The Lost Angel [BxB]

josefina

Finally, from so little sleeping and so much reading, his brain dried up and he went completely out of his mind.

'Don Quixote'
[Miguel de Cervantes]

♡ ♡ ♡

5: JOSEFINA

The narrow cobbled streets of the sleepy village were familiar to Lalo by now. The pastel buildings conformed to the ideal of Spanish architecture, all different shades of pale blues and pinks and yellows. Bright flowers peeked through the woodwork and climbed the smooth buildings, ivy wrapping around door frames and open windowsills. The farmers market decorated the humble town square with lively rainbows of fresh fruit, hung meat, and imported seafood from the nearest fishing village. Everything was as it always was, apart from two minor details; Lalo didn't have his bike with him, and Rory stood at his side, admiring the sites around him.

"This place looks like something straight out of a fairytale." Rory murmured under his breath.

"It's magical, isn't it?" Lalo smiled, tugging on Rory's arm as he tried to pull him towards one of the creaky wooden tables, weighed down by produce, "Come on. There's an adorable little stand that sells the most gorgeous cheese."

As they neared an elderly lady with wild eyes, and a head of greying hair, she gave Lalo the warmest of smiles. "Eladio." She cooed, leaning over her table of cheese wheels and bundles of grapes in order to squeeze his cheek endearingly, "¿Cómo estás? ¿Quien es tu amigo?" She asked, turning her attention to Rory.

"Hola, Josefina." He returned her cheery greeting, leaning in to give her a kiss on each cheek. He'd grown friendly with the locals in the few short weeks he had spent there. It almost felt like a home. "Se llama Rory. El no habla español." He explained to her quickly.

She nodded in realisation, "You speak English?" Josefina asked with a thick accent.

"Yeah. Sorry about that." Rory apologised. "I'm trying to learn Spanish."

"Eladio can teach you, eh?" She joked.

Lalo laughed, "I'm afraid I wouldn't be a very good teacher."

They bought as much cheese from Josefina as they could carry before moving on. Lalo proceeded to show Rory all of his favourite places to buy food. At the local bakery, the owner gave them a free pie with the sourdough they had bought. When they reached the fruit vendor, Lalo stopped for a ten minute conversation of which Rory couldn't understand a word of. At the library, where they checked out a few dusty old books, the owner let them play with his chubby cheeked baby for a while.

"Check out the church." Lalo pointed to the beautiful cathedral that sat atop the tallest hill in the village. The steeple pierced the clear blue sky and the windows filtered sunlight through foggy stained glass windows.

"It looks beautiful." Rory responded as he readjusted the bags of groceries hanging from his shoulders.

"Can you see those four angels on the stained glass?" Lalo pointed out, gesturing to the depiction of a handful of figures wearing robes and sparking halos.

"Yeah, why?"

"Do they look familiar to you?"

"Uh...no. I didn't really pay attention in religious studies..."

"There are seven angels of god in the bible, but four primary ones. Michael, Raphael, Gabriel, and Uriel." He told him, eyes trained on the window that sparkled in the sunlight. When Rory stared at him blankly, Lalo chuckled, "Rory, they're back at the house. The stone sculptures of the angels guard the property."