Chapter Text
Chapter 8: I.O.U
As always, the city was still fairly busy as Husk made his way toward the motel. Rowdy students out drinking, young lovers out arm in arm enjoying the summer’s night in the seedier parts of town, and of course Husk’s own ilk - those who were a slave to their vices making their way toward the siren song of the entertainment district. It was pure chance that he heard the ping of his phone over the rabble, and, only a few streets away from the motel, he pulled it out of his pocket to read the crushing words of
With apologies, your usual appointment is unavailable tonight. - The Valentine Motel
Considering they’d taken his number to save him the trip, a cancellation at such short notice meant, in Husk’s mind, bad news. He could only imagine Angel had stormed out again in a bad mood and as he was mentally rescheduling his night, worrying what traps he might fall into without the distraction he happened to see a familiar pink shape moving across the sidewalk with speed.
Angel was clad in his Valentine robe, a pair of dizzyingly high heels and not much else, by the look of it. An alarming outfit to be wandering the streets in, Angel was collecting plenty of stares from passersby but he seemingly hadn’t even noticed Husk as he was striding determinedly away from the motel with a large duffel bag in one hand and his arm slung awkwardly across his chest.
“Woah, Angel. You okay?” Husk asked, turning on the spot to try keep up with him. The unnatural pose made him immediately suspicious that Angel was injured again - and while he was willing to write off one ‘he hit me so I hit him, don’t get involved’, two would be an awfully big thing to overlook.
“Yeah, sorry hon, looks like I’m not workin’ again tonight.” Angel dismissed, still hurrying and occasionally glancing over his shoulder. Husk kept the pace, walking beside him and glaring at the people who were gawking.
It was obvious, in Husk’s mind, that Angel was a hooker. He had no clue why people seemed surprised to see a prostitute in the red lights district, and could only conclude his dishevelment was the biggest issue.
“What’s wrong?” He pressed.
“Nothin’s wrong , I just gotta…” Angel looked around almost frantically, and Husk couldn’t tell if he was trying to get his bearings and figure out where he’d run to so far, or if he was frightened. “Look Tiff’s on shift can ya just hire her an’ get outta my hair?” He begged.
“I happen to know you like it in your hair.” Husk joked and that was the thing that seemed to finally calm Angel, stopping him in his tracks as he laughed and shook his head at the terrible joke.
“Actually…” he looked at Husk carefully and nodded “y’know what, maybe ya can help. D’ya like cats?” Angel asked and Husk blinked off the deja vu. He’d had this conversation far too often lately.
“Cats?” He asked, bewildered. “Nah. Can’t stand the fuckers… why?”
“Ah.” Angel visibly deflated, his wilting make up becoming more apparent. “Fuck. Okay. Don’t matter, I’ll find someone.”
“What’s goin’ on, Angel?” Husk asked, concerned by the seemingly erratic behaviour.
“I uh…” Angel glanced around and then opened his robe slightly, revealing the reason for his uncomfortable posture. A black and white kitten tucked against his bare chest.
“This is KeeKee.” Angel introduced. “Val found her and won’t let me keep her, so… I gotta find her somewhere to live, fast.” He said sadly, raising the bag and revealing it contained a litter box, food and several toys.
“Val… why does your boss get any say in whether or not you keep a cat?” Husk asked, as the kitten raised her head and mrrowed in confusion.
“It’s his motel. I just live in it.” Angel answered and Husk froze, alarm bells ringing in his head.
“You… live at the motel?” Husk asked, surprised. He hadn’t known that. Angel nodded.
“Not in the room I work in,” Angel clarified, as though that somehow made the situation any less concerning. “I got a room upstairs. But yeah, I live there.” He murmured.
Angel reached down and rubbed KeeKee under her chin, hearing the soft purr that promised she was still warm and happy.
“She’s a stray I took in, was wanderin’ around all lost an’ starvin’ on my birthday a few months back so I took her home as a present to myself… thought I could keep her hidden an’ he wouldn’t know but he searched my room and now she’s out on her ass so… s’gonna take me a couple o’ hours to find a place for her. Sorry about our appointment.” Angel apologised, feeling genuinely guilty that he was leaving Husk high and dry again, and cursing his luck that Valentino had chosen a Monday night of all moments for everything to go to hell.
Husk could see why Angel and Valentino clashed so often, and something about him living under his pimp’s roof sat uncomfortably in his chest. To control him so much just wasn’t right on any level.
“So you’re just gonna wander the bars at midnight… dressed like that … tryin’ to find a home for a cat?” Husk asked skeptically. Angel glanced down at his attire and sighed, it wasn’t ideal but he didn’t have much choice.
“Yeah. I mean I’ll probably have to suck a dick or two to get my way but… I’m sure I can find someone who’ll want her. Maybe a guy with kids…” he whispered, scratching KeeKee gently behind her ears.
There was something soul destroying about the sight and that Angel was willing to turn tricks for free just to try ensure she wound up somewhere safe…
“I should go. G’night Husk.” Angel said gently.
“Wait… I don’t want her but I know someone who’ll take her.” Husk sighed, his thoughts immediately turning to Charlie. He’d never known her say no to an animal in need and KeeKee was now technically homeless.
“Your kids?” Angel guessed and it was, to his knowledge, the first time the pair of them had acknowledged that Angel knew Husk was a father, but he didn’t seem at all surprised. He just shook his head.
“Nah. The couple down the road from me run an animal rescue, they’re always taking in strays… too late at night to call on ‘em when I get back but I can take her home with me tonight and bring her to the girls as a rescue tomorrow.” Husk offered, eyeing the cat suspiciously. He didn’t particularly want the (probably flea-ridden) thing in his house destroying his furniture but one night would be fine.
Angel smiled sadly - as though he had been hoping that if he was unable to find a place for her he might be able to keep her.
“Thanks. I owe ya.” He whispered, seemingly unwilling to hand her over just yet. He paused, the words sparking a memory and the realisation that he could kill two birds with one stone if he could make good on his debt to Husk and get a roof over his head for the night. “I actually owe ya.” He recalled. It had haunted him all week, played on his conscious, and yet in the chaos of KeeKee being evicted it had completely slipped his mind.
“The fuck was that about last week, Husk?” He demanded, earning a few more worried looks from strangers in the street. Husk was no idiot. Though it was far more innocent than it appeared, he knew a half dressed hooker yelling at someone in the street suggested he was being harassed, but not a single person stepped in to help him.
Cowards.
“I owe ya two and a half grand.” Angel muttered, embarrassed.
“Nah. We’re fine.” Husk dismissed, reaching for the bag. Angel held it away from him and shook his head.
“You ain’t droppin’ that kinda cash for me to take a nap.” Angel snapped. “But I don’t have that sorta money spare so… I’m not on the payroll right now, if ya want a couple o’ free rounds and know somewhere we can go?” He offered - he’d been willing to fuck around to find her somewhere safe and he trusted that Husk would take her to his neighbours safely. If it squared their debt that was just a bonus.
Husk nodded slowly.
“As far as I’m concerned ya don’t owe me shit, Angel, but sure. My place is empty. Ya can come with an’ get her set up?” Husk told him and it was enough of a red flag that Angel tensed ever so slightly. He had been implying a hotel room, which would have been far cheaper than his usual rate and given him a place to crash until Valentino calmed the fuck down. He’d have settled for a throw down in the car - no stranger to parking somewhere quiet to get up to no good.
To go to a customer’s house was… well risky to say the least. To go to a family man’s house in the middle of the night - even if it was empty for the night as he promised, it was weird, definitely. Angel could clearly see the red flag, warning him not to… but Husk had just saved his ass and he had no reason to disbelieve him.
It would beat surfing the bars in his underwear and sleeping in a back alley at any rate. It would balance their books and guarantee he wouldn’t get in trouble for last week’s impromptu sleep. Swallowing the knot of doubt forming in his stomach, Angel nodded and ignored the alarm bells sounding in his skull telling him to refuse.
“Sure.” He whispered, holding KeeKee closer. “Where ya parked?”
“Not too far. You okay on those heels?” Husk wondered, beginning to lead the way to the parking lot. Angel followed with ease and not a single person who’d witnessed the exchange stepped in to question why he was leaving with the man he’d been yelling at moments before.
“Honey, I get that you’re used to seein’ me barefoot in the bedroom but on the daily I pretty much live in heels, I’ll be fine so long as I don’t have to run.” Angel swore, unable to cross his heart due to the stowaway on his chest.
That one surprised Husk a little. Without the heels Angel was easily 6’3, with them he was nothing short of a skyscraper. He wouldn’t have imagined him wearing them generally, but he lead the way to the parking lot with Angel towering in his wake.
It came as no great surprise really that Husk’s car was something of legendary status. It was sensible - not some flashy midlife crisis thing, but the quality was clear in everything from the bumper plate to the hubcaps. Well maintained, shiny, high tech. Angel was almost envious.
Then again, given he was so calm about writing off two and a half grand, everything about Husk screamed more money than sense.
Angel wasn’t sure he’d ever been in a ride so fancy, and that he wound up sat in the passenger seat in nothing but a pair of heels, some lacy underwear, and a dressing gown, with a kitten (now on his lap) and a bag of pet supplies at his feet made him feel all the more out of place.
Second guessing his decision to go home with a client, Angel reassessed the situation as Husk battled with the car radio. There were certain customers he’d never dream of getting in a car with - Husk wasn’t one of them. He trusted the man, liked to think they’d built up something of a rapport. Months of visits and Husk had never given off violent vibes or made Angel feel unsafe at work, so with all that in mind Angel refused to feel inferior or doubt his choice and instead focused on the black and white kitten in his lap.
And Husk watched - every opportunity he could, every late night traffic stall or when they reached a red light that lit up Angel’s entire face, he found his dark eyes drawn to Angel in slight awe. Twinkling fingers with painted pale pink nails bopped the kitten gently on the nose frequently, play fighting with her and generally he just seemed… calm. Sad though. He clearly didn’t want to give the kitten up, and it sat uneasy in Husk’s chest that he had to. Angel was a grown man, who ought to be able to keep a pet if he wanted. That he was living in the motel… completely controlled by Valentino. The gnawing thought wouldn’t leave Husk alone that it wasn’t okay to let that one slide. That Angel wasn’t as safe where he was as he claimed to be.
“That’s the place.” Husk said eventually, breaking the spell of silence that had settled over them. Angel glanced up to where Husk was indicating a fairly large house on the right side of a long road.
Well that’s fancy as fuck Angel thought, impressed by the building.
“They’re good neighbours, if a little nosey. Can’t call in on ‘em this late, obviously,” all the lights were out “but they’ll take good care of her.” He promised. Angel nodded mutely and returned his attention to his charge.
“You’re gonna go somewhere you’re loved.” He promised her quietly - he could offer her that much, at least. KeeKee headbutted his hand affectionately.
Focus largely on the cat, Angel was vaguely aware of their journey slowing to a crawl and only looked up when they stopped entirely.
Though he shouldn’t have been startled, the sheer size of the mansion (and that had to be the only word for it) was overwhelming. Having been surprised by the neighbours’ place, he was stunned to silence at Husk’s. He’d known Husk must be very well off - nobody dropped that kind of cash on a hooker by the hour so regularly unless they could easily afford it - but the house was enormous. Not just a millionaire but a multimillionaire, apparently.
“This is me.” Husk murmured, unclipping his seatbelt. Angel got tentatively out of the car and turned slowly on the spot.
Although Husk had described the girls as his ‘neighbours’ their house was at least a ten minute walk away, and Angel had a sneaking suspicion the vast amount of land around Husk’s property was all his too. He said precisely nothing on the subject, just cradled the cat close to his chest and followed Husk in.