#[ husk ] ── v. paving these roads with cheap booze and stolen money

[gambling-bartender]

Blog Arc: Paving These Roads With Cheap Booze and Stolen Money

Major Players:

Husk { Albert Huxley} - @suchaficklething

Angel Dust { Anthony } - @infernalight

Minor Players:

Vox - TBD

Valentino - TBD

Alastor - TBD

Synopsis:

HuskerDust Bonnie and Clyde Human AU - Huxley and Anthony flee from their home in Las Vegas, running away from their bosses loaded up with stolen money. They head to Los Angeles, hoping for freedom, but find dangers there as well. Pushed onto the roads and seeking true freedom they run from place to place, will they truly escape their past or will it continue to plague their steps?

Themes:

Trauma, Abuse, Avoiding Consequences, Toxic vs Healthy Relationships, Drama, New Beginnings, Crime

Plotted/Discussed Threads:

Flight From Las Vegas

Side Threads:

TBD

Related Asks:

TBD

Drabbles:

TBD

[gambling-bartender]

Hux shrugs at the question, "Then it happens, angel, and we handle it. Same as always. You're always calling me a cat, and they always land on their feet, don't see why this would be any different."

He smiles at Anthony as they pull away from the kiss, feeling warm and happy and oh so deeply in love. As they get out he chuckles a little, noticing that Anthony had forgotten to turn off the car. As he stands up he smiles at Anthony and brushes his hair behind his ear before commenting kinda sheepishly, "Hey babe, uh, you forgot the key."

As Angel goes to turn off the car he walks around the back, pulling a good couple hundreds from one of the briefcases for the hotel and picking it and the duffle bag up.

Anthony smiled, relaxing a bit knowing that Huxley was also feeling the same way. "It's just... What if something happens?" He asked. He knew Valentino. He knew how he was. He'd go after Hux or worse.

"I'll always risk everything to have a life with you." He said, kissing Huxley back as soon as their lips connected, deepening it for only a short moment. God, he loved the way he tasted and the fact he could kiss him so openly. It was so amazing!

When they pull away, he smiled. "Alright, well, let's get in there because I'm ready to stretch after such a long drive." He chuckled, pulling away after a minute or two, moving to open the door and get out, stretching as soon as he got out. Stepping away, he closed the door before making his way around the back of the car before opening Hux's door for him, offering a hand to help him out.

[gambling-bartender]

Huxley slipped his fingers into Anthony's as he talked, letting him speak without interrupting.

Once Anthony is done Hux sighs softly and looks over at Anthony, his lover, his soulmate even maybe, and he says, "I know this is scary. I know I may not look it right now but I'm fucking terrified with you, okay? I'm not... I'm also not good at keeping hold of the good in my life but for once I feel like I'm taking a gamble that will always be worth it because regardless of what may come I will have you."

Huxley leans across the center console and presses a soft kiss to Anthony's lips, "And feel free to work your charms, baby, they'll never know what hit them."

Anthony could feel himself getting more tired as the night went on. Luckily, he was used to working long, late nights with Valentino -- not that he enjoyed them, but he was used to them and would easily be able to stay awake even when his body hit a new level of exhaustion.

Turning to look at the place Hux had pointed out, he grimaced slightly. Looks like one of the places Val had pimped him out to, but maybe slightly more fancy. Everything was reminding him of Val and he hated it, he needed to make new memories with Hux. If anything maybe Angel could sweet talk them into a discount so they could get a better room for less.

"You sure you wanna spend all our money on a hotel like that?" He asked, letting a soft chuckle leave him. "Fine by me. As long as I'm with you I don't care where we stay." A pause. "Just let me try to sweet talk us into a deal, okay handsome?" He asked, moving to turn the car in towards the parking lot before finding a spot near the front entrance in case they had to make a quick break for it.

The hope was they didn't have to, but Anthony knew Val and he was sure Valentino was far more scary than Alastor, though... he didn't know Alastor like he knew Val so maybe that wasn't the case. Once parked, he turned to Hux. "I'm going to be honest here, I'm terrified." His voice was soft, avoiding his lover's gaze. "I can't ever have good things and if I do, they either don't last or there's some kind of thing I have to do in order to keep it."

He said, looking up at him now. "So I'm sorry if I'm a little bit.... on edge, I just." A pause and a shake of his head, he sighs. "I'll be okay. Just need some time."

[gambling-bartender]

They arrived in the city late into the night, having left Las Vegas around 9pm and the drive taking at least a few hours, the clock had long since passed midnight.

Husk spotted a lit up and pretty hotel, one full of glitz and glam and certainly something far more expensive than the two of them had ever been able to afford before, "Oh, that looks real pretty, wanna stay there?"

Where Anthony felt anxiety, scared of what might be following them, Husk seemed almost carefree, a quiet confidence and assurance.

This wasn't entirely accurate however. Husk had been checking their mirrors pretty consistently, keep an eye on if they might be being followed. He hadn't seen anything but that didn't mean it wasn't there.

And yeah, maybe the austentatious hotel wasn't the most subtle choice, but he hoped the night of luxury would help Anthony relax, and hopefully the hotel room would have a safe or somewhere they could keep the money safe for the time being.

Anthony couldn't believe it. He doubted he'd be able to until enough time has passed. Every second, every day, he knew he was going to worry. The second he lets his guard down, that's when something's going to happen. He was never allowed to truly be happy. Never could be when he was with Val. It all seemed so surreal.

The music from the radio filed the car, blushing lightly as he felt the other kiss his hand, listening to him sing. The most beautiful sound he could think of was Hux singing, especially to him.

Anthony relaxed visibly, squeezing the other's hand in an attempt to tell him he'd be okay in time, even if he was still kind of worried. They'd be okay, no matter what. Though, the uncertainty of it all... it was scary.

While he continued the drive, he kept an eye out for a place where they could stay the night, honestly anywhere would do, he just wanted to get off the road, wanted to be able to pull the other close once again.

[gambling-bartender]

Huxley smiled, reaching out to take Anthony's hand, "I think it is, angel. I think it really is."

Huxley hesitated for a moment before reaching out and turning on the radio, fiddling with it till they hit a station, a station that wasn't on the same frequency as Alastor's.

A familiar song came on and Huxley grinned and began to sing along, looking at Anthony with a deep affection and love in his eyes as he lifts his hand to his lips, pressing a soft kiss to his fingers, "My eyes adored you, Like a million miles away from me, You couldn't see how I adored you, So close, so close and yet so far~"

He could feel Anthony's anxiety, his dread. He wanted to desperately to share with him the joy that he felt in this moment, the sense that no matter what may come that the two of them would be alright.

The drive was tiresome. Anthony was feeling it after the first couple of hours, but he dare not stop unless when it was absolutely necessary. There was no way he was going to risk Hux. He never cared what happened to him, he didn't care about any of this. The ONLY thing he cared about was Hux. Sure, he hated his life with Val, but he loved Hux more to run.

If they got caught though, it wouldn't be Anthony who he'd want dead. It'd be Huxley and he knew Valentino would do anything to get him back, going as far to threaten Huxley. Luckily, Valentino didn't know about Molly-- right? At least, he never really spoke about her much. He knew about his family, but did he mention he had a twin sister?

Shaking his head, he attempted to clear his head of those thoughts. No sense thinking about them right now. It was already too late, he couldn't turn back now. Not that he wanted to. Molly was safe.

It still didn't become clear to him that they were safe. He was exhausted, eyes burning from the stress of driving, muscles loosening up, relaxing when he heard that beautiful sound - Hux's laugh.

"Is this really happening?" He asked, only turning to the other briefly, hand moving from the wheel to search for the one he longed to hold many times before, but couldn't expect when they were behind closed doors. He wanted to show him off, to make things official.

He just wished his family could see how happy he was. Even if it wouldn't change much if anything at all.

[gambling-bartender]

"So did you see where that fucking whore was heading with my goddamn money?"

"They're heading down I-15, boss, do you want me to follow them?"

"No... let's let that fucking pendejo cook."

~~~~~~

The initial hour of the drive to LA was tense. The pair didn't even dare throw on the radio, scared they might hear the familiar voice of Huxley's now former boss on the radio, or maybe a call out on the radio for two people fitting their description, or god knows what else.

It didn't really feel real, what they were doing, where they were going.

Huxley didn't even really feel like he could breathe till they passed through Primm and into California.

This really was real, wasn't it?

"I think we've done it." Huxley laughs softly, they weren't out in the clear yet but they had crossed the state line and somehow that made him feel free, like somehow the sign at their backs was shielding them from the danger at home, "Anthony, we fucking did it."

When Huxley grabbed his briefcase, Anthony reached for his again, picking it up as he took a deep breath. This was obviously something he wanted, something he wanted more than anything. The thought of living without Huxley was something he didn't even wanna dream about, but the fear of being caught was stronger. Could he really do this?

"Let's get out of here, angel."

Those words were all he needed to hear, nodding with a smile. Keys in hand, he gave Huxley one last look before heading out of the room, keeping his head down as he made sure he wasn't followed, wasn't being watched. The fear would always be there, he figured, but he could do this, right?

Heading for the car, he opened the trunk, placing the briefcase in carefully before offering a hand to do the same with Huxley's things. Once everything was properly stored in the back, he closed the trunk before making his way around the side, opening the driver's side and slipping in.

Starting the car, he turned to his lover, the man he'd risk everything for, giving him one quick look before pulling out of the parking lot and turning onto the main road, speeding up just enough to put distance between their past lives and their future ones.

A sigh of relief left him after driving for a while, releasing the breath that he had been holding. The fear was still there, but the further away they got helped with that.

[gambling-bartender]

Where is he?

Huxley knew it was only a few minutes after their planned rendezvous and Anthony was probably safe and fine and would be there any minute, but considering how fucked they'd both be if this went sideways, any deviation from the plan brought back the tremor in Huxley's hand that he had developed back in Korea.

He desperately tried to pass the minutes, pacing across the room and glancing over at the clock between the two queen beds every few seconds. He couldn't tell if he wanted time to move faster or slower.

He just wanted Anthony to be safe, and to be here.

When the door finally opened what felt like eons later, but was in reality only a minute or two, Huxley turned to face the incomer and lit up at the sight of his lover, his partner in now literal crime, his angel. He met the man in the middle of the room with a tight embrace.

He was safe.

As the two pulled away from the kiss he could not help the smile pulling at the corners of his mouth. He might have been infamous for his poker face in the casinos in town but Anthony had never believed the stories, and for good reason too. Huxley could never resist smiling, not around his angel.

He nodded and grabbed his own briefcase stuffed full of cash and the duffle bag the two had packed the week before, the only things the two were bringing with them and into their next life. He tossed Anthony the keys to the nondescript sedan he had bought with the total of their combined savings from a friend of his who ran a towing company. It wasn't flashy but hopefully it would get them LA in one piece and without much of a trail.

"Let's get out of here, angel."

@suchaficklething (huskerdust)

Faster... Faster... Don't look back.

He needed to keep moving, but he couldn't attract suspicion. Surely, they had to realize he wasn't where he needed to be, where Val ordered to be. Though, whether or not they noticed the missing money was another thing. He just needed to get to the motel before anyone realized. He needed to get far enough away so they couldn't track him down.

102... 103....

He needed to find the room number Huxley told him to look for.

When he finally did, he knocked once before slipping inside, door closing behind him. Letting out a sigh of relief, he leaned back against the door. "Huxley." He said, calling out for him. Pushing himself up off the door before moving to lightly toss the briefcase on the bed, running into his arms as soon as he saw the man he's been doing all this for, the man he loved.

Surely, they had caught on by now that he wasn't coming back. They must have found the vault empty by now, right? It didn't matter. There was no turning back now, even if he wanted to.

Lips pressing to the gambler's in a passionate kiss, though one that was cut short due to their current situation. Forehead pressing against Huxley's, Anthony smiled. "We gotta go." He said, "As much as I wish we had more time, but Val ain't stupid. He's probably on my tail."