xp_logs | Angel & Arthur | Wednesday Afternoon

x-longshot.livejournal.com posting in

Angel runs across Arthur as he's running from the consequences of what he considered a teachable opportunity.

He made it around the corner just in time.

Arthur stood there, panting, in clothes entirely too light for the current weather and with the light sheen of recent perspiration on his skin. From the other end of the hall, a series of loud foot stomps signaled the who he was running from.

The only problem, right now, was that there was a redheaded witness. Arthur put a finger to his lips pleadingly as his eyes went wide as saucers.

Angel was standing just a few feet away, her camera hanging around her neck as she stared at Arthur. After a moment she raised an eyebrow and mouthed 'what?' She had no idea what was going on, of course, but she knew when to keep her mouth shut.

The sound of footsteps receded, but Arthur held up his other hand for a brief three count before ducking to the side to make certain the coast was clear. When he turned back, his expression was chock-full of shit-eating grin. "Turns out people here take the garage very seriously."

"Well yeah - oh god tell me you didn't touch Scott's motorcycle," Angel said in mock horror. "'Cause I know you're lucky and all dude, but all the luck in the world might not save you."

"Well. Okay. Let me clarify. People here take teaching students how to do doughnuts and 360 turnouts in icy conditions seriously. It isn't my fault the garage is full of nothing but sports cars."

"You didn't..." Angel let the question trail off, shaking her head. "No, you did. I don't even know why I'm questioning that." After a moment she grinned. "Some people are just no fun around here, huh?"

"I don't know," he admitted as his breath caught up to him, "I haven't had a chase like that in weeks. You should have seen the expression on this face."

"I'm guessing it was something along the lines shock with a very strong mixture of fury and just a smidgen of disbelief?" Angel asked with a laugh.

Arthur, now unsmiling, made his best effort to capture the exactly lip curl and forehead wrinkle. "We have a process for borrowing vehicles, Mr. Centino."

Angel made a show of doing a slow cap. "Good. Very good. Whatever acting school you went to is clearly awesome." From anyone else that would have been sarcasm but she was actually being utterly sincere.

Not that Arthur would have noticed. He lapped up the compliment, and practically beamed straight to his toes. "I trust that you are not terrorizing people, but it you are I will happily volunteer my services."

That got him a laugh. "I am not at this moment engaging in acts of people terrorizing. But if I ever decide to you'll clearly have to be the first person I ask. You're so good at it."

"Oh," and he actually looked a little put out, "Then what are you up to? My crash course on winter driving wrapped for the day and I happen to have a very open schedule."

"Nothing much." She held up the camera in her hand. "I was heading down to the dark room, I found a few rolls and I have no idea what's on them." Alternate her was apparently worse at finding time to spend in the dark room. She'd found an entire box of undeveloped film. "Living the quiet life today."

"Well that's won't do," and the spike in his tone gave the impression of a man with conviction. "I will help you solve the Mystery of the Unknown 35mm. Or, at least, happily give you some company. I cannot just leave you to suffer a quiet life alone."

"My hero," Angel said dramatically. "I had no idea what I was going to do all by lonesome, having someone rescue me from it is such a relief."

This got a little pout, but the overall effect matched with his puppy dog eyes was so contrived it could have been in a Hallmark channel movie. "Friends do not leave friends to be bored. We're," and he let the word wobble uncertainly, "we're friends, right?"

"Of course we are!" Angel said with a bright smile. They had survived the end of the world together. If that didn't make them friends then nothing did. "To the dark room?"

"To the darkroom and its mystery film!" His pout evaporated instantly. Arthur bounded forward, enthusiastic, but then turned to admit, "Just where is the darkroom?"