Husk was just watching him.

"You jus' gonna watch, or ya gonna fuck me, daddy?" Angel asked, pulling his fingers out. "I'm ready fer you."

Husk nodded, and pushed him back. "S-sorry, I've...never seen that part, before."

"What, preppin' myself?" Angel asked. Husk nodded. "Yer ex have a pussy?"

"Yeah." Husk said. "I've never really...done anal."

"Okay. It's a little different." Angel said. "I don't make my own lube, so we gotta use this that I've been usin'." He showed Husk the tube. "Other than that, it's pretty much the same. You got barbs, though, so start slow fer me?"

Husk had taken off his slacks, and he was rolling one of the condoms on. "I always go slow, don't worry." He said.

And then Husk was pinning him down. Angel added a little more lube, for comfort, and gently lined them up. Husk started slowly pressing into him.

Angel moaned breathily, the kind of involuntary noise Val hated. Husk only smiled. "Pretty fuckin' noises." He said. "Can I make you do it again?"

They both groaned softly, as Husk settled to the base.

"All you want, daddy." Angel breathed. "I'm ready when you are."

He could feel the raised bumps on Husk's dick. Husk seemed a little hesitant to pull back.

"Hey, don't worry, you ain't gonna hurt me." Angel said. "One of the guys at work has barbs. I know what it feels like."

Husk grabbed the bottle from where one of them had set it down, and took another drink. He then gave it to Angel, who also drank some. They were a little past halfway down it.

"You sure you're okay?" Husk asked. Angel nodded. Husk started to pull out

Angel let whatever noises fall from his mouth, as the barbs dug into him. They weren't sharp, just firm. He jerked when one jutted into his prostate. Enough to be almost too much. And Husk was going painfully slowly, making it last.

Then relief, as Husk started to press back in.

By the time Husk had settled into a rhythm, Angel had realised his pace was designed specifically to be almost painful. His ex was probably a masochist.

Angel was loving it.

He couldn't stop himself from whining, groaning, squeaking, every sound Val hated him making. His fingers had long since tangled in Husk's fur, holding him close. One of his hands was stroking his dick in time with Husk's thrusts, and he rubbed at his knot every time Husk's barbs caught.

"Fuck! Don't stop, daddy!" Angel choked out. "I-I'm...fuck, I'm close."

"Go ahead, baby, come for me." Husk practically growled.

Angel's mind went completely blank, as his orgasm crashed into him.

Chapter Text

Angel didn't really remember much, after he came. The next thing he was really aware of was staring at the ceiling, mindlessly stroking through Husk's fur, as the cat was licking him clean. That should have been gross. Angel couldn't care less.

And then he might have fallen asleep for a little while. He felt like he'd drank more than he remembered drinking. Husk was holding him tight, crying into his chest.

Angel stroked between his wings, trying to comfort him, but that only seemed to make it worse.

"Talk to me, Husk." Angel's words were a little slurred. "Tell me what's wrong."

"I d-don't wanna...replace him." Husk sobbed.

"You ain't replacin' him." Angel said, as firmly as he could manage. "Yer figurin' out what yer feelin', an' then yer gonna talk to him."

Husk continued to weep into Angel's chest for several minutes. Angel held him. Eventually, they both fell asleep.

Angel next woke when it was morning. He had a headache, and he was hungry, and Husk wasn't there.

"Husk?" Angel called, hoping the cat was simply using his bathroom.

No response.

Angel pushed himself up on the bed, and tried to get his headache to go away by pressing a hand into the side of his head. He noticed the messy note on a scrap of paper that Husk must have left on the drawers by his bed.

had 2 set up bar. didnt wanna wake u. charged ur phone n folded ur clothes. i'll get princess 2 save u breakfast.

Huh. That was a damn sight better than the usual 'thx 4 fun time' texts he usually got after drunken one-night-stands.

Angel pulled on some pyjamas that probably didn't go together, and headed into the bathroom to try to wake himself up properly. It didn't really work, so he put on a robe and some slippers, and went downstairs.

"Angel?" Charlie asked, as he passed through the lobby. "What-"

"Shush." Angel groaned. "Coffee."

He went into the kitchen, and his headache was worse with how bright it was in here. Charlie had followed him, and was helping him pour a cup of coffee.

"Husk told me he was having a bad day, yesterday, and you helped him." She said, quietly. "I'm...guessing you're hungover?"

Angel added enough milk that the coffee wouldn't burn his mouth, and downed the whole thing. "Hungover." He muttered. "Husk needed it."

"It's so kind of you to have helped him." Charlie said. "But you can't neglect yourself to do that. When's the last time you ate?"

"Yesterday, I had...um...lunch with you guys." Angel said.

"You didn't get back from work until after lunch, yesterday." Charlie said.

"No, Alastor made gumbo." Angel said.

"Angel, that was the day before yesterday." Charlie said. "You had to go to work before dinner." She paused, watching Angel pour and drink a second cup of coffee. "You...haven't eaten at all since lunch two days ago?"

Angel finished his second coffee. "Um...I had...two pot brownies, and...a rock pop? Y'know, the ones that look like a ring, an' they have a lollipop on them?"

Charlie took a breath. "Sweets and drugs don't count as food." She said. "How about a breakfast sandwich?"

"Sure, uh...those chicken sausages?" Angel asked.

"Of course." Charlie said, smiling. "No pork."

Angel smiled back. "Thanks."

Yeah, Angel was a little hungry. His ass was still a little sore, but that could easily have been from work, probably mostly was, so Charlie didn't question it when he refused to sit down.

The sandwich was great. Angel ate it in the lobby, where he could see that Niffty was cleaning a windowsill that looked perfectly clean, Vaggie was watching the news, and Husk was at the bar, writing something.

He headed over to Husk. "You okay?" He asked.

"Better, now." Husk said. "Thanks. Sorry for leavin' you on yer own."

"It's alright, you had shit ta do." Angel said. "What's that yer writin'?"

"...He doesn't have a phone that I can ring and he'll answer, so I'm writin' a letter to put under his door tonight." Husk said.

Angel nodded. "Doesn't have a phone?"

"Real old fashioned guy, doesn't trust modern tech, but he has this 1920s era telephone." Husk said. "It can't record voicemail, so if I call, and he ain't next to it, he doesn't know I called."

"Ah, well, I can't say I blame him." Angel said, grabbing his phone out of his chest fluff. "Val knows where I am at all times, an' he gets mad if I let it die. Thanks fer chargin' it last night, I would'a forgot."

"You got a critically low battery notification, and you were dead asleep." Husk said, smiling. "I only read it 'cause I thought it was mine."

"Well, thanks. You saved my ass." Angel said. "You know how it is, bein' owned by someone who doesn't give a shit that yer a person."

Husk's ears pressed back, then flicked forwards. "Al ain't so bad. He just...acts like it to people who don't know him." He said. "He lets me do what I want, most of the time."

"Sweetheart, he's makin' you stay here." Angel said. "Don't tell me you'd wanna be doin' this, if he wasn't."

"I gotta be in the buildin'." Husk said. "I got exactly three hours a day where I gotta be at the bar. I'm a bartender, behind a bar's prob'ly where I'd be, anyway. He's keepin' me from gambling, that's it."

"Huh." Angel said. "Well, could ya tell him I'd be happy ta sell him my soul, if he can pry it out'a Val's hands?"

Husk chuckled. "I'll be sure to pass that on."

Chapter Text

Shortly after he'd settled on the couch, with Fat Nuggets in his lap, Angel got a text from Val.

"Fuck's sake." Angel muttered. "Um...Niff? Any chance you could watch Nuggs again? Some'a the scenes I just fuckin' did need redoing, 'cause one'a the lighting guys fucked up."

"Sure!" Niffty called from across the lobby.

"Yer a lifesaver." Angel said. "Hey, Nuggsie?" Fat Nuggets looked up at him, clearly very comfortable right where he was. "I gotta go, baby." Fat Nuggets put his chin on Angel's chest, pleading with his eyes for Angel to stay. "I can't. I gotta go to work." Nuggets squeaked. "I'm sorry. My driver gets here in, like, two minutes. I literally can't."

Nuggs sneezed at him, and climbed off of his lap.

"Thank you, baby." Angel said, giving Nuggs head scratches. "I love you."

He was in the taxi before he realised he was still wearing pyjamas that didn't match, slippers, and a robe. Fuck it. This was supposed to be his day off. Val was getting him as he was.

Thirteen hours.

Val kept him at the Studio for thirteen hours.

No breaks, no apologies for ruining his one day off a week, no extra pay, and no fucking meals.

At least he now had tomorrow off. Unless something else went wrong.

Angel was starving, sore, and exhausted, by the time he got back to the hotel at 1am.

He stumbled into the kitchen, and made himself a bread and butter sandwich, and then he woke up at three, on the couch in the lobby, with half of it on his chest.

He blinked at the ceiling for a few seconds, then took another bite.

"Fascinating." Alastor's voice, somewhere to his right, said. "You've had that in your fur for the better part of the last two hours, and you'll still eat it?"

"Huh?" Angel asked, trying to find the Overlord. "Fuckin'...hungry."

"And tired, I can see." Alastor said, materialising in front of him, smiling brightly. "I was hoping I could talk to you. Perhaps a spot to eat would perk you up enough?"

"Um...sure?" Angel muttered.

Alastor's smile turned to a grin, and he moved Angel to a sitting position with a snap of his fingers. Angel's brain was too tired to register that Al also fixed his clothes that had gotten torn during one of the scenes, and put a table in front of him. "Charlie was concerned for your wellbeing." Alastor said. "She asked that I keep an eye out for your return, and she warned me that you might be hungry."

Angel blinked groggily as a plate of food appeared before him. He didn't care to ask what it was, Al's cooking was always good, and he always respected dietary preferences. This would definitely have no pork, long or otherwise.

It wasn't gumbo. It was either étouffée or jambalaya. Angel didn't care, he just ate it. And Alastor watched him.

"What did you wanna talk about?" Angel asked, halfway down his plate.

"Not important right this minute." Alastor said. "Eat."

Angel stared at him for a moment, then started eating again. Alastor refused to allow the conversation to progress until his plate was empty.

"Now, what's the problem, an' why am I yer guy?" Angel asked, still tired, but more able to focus.

"I am in a little bit of a predicament." Alastor said. "I've been informed that an appropriate course of action is...a certain act, but with...someone else."

Angel blinked. "You've lost me."

"I've been...going through something." Alastor said, no longer looking at him.

"...Something?" Angel prompted.

"A...w-well, I suppose you'd call it a break up." Alastor's ears were pressed back. His radio filter was all crackly.

"Are you...askin' me fer rebound sex?" Angel asked.

"...That's one way to put it, yes." Alastor said. "I'll pay you for your time and your silence. I don't want anyone knowing about...any of it."

"No." Angel said, and Alastor turned to look at him, shocked.

"I thought...you were attracted to me? I thought you wanted a chance to bed me." Alastor said. "Was I...mistaken?"

"No, Al, I don't want you ta pay me." Angel said, firmly. "I'm off the clock right now. If Val sees that I've got any money at all that didn't come from him, he'll wanna know where I got it, an' I can't lie ta him, he'll fuckin' kill me. I'll do it, an' I won't tell a soul, but you can't pay me for it. Got it?"

Alastor nodded. "Yes, I understand." He said.

"Okay, so, wanna do this now?" Angel asked. "I'm a little sore from fuckin' everythin' today, but I got tomorrow off, so you can be rough, if you want."

"Oh. Um...I was hoping we might...arrange something." Alastor said. "And...I'm an Overlord, so...you may be as rough with me as you like. In fact, I'd prefer it if you were."

"No fuckin' way you sub." Angel said. "Yer whole thing is bein' in control all the time."

"Yes, and it's exhausting." Alastor said. "What happened was entirely my fault. I'd like you to punish me, hurt me, put me in my place. I want you to enjoy it."

"But...not tonight?" Angel said, mind racing.

"Not tonight, no." Alastor said. "I can make myself available at a time that suits you."

"How 'bout...not now tonight, but in a day tonight?" Angel said. "7pm? Gives us time before lights out to discuss...boundaries an' shit."

"Aces! I'll be at your door at seven." Alastor said, smiling brightly again.

Then he snapped his fingers, and the world melted around them both. Angel blinked, and he was in his own room, laying in his bed, wearing clean, matching pyjamas, sitting up like he'd just hallucinated that whole interaction.

Then he saw the note, stuck to the wall above his bed with a piece of tape.

7pm - Alastor. I'll be at your door.

Chapter Text

Charlie had been more lenient with him than normal. Angel had spent the day relaxing, holding his piglet, and taking part in the redemption activities where he could.

"Hey, Husk?" Angel asked, a little after lunch. "Did yer guy talk to you?"

"...No." Husk said. "Not yet. I...still haven't seen him."

Angel nodded. "I'm sure he will." He said. "He jus' needs a little more time."

"Maybe." Husk said, but he didn't look or sound convinced.

"Hey, jus' 'cause I'm curious, what drug did he use?" Angel asked.

"Rohypnol." Husk said.

"Did you tell him you didn't fuck him?" Angel asked. "'Cause there's a chance he doesn't remember it at all. There's a chance he thinks you did."

Husk's eyes widened, and his fur and feathers poofed up a little. "Shit. I didn't think'a that." He said. "Shit."

"Hey, it's okay." Angel said. "Jus' give him another note-"

"I didn't give him the first one." Husk hissed. "I got nervous. Then I overthought it. So I just left."

"Okay. Jus' add that you didn't, in case he doesn't remember." Angel said. "If he's not got that context, he might not even understand why you broke up."

Husk made a small, stressed noise.

"Jus' put it in the note, an' put it under his door tonight." Angel said. "If he really loves you, he'll understand, an' he'll wanna talk."

"...Okay." Husk said. "Yeah. Okay."

7pm came too quickly. Angel had left Fat Nuggets with Charlie and Vaggie for the night, Charlie had asked, and he had everything ready and waiting for Alastor's arrival at his door.

7:01, maybe Al changed his mind? The guy was nothing if not punctual.

7:02, Angel was starting to wonder if he really had hallucinated the whole thing, but when he checked his wall, Alastor's note was still there.

7:03, Angel opened the door, and checked in the hallway. There, frozen about to knock, trembling slightly, was Alastor. The deer flinched when he saw Angel.

"Nervous?" Angel asked. "Don't worry, it happens."

"S-sorry." Alastor said. "I've...never done this with anyone else."

"That's okay, sweetheart, we can take it slow." Angel said. "No shame if you change yer mind."

"There's not?" Alastor asked.

"'Course there's not." Angel said. "Wanna come in?" Alastor nodded. Angel led him into the room, and shut the door. "Okay, first thing's first, you said you wanted me in control, is that right?"

"Yes." Alastor said.

"Did you want me ta fuck you?" Angel asked.

"I can't imagine any other way we'd do this." Alastor said. "Yes, you will be fucking me."

"I could ride you-"

"I don't have a penis." Alastor said, looking at the ground.

Angel blinked. "Oh. Okay." He said. "Oh."

"Stop saying that." Alastor said.

"Sorry, I just...I wasn't expectin' that." Angel said. "Um...born this way, or woke up in Hell with it?"

Alastor's ears flicked back. "Does that matter?"

"Yeah, actually." Angel said. "They're physically a little different if you were born with it, vs if you got it when you died. If you got it in Hell, you still have testes, so I gotta be careful with those, or I can play with those, if they're on the outside, an' if you like that, an' yer clit's gonna be a little further out, an' yer pussy's a little less deep, an' yer still gonna have a prostate."

Alastor blinked. "I was born with it." He muttered.

"Okay." Angel said. "Either way, I was guessin' you'd wanna avoid any feminine stuff?"

"You...may call it what it is, and you may call me a doe, but could you...avoid anything other than that?" Alastor asked.

"'Course I can." Angel said. "I can 'call it what it is', does that mean 'vagina' or 'pussy'?"

"Either." Alastor said.

"Got it. I don't wanna make you uncomfortable." Angel said. "Okay, anythin' else I should avoid?"

"My antlers are fragile, so don't...touch them, and my ears are sensitive, so don't touch them." Alastor said. "That's all. You may be as rough as you like. You may make me bleed, you may use your claws, your teeth, you may hit me, anything you want."

"What about toys? Can I use those?" Angel asked. "Like...for the impact play stuff, or maybe knifeplay, if you wanna bleed?"

"Cleaned?" Alastor asked.

"Definitely thoroughly cleaned twice since last use." Angel said. "Um...some'a them were a little dusty. I re-cleaned everything an hour ago."

"Then I trust you." Alastor said. "You're a professional. You know what you're doing."

"Okay." Angel said. "My boundaries, um...don't say anythin' in Spanish, don't call me a good boy, an' don't pull my fur. You got anythin' like that I shouldn't do?"

Alastor shook his head. "I've already told you." He said.

"Alright, next is safewords." Angel said. "You okay with traffic lights? Red fer stop, green fer go?"

"Yes." Alastor said.

"D'you wanna be tied up?" Angel asked.

"No, I'd...prefer verbal restraint." Alastor said. "If that's...alright?"

"Got it." Angel said. "How d'you wanna be taken care of, after? Just cleanin' an' dressin' yer wounds, or holdin' you through it, too?"

"Immediately after we stop, if you touch me at all, I'll panic." Alastor said. "I'll probably cry, and I'll probably bite you, so clean yourself up first. Give me...a few minutes. After that, whichever you prefer."

"You get touch averse, after?" Angel asked.

"Severely. And usually non-verbal." Alastor said. "If I can't respond verbally, it's too soon."

"Okay. I'll be careful." Angel said. "What position d'you prefer?"

"I don't mind." Alastor said.

"Okay, and last thing, I've got a knot. D'you know what that is?" Angel asked.

Alastor shook his head.

"I've got this little bulb at the base of my dick that expands to the size of a baseball, an' locks me in until I come." Angel said. "I can fuck you without goin' past it, if you don't want it in you. I won't be able to pull out until it goes down, if I use it."

"...Will it hurt?" Alastor asked.

"Yes. It will hurt a little, even if I prepare you properly." Angel said. "An' I don't wanna tear anythin' inside, so I am gonna prepare you properly."

"I'd like you to use it, please." Alastor said. "And...you should know, I...died a virgin."

"No fuckin' way." Angel said. "It heals all the way, every time?"

"Yes." Alastor said. "Usually within hours. Don't be gentle, I rather enjoy when it tears."

He didn't look as nervous as he had done before. He was still smiling, but now he looked a little more relaxed. That was good.

"Angel?" Alastor asked, suddenly looking a little confused. "Why can I smell Husker in your room?"

"Oh, uh...he was in here, day before yesterday." Angel said. "Actually, he's in a pretty similar situation ta you. Jus' broke up."

"You and he had sex?" Alastor asked.

"Yeah, we got drunk an' fucked." Angel said.

"I see." Alastor said.

"Is that okay?" Angel asked. "We used a condom. Oh, um...I'm gonna use a condom with you, too. Is that okay? Jus' I literally can't risk anythin', fer work, an' I know yer prob'ly clean, but-"

"Angel. I understand. That's fine." Alastor said. "I take the same care with my voice, or, I did, when I was alive, and it mattered." He paused for a few moments, looking like he was thinking. "Did Husk...tell you who it was?"

"No, he didn't, an' if he did, that ain't any'a your business." Angel said.

"Hmm. I see." Alastor said, actually looking impressed.

"Okay." Angel said, feeling slightly awkward. "Wanna get started, then?"

Alastor's smile brightened again. "Yes, let's."

Chapter Text

"Can I kiss you, sweetheart?" Angel asked. Alastor nodded, ears pressing back, as he let Angel tug him towards the bed. Angel leaned in close, and kissed him.

Alastor melted. It was bizarre. Al was doing everything right, responding to the slightest changes in speed or angle, submitting to Angel so easily. Angel could still feel that gentle thrum of energy just beneath his skin, could so easily pick up on how strong Al was, but the Overlord was acting like he wanted to feel weak, wanted to be made to feel small.

Angel put two hands on Al's waist, and moved him onto the bed properly. Alastor whimpered, and didn't resist in the slightest. Angel took Al's wrists, and pinned him down. Alastor moaned into his mouth, and squirmed slightly under him.

Angel broke the kiss. Al whined in disappointment.

"Sorry, baby, but I thought you wanted me ta fuck you." Angel said. "Can't do that with clo-"

Alastor huffed, and snapped his fingers. They were both instantly completely naked. "Better?"

Angel blinked. "Um...could ya...put my socks back on?" He asked, markings glowing in embarrassment. "I'm a little...weird about my feet."

Alastor's ears pressed back. "Sorry, darling, I-I didn't realise." He snapped his fingers again, putting Angel's socks back on.

"I never told you, baby, it's fine." Angel said. "Didn't think it'd come up. So, you like kissing, but you seem a little impatient with the foreplay."

"Hurt me, and I won't be impatient." Alastor said.

"Okay, so yer that kinda sub." Angel said. "Actin' like you wanna be punished."

Alastor didn't deny it. His eyes darted off to one side.

"You do wanna be punished." Angel said. "'Cause you think whatever happened was your fault."

"It was." Alastor whispered. "Hit me. Please. Make me feel it. Make me scream. I need to feel something else."

"This has been tearin' you up, hasn't it?" Angel muttered, reaching under his bed to grab a crop. "Turn around." He said firmly, moving off of Al. Alastor quickly obeyed, after seeing the tool in Angel's hand.

Angel struck him immediately. Alastor bleated in surprise. He had a tail, sticking straight up, quivering. Angel struck him again, harder. Al yelped, and tried to rub his thighs together.

"None'a that." Angel said, tugging Al's legs apart. "You told me ta hit you, I'm hittin' you."

Alastor whined. Angel struck him as hard as he could. Alastor cried out. Angel did it again, in the same place. Alastor collapsed forwards onto the bed.

There was hardly a mark on Al's skin. "Tough as fuck, ain't you?" Angel said. "You were bein' serious when ya said I could be as rough as I wanted, weren't you?"

Alastor nodded.

"Wanna bleed for me, baby?" Angel asked. "Yer wet. Can I touch?"

"Please." Alastor whined.

"Which?" Angel asked.

"Both?" Al asked, hopefully.

"How 'bout my claws in yer side, and my fingers on yer clit?" Angel asked.

Alastor nodded frantically. "Please!"

Angel grinned, and scratched at Al's side gently, while moving two fingers between his legs to touch him. Alastor made an attempt to press into both hands, so Angel held him still with two more. "Be patient, sweet boy, I'm gettin' there." He muttered. Alastor whined in protest, then whimpered when Angel started rubbing at his clit. "There we go, see?"

Alastor tried to rub against Angel's hand. "Claws?" He asked. "Please."

"Oh, since you asked so nicely." Angel said, digging the claws of his other hand into Al's side, deep enough to draw blood. Alastor moaned loudly, leaning into it. "You fuckin' love this, don't you?"

Alastor choked out an agreement.

"Yeah, I'll get to fuckin' you in jus' a minute." Angel said. "I want you wet enough ta take my knot."

A few more moments of insistently rubbing at Al's clit, Angel was just taking in the view. Al had soft red fur on his back, coming down from his shoulders to his tail in a sort of triangular shape, and his limbs all faded from black at the hooves or fingers, to pale grey-ish at the knees or elbows. He was struggling a little against Angel's hold.

Angel removed his claws from Al's side, quickly pressed a cloth onto the wound with another hand, and raked his claws down Al's back, not quite hard enough to draw blood. Alastor squeaked, and bucked into Angel's hand.

He'd always found it harder to tell with this kind of anatomy, but he was fairly certain from the way Al's core muscles all tensed at once, the strained noise he made, and the slick that was now dripping down Angel's hand, that Alastor came from that.

"There we go." Angel said, opening a condom packet. "So fuckin' wet fer me. Turn ta face me." He helped Al roll onto his back. The deer's face was flushed, and he was panting.

"Angel?" He asked, voice small.

"You need a break?" Angel asked, pausing halfway through rolling the condom on, to check in. "I was gonna fuck you like this."

"Y-yes, I...I don't need a break, darling." Alastor said. "I'm alright. Please continue."

Angel grinned, stroking his dick to get Al's slick all over it. "One'a the things you said you wanted was fer me to enjoy this." He said. Alastor nodded. "Well, I want you to enjoy it, too. I gotta admit, I'm a little out'a practice with this kinda anatomy, so if I do somethin' you don't like, I want you ta tell me."

"I understand." Alastor said. "Please, I...I'm ready for you, Angel."

Angel nodded, and lined himself up. "Won't knot you right away." He muttered, starting to press in, and immediately getting caught on Al's hymen. "I get that yer a masochist, but that ain't a good kinda hurt. Plus, I gotta give it a minute ta move down far enough."

"Angel, don't be gentle." Alastor said. "You have no idea how good pain feels to me."

Angel chuckled. "I'm a masochist, too, baby." He said. "I know exactly how good it feels." He pulled back a little, then roughly thrust in. Alastor moaned loudly, squeezing around Angel. There was a little bit of blood blooming from the torn membrane. Angel ignored it, and started fucking Alastor properly.

Alastor's legs had wrapped themselves around Angel's waist. His ears were pressed all the way back, and his eyes were squeezed shut. He was moving his hips in time with Angel's thrusts, and making an effort to keep his breathing steady.

"Yer doin' so good, baby." Angel muttered, changing his angle a little. "Takin' me so well."

"Please, please, please, darling, hurt me." Alastor begged. "Claws, hit me, anything, please."

Angel slapped him hard across the face. Alastor cried out, clenching around Angel's dick like he was on the edge again already. Then Angel kissed him, forcing his tongue past Al's lips right away. Alastor didn't resist at all.

Angel's knot had moved far enough down to be catching at Al's entrance with every thrust. Angel decided Al probably wouldn't appreciate the warning as much as most people would.

"Relax for me, baby." Angel whispered, starting to press into him more forcefully. Alastor took a breath, and seemed to go completely limp. "That's it. Jus' let me in." Angel kissed him again, so Alastor could hardly make a sound as the knot slipped in. Al came a second time, clenching around Angel erratically, as the knot expanded to its full size.

Al was grasping at Angel's shoulders, trying to keep him close, as Angel rocked them together. Both of them were breathing fast, and Angel's legs were starting to ache a little bit.

He wondered how many times he could make Alastor come before he did.

Maybe only twice? He was already close. One more.

"Al? Baby, can I bite you?" Angel asked, voice a little strained.

"Oh, a-as hard as...you'd like." Alastor breathed. "This is incredible. Hurts so good."

"When I bite you, I want you ta stop breathin' for me. You understand?" Angel purred.

"I-I understand." Alastor whimpered. "Please bite my neck."

Angel didn't hesitate at all, and bit straight into Alastor's neck, letting his fangs sink in as deep as they'd go. The metallic taste of blood filled his mouth. He may have swallowed some. It didn't matter, because Alastor was screaming and writhing in pain. He didn't take another breath, instead snapping his mouth shut, and tightening everything in his core, and then he was coming again, and Angel was, too.

Angel pulled out as soon as he was physically able to, and disposed of the condom. Alastor was staring blankly up at the ceiling, bleeding from three different places, and breathing hard.

"Alastor?" Angel asked. "You okay?"

Alastor made a little noise, but didn't actually say anything. Angel stopped touching him.

"I'm gonna start cleanin' up, okay?" Angel said. "Take all the time you need."

The noise Al responded with was small and inexplicably deer-like. Angel took it as confirmation that he'd understood, and headed into the bathroom to clean himself up.

Chapter Text

Angel rinsed the blood out of his fur. It took almost two minutes for the water to run clear. He'd left the bathroom door open, in case Alastor needed him. The deer was yet to make another sound.

When the water was warm, Angel filled a plastic tub, and put a softer wash cloth in it for Alastor. He then washed around his crotch, plus anywhere he felt sweaty, and dried his fur as well as he could.

He took the plastic tub, and headed back into the bedroom, grabbing and stepping into a pair of pyjama shorts on the way. "Hey, sweetheart, you doin' okay?" He asked.

Alastor had curled up on his side. Angel could still clearly see all three of his wounds, and the faint marks forming where he'd been struck. Al made a little noise, and shook his head slightly.

"That's okay." Angel said. "I'm gonna change the blanket, this one's a little dirty. Won't touch you."

He removed the thin fluffy blanket from the foot of the bed, where it had been scrunched up while they were fucking, careful not to touch Al at all.

It took him a couple of moments to find where Alastor had teleported their clothes, in a messy pile on his desk chair. Angel put what wasn't clean of his in his laundry basket, and, since he had no idea what to do with Al's, simply left that where it was.

"Ah-" Alastor said, quietly. "Angel?"

Angel looked up from the pile of stuff in the laundry basket. "Hi, Al." He said, softly. "How're you doin'?"

"...I-" Alastor choked on his words, and waited a moment to try again. "I'm alright." He was trembling slightly.

"How are you with touch?" Angel asked. "You look cold, an' I wanna clean yer wounds."

"...You may...try." Alastor said, slowly. "I'll...tell you if it makes my skin crawl."

Angel knelt by the bed, and reached out slowly to touch Al's wrist. Alastor flinched immediately, and started breathing faster.

"I'm fine. I'm fine." Al whispered, squeezing his eyes shut, and hiding his face in Angel's pillow.

"Al, if you need more time-"

"No! I-I don't, I'm alright." Alastor insisted. "Just nervous. I'm fine."

"...Okay." Angel said, not entirely convinced. "I'm gonna start with the one on yer neck. Tell me if you need me ta stop. Seriously, sweetheart, there's no shame if you get overwhelmed."

"Oh, you sound like H-" Alastor stopped abruptly.

Angel smiled softly, starting to clean the bite he'd left on Alastor's neck. "Yer partner?" He guessed.

"Yes." Alastor said.

"Well, I'm glad you found someone who takes care'a you like that." Angel said. "People that do are fuckin' hard ta come by in Hell."

Alastor hummed. "I suppose I got lucky twice." He whispered. "You've been so kind to me. So patient with my...unusual preferences."

Angel shrugged. "What can I say?" He said. "I'm good at this shit. Lift yer head so I can wrap this." Alastor did. "Thanks, baby. Um...yeah, it's always important ta me. When I'm the dom, I've gotta be what you need. If you need me t'be controlling, I will be. If you need me ta back off fer a little while, after, I will. Can you breathe?"

Alastor moved his head around a little. "Yes, just fine." He said.

He sounded a little uncomfortable.

"Alastor, what's wrong?" Angel asked.

Al's ears pressed back. "It was my fault." He muttered, tears welling in his eyes. "I pushed him, and he left me. I don't...deserve...for you to be so kind to me."

"I don't know what happened, but it sounds like you regret what you did, an' you didn't realise it was wrong when you did it." Angel said. Alastor nodded. "Right, so are you gonna try ta fix it?"

"I'd like to." Alastor said. "I...don't know how."

"Apologise ta him." Angel said, moving on to the claw marks on Al's side, starting to clean those. "Talk it out. If he loves you, he'll wanna fix it, too. I know yer this big, strong Overlord now, but you were human, an' humans make mistakes. He'll understand."

Alastor hummed, considering that. "What should I say?"

"That yer sorry. You didn't mean fer it ta go the way it did, an' it won't happen again." Angel said. "...What did you do?"

"Does it matter? He felt like I forced him." Alastor said.

"Was it a sex thing?" Angel asked.

"Yes. I was curious. I didn't think he'd want to, if I just...asked." Alastor said.

"You know it's natural t'be curious, right?" Angel asked.

"Not about this." Alastor muttered. "I...like feeling weak when we...have sex. Sometimes, I...like for us to pretend he's forcing me. It's fun. It makes me feel alive. What I...was curious about was an extreme of that. What if I truly didn't have a choice? What if I didn't have a say at all? The thought of being so completely at his mercy excites me beyond belief. But I didn't ask him."

Angel blinked. That sounded almost exactly like what Husk's boyfriend did. "Lemme guess, you took a date rape drug before you saw him, so you'd know what it was like t'be fucked like that?"

Alastor looked away. "Yes." He said. "I...may have taken too much."

"An' you think that 'cause you don't remember what happened?" Angel asked. Alastor nodded. "If you used rohypnol, that can cause temporary amnesia, so you might just not remember 'cause'a that." He paused, trying to get this self-adhesive bandage to self-adhere. "Um...that kinda scene, where one'a you is drugged out'a yer mind, you both gotta know it's safe. I wouldn't'a fucked you if you came to me high, especially not if I thought it looked like you'd been fuckin' roofied. If yer guy loved you an' cared about you like you say he did, I don't think he would have, either."

Alastor looked up at him. "You think...he didn't?"

"I think he didn't." Angel said. "Why don't you talk to him, an' find out fer yourself?"

"It's the middle of the night, and I smell like you." Alastor hissed.

"I didn't mean now, I meant in the morning." Angel said.

"He'll know I had sex with someone." Alastor said. "And he'll know you were rough with me."

"Al, yer an Overlord, you'll be healed-"

"My demonic healing paradoxically heals bad injuries like bites faster than simple bruises." Alastor said. "Yes, the claw mark, the bite, the tear, they will be healed, but I'll still have a bruise on my face."

"Shit. I'm sorry, I-"

"No, it's alright, I loved when you did it, and I like having marks that I can keep for longer, it's just...not very convenient." Alastor said.

"You could'a got that anywhere." Angel said.

"The presence of more severe injuries slows down its healing." Alastor said. "I don't allow myself to get injured, except like this."

"Talk to him when it's healed, then." Angel said. "Al? Am I okay ta clean yer pussy? Jus', I wanna stop the bleedin' there, if I can, an' you don't want it ta get sticky while that's still healing."

"...I'll do that." Alastor said. "Give me the cloth."

Chapter Text

Angel didn't like to assume anything. So many people made assumptions about him, most of which were perpetuated by Valentino to the point that people just took them as fact. It made him feel like shit.

That being said, it really felt like Alastor and Husk had just broken up with each other.

When he'd first thought it might be that, Angel was seriously concerned. That was when Angel was severely hungover after his night with Husk, thinking about talking with Husk about being owned by an Overlord, at the bar. From the outside, Husk seemed to hate Alastor, and Al seemed to enjoy tormenting Husk, but Husk had jumped to defend Al.

Then, when Alastor went to him asking for this, so soon after Husk had, he'd thought maybe.

And then he found out that not only was Al submissive in bed, but he also had a pussy, and was definitely a masochist, exactly how Husk had described his boyfriend.

Then Al had asked if Husk had told Angel who it had been, it felt like Alastor already knew, and was just trying to find out if Angel knew.

Husk had said that he'd told his boyfriend that he didn't want to see him. Angel had hardly seen Alastor at all around the hotel through the day, which wasn't like him. Angel knew from the first commercial Al had made for the hotel that the guy tended to take things literally.

Plus Alastor had nearly said his partner's name, and that had started with H, so...

Yeah, it was very easy to conclude that the two of them had been together.

Husk's outward dislike of being near Alastor was starting to look like a strategy to keep Husk safe from Alastor's enemies.

Alastor sighed softly in his sleep. He'd been hesitant to stay, but Angel had insisted. After the first few minutes of not wanting to be touched at all, Al had seemed relatively okay, all things considered. Angel wanted to be right there if Al started to drop.

So far, they were fine.

If Angel could turn his brain off for five minutes, he'd be able to go to sleep, too.

Angel woke up early, much earlier than he had wanted to, to find Alastor, half asleep, nuzzling into the fur of his chest and shoulders, gently grooming him with his tongue.

"Um...Alastor?" Angel asked, very confused.

Al hummed, and didn't stop.

Angel tried to remember if the last doe he'd slept with had done this after. He couldn't think who it had been, nor could he remember if they had. The last buck had definitely wanted to keep him close for hours, after, and had become quite distressed when Angel had to go.

Still, it was easy to guess that this was just Al's instincts. "Cleanin' me, huh?" Angel asked. "How long have you been awake, sweetheart?"

Alastor stopped for a moment, looked up at Angel, and then kept going, moving up Angel's neck a little.

"You'll get a hairball." Angel warned. Al shook his head. "You will. Trust me."

"I won't." Alastor said. "I...want the salt, I think."

"Yer lickin' up my sweat?" Angel asked. "I can get you, like, a salt lamp, or somethin'."

"I have one." Alastor said. "I...also want to be close to you. I-I'm sorry, this isn't what you agreed to."

"No, it's okay." Angel said. "My shift today starts after lunch, so y'can be near me until then."

"Normally, I...I'd be alright, even if I could only see him." Alastor whispered. "But you're not him. You'll have to go. It's making me feel...nervous. On edge? I'm not sure."

"Why don't you talk to him, then?" Angel asked.

"Because I...I'm scared that he won't want me anymore."

"Alastor. That's fuckin' ridiculous. Who the fuck wouldn't want you?" Angel said. "Yer, like, the most untouchable man in Hell, yer powerful as fuck, yer gorgeous, an', from what you said yesterday, yer partner really cares about you. He'd be a fool not ta take you back."

Alastor started licking Angel's neck again, just for a few moments, while he considered that. "When...I talk to him, I should...apologise." He said.

"What for?" Angel prompted.

"For...taking the drugs without talking to him first." Alastor said. "And...for thinking he wouldn't try to understand why I wanted to try it like that."

Angel smiled. "Good." He said. "And yer gonna promise...?"

"That it won't happen again." Alastor said. "I'll promise to talk to him next time I want to try something new. Or...if I want to try this again."

"Perfect." Angel said. "Wanna get dressed, an head down ta breakfast?"

Alastor nodded. "That would be nice." He said. "I'll go and talk to him after."

Chapter Text

"Oh my gosh, Alastor, what happened?" Charlie asked, seeing the almost purple bruise on Alastor's face.

"You should have seen the other guy." Alastor said, alongside a laugh track. "Don't fret, Charlie, it's nothing for you to be concerned about."

Charlie looked concerned throughout breakfast. Vaggie rolled her eye at least three times. Husk's hackles were up, and his feathers were poofed, making him look a little bigger, from the moment he noticed that Alastor smelled like Angel. Niffty had asked once if Alastor was okay, then wholeheartedly believed the 'yes, I'm fine' she got in response.

Huh. Husk was definitely acting like he saw Alastor as his. Niffty seemed to know not to question any bruises or marks Alastor had.

Yeah, Alastor and Husk were definitely together.

"So, um...Alastor." Charlie said, after everyone had finished. "I've hardly seen you at all for the last three days, and you come back with...that on your-"

"Charlie, I've told you, it's not something for you to worry about." Alastor said. "I have been in the building for the vast majority of the last seventy two hours. I only left once, for two hours, two days ago, to visit a friend in Cannibal Town."

"So...what happened?" Charlie asked.

"The cupboard door in my bathroom was jammed, and I'd emptied a tube of toothpaste. The spare was in the cupboard, and, with entirely too much effort, the door opened so abruptly that I didn't have time to move." Alastor said, smiling. "I know, I know, it's abysmally mundane, but what can you do? I'm only human."

"Oh." Charlie said. "Are...you okay?"

"Yes, I'm fine." Alastor said. "I'm an Overlord. I heal almost as quickly as yourself. I'll be right as rain by tonight."

"That's not fast at all for a sinner, Alastor." Charlie said. "This happened last night? It's just a bruise. It should be mostly gone by now."

"I have a paradoxical healing disorder, where worse injuries heal quicker." Alastor said. "I'd be better cutting this area of skin off completely, than letting the bruise heal as it is."

"You're lying." Charlie said. "Any paradoxical healing disorder would only have an effect if you had several worse injuries."

"Hmm. Smart girl." Alastor said. "As it is, I think my body's trying to prioritise the neck injury. Angel, what do you think? Was that the worst?"

Angel blinked. "Uh...I-I thought you didn't...want anyone ta know."

"That was before you left a bruise on my face, and didn't remind me it was there in the morning." Alastor said. "The bite was worst, yes?"

"...No. Claws went in deeper, an' that bled more." Angel said.

Husk stood up quickly. "Alastor, I need to talk to you, fuckin'...level 4, urgent." He said, firmly.

Alastor followed him into the lobby right away, leaving Angel with Charlie.

"Angel?" Charlie asked, trying to sound stern.

"Yeah?" Angel said.

"What did you do?" Charlie asked.

"Nothin' he didn't ask me to." Angel said. "None'a your business."

"He's my business partner, so, yes, it is." Charlie said. "What did you do?"

"Relax, I just fucked him." Angel said. "He needed it. Don't worry, it was all consensual, an' he asked me for it, I didn't initiate it."

Charlie stared at him for several seconds. "Alastor?"

"Who the fuck else? Yes, Alastor." Angel said. "I'm surprised yer makin' this much fuss about me fuckin' Alastor, when that was all fully safe an' sane an' shit, but me an' Husk fucked very drunk, an' all you did was help me deal with my hangover."

"You and Husk-"

"It was rebound sex fer him, an' I'd been absolutely unsatisfied at work fer the last half a day, so good fer both'a us." Angel said.

Charlie closed her eyes, and took a deep breath. "Why did you hit Alastor's face?"

"That is absolutely none'a your business." Angel said.

"Angel, you're going to lose points if you don't tell me." Charlie said.

"Then take my stupid fuckin' points." Angel snapped. "I ain't tellin' you shit 'bout what me an' Al did."

He left the kitchen, not caring in the slightest that Charlie could take away his 'redemption points'. Yeah, Charlie was following him, but he didn't care about that, either.

He wasn't expecting to find Alastor curled up in Husk's arms on the couch, with Husk checking Al's wounds with so much care, holding the deer like he was something to be worshipped.

"It won't happen again, darling, I promise." Alastor was saying.

"I know, Al." Husk said. "Why didn't you trust me with this, huh?"

"Well, it's not a very normal thing to want, is it?" Alastor asked. "I'm sorry. I will try to communicate better in the future."

"So? You ain't exactly a normal person, Al." Husk said. "These are deep, holy shit."

"He's a spider. He's going to have long fangs." Alastor said. "It felt incredible. I was half expecting him to have venom."

"Can't believe you asked Angel Dust to fuck you." Husk muttered.

"You did, too." Alastor said.

"He offered, and I fucked him." Husk said.

Alastor hummed. "I tried to pay him, but he refused." He said. "His fur is incredibly soft. I think I might keep him."

"Ask first." Husk said.

"If you wanna keep me, you gotta go through Valentino, but I absolutely consent to you takin' my soul from him." Angel said.

Husk and Alastor both sort of abruptly realised that they weren't alone in the lobby, and moved apart from each other as quickly as they could.

Charlie had definitely already seen. "Would someone please explain? I'm very confused."

Chapter Text

"Would someone please explain? I'm very confused."

Angel didn't say a word. Alastor and Husk exchanged a glance, seemingly communicating so much in a single second.

"Me and Al have been dating for years." Husk said. "Angel just helped us through a rough patch, that's all."

"My fault entirely." Alastor said.

"No, it wasn't." Husk said. "I'm so fuckin' sorry fer not makin' sure you knew what happened. And I'm sorry for tellin' you I didn't wanna see you, when I knew full well that you'd take that literally and fuckin' vanish for days."

"I was in the hotel. I went to see Rosie, but I came straight back." Alastor said.

Husk sighed. "Come here." Alastor moved towards him, and let Husk pull him close. "I missed you."

"Mon cher minou." Al muttered. "You smell good."

"You smell like Angel." Husk said, grinning.

"Make me smell like you?" Alastor asked.

"Nah, Angel smells nice." Husk said. "Fuckin' strawberry shampoo."

Alastor made a little noise of protest. Husk pulled him closer, hugged him tight, and Alastor put up exactly zero resistance. "Husk?" He asked. "Charlie knows."

"Charlie ain't gonna kill me ta hurt you, is she?" Husk asked.

Alastor shook his head. "...Angel knows." He muttered. "I didn't tell him it was you."

"Angel's smart, he prob'ly figured it out." Husk said.

"I ain't gonna tell anyone, guys, don't worry." Angel said. "Yer stories were practically the same. It was pretty obvious."

"I'm still confused." Charlie said. "Don't you two...hate each other?"

"For Husker's safety, that's how we act in public." Alastor said. "I have a lot of powerful enemies. If they were to find out that I care so deeply for him, they might target him, take him for ransom, kill him to hurt me, threaten him to get me to do what they want. I don't want him to get hurt. We have to act like this. We have to love each other only behind closed doors."

"Oh." Charlie said. "That's awful. I'm so sorry." She paused for a few seconds. "If...you want, you can act how you want to at the hotel. No-one here wants to hurt either of you."

Alastor smiled at Husk. "It's up to you, darling."

"I finally get to love you all the time? Fuck yes." Husk said.

"Does...this mean we're un-broken up?" Alastor asked.

"Definitely." Husk said.

Chapter Text

It was great to see Husk and Alastor feeling comfortable to be together in the hotel. Angel couldn't help but smile, knowing that he helped them both sort through their feelings, and talk to each other. Charlie sort of discreetly mentioned to Angel that he wouldn't be losing any redemption points.

The morning activity was trust falls, which was easy considering Angel very intimately trusted both Alastor and Husk now.

And then after lunch, Angel had to go to work. The first hour was very standard, but then something changed. Val changed. He seemed angry about something, and he was pushing back new films, and prioritising the ones that were nearly finished.

At the end of his shift, close to 8am, Angel wasn't sure what to expect. Val took him (dragged by the wrist) into his office, which usually meant he wanted to fuck him, or beat him. He still looked angry, so it was probably the latter, unless Val was horny, too.

"Everything's done." Val said, when the door was shut and locked. Angel readied himself to be hit, but it didn't happen. "I've gotten bored of you, Angel. There's nothing left that I can do with you."

"W-what?" Angel asked, truly confused.

"I've sold you." Valentino said. "You're not my problem anymore."

Angel's heart did something strange, somewhere between sinking, jumping up into his throat, and racing. "You...what?"

"You aren't mine." Valentino said. "You're boring. I don't want you."

"But-" Angel stopped himself. Why was he trying to argue this?

At least he knew what Val was like. Whoever was buying him...he didn't know what they'd be like.

"Who?" Angel asked.

"Not my fucking problem." Val said.

"Where do I go?" Angel asked.

"Someone will be around to pick you up." Val said. "Remember, Angelcakes. You're used goods. Don't you fucking dare make me look bad. I have the rights to all of your films. They're getting you as you are."

"You...don't know who?" Angel asked.

Val shrugged. "Don't know, don't care." He said. "I got what I needed from you, I don't need you. Now get out of my building, before I have you killed for trespassing. You aren't welcome here anymore."

Angel swallowed, and nodded shakily.

"Oh, and Angel?" Val said. "It's been a pleasure owning you."

Angel was outside the Studio, waiting for...someone.

He wanted to go back to the hotel.

He'd wanted to get away from Valentino for decades.

Right now, with no warning, and no idea what to expect, Angel was fucking terrified.

"Hello, darling."

Angel turned his head towards the voice, and there was Alastor. The deer's face was no longer bruised, and Angel could feel the aura around him that obscured him from cameras.

"Al?" Angel asked.

"Come on. Let's get you back to the hotel." Alastor said, smiling softly.

"I...I can't." Angel said. "Val...sold me. I-I don't know...who to."

"I purchased your contract, darling." Alastor said. "Don't worry, I handled everything, and I've written up a draft of a new contract for you, without any of the...less than would be legal clauses he had you under."

Angel blinked. "You?" He asked. "I...I'm yours?"

"You're mine." Alastor said. "Now, let's get you back to the hotel, so you can rest."

Chapter Text

Angel was on edge. He kept waiting for the other shoe to drop, for Alastor to turn around and tell him he didn't want him, he'd changed his mind, but that never happened. Angel had no idea what to expect. He'd heard stories about Al being awful to his contractees, but...Niffty had always seemed happy enough, and Husk was dating him, so he couldn't be all that bad, could he?

But all Overlords always treated him like shit. And now Al owned him...Val was good to him at the start. Would Alastor...change? Would Alastor throw him aside when he got bored of him?

"Are you hungry?" Alastor asked, as Angel followed him through the lobby.

Angel hadn't been told he could speak. He simply nodded.

"What would you like?" Alastor asked.

"...I...don't mind." Angel said, quietly. He then flinched, fully expecting to be punished for speaking without permission.

Alastor definitely noticed. "He conditioned you, didn't he?" He asked. "You expect me to strike you, if you speak out of line."

Angel was trembling. He practically collapsed onto the floor, when Alastor took a step towards him. He'd already done something wrong. Al was already going to punish him.

Warm arms around him. Safe, gentle arms, holding him. "I won't hurt you, Angel." Alastor's tone was soft, too soft, like he was trying to trick Angel. No Overlord would be kind like this. "You're exhausted, aren't you? You may speak freely. I will never punish you for speaking, darling."

"...'M'tired." Angel muttered. "An' 'm'scared."

"Then you should rest." Alastor said. "Tell me what you're scared of."

His tone was still gentle, but Angel heard it as an order. "You." He said. "Y'might...hurt me, or...get bored'a me, an'...throw me out."

"That's what he let you believe, isn't it?" Alastor asked. "It took me almost an hour of negotiating, to get him to give up your contract. He didn't want to lose you. I'm definitely not going to throw you out. You're so interesting, and soft, and I haven't wanted someone like this since I met Husker. I want to have you, and I want to keep you."

Angel was still trembling. "Promise?" He asked, voice small.

"I promise, Angel."