"If I work any longer tonight I'm going to put my back out," Husk complained as he dumped what had to have been the hundredth wheelbarrow of debris into the large dumpster.

"Yeah, alright everyone, that's enough for today. Thank you," said Charlie as she finished sorting through which bricks were reusable and which weren't. It was the end of the fourth day of rebuilding the Hazbin Hotel, and while the progress was slow they were almost done clearing all the damage and rubble and then they'd be able to start building anew. "Have a good night, I'll see you guys tomorrow."

Husk started dusting himself off, as he did he saw Angel Dust helping Cherri Bomb and Vaggie out of the crater they were working in with his many arms. A small smile spread across Husk's face. All the suggest actions and body language Angel used to do around him never once caught his attention, but him helping others without being asked made Husk's heart race and he had to suppress a purr.

He still smiling slightly when Angel walked over towards him.

"Happy to be going back to the shitty motel to get some sleep?" Angel asked, gazing at Husk's grin.

Until the Hotel was rebuilt the king of Hell had paid for individual rooms for them all to stay at the least disgusting and dangerous motel in Pentagram City, but still being in Hell that didn't account for much.

"Shitty or not I can't wait to get off my feet, but no I ain't going to sleep, not yet anyway. I'm fatigued, not tired," said Husk with a stretch, trying to relieve an ache in his back. "What about you, does Valentino have you working long hours tonight?"

"Actually I don't have any shoots tonight, rumour is Val got called away by the other Vs."

"Well then, wanna get a drink or two at Klub Kaiju?"

"Na, if it's truly a night off than I'd rather spend it just relaxing at the motel, but if you still want to hang out we can watch some tv or a movie or something."

"Yeah, sure, why not?"

So they headed back to the motel, and chose to relax in Angel's room.

"Where's Fat Nuggets?" asked Husk when he noticed the cute little demon pig's absence.

"Razzle was really missing Dazzle earlier today, so Charlie asked if he could keep him company and I said yah. I'll pick him up later tonight or early tomorrow."

"Wow, how sweet of you," Husk said with a smirk.

"Hey, if you tell anyone, I'll kill you," said Angel Dust, but he said so smiling his genuine smile that Husk had come to love, and gave a chuckle that let him know he wasn't serious.

While Angel popped some popcorn in the microwave, Husk sat on the edge of the bed and started flicking through channels to find the least porny thing available to watch. He knew that from Angel's time in the Porn industry he had lost interest in watching it himself, however being Hell there was little on tv that wasn't porn or the news. As Angel was adding the butter and salt Husk managed to find a channel that had just started playing a handful of demons best recreation of a film about Robin Hood and Lady Marian.

"Ooo, this looks so terrible it might actually be good," said Angel as he sat down next to Husk on the edge of the bed and put the bowl of popcorn between them.

The film turned out to be terrible, but hilariously so, it gave them both something to laugh about as they watched it together.

"She knows it's him in disguise," shouted Angel in yet another stupid scene, "there is nobody else around, why is she fighting him instead of telling him it's her in disguise too?"

"People do crazy things for love," Husk replied with a shrug.

When they finished off the popcorn Husk set it on the ground beside him. Angel let out a tiny yawn.

"Mind if I lay my head down?" he asked.

"Be my guest," said Husk absentmindedly, thinking Angel meant lying down on the bed.

Boy was Husk surprised then when Angel laid his head down on Husk's shoulder. He hadn't expected that, but he didn't mind. They had been flirting back and forth for a while now, however knowing Angel's history Husk had been taking their relationship building slow, but this seemed like an appropriate next step. He leaned his own head onto Angel's, wrapped a wing around him, and just let himself relax.

"Your fur is so soft and warm," Angel muttered peacefully.

And then it happened, Husk didn't mean for it to, sometimes he really hated this form Hell forced him into, but none the less it happened. Husk started purring.

'It's ok,' he tried to tell himself in his head, 'maybe Angel is to tired to notice, or just doesn't care or-'

"Is that a vibrator in your pants," said Angel coyly, "or are you just happy to be near me?"

Instantly Husk stood up, causing Angel to fall. All eight of his eyes shot open.

"Ow, fuck, what was that for?"

But Angel Dust didn't get an answer as Husk had just run out of the motel room.

"Hey, Whiskers, wait up!" said Angel, getting up and running after him.

When he got outside he just barely managed to see the door to Husk's room slam shut. It was then that Angel realized he had messed up. He quickly went to the door and knocked on it.

"Go away," he heard Husk's voice say, he sounded upset.

"Not until I apologize. I'm sorry Husk, I fucked up. You made it perfectly clear you wanted me to be my real self with you and not talk dirty about you, those were two simple requests and I screwed them up," said Angel, his voice choking up with regret. It was then he noticed some demons on the street across from him staring and his heart began to race even faster. "But, um, could I do this apology in your room? It isn't exactly safe to be alone outside at night in the streets of Hell."

He heard the door unlock and the door opened, Angel quickly went inside. It was only when the door was closed that he noticed Husk's face was equally filled with regret and worry. His ears were drooping and his tail was between his legs.

"You want to apologize?" said Husk, his voice shaking, his body was to slightly. "I'm the one that fucked up."

"What?" Said Angel, now horribly confused. "No you didn't?"

"Yes I did. After our night at that bar I've had these feelings for you, but I never wanted you to think you had to physically please me to be with me. That spending time with me never felt like how you feel at work," Husk sighed. "But just when you showed how greatly you trusted me, my body reacted against my will, or maybe deep down I wanted to purr for you. Either way I took pleasure in your body, just like Valentino does."

Husk's head hung low in shame. Angel on the other hand laughed. Husk looked up at him in surprise.

"Is that what this is all fucking about?" asked Angel as he took Husk's hands into two of his. 'Husk, you are nothing like Valentino! Valentino makes me do things I don't want to do and do it with people I don't want to be with, including him. But every moment I'm with you is a moment I want to spend."

"But I purred while you laid on me," said Husk, now just embarrassed. "I want to take what we have slowly, and while it's not always the case, purring for me can mean I'm aroused, which I don't want you to think that's the only reason I enjoy your company."

"Husk, I'm sorry but you're being a fucking idiot," said Angel with yet another laugh, while still holding his hands, he put another two on Husk's shoulders. "Look, I want to take whatever this is between us slow too, but we don't have to go at a snail's pace either. You're also a demon with a pulse, this body laying on you was bound to get a reaction out of you eventually. I'm sorry for what I said earlier about your purr, but if it eases your mind I didn't take it as you wanting to pin me down and ravish me, I took it as you just being happy to be near me."

Husk finally looked into Angel's eyes, or at least tried too as all eight were still currently open.

"So you're not mad at me?" he asked.

"Hell no, I'm just glad you're not mad at me for the vibrator comment," admitted Angel. "Husk, I really admire how you treat me like a person and not an object. How much effort you put into showing me you care. I'd like to show you how much I care in return."

Husk wasn't sure what Angel meant by that, his mind flew in a thousand directions before he spoke again.

"May I kiss you?" Angel asked softly.

Without a moment of hesitation Husk nodded. Angel used his last two hands to gently cup Husks face and bent down to bring their lips together for a kiss.

Husk had kissed many people both in his life on Earth and his time in Hell, and he knew Angel had probably kissed a hundred times as many people and demons as he had, and yet this kiss felt completely different. It was still passionate and exhilarating, but also soft and a feeling of connection neither had ever felt with anyone else before. For the few moments the kiss lasted, Husk felt truly happy.

Then suddenly he felt as though chains were squeezing his very soul to death, his heart continued to race but now with panic and dread, a truth he had been trying to deny for days was now undeniable. Alastor was alive.

Husk pulled away from Angel who was now looking at him with confusion and concern. He was saying something to Husk but he couldn't hear him. All Husk could think about was how he couldn't fully be with Angel if his soul was not his to control, that he was never truly free to do what he wanted. He probably could never break his contract with Alastor, but maybe...

Husk suddenly took one of Angel's hands and started heading for the door.

"Husk, what is happening, what are you doing?"

"I'm going to gamble your soul back from Valentino!"