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[x-firestar.livejournal.com]

Angelo's out for a walk in the city and stumbles upon a soon-to-be soapy Angel in need of a rescue. And food!



It was a beautiful day, and being October, chances were at least even it'd be the last really good one of the year, before winter set in. So, rather than taking Joyita back to the mansion and just letting her run the grounds for her exercise, Angelo had her on a leash and was wandering the city, enjoying the sun.

Around a corner, a firehouse was a buzz with noise and commotion as the firefighters brought out the trucks for a wash. They were taking advantage of the sun and light temperatures that the day had brought and of the quiet so far on their watch. Someone had even gone so far as to lug out the barbecue and coolers from the back, turning it into a very small party.

A scream of glee came from between the trucks as Angel suddenly appeared, flailing her arms around. "Not the bucket!" she screeched as one of the younger guys popped up from behind, waving a sud filled bucket menacingly.


Angelo blinked, turning towards the familiar voice, and Joyita barked wildly and ran to the very limit of her leash, tail beating. She knew the voice, as well.

Slipping on the wet pavement, Angel flailed as she skidded sideways before bolting towards Angelo. "Sanctuary! No splashing people you don't know, that's a rule!"


Angelo laughed, playing along and stepping in front of her to shield her. "You'd better be glad I'm wearin' cheap clothes, if you just made that rule up", he told her.

Angel peeked out from under his arm and grinned, looking more than a little amused. "Nah, that was the Captain. The rule came about after Tommy here accidentally doused his mother-in-law a few weeks ago. Funniest. Thing. Ever." She giggled as Tommy sulked, brandishing his bucket one more time before he went off. "Aw, who's the best little puppy around? You are Joyita!"


Angelo chuckled, turning back to Angel. "You know he's gonna get you later, don't you? But for now, sanctuary's all yours." Joyita was busy licking the girl's hands, getting her almost as wet as Tommy and his bucket would have.

"Oh, duh. I mean, I'm totally looking forward to it." She grinned wildly as she held an arm full of wiggly puppy. "He's only, like, 18 though I think Paul might have said something about the flag pole and his guts if he even looks at me funny." Angel sulked for a minute before squinting up at Angelo. "Whatcha doing out here, just going for a walk?"


It would be more like two arms, given Joyita was a full-grown Labrador and quite determined to give Angel a thorough bath. "Paul gettin' protective, is he?" he asked, amused and making a note of the sulking. "Yeah, just thought I'd take advantage before winter hits."

Now Angel was sitting on the ground with Joyita pressing her backwards, tail wagging enough to shake the entire dog. "It's like I have two dads or something," Angel bemoaned not seriously. "I've got a big enough family but Paul's really cool. I heart Paul. I like winter, there's snow and stuff. Snow angels!"


Angelo didn't move to help her, heartlessly. It was, fairly obviously, not as if she minded being sat on by a 70-pound dog. "Yeah, but you're your own heat source", he pointed out. "Do you even feel the cold?"

"Nope!" she replied gleefully. "I always feel like it's the perfect temperature out, like the little dragon in my belly is my own personal thermostat. Cool, isn't it?"


As always, her enthusiasm was contagious and he couldn't help a grin. "All right if you've got it, I guess. Me, I don't like snow."

"Silly California man," Angel teased. "Still, fall's my favoritest season ever because everything turns so pretty. And there's food! Kettle popcorn, candied and caramel apples and...ohh, so much food."


"The food does make up for it", Angelo agreed. "'cause you get to take hot soup an' stuff out with you an' keep your hands warm, too."

"And cider!"


"...are you even allowed to drink cider yet?"

Angel made a face. "Apple cider, silly. All nice and warm--because even though I can't feel the cold or anything, food tastes different if it's cold or not."


Angelo nodded. "Yeah, that's true. Some things just taste disgustin' cold."

"Like chicken feet," she said, grimacing at the memory. "How close is your mom to here? She lives in New York, right?"

He gave her an odd look at that. "Who made you eat cold chicken feet? An' yeah, she's in walkin' distance. Why, you want to go see her for lunch?" It was only half-joking. He knew his mother's habits about feeding people.

"They were hot originally, and pretty tasty, but then afterwards they got cold and yucky." Angel perked up, peering up at Angelo with sad puppy eyes. Joyita followed soon after. "Really? Lunch? That'd be awesome, if your mom doesn't mind."


He looked at the two of them with something like amused resignation. "You two don't have to turn the blackmaily eyes on me, I offered. Nah. she won't mind. She likes to feed people."

Giggling with glee, Angel bounced back on her feet, effectively dislodging the dog from her lap. "She sounds like my favorite person in the whole world. I like people who like to feed other people, especially if that person happens to be me."


"Then she'll love you." He reached for Joyita's fallen leash again, grinning.

"I'm going to go tell the guys where I'm off to and I'll be right back. No going anywhere or eating anything without me." It was simply amazing how fast Angel could run when she really, really wanted to achieve something.