Angel groaned as he flopped onto his usual barstool and patted the countertop, making Husk jump. "Husky… I need a drink. On the rocks." Husk shivered as he looked and saw just how tired and haggard Angel looked, reaching up and grabbing a couple of bottles off the shelf and a highball glass. "Let me guess… another long shoot?" Husk asked, "I'm starting to sense a pattern in the works."
"Oh yeah?" Angel asked as Husk prepared his drink, "What sorta 'pattern'?" "Well," Husk said with a shrug and a sigh, "Seems like damn near every time your boss is getting ready to meet with someone… investors, writers, what have you… he puts you through the wringer in the last few days to a week leading up to it. It's like he's wanting desperately to put you through your paces while he still can before you take off for your much deserved break. I don't know, maybe it's just me. Still, pattern or no, it's pretty fucking disturbing."
Angel just scoffed, running his fingers through his hair to straighten it out a bit as Husk slid his drink across the countertop. "Yeah, well… it's not that big a deal. Don't get me wrong, I fucking hate Val and his bullshit. But… trust me, I've had it worse. Way worse. Honestly, it hasn't been all that bad lately."
"Uh-huh, sure." Husk huffed, crossing his arms. "Ugh, what do you want me to say, Husk?" Angel sighed, "I can't not do what my boss tells me; you know how that is better than anyone here. It sucks, but, it's not like he can really do anything to me worse than he's already done. I mean, I guess he could kill me, but then he'd be so shit outa luck!" "Angel, don't joke about that!" Husk snapped, slapping the countertop and grabbing Angel by his shoulders, "I mean it, man; that's not even remotely funny. If Valentino ever even tried to do that to you… I… I," Husk paused, choking back a few tears and said, "I'd have to kill him."
"Hehe, you… you're joking, right Husky?" Angel asked with a chuckle. Husk looked him dead in the eyes and shook his head. "You're… not joking." Angel gently took Husk's hands off his shoulders and sat them on the countertop. Husk sighed and said, "You are… easily the healthiest relationship I've had with anyone in almost twenty years. If I lost you… well, I'd… I'd be a complete mess. So just… please… don't even put that out there. Please."
Angel smiled, cupping Husk's cheeks with his top hands and bringing Husk in for a kiss. Husk sighed, moaning into Angel's mouth as he reached up and rested his hand on Angel's cheek, trying to ignore the heat rising between his legs. Husk gasped as he felt Angel's fingers slip past the elastic of his boxers. "Mm-mm… no," Husk groaned, grabbing Angel's wrist and pulling his hand away, "Don't. Not here, okay?"
"Hehehe… alright, Husky." Angel chuckled, kissing Husk on the cheek before sitting back in his barstool and taking a quick sip of his drink. Husk just smiled and sat down in his chair behind the bar, sighing as he stretched his wings and got comfortable. Husk sighed, pulling out his flask and taking a quick swig before tucking it away and saying, "Hey, Angel… what do you know about baking?"
"Hmmm… baking? Why?" Angel asked. "Well… I'm expecting a shipment of ingredients at Bébé's bakery in Cannibal Town. For a cake… a very special cake." "This for Hazel's birthday party?" Husk nodded and said, "I've been making the same cake almost every year for her birthday. It's sorta like a tradition. The thing is… well… I'm not sure if I'm going to be up to doing it all by myself this year. I've been going through a lot of shit lately, and… well, if you could give me a hand, I'd really appreciate it."
Angel smiled and raised a brow, giving a thoughtful hum as he took another sip of his drink. "Well, I don't know, Husky. Other than cake, what do I get out of it?" "Uh… I don't understand," Husk droned, "Ain't this the kind of stuff that friends and partners just sorta… do for each other? I just… what are you hoping to get out of it? It's a cake, for fuck sake! What more could you possibly want?"
"Well... since you asked." Angel smirked, reaching into his chest fluff and pulled out a small box labeled 'barbed and dangerous.' Husk's cheeks flushed as he stood up and read the label. "Took me a while to find 'em. But, there are your reinforced condoms." "Sex? That's what you want? For helping me bake a cake for my kid?" Husk asked indignantly. "What? No," Angel laughed, "I mean, yeah, I wanna have sex with you, but not right now. I know you're going through some major shit lately, and that's okay. We don't have to do anything right now, or even anytime soon. Maybe we can talk about it this weekend while I'm off."
"So then why buy these for me?" Husk asked holding up the box, "Why bring this up at all?" Angel snatched the box and stuck it back into his fluff before taking Husk's hands and said, "All I want is to hear you say you'd be willing to give it a shot. Once you're over… whatever's going on with you, we'll go out, have a nice dinner… then we'll come home, head up to my room, and… well, I'm sure you can figure out the rest." Husk's face flushed as Angel gave a flirty wink. "So, what do you say, Husk? At least say you'll think about it."
Husk turned to the side, mulling over the idea for a few moments before letting out a sigh and nodded. "Alright. I guess we can give it a shot." "Really!? You mean it, Husk?" Angel squeaked, smiling as Husk nodded and said, "Yeah… but… just try not to be too disappointed if things don't quite work out the way you're hoping."
Angel leaned over and pressed his lips against Husk's, giving him a long, firm kiss before pulling away and gently running his fingers through Husk's cheek fur, saying, "Trust me, Husky… after the other night, I don't think you could ever do anything in the bedroom that would disappoint me." Husk smiled and blinked back a few tears as he and Angel wrapped their arms around each other in a loose hug, purring softly in Angel's ear as the spider demon gently petted the back of his head and neck. "So, when do we bake?"
"Well, before we get into that, maybe you could help me with something else." Angel raised a brow as he sat back down and Husk continued, "You see, I got some delicious blueberry drizzle cheesecake at the bakery today, but I've got nobody to share it with. You wouldn't be interested… would you, Angel?" Angel smiled and laughed, raising his arms and cheered, "Hell yeah! Cake me up, baby."