Logan, Angel and Sean arrive in Los Angeles
Co-written with notstakedyet. Happens very soon after this.
"Okay," Angel said as he climbed back into the passenger seat of the XTerra. He spread a map across the dashboard. "This city has officially changed way too much in the past fifty years."
"Shocker," Logan said.
"It's like everything I remember has been built up, changed, mov - " Angel stopped he looked up. "Uh, speaking of which, wasn't I driving?"
"My turn," Logan said. "Don't want you to get overtired."
"After five minutes of driving."
"I'm just looking out for you," Logan said.
"Thaaanks," Angel drawled. He turned back to the map, deciding not to get into it for now.
"You think that place you're looking for is even still standing?" Logan asked.
"Parker said it was," Angel replied. He didn't look up from the map. "Pretty sure she meant this dimen - there." He pointed. "There should be some motels there that won't mind Sean."
Logan shrugged. "I can always distract the concierge while you sneak him in. What's nearby?"
"Very tiny symbols that unfortunately are not making me feel like they mean 'butcher shop'," Angel said. He shook it off. "I can check Koreatown. I know some places."
Logan nodded. "Koreatown's probably a good bet for blood. So, shall we grab some dinner and find ourselves a home base?"
"You hungry?" Angel finally looked up.
"Getting there. How about you?"
"We'll get you something to eat," Angel said. He folded the map away.
"And you? Did you pack a thermos of blood or should we hit Koreatown straight off?" Logan asked.
"Not hungry."
Logan sighed. "All right. Burgers, then hotel. Pick a direction and point the way."
"Try a right at the light," Angel said. "I think there's a McDonald's."
The McDonald's was no longer there, but a Jack in the Box across the street worked just as well. Logan took the XTerra through the drive-thru and picked up dinner for himself (and a hamburger for Sean.) "Okay," Logan said, through a mouthful of fries. "Which hotel?"
Angel had gotten quiet while Logan was busy. "Motel," he corrected, not moving his gaze from his window.
Logan shook his head. "There's gotta be some actual hotels around here."
"Which cost actual money," Angel replied.
"So?"
"Technically speaking I haven't started the business yet," Angel said. "Which means that technically speaking you don't have a job yet. The word 'budget' needs to become a very good friend of yours."
Logan shrugged. "Housing. It's one of the essentials. And I've got cash."
"Which apparently you'd like to throw out the window."
"No," Logan said patiently. "I'd like to sleep in a bed where I'm the only living creature."
Angel's jaw clenched. "Fine. Whatever."
"What? It's my money!"
"Just agreed with you."
"Whatever," Logan muttered. He hit the gas sharply and headed down the road.
He pulled into the valet lane at the Wilshire Grand, then glanced over at Angel and kept on moving to the parking structure. "All right," he said. "I'll go book us a couple of rooms and I'll come back with the keys so we can sneak Sean in. Cool?"
It took a second for Angel to pull out of his thoughts. "Connected," he said, by way of a reply.
"Whatever," Logan said. He slammed the car door shut.
He returned in a few minutes and shoved a key card at Angel, then got his suitcase out of the car.
Angel appeared as if out of nowhere and took it from him.
"Third floor," Logan said. "There's a side elevator. Should be able to get Sean in without being noticed."
Angel looked down at the puppy. "Used to be able to carry him in my coat."
"Your little boy is growing up," Logan smiled.
"Destiny didn't mention the dog," Angel said, as though somebody had just challenged him on this.
"Maybe Destiny's not big on details," Logan said.
"Should I have left him?" Angel asked. He looked like he was geniunely uncertain. "John would've taken care of him. Or - I could've given to Cal."
Logan gave him a disgusted look. "You're an idiot," he said.
"Why?"
"He'd miss you, dumbass," Logan said.
In spite of Sean's larger size, Angel put Logan's bag down and scooped the dog into his arms anyway. Sean, oblivious to the topic of conversation, licked Angel's face. "He's kinda like my kid, you know? Is that dumb?"
"Yeah," Logan said. "But it's pretty normal."
"No barking," Angel told Sean. He put the dog down, the looked at the leash and their luggage. "Want me to handle the heavy stuff?"
Logan waved a hand. "Not that heavy." He picked up his own bags and clicked the remote key-lock to lock the car doors.
Angel shouldered his one bag and kept Sean's leash in his other hand. "I'm gonna need a car."
Logan nodded.
"Maybe something that can't be seen in the dark."
"A black car?" Logan asked. "I never would have thought it of you."
"More like not bright yellow," Angel said. He looked down. "Which... might have been black in my head, yeah."
Logan rolled his eyes and grinned. "You have no imagination. C'mon, let's get to the rooms. I have a bottle of Ambrosia that's getting lonely."
Vamp hearing and a very obediant Sean allowed them to get upstairs without incident. Once in the rooms Angel dumped his bag on the floor, took Sean off of his leash, and then stood in the middle of his room as though he had no idea what to do next.
Logan dumped his bag at the side of his room and unpacked the Ambrosia. He kicked off his shoes, grabbed a couple of plastic cups from the sink and went into Angel's room. "Want a drink?" he asked, sitting down on Angel's bed and opening the bottle.
"Yeah," Angel admitted. He finally had brainpower enough to remember to take out Sean's bowls and fill them with food and water. That done, he went to take a cup from Logan.
Logan poured their drinks and held up his cup for a toast. "Cheers," he said.
Angel clinked his cup against Logan's - much as you could clink plastic - and took a big swallow. "Not whiskey, but it'll do."
Logan grinned and took a sip.
Angel drained his cup and silently held it out for more.
Logan poured Angel another drink. "Everyone wanted to give me alcohol as a going away gift. Can't imagine why."
That actually elicited a snicker. Angel took another sip before saying, grimly, "Cal gave me a sword."
"Nice!" Logan said.
"It is," Angel agreed. He downed his drink again. Apparently vamp stamina allowed for many kinds of abuse. "Why was this easier with Buffy?"
"Was it?" Logan said in surprise.
"Feels like it," Angel said. He looked down at his empty cup. Sean came over and tried to lick the rim of it. Angel gently nudged him aside. "Maybe because there was a whole dimension between me and her."
Logan frowned. "Isn't there a whole dimension between you and Cal now?"
There was a long pause. "Okay, yes. But..." Angel trailed off as something occurred to him.
"But?" Logan prompted.
"Cal needed me," Angel said. He reached down to pet Sean. "Buffy doesn't."
"Cal's strong," Logan reminded him. "She'll be fine."
"She doesn't think so," Angel said. "But yeah. I know she will. It's for the best anyway. Not like I could ever marry her."
"At least not in a church wedding," Logan grinned.
"What the hell was I thinking?" Angel asked, not looking at anything in particular. "I knew it couldn't go anywhere and I did it anyway." Angel shook his head angrily. "Selfish - stupid -"
"So every moment with her was a miserable time?" Logan asked dryly.
"She felt safe with me," Angel whispered.
"She was safe with you," Logan said.
"I can't do this," Angel said. And for some reason now he was looking at Logan. "I can't get into any more relationships. It's not fair."
"Hm," Logan said. "You sound like a guy who's just gone through a break-up."
"I've got nothing to offer anybody," Angel said. "No marriage, no future - hell, they'll die just for being with me. No. Alone. I did it before Buffy, I can do it again."
Logan nodded. "I'm thinking the single life might be for me, too."
"You could get married."
"Yeah," Logan laughed bitterly. "No one's ever died because of being with me. You know, except for that one time. And nearly that other time. Oh, no, there was that other time as well."
Angel winced. "Not your fault."
"So why is it your fault if people are in danger around you?" Logan asked.
"Uh - vampire?"
"Really? I hadn't noticed."
"And yet you asked."
"Fine," Logan said. He refilled his drink. "People are in danger around you because of who you are. Therefore, it's your fault if they get hurt. Right?"
"Right."
"Then how is what happened to Lilly and Veronica and..." Logan trailed off. He took a gulp of his drink. "How is that stuff not my fault?"
"Lilly and Veronica was your father's fault, Logan," Angel said, looking him in the eye. "And Rory was mine."
"Whatever," Logan said with a wave of his glass. "If they hadn't dated me, they wouldn't have been in danger." He took another gulp of Ambrosia. "Well, Veronica might've been. But still."
"Still a danger outside of you," Angel said. "Nobody's taking a risk just being in the same room with you."
Logan looked away from Angel and didn't say anything.
Angel frowned, worried. "What?"
Logan sighed. "Nothing, dude. I'm not drunk enough to get philosophical. What's on TV?"
"I'm so glad you asked because the one thing I did before leaving Fandom was check the interdimensional TV Guide channel for shows that you specifically would like."
Logan sighed. "Then toss me the remote that's sitting on the table next to you."
"Can I have more alcohol first?"
"No," Logan said. "Hand it over and you shall be rewarded."
"Or I could hang on to it and try to find a hockey game."
Logan waved the bottle at Angel.
Angel grinned and waved the remote back at him.
"Fine," Logan said. "I'll do it the old-fashioned way." He stood up and took a step towards the television. "Huh," he said. He wavered for a moment, then sat back down heavily. He tilted his head at the bottle and then handed it reluctantly to Angel.
"Wimp," Angel replied. He took the bottle and gave Logan the remote.
"Bite me," Logan retorted. He turned on the TV and flipped through the channels.
Angel poured himself a final glass, then closed the bottle up and put it on his nightstand. He contemplated the liquid in his cup. "Wanna go find the hotel tomorrow?"
"Sure," Logan said. "Any idea where to start looking for this place?"
Angel drained his cup then moved over so he could lie down and watch TV at the same time. "Figured I'd check the place where I saw it last. See if it's moved."
Logan contemplated his drink. "Do you think that's likely?" At the moment, it seemed possible.
"There was a demon living inside of it," Angel said. "The whole building could be alive at this point."
"Neat," Logan said. At the moment, the idea sounded pretty nifty. He stopped on a movie channel and stared at the screen for a moment. "That's The Long Haul," he said in surprised, and gestured vaguely at the screen with his glass.
Angel squinted at the screen. "Sure looks like it. Who's that in the lead though?"
"I have no idea," Logan said, and grinned at Angel.
* * *
"Okay," Angel said as he climbed back into the passenger seat of the XTerra. He spread a map across the dashboard. "This city has officially changed way too much in the past fifty years."
"Shocker," Logan said.
"It's like everything I remember has been built up, changed, mov - " Angel stopped he looked up. "Uh, speaking of which, wasn't I driving?"
"My turn," Logan said. "Don't want you to get overtired."
"After five minutes of driving."
"I'm just looking out for you," Logan said.
"Thaaanks," Angel drawled. He turned back to the map, deciding not to get into it for now.
"You think that place you're looking for is even still standing?" Logan asked.
"Parker said it was," Angel replied. He didn't look up from the map. "Pretty sure she meant this dimen - there." He pointed. "There should be some motels there that won't mind Sean."
Logan shrugged. "I can always distract the concierge while you sneak him in. What's nearby?"
"Very tiny symbols that unfortunately are not making me feel like they mean 'butcher shop'," Angel said. He shook it off. "I can check Koreatown. I know some places."
Logan nodded. "Koreatown's probably a good bet for blood. So, shall we grab some dinner and find ourselves a home base?"
"You hungry?" Angel finally looked up.
"Getting there. How about you?"
"We'll get you something to eat," Angel said. He folded the map away.
"And you? Did you pack a thermos of blood or should we hit Koreatown straight off?" Logan asked.
"Not hungry."
Logan sighed. "All right. Burgers, then hotel. Pick a direction and point the way."
"Try a right at the light," Angel said. "I think there's a McDonald's."
The McDonald's was no longer there, but a Jack in the Box across the street worked just as well. Logan took the XTerra through the drive-thru and picked up dinner for himself (and a hamburger for Sean.) "Okay," Logan said, through a mouthful of fries. "Which hotel?"
Angel had gotten quiet while Logan was busy. "Motel," he corrected, not moving his gaze from his window.
Logan shook his head. "There's gotta be some actual hotels around here."
"Which cost actual money," Angel replied.
"So?"
"Technically speaking I haven't started the business yet," Angel said. "Which means that technically speaking you don't have a job yet. The word 'budget' needs to become a very good friend of yours."
Logan shrugged. "Housing. It's one of the essentials. And I've got cash."
"Which apparently you'd like to throw out the window."
"No," Logan said patiently. "I'd like to sleep in a bed where I'm the only living creature."
Angel's jaw clenched. "Fine. Whatever."
"What? It's my money!"
"Just agreed with you."
"Whatever," Logan muttered. He hit the gas sharply and headed down the road.
He pulled into the valet lane at the Wilshire Grand, then glanced over at Angel and kept on moving to the parking structure. "All right," he said. "I'll go book us a couple of rooms and I'll come back with the keys so we can sneak Sean in. Cool?"
It took a second for Angel to pull out of his thoughts. "Connected," he said, by way of a reply.
"Whatever," Logan said. He slammed the car door shut.
He returned in a few minutes and shoved a key card at Angel, then got his suitcase out of the car.
Angel appeared as if out of nowhere and took it from him.
"Third floor," Logan said. "There's a side elevator. Should be able to get Sean in without being noticed."
Angel looked down at the puppy. "Used to be able to carry him in my coat."
"Your little boy is growing up," Logan smiled.
"Destiny didn't mention the dog," Angel said, as though somebody had just challenged him on this.
"Maybe Destiny's not big on details," Logan said.
"Should I have left him?" Angel asked. He looked like he was geniunely uncertain. "John would've taken care of him. Or - I could've given to Cal."
Logan gave him a disgusted look. "You're an idiot," he said.
"Why?"
"He'd miss you, dumbass," Logan said.
In spite of Sean's larger size, Angel put Logan's bag down and scooped the dog into his arms anyway. Sean, oblivious to the topic of conversation, licked Angel's face. "He's kinda like my kid, you know? Is that dumb?"
"Yeah," Logan said. "But it's pretty normal."
"No barking," Angel told Sean. He put the dog down, the looked at the leash and their luggage. "Want me to handle the heavy stuff?"
Logan waved a hand. "Not that heavy." He picked up his own bags and clicked the remote key-lock to lock the car doors.
Angel shouldered his one bag and kept Sean's leash in his other hand. "I'm gonna need a car."
Logan nodded.
"Maybe something that can't be seen in the dark."
"A black car?" Logan asked. "I never would have thought it of you."
"More like not bright yellow," Angel said. He looked down. "Which... might have been black in my head, yeah."
Logan rolled his eyes and grinned. "You have no imagination. C'mon, let's get to the rooms. I have a bottle of Ambrosia that's getting lonely."
Vamp hearing and a very obediant Sean allowed them to get upstairs without incident. Once in the rooms Angel dumped his bag on the floor, took Sean off of his leash, and then stood in the middle of his room as though he had no idea what to do next.
Logan dumped his bag at the side of his room and unpacked the Ambrosia. He kicked off his shoes, grabbed a couple of plastic cups from the sink and went into Angel's room. "Want a drink?" he asked, sitting down on Angel's bed and opening the bottle.
"Yeah," Angel admitted. He finally had brainpower enough to remember to take out Sean's bowls and fill them with food and water. That done, he went to take a cup from Logan.
Logan poured their drinks and held up his cup for a toast. "Cheers," he said.
Angel clinked his cup against Logan's - much as you could clink plastic - and took a big swallow. "Not whiskey, but it'll do."
Logan grinned and took a sip.
Angel drained his cup and silently held it out for more.
Logan poured Angel another drink. "Everyone wanted to give me alcohol as a going away gift. Can't imagine why."
That actually elicited a snicker. Angel took another sip before saying, grimly, "Cal gave me a sword."
"Nice!" Logan said.
"It is," Angel agreed. He downed his drink again. Apparently vamp stamina allowed for many kinds of abuse. "Why was this easier with Buffy?"
"Was it?" Logan said in surprise.
"Feels like it," Angel said. He looked down at his empty cup. Sean came over and tried to lick the rim of it. Angel gently nudged him aside. "Maybe because there was a whole dimension between me and her."
Logan frowned. "Isn't there a whole dimension between you and Cal now?"
There was a long pause. "Okay, yes. But..." Angel trailed off as something occurred to him.
"But?" Logan prompted.
"Cal needed me," Angel said. He reached down to pet Sean. "Buffy doesn't."
"Cal's strong," Logan reminded him. "She'll be fine."
"She doesn't think so," Angel said. "But yeah. I know she will. It's for the best anyway. Not like I could ever marry her."
"At least not in a church wedding," Logan grinned.
"What the hell was I thinking?" Angel asked, not looking at anything in particular. "I knew it couldn't go anywhere and I did it anyway." Angel shook his head angrily. "Selfish - stupid -"
"So every moment with her was a miserable time?" Logan asked dryly.
"She felt safe with me," Angel whispered.
"She was safe with you," Logan said.
"I can't do this," Angel said. And for some reason now he was looking at Logan. "I can't get into any more relationships. It's not fair."
"Hm," Logan said. "You sound like a guy who's just gone through a break-up."
"I've got nothing to offer anybody," Angel said. "No marriage, no future - hell, they'll die just for being with me. No. Alone. I did it before Buffy, I can do it again."
Logan nodded. "I'm thinking the single life might be for me, too."
"You could get married."
"Yeah," Logan laughed bitterly. "No one's ever died because of being with me. You know, except for that one time. And nearly that other time. Oh, no, there was that other time as well."
Angel winced. "Not your fault."
"So why is it your fault if people are in danger around you?" Logan asked.
"Uh - vampire?"
"Really? I hadn't noticed."
"And yet you asked."
"Fine," Logan said. He refilled his drink. "People are in danger around you because of who you are. Therefore, it's your fault if they get hurt. Right?"
"Right."
"Then how is what happened to Lilly and Veronica and..." Logan trailed off. He took a gulp of his drink. "How is that stuff not my fault?"
"Lilly and Veronica was your father's fault, Logan," Angel said, looking him in the eye. "And Rory was mine."
"Whatever," Logan said with a wave of his glass. "If they hadn't dated me, they wouldn't have been in danger." He took another gulp of Ambrosia. "Well, Veronica might've been. But still."
"Still a danger outside of you," Angel said. "Nobody's taking a risk just being in the same room with you."
Logan looked away from Angel and didn't say anything.
Angel frowned, worried. "What?"
Logan sighed. "Nothing, dude. I'm not drunk enough to get philosophical. What's on TV?"
"I'm so glad you asked because the one thing I did before leaving Fandom was check the interdimensional TV Guide channel for shows that you specifically would like."
Logan sighed. "Then toss me the remote that's sitting on the table next to you."
"Can I have more alcohol first?"
"No," Logan said. "Hand it over and you shall be rewarded."
"Or I could hang on to it and try to find a hockey game."
Logan waved the bottle at Angel.
Angel grinned and waved the remote back at him.
"Fine," Logan said. "I'll do it the old-fashioned way." He stood up and took a step towards the television. "Huh," he said. He wavered for a moment, then sat back down heavily. He tilted his head at the bottle and then handed it reluctantly to Angel.
"Wimp," Angel replied. He took the bottle and gave Logan the remote.
"Bite me," Logan retorted. He turned on the TV and flipped through the channels.
Angel poured himself a final glass, then closed the bottle up and put it on his nightstand. He contemplated the liquid in his cup. "Wanna go find the hotel tomorrow?"
"Sure," Logan said. "Any idea where to start looking for this place?"
Angel drained his cup then moved over so he could lie down and watch TV at the same time. "Figured I'd check the place where I saw it last. See if it's moved."
Logan contemplated his drink. "Do you think that's likely?" At the moment, it seemed possible.
"There was a demon living inside of it," Angel said. "The whole building could be alive at this point."
"Neat," Logan said. At the moment, the idea sounded pretty nifty. He stopped on a movie channel and stared at the screen for a moment. "That's The Long Haul," he said in surprised, and gestured vaguely at the screen with his glass.
Angel squinted at the screen. "Sure looks like it. Who's that in the lead though?"
"I have no idea," Logan said, and grinned at Angel.
* * *