For about an hour now, maybe more, Husk had watched Lucifer sit in the lounge, feet pulled up on the couch as his pencil moved across the pages of a sketchbook. By the looks of it, he was getting more and more frustrated each time he flipped over a page, starting over on whatever he was trying to draw.

By the time he finally gave up he’d worked his way through half the sketchbook and his hair was a mess, graphite smudging his face. He didn’t seem to notice.

 

Flipping the sketchbook closed, he came over to the bar, hopping up on a stool with a sigh. “Can you just… get me something really strong, please?”

As Husk mixed up his drink, Lucifer put down his sketchbook on the smooth bartop.

“Having trouble?”

Lucifer grimaced. “I just can’t seem to get him- uh, it, right.”

Husk raised an eyebrow. He hadn’t missed Lucifer’s slip-up, but felt nice enough not to point it out for now.

“Maybe a break’ll do you good, then.”

“Maybe.” Lucifer picked up his drink, not noticing as a dark shadow pulled the sketchbook away from him. “Thank you.”

“No problem.”

 

Husk’s eyes wandered to the side as he heard the flip of a paper. Finally taking note of the look on his face, Lucifer turned his head.

“Hey, what the fuck- give that back!”

As he swiped out to snatch the sketchbook back, Alastor’s smile widened as he flipped another page, dodging his hands. 

“A tad bit obsessive, are we?”

Lucifer’s face flushed bright golden. “Am not!”

Alastor turned another page, raising his eyebrow at the page’s contents. “Oh, you definitely are.”

He laid the sketchbook down on the bartop, facing upward, a half-finished portrait of Angel on the page. Somehow, it managed to make Lucifer’s face burn even brighter, nearly to flashlight levels as his eyes darted toward the couch.

“Don’t- he’ll see!”

Husk’s eyes moved over to where Lucifer was looking. Angel was sitting with Cherri, talking about something with a lot of enthusiasm, Nuggets and KeeKee both in his lap.

 

He turned back to Lucifer, who was struggling to get back his sketchbook from Alastor, who was moving it just out of his reach at every attempt with his tentacles. When Lucifer finally managed to get it back, he clutched it tightly against his chest as it heaved in agitated breaths. Alastor looked terribly pleased with himself to have managed to get him to that point so easily.

“I don’t think he’ll mind it, you know.”

Lucifer shook his head, nose scrunching. “No, nope, noooo way, it’s not done, I haven’t even figured out the composition yet, it’s way too soon.” He pouted, lower lip jutting out as he glanced down at his sketchbook, still tightly wrapped in his arms. “It’s not really worth looking at yet.”

“For once we’re in agreement, your lovestruck little doodles wouldn’t get you very far, I’m afraid.”

“Hey, they’re far from perfect but they’re not bad, asshole. They’re just… not there yet.”

“And by the time they are, your dear Angel will have found someone actually worth his time.”

“Jeez, I thought you’d become nicer once we became friends, but you’re still as mean as ever.”

“Where’s the fun in being nice?” Alastor laughed, standing up from his stool, finished with his drink. “This is so much more enjoyable.”

“Not for me, it isn’t.”

“But it is for me.”

 

Alastor’s grin was wide as he sank into the shadows, making Lucifer groan as he dropped down on the bartop. “Has he always been like this?”

“At least for as long as I’ve known him.”

“Great, that means he’s never gonna stop, is he?” Lucifer rubbed his face in frustration, resting the sketchbook on his lap. “Do you have a phone book I could borrow?”

“What decade do you think you live in?” Husk raised an eyebrow, a grin tugging at his lips. “I’m sure you can find something better to beat Al up with.”

“I was thinking of calling one of your human artists. Some of them have to give private lessons, right?” Lucifer’s fingertip circled his glass, sighing. “I don’t know why it’s so hard getting this right.”

“I can getcha somethin’ else that’s hard.”

 

Lucifer squeaked as Angel leaned over him, clearly having noticed his approach just as much as he had Alastor’s theft of his sketchbook. As he jumped, Husk could hear the sketchbook fall to the floor with a thud, unnoticed by Lucifer when his focus was so firmly on Angel.

“A-ah, Angel! Good evening!”

“Good evenin’ to you too, sweetcheeks. What’s got ya lookin’ like a pretty little christmas light in the middle of July?”

“Oh, uh. Noth-nothing in particular.”

God, how the hell had he not picked up on Angel’s genuine flirting yet? It was anything but subtle.

Angel was just about to slide onto the stool next to Lucifer, when Husk noticed him glance down. As Angel bent down to pick something up, Husk connected the dots before Lucifer did. And once Lucifer finally did, it was already far too late.

 

“Is that… me?”

“I should go-hrk!” As Lucifer stood, one of Angel’s hands darted out, grabbing him by the collar, making Lucifer nearly fall over.

Angel didn’t let go of him even as he flipped to another page, taking in the drawing. From his vantage point behind the bar, Husk could see that this page too contained a drawing of Angel.

“Hey…” Angel’s eyes rose from the page. Lucifer’s face looked like it would burst into flames. “Can I keep these?”

“I’m sorry, I wasn’t even close to done, I know they look terrible. I haven’t even finished the composition yet, much less figured out what colour scheme or paints to use yet.”

Angel laughed.

“Did ya even hear a word of what I just said or is your brain short-circuitin’?”

Husk couldn’t hold back his amused snort as Lucifer kept on rambling, clearly unable to process what Angel had just said.

He watched as Angel put the sketchbook down on the bar with a fond sigh, grip on Lucifer’s shirt shifting from the back to the front. He leaned down, Lucifer’s words cut off with another startled squeak that sounded suspiciously like a rubber duck as Angel pressed his lips to his.

 

With a hand of Lucifer’s chin, Angel deepened the kiss, pulling Lucifer up on his tiptoes. As his tongue pushed past Lucifer’s lips, Husk could hear Cherri whooping from her seat on the couch.

Finally, Angel pulled back, a satisfied grin on his face as he met Lucifer’s dazed eyes. Lucifer’s chest was heaving as he caught his breath.

“They look real nice, Luci. I’m keepin’em.”

Lucifer raised his hand, pressing his fingers to his lips. He seemed lost for words, only able to nod in agreement as Angel pulled the sketchbook toward him, tucking it under his arm.

He ran his fingers down Lucifer’s cheek, tapping him on his flat nose with a laugh that Husk had no doubt made Lucifer feel warm and mushy on the inside.

“I’ll see ya later, sweetcheeks.”

 

As Angel slipped out of the room, Cherri in tow, Husk watched Lucifer fall against the bar. As he raised his head, he looked absolutely awestruck.

“Fuck, I love him.”

Husk huffed an amused laugh. “No kiddin’.”

 

As he listened to Lucifer quietly giggle to himself, he poured him another drink.

It looked like Lucifer didn’t need any private lessons after all.

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