Angel and the Assassin

hair in front
    of the mirror. “How do I look, boy?”
    Appraising him with a low whistle, Angel said, “Crazy sexy but definitely like
    a killer.” Coming up beside him, Kael looked at himself in the mirror. “Daddy, we‟re
    going out to dinner with two gay fathers and a couple of little girls. All you need is a
    pair of dark glasses and you could be a bouncer at a mob funeral. Have you got a
    nice blue shirt to match your eyes?” Kael shook his head. “Gray?”
    “Yes, I‟ve got gray.” He went to change, wondering why he had asked the boy‟s
    advice in the first place. Angel had dressed in leather trousers and a black shirt. He
    didn‟t look like a killer though, just a young boy who wanted desperately to be a
    leather man.
    Angel was still working on his hair when Kael returned in an attractive gray
    shirt. “That‟s way better, Daddy.”
    Kael looked at Angel seriously. “You behave yourself tonight, all right? Don‟t
    do anything to make me ashamed of you.”
    “Yes, Sir, Daddy,” Angel said.
    “Why do you do your hair like that? Have you thought of getting a buzz cut?”
    “You can give me a buzz cut anytime you want, Daddy, but I do it like this to
    look like Cloud.”
    Kael squinted at him. “What cloud?”
    “I‟ll show you. Have you got a computer?”
    “Of course. I‟ve been hiding it from you in case you do anything stupid.” He
    brought the laptop from where he had it hidden on a high shelf at the back of the
    wardrobe, and booted it up. Angel joined him in the bedroom and Googled Cloud
    Strife.
    “Here, Daddy.” Kael looked over his shoulder. “That‟s Cloud Strife from The
    Advent Children . It‟s a movie and a game. I love the movie. I had my hair cut to look
    like him because he‟s my hero.”
    “I see that. His face looks like yours too, delicate and pale,” Kael said.
    “Yeah, except Cloud has blue eyes and mine are gray.”
    “Why is he your hero?”

    Angel and the Assassin
    129

    “Because he saves everybody from the bad guys. He does brave things, and I
    always wanted to be brave, like you, Daddy.”
    “I‟m not brave, I‟m just foolhardy; there‟s a big difference. I‟m a thrill seeker. I
    can‟t help myself.”
    Angel kissed his cheek. “You‟re my hero now, Daddy. I should shave my head
    like yours.”
    Kael laughed. “Let‟s go, boy. We‟ve got Barbies to deliver, though I‟m not sure
    how appropriate it is to give plastic models of prostitutes to small children. If
    Freddie freaks out about them, your head will be on the block.”
    “Daddy, trust me. Those little girls will love you for this.”

    * * *
    Freddie Merchant hugged Kael hard at the front door and hugged him again in

    the living room. Seeming unable to quell his happiness at having them there, he
    hugged Angel next.
    He was doing well for himself judging by the size of the house and the Chelsea
    address, but the hardwood floor was littered with toys and books, and a white, long-
    haired cat strolled about as if it owned the place, shedding hair everywhere. Kael
    looked down at his black trousers and wished he‟d worn old jeans.
    “Our humble abode.” Freddie spread his arms, taking in the house.
    “And his humble husband.” Adam walked in and shook hands with Kael and
    Angel.
    “So what is your name, young man? We were never properly introduced.”
    Freddie threw a chubby arm around Angel‟s shoulders, squashing him against his
    body.
    “Angel Gabriel Button.” He looked at Freddie.
    “You‟re not serious,” Freddie said.
    “I am.” Angel laughed. “Right, Daddy?” He looked at Kael, who nodded. Now
    that Conran was on their side—and there was no doubt that he would be—it was
    probably safe to tell people who he was.
    Both little girls came tumbling into the room together and stopped shyly at the
    sight of the visitors, clinging to each other for support. “Girls, this is Uncle Kael,
    and this is Angel.” Freddie pointed them out in turn.
    “Uncle?” Kael questioned.
    “We‟re trying to teach them to be respectful to adults,” Adam said.
    “Are you a real angel?” the taller of the two girls asked.
    “No, but I try to be sometimes.” Angel grinned at them.
    Kael held out the bag with the toys. “There you go; I hope your daddies
    approve.”

    130
    Fyn Alexander

    “Girls, look. Uncle Kael and Angel brought you presents.” Freddie took the bag
    from Kael and put it on the couch. The girls crowded up beside it and released
    screams of joy when