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Being friends with Angel Dust was always a whirlwind.
When they'd first met- at a group meeting for recovering addicts of all places- Husk hadn't been able to stand Angel. His crass jokes, the fact that he was a little taller than him (which was made worse by the heels he always insisted on wearing), the way he treated his tiny pet pig like an actual human child and brought him to every meeting.
“He’s my emotional support animal, and he won’t cause no trouble. Plus, look how cute he is!”
He'd been everything Husk had always loathed; loud, showboating, a presence that filled up a room. Everything Husk wasn't.
But then Husk got to know him. The Angel that was soft and kind and loved dressing up and spending time with the people he loved. The Angel who was fiercely protective, which Husk had seen initially when it came to Fat Nuggets, but got to see more of once they’d started to get closer. Angel was the one who brought him into the world of community theatre, which Husk had grown quite fond of.
Though not quite as fond as he was of Angel.
Maybe it had been foolish to go and fall head over ass over this man who was so clearly out of his league. This man who was quite possibly the most beautiful person Husk had ever had the pleasure of knowing, both inside and out. He’d tried to stop it from happening, but it was just inevitable. Angel was a freight train and Husk was tied to the fucking tracks.
But there was something about Angel that Husk just could not get behind- his fucking boyfriend. Valentino. The slimy fucker had his claws so deep in Angel, Husk could practically see the blood seeping out.
Angel had told Husk that Valentino had no idea about the AA meetings. That he was trying to get clean but knew Val wouldn't like it. ‘Cept every time Angel went out with the dick, he'd call Husk high out of his mind to ask him to check on Fat Nuggets for him.
And even though he complained, he always did. Because Angel asked him to.
For his 30th birthday celebration, Angel went all out. He booked a huge venue, got an open bar, practically issued a dress code.
“I wanna see ya in a suit, Whiskers. I bet ya clean up real nice.”
Husk had gone and gotten a suit just for the occasion. Nothing too fancy, Charlie had helped pick it out. The girl knew her way around a suit, Husk had to admit.
He thought he looked decent when he looked in the mirror. He felt like he looked incredible with the way Angel’s eyes went wide at the sight of him, a pretty blush painting his cheeks. It made Husk feel real good, confident, though he knew he had nothing on Angel.
Angel in his corset top and mini skirt, both in a dark blue, almost black color, covered in rhinestones. He was glittery and sparkling and… damn radiant. It had been a long ass time since Husk had been so interested in a person, in having them be his. Seeing him in his birthday getup, Husk knew no one would ever make him feel the way Angel did ever again.
“I was right, Whiskers! You do clean up real nice,” Angel said, clearly going for his usual bravado but falling a little short as he straightened out Husk’s lapel. He almost sounded flustered. Husk hoped the blush he felt on his face wasn't noticeable.
“Ain't nothing compared to you, Legs. You look amazing.”
“Don't I?! It's custom. Val convinced Velvette to make it for me.” Angel did a little twirl, and Husk ignored the dropping of his stomach at the mention of Valentino.
But of course, speak of the devil and he shall appear.
“Amorcito, you look gorgeous!” Valentino’s obnoxious voice cut through the crowd and Angel only had a moment to look anxious before he was putting on his facade for his beau.
“Thank you, Val. Vel really killed it,” he said.
“Mm, she did. But you're going to kill everyone with your beauty tonight.” Valentino pulled Angel up into a filthy kiss, his eyes opening midway and meeting Husk’s over Angel’s shoulder. “Oh Husker. You're here.”
“Val, be nice,” Angel said softly, smacking the man's chest lightly. The smile Valentino put on could only be described as venomous.
“I am being nice, baby.”
Husk hated Valentino, and he knew Valentino hated him just as much.
Husk could tell that Valentino was monopolizing Angel’s time to keep him away from Husk and Cherri. Husk even saw Angel’s twin sister Molly get shoved aside by the dickhead (which was even more fucked since it was also her birthday, not that Valentino seemed to care). Husk could see Angel shoot her an apologetic look as Valentino pulled him away from her.
They were watching him from the side of the dance floor (not the bar, very much on purpose). Cherri was fuming.
“I can't believe Angie still deals with that cunt. He's the absolute worst,” she growled.
“We can't force him to break up with him, Cherr. He has to do that on his own. And a relationship like that is just as bad as any other addiction,” Husk murmured, sipping his soda. Cherri rolled her eyes, but she knew Husk was right.
“The moment he does break up with him, I’m beatin’ that bitch’s face in,” Cherri added. Husk chuckled.
“Can I help?”
Suddenly Angel appeared, frustration written all over his face. “Val invited Vox. Can you fucking believe that? This is my party, I don't want that cuntfuck here!” Husk looked over in the direction of Valentino, and sure enough there was Vox. They were talking to each other, Vox looking pissed off (which was honestly what he looked like most of the time) and Valentino looking annoyed that Vox was pissed off.
“Well at least with Valentino distracted, we can actually spend some time with you,” Cherri said. Angel gave her a deadpan look and she shrugged. “What? It's true! He's keeping you away from us.”
Angel looked like he wanted to respond, but chose not to. He couldn't argue that Valentino wasn't doing exactly that, because they all knew it would be a lie.
“Well then let's get dancing, bitch. Whiskers, you too!” he said instead, clearly trying to change the mood. When he reached out for Husk, he stepped back and shook his head.
“I don't dance. You two go have fun, I'll be here.”
“Husk, it's my birthday!” Angel whined. “C’mon please! One dance!” Cherri made eye contact with Husk over Angel’s shoulder and smirked. She was going to be insufferable about this.
Husk sighed. “Fine. One dance.” He set his drink down and stepped onto the dance floor, just as a slower song started to play.
“You two go ahead! I'll meet you for the next song!” Cherri said, pushing them together. Angel gripped Husk’s shoulders as he fell against him and they stared at each other a moment before he straightened up. But he didn't move his hands. Husk put his hands on Angel’s waist, gripping lightly. He could've sworn he heard Angel gasp softly, but started moving them instead.
Angel’s smile was absolutely radiant as they danced together.
“You ain't so bad at this, Husky,” he said, leaning in close to be better heard over the music. “You been dancin’ without me?”
“You know that you're the only one who could get me dancin’, Legs,” Husk responded, tightening his grip just a hair.
“I feel so fuckin’ honored.” Angel smiled at him, almost shyly. Husk’s heart couldn't fucking take it. “You really do look so handsome,” Angel added. “You should dress up for me more often.”
“This is the nicest outfit I own,” Husk admitted.
“I'll take you shopping. We'll update your whole wardrobe.”
“Angel….”
“Please? For me?”
Anything. He would do anything for Angel.
Husk hummed. “Fine Legs, I'll indulge you.” Angel beamed and hugged him tight. Husk hugged back, unable to help himself from enjoying the closeness. Angel was a tactile person, he and Cherri were always cuddling and touching, but he didn't do that with Husk as much. Husk would take it wherever he could get it.
“Angel!”
And just like that, the bubble had burst. Angel jumped back from Husk, his eyes wide as Valentino stormed over. Husk watched him grab Angel’s arm tightly, saw the way Angel winced.
“What the fuck are you doing?” Valentino hissed.
“I'm just dancin’ with my friend, Val,” Angel responded. “It's not a big deal!” Valentino turned his glare to Husk for a brief moment, sneering in his face, and then dragged Angel out of the room. Husk didn't hesitate to follow them.
“Val, stop. Val, I wasn't doing anything wrong! Stop, you're hurting me!”
“Do you think it's fun to embarrass me? This party is happening because of me. You have everything you have because of me. Without me, Angel Dust is nothing but a coke whore dancing for dollar bills. And this is the thanks I get? You dancing with another man?!”
Husk was shaking with rage, but keeping his distance. He knew for a fact that confronting Valentino right now would make things worse for Angel.
“Husk is just my friend, Val! That's all!”
“No man just wants to be your friend, Angel. Every man wants something from you and we all know what that is.”
Valentino’s hand slid up Angel’s skirt, and Husk watched Angel smack his hand away, probably out of instinct. And then he watched in horror as Valentino slapped Angel across the face.
He heard Angel’s sharp intake of breath and was about to finally interject, when Angel- with his hand on his face- looked at Valentino with wide eyes. “I'm sorry,” Angel breathed, his voice devoid of any emotion. It stopped Husk in his tracks. “I'm sorry, Val, I love you. I'm so sorry.”
Angel was apologizing to him. Angel was telling him he loved him. Husk felt like he was going to be sick.
“I love you too, baby. That's why I have to do these things. To remind you of that,” Valentino said, pulling Angel close to kiss him. Husk couldn't continue watching.
He went back into the party, ignoring the crowd, ignoring Cherri calling out to him. He ignored Molly asking him where he was going and if he’d seen her brother. He went straight to the bar, grabbing the first bottle he could get his hands on, and left the venue entirely.
The sound of Valentino’s palm making contact with Angel’s beautiful face kept replaying in his mind. He just needed to drown it out.