Angel and Gabriel || Pie

[x-firestar.livejournal.com]

Angel brings Gabriel pumpkin pie while he's at work. Among the topics of discussion: working at a gay bar, life at Xavier's, and the possibility of a sexless existence (as long as there's pie).



Not that Gabriel had much choice in the matter, bar protocol being what it was, but what with the weather, a mostly shirtless costume was an unfortunate choice.

Still, at least he had the leather vest and the cowboy hat to keep him warm. Leaning against the brick wall of the bar's back alley, cigarette in hand, he felt a little more Wild West than he had inside when he was being ogled by young, single gay men and their single lady friends.

Angel's text had been the excuse he'd need for a smoke, and he was grateful for it. The night wasn't close to done, and he was already feeling a little frazzled. In a way, he envied Clint's quiet night on the couch.

Plus, he was hungry. He exhaled, trying to blow smoke rings as a way to distract himself from the rumbling of his stomach. Hopefully a pretty big piece of pie was coming his way.

The sight of a red-haired mermaid making her way through the streets was probably strange, even for a city filled with mutants. But Angel held her head high all the same, grinning as she strolled along like she own the place. Like Gabriel, she wasn't exactly dressed for the weather, but unlike Gabriel she didn't feel the air at all.

Having an internal heater was so convenient sometimes.

She slipped down the alley, grinning when she saw the man leaning against the wall. "Hey cowboy," she called cheerfully, holding up the container she'd put the piece of pie (along with a fork). "Little far from the saloons aren't you?"

"I'm a long way from home, little lady," Gabriel grinned, slipping into full-on Texas twang. "But you sure are a sight for sore eyes." He looked her over. "Just a mermaid, or Ariel?"

"Ariel man." She held her arms out, modeling for him. "Go big or go home, I got the red hair, mad swimming skills, and a fascination with the world. I can't believe I didn't think of this sooner." She handed over the container, still grinning. "How's work?"

"Busy." Gabriel tossed his half-smoked cigarette on the ground and snuffed it with his boot. "Thanks." He took the container and the fork. "Halloween at a gay bar on a Friday night. People are going big, going hard, and being incredibly sloppy. Which means that I will make a killing tonight." He reached out and smoothed a strand of her hair. "I like this look," he nodded. "Bet you're getting all kinds of attention this evening."

"Everyone needs pie on a holiday. Pumpkin is to Halloween what apple is to Thanksgiving." Angel winked, and laughed. "Well I got plenty of attention walking over from the car but they seemed to be mostly drunk and couldn't get their eyes above the middle of my chest." All said jokingly. Angel wasn't upset about the attention. More amused than anything. "What about you? Shirtless in a gay bar, must be serving you well."

"Oh, you know." Gabriel waved the hand with the fork in it, then realized that was probably a terrible idea. "They're flirt-by-giving-you-a-big-tip drunk, but nobody's number-on-a-cocktail-napkin drunk yet. We'll see. By the time I get out of here, everyone's either coupled up, vomiting uncontrollably or home, so I think tonight's more about work then play."

He opened the container and looked at the beautiful piece of pie he was now holding. "Oh my God." He speared some on the end of the fork and took a bite.

"Well even if you end up numberless you still have pie," Angel pointed out. "Who needs sex when you have pie?"

Gabriel tried not to choke as he swallowed. "As good as this pie is," he wiped crumbs off his mouth, "it's nowhere near swear-off-sex good. Not even close. I mean, come on." He gestured to himself. "I'm a guy."

Angel hid a laugh behind a poorly imitated cough. His reaction had been worth it in so many ways. "Just saying man, if you ever decide to lead a sexless life in favor of food, you're in the right place for it."

"Oh, yeah, right." Gabriel snorted, putting a little more pie on his fork. Pumpkin had never been his favorite, but Lorna's culinary prowess was shining through. "Mansion McFrisky? You wanna rethink that?"

"...Eeeeehhhh." Angel hesitated for a moment before laughing. "There are totally ways to avoid sex in the mansion though. One guy jumped out a window once."

Gabriel's jaw dropped. "...on you? Because that just seems unreasonable."

"Nah, I managed to escape that particular incident." Angel laughed. "It wasn't really the girl's fault though, dude's a bit...uh." How did one describe Marius? "You'll meet him someday and then you'll understand."

"You could apply that warning to everyone we live with." Gabriel stabbed the air with his fork for emphasis. "It's a bit of a madhouse. Not that I mind. I feel like I fit in just fine." He pointed at the pie and offered her the fork.

Never one to say no to food when offered, Angel grabbed the fork happily and took a bite. "I feel like we need a cheat sheet. Xavier's for Beginners or something. Who's the lady with green hair, who's the dude with blue skin, who's most likely to glitter bomb you..."

"Nah, see, I need a guide to who's emotionally prickly, who can't play well with others, and who I'm likely to offend with my lack of filter. Names and faces, you kind of figure out. And glitter I can handle."

"Oh that's easy! I can totally help you with that one." Angel handed the fork back before she ate the whole slice. "Lucky for you most people roll with it and don't get offended by lacks of filter. I don't know if you've met Wade yet, but he's pretty much the king of no filter and if no one's seriously tried to kill him yet..."

"Mm, yeah." Gabriel nodded. "I think he's the one who threatened to run a background check on me three days after I moved in. Namor seems kind of stern and serious, but I'll be damned if I don't wear him down with charm or something." Gabriel took a bite of his pie. "What's your story?"

"...Yeah that also sounds like Wade." Angel sighed. "Namor's a bit uptight but he's a good guy, just get him talking about something he likes." At Gabriel's question, she shrugged. "Oh it's just like everyone else's I think. Girl's born with X-Gene, girl spontaneously blows up in her mother's car on the way home from church at fifteen, girl goes to school for mutants, etc. etc."

"Nice and normal," Gabriel quipped, unwilling to wait to finish chewing before weighing in. "And when exactly did you turn into a mermaid...?" He winked

"Yeah that's been a gradual process, it started when I was....ooooooooh, five." Angel laughed. "My parents put me a pool and the mutation slowly started. The fins are fairly recent though." She grabbed the fork, snagging another bite. They were friends now, it was okay. "What about you? What's your thrilling story?" She knew how he'd ended up at Xavier's - it had been quite the report - but there was still a whole vast history there.

"Oh, you know." He shrugged. "Your average no-good hoodlum who is hoping to reform." By this point, Gabriel wasn't sure who knew what. Aside from Adrienne (since that had been a whole humiliating episode) and Namor, who he'd failed to rattle, he couldn't remember what parts of his story he'd told to whom, and which lies he'd been telling. Or what gossip had spread. "New York by way of Austin. El Paso before that. Haven't been great at making ends meet, except when I take my shirt off and pour tequila shots."

"Well to be fair you could probably get them to pay you for just the shirt going off and no shots," Angel pointed out. "I think the alcohol is just the line between bartender and stripper."

"Eh, I dance sometimes too. That's fun, but I always feel gross afterwards. And you make less money." He put the last piece of pie on his fork. "People are always more grateful for booze than for the opportunity to stare at you."

"Really? Eh, their loss." Angel gave him a nudge, smiling. "Although I imagine the alcohol is incredibly alluring...it's hard to compete with that."

"Hey!" He flicked crumbs at her. "I am very alluring, thank you. Just, you know. A lot more expensive."

Angel laughed at that. "Of course, of course. It's not your fault they have questionable taste or are poor."

"True. The real problem is that people want to touch you, and I don't play that way. Eyes only, boys." He used his finger to grab some of the pie filling left on the container. "You too, little lady." He dabbed a little on her nose.

"Oh that'll be hard." Angel gave a mock, suffering sigh, resting a hand over her heart, her nose wrinkling a bit at the cream. "So so hard. But I'll do my best to ignore my baser instincts."

"Oh, hey, don't worry." He pointed his thumb toward the building behind him. "We can get your baser instincts satisfied. Plenty of straight guys mistakenly thinking they'll get lucky in there."

"Really?" Angel peeked around Gabriel to look at the building. "Really? Poor deluded souls."

"Yeah, but it's fun to watch." Gabriel put the container on the ground and grabbed his phone out of his pocket to check the time. He nodded approvingly and swapped the phone for a pack of cigarettes. "You mind? This is the only break I'll get. Trying to use it well."

"Oh I can imagine. That moment when they realize the only people hitting on them are drunk guys? Priceless." Angel laughed. "Oh yeah, sure. Your alley, I'm just visiting."

"Well, sure, but still." He tapped a cigarette out of the box and stuck it back in his vest's pocket. "Hey, Angel." Gabriel cracked a grin. "Got a light?"

The redhead laughed as she held out her palm, and a blue flame flickered to life. "Human microwave, human heater, human lighter - I just do it all."

"Full service mutant." Gabriel took a drag on the cancer stick. "So, what's the deal? You staying and drinking, or are you bringing that hot Halloween action elsewhere?"

"I live to serve." Angel pressed her lips thin, thinking. "I think I'll stay and drink. See how many straight guys I can see have the horrifying realization the only people hitting on them are other guys. Should be a good time."

"Hmmm." Gabriel nodded, blowing smoke in the other direction. "Here's what I'd suggest: Hang out by the back bar. Not only because I can keep your glass full, which, you know," he shrugged, "Halloween. But because that's where the misguided dudebros always end up, and, like, it'll be so much fun for me to see you shut them down."

"That is an awesome idea," Angel said with a nod of approval. "Absolutely awesome and totally happening."

"Well, all right, partner." Content with only half the cigarette, he tossed it to the ground and dug into it with his boot. He tipped his cowboy hat and held out his arm for her. "Let's mosey on in there and get you a libation."