Angel: A City of Lost Angels Story
Chapter 9: A Job

Angel’s POV

It had been a wild party that lasted 2 days and nights. They must have stolen all the liquor from the bar based on the number of empty bottles that now littered the main yard. She wondered what Castiel did about theft? Everyone drank, danced and bred. There were willing bodies wrapping around each other to music, and open displays of coupling in every corner and on every flat surface. Angel wasn’t new to any sex acts on their own, but so many orgies and bold positions on display made her question if she was a prude now that she was free of Master’s force. She had only glanced at the scenes, not partaking in anything herself. The continual beer had definitely loosened her up though, and she no longer minded Dai’s petting or innuendos. He was an unashamed flirt, but seemed well liked by everyone under his care.

He had been glued to her the first 24 hours, citing that it was her first day in the Yard and that gave her claim to his nearly undivided attention as a welcome. She doubted he had done that with every member of the Tribe, but it was less overwhelming to meet so many faces while being guided and cajoled by Daishkan. Angel spent most of the second day sleeping off a wicked headache while Dai attended to other ‘busy-ness’ as he called it. No doubt it involved humping, she thought.

Really the Yard could be divided into eat, play, sleep. The trash yard itself was for play and prominently featured Dai’s prized possession of the iPod and speakers. The main warehouse used to be a multi-level recycling plant, but now was just lined with mattresses, pillows, hammocks and piles of clothes as anything to sleep on. The final smaller building was a former vehicle garage that was now filled with long makeshift tables and a row of fire barrels for cooking. The toilets were nothing more than holes in the ground, but at least the bathroom area had running water in open showers. It was free love, your stuff is my stuff, barefoot hippy living. It perfectly suited her kind, she thought.

Yawning over her plate of fire-grilled fish, she saw she could be happy here. Inside the fence, there wasn’t a faction war or soul-reapers. There were catfights and scraps, but it seemed all a neko wanted to do fell into one of the eat, play, sleep categories. There was no forced sex or beatings. There was no fear. There was only the exhaustive positivity, primal sexual energy and constant giggling sported by all the cats, and the feeling that she didn’t fit in. She ate slowly and thought about what she wanted for her future.

“There she is, all bright eyed and bushy tailed!” Dai called to her as he joined the table, smooching the top of her head and dropping into the seat beside her.

“Har-har.” Angel dryly countered, knowing it was a double jab at her rear accessory and different eyes. She glanced over him and smirked at not seeing any hint of a hangover. “Are you ever not like the Energizer bunny?” she teased bravely.

Dai shrugged and popped a stolen chunk of her fish into his mouth. “Only on Sundays. A day of rest y’know.” He folded his hands in mock prayer. “Say kitten have you thought about what job you’d like here?”

Angel shook her head slowly. “What is there to do?”

Dai stole another bite and looked around the room as he chewed. “Well, anything! Tribe pick their own job and give themselves their own titles. We have the Scavenging Siblings, Fish Finders…” he gave an upward head nod at a nearly naked man Angel had gotten her breakfast plate from “… Lionel there is Cookin’ Bitch.”

Angel smiled and then nibbled her bottom lip. “What would I be good at sir?”

Dai smiled widely and leaned to kiss the top of her head again affectionately. “Well kitten, I THINK you’d like to get away from us every once in a while..?” He paused with a raised eyebrow as she smiled and nodded. Faking a pierced heart with both hands dramatically he continued “Sooo I think we should make you one of the City Wanderers. Orrrr Intel Officers. Or… OOH Sexy Secret Seeker!”

Angel laughed for the first time in almost her whole life. Jesus this cat was quick. She thought of the idea. Freedom and a way to satisfy her new curiosity, but incredible danger and risk. “Can I have a weapon?” She asked, essentially accepting the job.

Dai smiled and slid an arm around her to pull her against him in a side hug squeeze. “You can have the world kitten! Yes, I’ll replace you something.” Dai squeezed her again and then rose. “Anyways, busy busy busy today. Enjoy the day Angel!” He sauntered off. She admitted to herself that she was starting to like the tall guy.

The dirty cafeteria filled and got louder through the morning, and Angel retreated to the quieter play yard. She sat on the ground with her back against a speaker and scrolled through Dai’s iPod library. She’d only ever heard music Master called ‘dubstep’. The thousand songs on this small device had strange names and she clicked on various ones idly for many hours listening to the words. Dai appeared in passing briefly and threatened her about hurting ‘his baby’.

When he jogged to her again later, he tossed a bundle of fabric into her lap while dropping into a crossed-legged sit inches from her. His eager smile urged her to open the package quickly. Wrapped inside was a 6 inch wavy blade dagger and a black belt holster with lacy fringes. “Wow.” she breathed out.

“It’s unique, and EXACTLY what I picture you with.” Dai nearly bounced with his words. He scooted impossibly close to her and pointed a finger at a spot on her upper thigh, his voice dropping suddenly to one of rare seriousness. “Band it here, tight, and keep it shown. Practise pulling it out. It may make a vamp or wolfy think twice about attacking.” His words hung heavy between them, and Angel saw concern in his emerald eyes about her safety beyond the fence. He patted her knee when she nodded, and stood silently to again jog off without another word.