Southern-Fried Ranting

[crawler_kid]

Angel was mad as a wet hen when she came home, several hours earlier than she should have.  With school out, she was working more shifts at the gym, and shouldn't have needed a pick up until later.  Instead, she'd taken the bus part of the way, and then bamfed the rest of the way back

She slammed the door, hard, as she came inside.

"Why those lousy swamp rats, I have half a mind to..."

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[sonoflongshot]

Aiden was still trying to figure out what to cook for the girls before he headed to work. Being a bartender, he usually didn't have to work until the evening. He was leaning over a cookbook, eyeing a recipe, when the door slammed, making him jump.

"Eep!" It was a most un-ninjalike sound. He turned toward the sound and blinked. He was trying to figure out quickly if he fit under the 'swamp rats' description or not.

[crawler_kid]

More ranting, and various curses, continued as Angel made her way through the building. She was definitely not at her most lady-like.

"Ah cain't believe it! Ah just cain't believe it!"

[sonoflongshot]

Aiden looked down at Cedric, who was looking up at him with puppy trepidation and curiosity.

"No clue, bud. We should go see what's up with Mommy, huh?" The Mojoworlder stepped out of the kitchen and followed the sound of ranting. His Scottie followed along at his heels.

"Angel?"

[crawler_kid]

Angel mellowed for just a moment when she saw Aiden, but was still shaking with rage.

"Oh, Sugah..."

[sonoflongshot]

Some small part of him noted that going near a raging woman was not exactly wise, but Aiden trusted Angel more than anyone else in the whole multiverse. He got closer and reached out to either pull her close or just settle his hands on her arms. It depended on her reaction.

"Who did what bad? So I can go punch them in the nose? Or make their lives miserable all ninja-like."

[crawler_kid]

Angel took a deep breath and tried to let go of some of her anger before she released it, holding on tight to Aiden.

"Ah got fired," she said.

[sonoflongshot]

Aiden held his fiancee close. He was slightly distracted by the smell of her hair.

"... you what?" He leaned back to blink at her without letting go.

[crawler_kid]

"Or let go, whatever y'all wanna call it," she went on. "Bunch of parents--not all of 'em, but enough--got together to say they don't want no mutant workin' with their kids. Boss loves me... but couldn't deal with the kinda bad stuff that'd come his way if he didn't let me go."

[sonoflongshot]

Aiden frowned slightly; it deepened as she explained. "Oh, sweetheart. I'm sorry."

He stopped leaning away and gave her the tightest hug he could manage. He couldn't go punch a bunch of parents in the face. No matter how tempting it was.

[crawler_kid]

Angel was clearly fighting back tears. "Ah liked that job. And Ah liked the kids. And they liked me."

She trembled in his arms. "Cain't rightly fault my boss for lookin' at the bottom line... he's got kids of his own to feed. But Ah just wish... ah just...

"Somedays, Ah'm liking this town less and less."

[sonoflongshot]

One arm was wrapped tight around Angel, holding her to him; the other hand was rubbing up and down her back. Despite the urge to hunt down people and punch noses, Aiden knew his place was here and now.

"I know," he said quietly. "It's not fair. But I'm still here, and I love you. We'll get through this together."

And Cedric nuzzled ankles and whined.

[crawler_kid]

Angel gave him a tight squeeze. "Love you, Sugah."

And she looked down at Cedric. "Love you too, little darlin'."

[sonoflongshot]

Aiden only let go of Angel long enough to scoop up Cedric and put the wiggling dog in between them. A few chin licks might help distract Angel from the terrible outside world.

Since Cedric had her chin covered, the Mojoworlder kissed his fiancee's cheek. "We'll make a cuddle pile and eat chocolate or something tonight. Tomorrow, we figure out something to do."

He wondered where he put his cellphone. He needed to call into work. He should have some leeway to do so.

[crawler_kid]

Doggie kisses and boyfriend snuggles made everything better.

"Ah like that plan," she agreed. "Ah like it a lot."

[sonoflongshot]

Aiden gave her a lopsided grin. "Good. That's what we'll do."

He tried to hand off Cedric. Otherwise, the Mojoworlder would let the dog get Angel's chin thoroughly soaked.

"Anything you want for dinner? I can make or pick up as needed."

[crawler_kid]

Angel cuddled the little dog to her chest.

"Chicken, maybe?" she asked. "Reckon Ah could go for that."

[sonoflongshot]

"Chicken, certainly. Anything you want, Angel. Anything to help make you feel better." He leaned over and kissed her cheek again.

"Fried chicken, mashed potatoes, and greens?"

[crawler_kid]

Angel managed a little smile. "Ah think that sounds pretty darn good."

[sonoflongshot]

He smiled at that little smile. He knew this was horrible news for her, but anything he could do to make her feel better he would do.

"So, the question is, do you want to watch your cook work his magic? Or do you want to pop in one of your movies and relax while I mess up he kitchen?"

[crawler_kid]

"Ah do like to watch mah man work," Angel said.

[sonoflongshot]

Aiden nodded. It sounded good to him. "Okay. Let me call the bar to shuffle my schedule around and then get into my workin' gear."

Which meant he would get into his tight bartender clothing, since Angel did want to watch him.

[crawler_kid]

"Them those tight pants Ah like on you so much?" Angel asked. "Yes, please."

[sonoflongshot]

"Uh huh. Exactly." He waggled his eyebrows at her before going to grab his cellphone off the kitchen counter.

A quick call, and the Mojoworlder found out he called them just before they were going to call him. His boss wanted him to trade days with another bartender due to a wedding. Aiden happily took the trade.

[crawler_kid]

Darn lucky that boy.

"Everything work out with your job?" she asked.

[sonoflongshot]

"Yep!" He walked by Angel to give her yet another kiss on the cheek.

"Traded to have the night off. Your chef is home for the night. Now, I need to put on some pants..."

[crawler_kid]

Angel's tongue moved her over lips. "I do like a boy in tight pants. 'course, I like him out of them too."

[sonoflongshot]

Aiden paused and then turned around. "Angel. No getting me in trouble. I don't want to have to sit through a 'you wear pants in the kitchen' lecture again."

Once was enough. Even though it was tempting to go sans pants to make her feel better.

[crawler_kid]

Angel giggled a little. "Aw, okay, Sugah. Ah can get you in trouble later, Ah reckon."

[sonoflongshot]

Aiden wagged his finger at her, but his hearts weren't really in it. If she were distracted from the bad news, he decided that was good enough. Though he did get a little squinty-eyed at her.

"You're very good at getting me in trouble. I will have to be on my guard."

[crawler_kid]

"Have to be a pretty good guard. Ah am real good at it and all."

[sonoflongshot]

"Cedric!" Aiden marched back toward Angel and the dog she was holding. He looked down at the slightly confused looking Scottie.

"You will have to by my guard. I'm not good at it, and Angel is insidious. What with her sexy tail and everything."

[crawler_kid]

Cedric titled his head to the side. "Ruff?"

"Ah'm sure Cedric will be a good guard," Angel said.

[sonoflongshot]

He skritched behind Cedric's ears.

"He better." Which sounded as menacing as a bowl of strawberry fluff.

"Wait. Where was I going?" He was supposed to do something after getting tight pants on. His train had stopped mid-track thinking about what Angel could do with that sexy tail and all.

[crawler_kid]

"Somethin' about pants," Angel said. "And then somethin' about cookin' or cuddlin'?"

[sonoflongshot]

He snapped his fingers. "Right! Tight pants and fried chicken. It's terribly Southern, I hear."

He grinned cheekily and turned on his heel to go get chef tight pantsed up.

[crawler_kid]

Angel gave Cedric a little squeeze. "Mmm-mmm-mmm. Hate to see him go, but love to watch him leave."

[sonoflongshot]

It didn't take Aiden long to get dressed. He changed out of what he was wearing into a tank top and his best pair of tight, leather pants. He forewent shoes and padded back out toward the kitchen.

"Tah dah!"

[crawler_kid]

Angel let out an appreciative whistle. "Lookin' good, Sugah."

[sonoflongshot]

He grinned. "Just hope the look isn't ruined by an apron."

He could and occasionally did get messy in the kitchen. Though he cleaned it up well after.

[crawler_kid]

"Naw," Angel said. "The view from behind's still nice."

[sonoflongshot]

"Good." He clapped his hands together and then rubbed his palms. He headed over to the fridge. And when he bent over, he made sure Angel had quite the view.

[crawler_kid]

Angel stifled a giggle. Aiden did such a good job taking care of her sometimes. And sometimes, she really needed it.

They'd get through this. Somehow.