Kurt and Angel, Early afternoon

[x-firestar.livejournal.com]

Angel's putting away the equipment from yesterday's soccer game when she notices Kurt in the gym. They end up talking about the circus and she manages to get another promise out of him.



The gym wasn't a place that Angel went to often. Swimming every morning and occasionally a run meant she didn't really feel the urge to work out anymore. But this morning she was returning some of the equipment from the other day's aborted soccer game. When she was done, she spotted Kurt and grinned, waving as she jogged over.

He hadn't expected anyone to be there at this hour - he generally chose times when the room would be empty deliberately, preferring to practise alone - but that didn't mean he'd actively refuse company. He swung down from the trapeze easily, smiling at the girl.

"Good morning, Angel."

"Morning, Mr. W," she replied. She tilted her head back to look up at the trapeze. "Wow, I didn't catch much of you doing that but that looked awesome."

"Thank you", he said with a bow of his head in acknowledgment as he let the frame swing back against the wall. "I have been learning it since I was... much younger than you."

"Wow, that's amazing. Was it something you wanted to do or was it something that, like, people thought you'd be good at?" Angel laughed. "That was how it was with swimming and me. I had a ton of energy as a kid and my folks wanted something...year round for me to burn off some energy."

"Some of both", he said lightly, still trying to keep his thoughts away from the truth of matters now. "I told you the clan are circus people, and they knew that I would be good at it - my mutation gives me agility."

Leaning slightly, Angel pointed at his tail. "Can you grip things with your tail?" she asked in fascination. The tail rocked beyond belief in her opinion.

Kurt chuckled, amused by her enthusiasm as always. "I can indeed. And with my toes."

"...have I told you, lately, that you've got the coolest mutation? Ever in the history of cool mutations even."

"It does have many uses", he said solemnly, though his eyes were dancing. Angel seemed able to bring him out of any brooding just by being herself. "But so do many others."

"Well, yeah, but yours is still the coolest," Angel replied, watching his tail with glee. "I mean, I can dry stuff now with my powers though if I use it on my hair, I end up looking like I stuck my finger in a light socket." She pulled a face. "I need to work on that."

"You have plenty of time to learn", he reminded her. "Look at how far you have come already."

"Aww, thanks!" A little embarrassed, but pleased, Angel rubbed the back of her head before pausing. "Ohh, yeah. I totally forgot with everything that's been going on and I'm not sure if we could do it now but are you still up for a trip to the circus?"

"...ah." His smile faded more than a little at that. "There... may be a problem with that, Angel. If anyone is to take you to the Szardos circus, I think it will have to be Stefan. But that can still be arranged."

"Oh. I...didn't say anything wrong, did I? Because sometimes I do and I don't realize it."

"No, no", he assured her hastily. "Nothing that you could have known not to say, I have not made it public. It is just that... I am no longer on good terms with Margali."

"Aw, Mr. W, I'm sorry, I really am." It baffled Angel to no end, though. Margali was Mr. W's mom and while she knew there were people who fell out with their parents, it just...made no sense to her. And it was kind of obvious that it was probably not something done on his part, either. She thought fast. "Would you be up for going to a circus here? Like the Ringling Brothers, you know?"

He managed a smile at that, not least because of her obvious wanting to help. "If you would like, I will certainly go to the circus with you here. And I will try to contact Stefan to arrange something for the circus in Germany, if you wish?"

Bouncing a little on the tips of her toes, Angel replied, "I would really like both. Thank you thank you thank you!" And with that, she hugged him because in her opinion, Kurt always looked like he needed a hug.

That would be because he usually did. After a startled moment, he laughed and patted her arm. "Then it shall happen."

"You rock so much." Bouncing away again, Angel grinned up at him. "Did I interrupt your session? If I did, could I watch the rest of it? I promise not to ask questions when you're up there. Once you're on the ground...now that's another story."

He looked at the trapeze, considering. "Ah... I do not see why not. And you may ask all the questions you like."

"Hee!" Walking over to a spot not too far away, she sat, curling her arms around her knees. "This is going to be awesome."