Calliope came running down the path pell mell, driving a flock of seagulls before her with her waving fists and voice cranked to full volume. She came to a shuddering halt at the sight of Mimi, however, pausing just long enough to point before running for the dog instead.
That startled Castiel from his thoughts rather quickly. He stared at the girl like he might have his brother, rising in a burst of light to kick-start the end of the world.
Mimi, poor oblivious dog, merely chewed at her paw.
It occurred to Castiel that Calliope was still too young to be running about on her own, and searched beyond her for Kara. She looked tired, but it was a relief to see her. He wasn't sure he could handle Calliope on his own.
"Hello," he said uncertainly when Calliope came close enough.
Calliope stopped just short of Mimi, her blue eyes wide as she took in the dog's skirt. "You look very pretty," she said, as sedate as she'd been wild only moments ago. She smoothed her hands over her own skirt and raised her eyes to Castiel.
"Thank you," said Calliope solemnly. She moved forward, holding Castiel's gaze right up to the moment she slipped the leash from his hand, running with Mimi in tow to the merry go round.
"Cardinal rule," said Kara, finally reaching Castiel's side. "When she's being good, it means she wants something."
"It's in her genes," said Kara, bumping her hip to his. At the merry go round, Calliope had clambered into a seat and was anxiously urging Mimi to pull her into motion. "On her mother's side, obviously."
"Of course," Castiel said, smile widening. He pulled Kara into a half hug, kissing her on the cheek, her ear. On the merry go round Mimi was trying to climb on after Calliope, tiny tail furiously wagging.
He walked over, lifting Mimi onto the seat. "Would you like me to push you?"
Kara followed more slowly, watching him with a sudden lump in her throat. He was usually so awkward around Calliope, and Calliope so gleeful in her exploitation of this - she hadn't been prepared to see them acting almost like family. She wrapped her arms around herself, half smiling when Calliope tossed back her hair.
Calliope looked up at him in outrage, tipping a look to her mother that was nearly as mad. Kara's lips thinned dangerously, and she shook her head. Calliope blanched, her features pinched but voice contrite when she turned back to Castiel. "Please push Mr. Cas?"
"I'd be happy to," Castiel said with a smile, and gave one of the empty seats a gentle push. He set the merry-go-round spinning at a slow pace, not wanting to get Calliope too dizzy.
Kara pressed a hand to her mouth, knowing full well what was coming next.
Calliope threw back her head with a happy shriek, gathering air into her lungs to bellow, "Faster!" Then, spying her mother on a turn, added, "Please faster!"
"Flying!" Calliope screamed for two solid revolutions, forcing back Mimi's head for a mournful howl. When her seat passed near to Castiel, Calliope let go, leaping off in an arc of blond hair and flailing limbs right for his waist.
Castiel blinked in surprise but caught Calliope, arms going around her automatically. "I didn't mean--" He shifted her higher, she was gangly, a heavy weight, but so small at the same time. "You should be careful, you could get hurt," he said, his voice going soft.
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Mimi, poor oblivious dog, merely chewed at her paw.
It occurred to Castiel that Calliope was still too young to be running about on her own, and searched beyond her for Kara. She looked tired, but it was a relief to see her. He wasn't sure he could handle Calliope on his own.
"Hello," he said uncertainly when Calliope came close enough.
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"Hullo."
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"You look very pretty," he tried, motioning to her skirt. "You and Mimi match."
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"Cardinal rule," said Kara, finally reaching Castiel's side. "When she's being good, it means she wants something."
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"How does she already know to be so clever?" he asked.
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He walked over, lifting Mimi onto the seat. "Would you like me to push you?"
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"Yes!" Calliope shouted imperiously. "Push!"
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"How's this?"
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Calliope threw back her head with a happy shriek, gathering air into her lungs to bellow, "Faster!" Then, spying her mother on a turn, added, "Please faster!"
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Or Mimi would puke on her.
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