xp_logs | Angelo and Kitty

Kitty follows Angelo on a walk with Joyita, so as not to let him hide, and actually manages to cheer him up.

Lunch had been eaten, and it was time for Joyita's sixth walk of the day. They headed for the woods, this time, where she still liked to chase squirrels, approaching doggie-adulthood or not.

Kitty had figured that giving Angelo some time to deal with whatever it was that was bugging him but, as a professional at the whole 'run and hide from your problems' she was well aware when enough was enough. From her bedroom window she saw him head out on yet another walk and sighed to herself. Well, he'd gone after her plenty of times when she'd just wanted to hide from the world, now it was her turn.

She plucked her coat off the back of her chair and called out to Illyana, "Going out for a bit," before phasing through the outside wall and down to the ground below.

Angelo had a head start and Kitty was in no real rush to catch up with him, but she hailed him before he actually vanished into the woods, not wanting to have to chase down the various paths looking for him. "Hey," she called.

He slowed down and turned, offering a slightly unconvincing smile. "Hey, Kit. What's up?"

Kitty smiled back as she reached him. "Same question, back atcha. Mind if I tag along with you and the pup?"

Well, he had told everyone where he'd be if they wanted to find him, and Kitty was a friend... "Sure thing. I was just takin' her to chase squirrels, she likes that."

"Squirrels," Kitty sighed. "I wish I could keep Lockheed to just the squirrels. He and Catseye have, apparently, taken to chasing each other, usually when I'm in class and can't keep him from doing any damage."

Angelo grinned, more genuinely this time. "Ah, Catseye knows how to look after herself. An' I'm sure he wouldn't really hurt her."

Kitty snorted. "Not worried about her, worried about the house, and the furniture. Catseye may be agile enough not to knock stuff over but Lockheed shouldn't be going that fast indoors."

"Ahhh", he nodded in agreement. "Maybe a quiet word with one of them to only play outside, then?"

"Heh, next you'll be expecting me to be all sensible and stuff." Kitty grinned. "Well, now the weather is slowly starting to warm up, I may take your suggestion." She paused for a second, then said, "So then, what's up in a less immediate and dog related sense?"

He glanced at her sideways, then sighed. "Amanda, mostly."

"Yeah?" Kitty asked, not pushing but not willing to let it go at that.

"I miss her", he said simply, with a shrug. "I mean, I understand why she left, but... yeah."

Kitty nodded. "Yeah," she agreed, walking along with him quietly.

He let the silence continue for a few minutes, then sighed. "An' Paige is gone too, not for long but still, an' Nathan won't see anybody right now, an'..." He trailed off, focusing on the dog in front of him.

"Definitely not a great week," she agreed. "Although Nathan'll probably be seeing people again soon or he'll go crazy. And you can just spend more time with those of us who are still here." Kitty flashed him a smile.

He couldn't help smiling back, albeit with a rueful edge to it. "Yeah - I'll try. Thanks, Kit."

"In a less depressing vein, hopefully, how go your classes? Haven't gotten to talk to you in a while, you know. What's been up in Angelo-land?"

"Yeah, I know - been workin' a lot to make sure I graduate this year. Things're goin' pretty well in that way, though, I think."

"You too, huh?" she asked, the smile widening into a grin. "Know what you're doing next year or avoiding the question?"

"Eh. Somewhere in between. I've been thinkin' about goin' out for police academy, but I'm not sure yet."

"God, what is it with this school and people deciding to head into law enforcement." Kitty chuckled. "Seriously, though, sounds like something you'd be good at."

He laughed. "Yeah, that's what Cecilia said, back before she left. Who else is thinkin' about it, then?"

"I know Jubes is, and I could have sworn there were more. Suspect it's something to do with the role models, you know." She shrugged. "Then again, you could probably say the same for the number of us who want to go on and be doctors or scientists or whatever."

Angelo nodded in full agreement. "Yeah - not all of us are meant for the teams, but there's other ways we can help. An' what with the role models you science-types have..."

Kit grinned. "Exactly."

"So how 'bout you? You decided what comes next yet?"

She nodded. "Yep. Jamie and I are both going to NYU. I've got a spot in their physics program and I he wants to study communications, among other things. The phys department has offered me a spot in their labs, too, as an assistant."

He grinned at her, impressed. "See? Told you they'd be snappin' you up as soon as you started applyin' to places."

"Heh, I admit it, I am apparently a valuable commodity in intellectual circles. Who knew? I mean, besides you, of course."

"Jamie? Dr. McCoy?" he suggested innocently. "I can't be the only one who knows how to call 'em."

"Ah sure, gang up on me with my favorite teacher and my boyfriend. That's just cheating. Next you'll be telling me that M-A probably saw it in my future, too."

He laughed, bending down to pet Joyita as she ran back to them for attention. "Well, you never know. She might have."

Kitty grinned at Joyita. "So, what do you say, pup, find any good squirrels?" She didn't expect an answer from the dog but she had gotten quite used to addressing pets as if they could understand her perfectly - Lockheed's influence, probably.

Joyita, still mostly a puppy in behaviour, if not in age, barked at her and ran over to paw at her knees. Angelo, grinning, tapped the dog's nose gently. "Down, girl. Muddy paws."

Kitty eyed her jeans as the dog obediently moved away. "Well, I'd rather have it happen to these jeans than anything else and they'll wash. You two wanting to stay out longer or are you ready to face the school again? I've got class this afternoon so I need to head in..."

He considered. "I do in an hour or so, too, an' I'm not leavin' her in my room in that state so I'll have to wash her first... yeah, we'll head in now, I think."

"Sounds like a plan, then. Come on, pup." Kitty waved in the direction of the school. "Off we go to get you clean."

Angelo slung a friendly arm around Kitty as they walked, puppy scampering behind them, and gave her a sideways hug. "Thanks again, Kit."

"Any time, Angelo," she said, hugging him back. "Any time."