Angel: A City of Lost Angels Story

Castiel POV

It was taking every ounce of his etherial strength not to run to her and hug the Hell out of her.

When he had finally come up for breath from his heated Enforcement meetings, his stomach dropped and alarm bells rang. His Angel was sat cozy with that silver-skinned sinner! Taala had been intimidating as the Angel of Death, but he was near monsterous now as the Legion leader.

Angel had been engrossed in whatever story Taala was telling, and Castiel knew interrupting the monologue at any point may make the demon fly off the handle. He was a demon of wrath after all. He dismissed his Enforcers immediately and refused to take eyes off the pair on the couch.

Angel finally uncurled herself, scooped Taala’s empty stein, and padded towards Castiel. Her face looked like the first day he saw it; scared and distant. Taking no notice of who might see, he intercepted her with hands gripped to each bare hip and leaned down to make eye contact. “Angel, are you all right?!”

Angel stared at, no.. Through him for many heartbeats. He watched her nibbling teeth and recognized the gears turning in her mind. Her eyes shifted, even the colour changed when she finally looked at him. Thank the Lord! “Yes, yes sir, sorry.” She seemed to register his hands on her, and quickly slid a hand down his arm to squeeze one wrist while glancing at the remaining table patrons. He retracted his hands but remained still in her path.

“What did he want? What did he say? Jesus Angel, you look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

“So do you.” She said softly. Hell, he probably did. He ran a hand through his hair and drew in steadying breaths. He mentally chastised himself for his overbearing protectiveness. She reached around him to place the empty mug on the closest counter, giving him a smile. “I’m ok really. I actually feel kind of empowered. He’s frightening to talk to, but we have.. An agreement.” Castiel’s eyes widened as he thought the worst, but she quickly added “My daily drink and bag of meat for.. Um, city information.”

“Holy Hell Angel! You don’t make deals with the Devil! I can tell you anything you want to know, what in Heaven’s name could he offer?”

“A unique perspective.” She didn’t miss a beat then, standing her ground against his rising fear and anger. He was first proud of her backbone, then second annoyed that it was directed at him.

Frustrated, he spun and nearly stomped to the sink of dirty dishes.

—-

Angel’s POV

Angel stared at his back as he violently scrubbed a mug. She truly appreciated his concern and understood where his worry came from, especially when it came to ex-angel Taala. But she needed to do this. Her perception of each faction changed when she actually spoke to someone from it. How many in the city could say they knew anything other than outward appearances and gossip about other faction members? She needed to learn everything she could and find the common bits to pull the inhabitants together.

Sighing, she pulled open a small drawer to retrieve two tokens. It was dark outside and they would be closing soon, so she still needed to get her daily song allowance in. Smiling to some nekos as they left, she flipped through the song library. She made her first choice based on name alone, ‘God’s Away on Business’ by Tom Waits. As she listened to the creepy voice and powerful lyrics, she felt it perfectly represented the current City of Lost Angels. She dropped the second token and pre-loaded Gord Bamford’s ‘When Your Lips are So Close’ to play next.

Castiel had circled the bar collecting the last mugs and trash and was back at the sink. She smiled remembering Taala’s words. When had the great angel last washed dishes before this? Why indeed was Castiel stooping to this lowly work? A blue-haired demon that had spent hours nursing a beer finally stood and left silently, so Angel locked the door behind him and tossed the beer bottle to a bin.

The jukebox quieted and then whirred to the next song. As the words started she made her way to Castiel, still facing the sink. Reaching him, she curled both arms and hands around his midsection from behind. Matching the words of the song with a spooning hug, she rested her cheek between his shoulder blades and breathed in his scent.

‘Girl I wanna reach right out, wrap you in my arms right now,

Never let go, never let go.

And I just gotta taste you baby.

You know it drives me crazy,

To be so far away when your lips are so close.’

Castiel slid soapy wet fingers over her hands, and threaded their fingers together in front of him. He sighed deeply. Her worries of the day were pushed to the back of her mind and she only felt him.

He turned slowly, but kept arms encircled around her so she couldn’t escape. He shook his head slowly looking down at her and she marvelled at his handsome features. “I won’t say I’m sorry Angel, but I am here for you. Anything you want or need, ask.” He long kissed the top of her forehead.

Angel went on tiptoe and kissed his jawline, then lifted both hands to unbutton another hole of his shirt, level with her chin. The material spread between her fingers, and she long kissed the exposed skin at the top of his chest. He smelled divine and every touch of skin brought a small firework. He breathed deeper and flattened palms on both sides of her bare ribs below the cropped sweater. Angel purred lightly at the welcomed touch.

Just like the song lyrics that circled them, Angel needed to kiss him. She had never before, not lips on lips, but it was all she could think about now. Castiel leaned down toward her, and she hoped that he had the same need. He kissed her cheek softly, then her chin. She tipped her chin up with eyes closed and felt his breath on her cheek. Her own breath held.

His mouth lowered onto hers and kissed sweetly. Then again. And again. Angel slipped a hand slightly inside his shirt to fully palm bare skin, while his hands squeezed and kneaded her sides. She was instantly addicted. He long kissed her before withdrawing and pulling her tight to him, his chin resting on her head. She was learning this was how he stopped himself from doing more. They stayed connected that way until the jukebox clicked off.

No words were spoken when they pulled apart and quickly closed the bar for the night.