Go TeamC/A
-
Chapter 2 cont'd ***
"Angel I don't think pacing is going to get your friend here any faster."
"It's ten fifteen Wes."
"Yes but you were pacing at nine forty-five." Wesley rolled his eyes as Angel paced across his path again, "and where did you run off to this afternoon?"
"I had to get out for a while, felt cramped. I've got to find a place and with you moving back to your apartment I really need to find a place."
"Well you know you're always welcome to stay with me but I'm afraid my flat is even smaller than Cordelia's."
"Thanks but I think it's best if I live alone. I'm not used to having people around all the time, no offense."
"None taken - good Lord what is that?" Gunn's truck rolled up to the curb, it was big and loud, had all kinds of things mounted on it, and Wesley could only speculate their use.
"Yoa dudes," Gunn greeted jumping from his truck.
"You're late any trouble; is Cordelia all right?" Angel snatched another look at Wesley's watch shaking his head as the big hand slid onto the five.
"Relax man she's fine; her gig took a little longer than expected that's all."
"I called the apartment she's not answering."
"Probably 'cause she's in the tub. So we going in or not?" Gunn yelled back as he sauntered toward the entrance acting a lot calmer than he felt.
Angel looked up and down the backside of the young man strolling casually away, as casually as he had mentioned Cordelia and her tub.
Eyes now fixed on Wesley, "tub, I don't like the sound of that." Angel expected the proper gentleman to be offended. The almost stranger had knowledge of their friend's bathing habits.
"Angel we have more important things to attend to and besides they're both mature adults, well sort of. There is nothing inappropriate about Cordelia wanting to spend time with the young man."
"She hardly knows the guy."
"She met him through you Angel. If you question his character, perhaps you should not have invited him to Cordelia's home. Now can we go inside, please?"
Gunn stood at the entrance waiting for Angel and Wesley to catch up. "It's a karaoke bar. Your snitch feels safe meeting you in a karaoke bar?"
"In this one he does. It's a sanctuary." Wesley answered taking the lead.
Angel walked on through ignoring the bouncer as the weapon detector beeped. "Gunn weapons aren't allowed in a sanctuary; that's why it's called a sanctuary. It's a safe haven for its patrons." Wesley stared at their companion surprised Gunn would try to sneak in a weapon.
"I know what a sanctuary is and you," Gunn poked at the demon bouncer attempting to search him, "there'll be no touching of my person." Gunn reluctantly pulled the stakes from his jacket handing them to the bouncer, "here that's all I got. Man this place is packed with demons. Come on English lets find ours."
Wesley and Gunn found Angel scanning the room. "There," Wesley indicated with an obscure point.
"Yep," Gunn added, "ugly, gray and bald to top it off, that's a demon alright."
"Hello Merl," Wesley greeted joining his informant at the bar. The small demon only offered a grunt to the three men encircling him.
"What's the matter; cat got your tongue?" Gunn asked working hard to ignore his jittering insides. He had never seen so many demons in one place before and was waiting for the command to lock and load.
"I don't have a tongue." The small and ugly demon finally acknowledged his visitors as Angel leaned down next to him. "And keep the bloodsucker away from me. I know his rep, he eats his own kind."
"Especially when they waste my time," Angel threatened leaning a little closer to their supposed informant.
Wesley slid an envelope in front of Merl hoping Angel's threat of violence, his answer to every situation, would not lose them their information. "We're looking for a Prio Motu."
Merl sneaked a peek inside the envelope and pushed it back to Wesley. "You've obviously never seen one up close. Prios are stone-cold killers and they got teeth bigger than your mosquito here. You gotta sweeten the pot...a lot and keep my name out of it."
Wesley added to the envelope and slid it back to his informant. "This Prio you're looking for, he don't like it above ground. He'll be travelin' in one of those sub-tunnels of the Rodondo line."
Having a starting place Angel headed for the exit without a word, Wesley and Gunn following his lead. "Prios are nasty," Merl yelled out. "Not like your big stake and dust there, best of luck, though."
Gunn was ready to hit the more familiar territory of the streets. He eyed the exit concentrating on their imminent escape from the demon-infested club until...
The well-dressed demon blocked their path. He was tall and lanky and green. To Gunn he looked like the wicked witch of the west...if she had red horns.
"Love the coat; it's all about the coat, welcome to Caritas. Do you know what that means?" The green-faced demon asked sending Angel a leer that left him more than a little uncomfortable with the possible subtext.
"It's Latin for mercy." Angel answered his voice a copy of his dry expression.
"Smart and cute. How about gracing us with a number?"
"I don't sing."
"Neither does Mordar the Bentback! That cat's a foghorn on two legs."
"Who is this guy?" Gunn whispered to Wesley. He had finally relaxed a little, freedom only a few feet away and now the witch demon had high jacked their speedy exit.
"He's called The Host, he owns this place; he's anagogic."
"Really," Gunn sounded doubtful. "He looks like he's eatin' enough to me."
"Not anorexic," Wesley corrected, "he's psychic, connected to the mystic. When you sing you bare your soul and he sees into it."
"This isn't about your pipes, bro. It's about your spirit. I can't read you unless you sing."
"I don't sing." Angel tried again to make his point without violence; the club's protection spell would prevent it anyway.
"Come on Angel; give the guy a quick tune so we can get out of here." Gunn was practically begging.
"No." His answer an erupting spew, Angel sent Gunn a threatening glare.
"It would be for a good cause," Wesley suggested; "we might learn something."
"Who's the boss here?"
"I know you're feeling smooth, in the groove. Isn't that the thing that comes before a fall?" The green demon asked ignoring the vampire's anger and the bald, dark-skinned man's jumpiness.
"There are three things I don't do...tan, date and sing in public!" Angel was finished, he stepped around the annoying song-demanding demon making a final attempt at a peaceful departure.
"See you around...big guy." Angel froze at the familiar reference, the hairs on his neck prickling his skin. It had to be a coincidence, Cordelia was the only one that called him that. The simple intimacy of that private nickname sounded intrusive coming from a stranger.
Angel rubbed his palm across his neck turning back to demon. "Trust your instincts, the past can't visit unless you invite it in." Angel shook his head and headed through the exit. He didn't like this guy. He wanted to know too much, already knew too much it seemed. Angel didn't plan to return, ever.
"How fabulous would I look in that coat? He'll be back."***
"Whew, freedom and fresh air and a whole lot of space," Gunn proclaimed when his feet hit the sidewalk; "so what's the plan man?"
"Wes you head back to the apartment, we still need to determine what this Prio might be doing in LA." Angel instructed taking an axe from the trunk. "I can find it and kill it but if someone else is calling the shots, it's only a matter of time before another one shows up. Gunn you're with me," Angel finished handing the axe to his hopefully short-term partner.
"Thanks but I carry my own." Gunn declined the offered weapon yanking his own custom-made axe from his truck, "and since you asked so nice, I'm in."
Angel had already crossed the street and Gunn hurried to catch up as Wesley pulled from the curb. Gunn watched Angel flip the cover from the manhole tossing it aside like a frisbee and stared into the dark nothing below. "Uh, looking for something, did you lose your keys?"
Angel only grunted much like the little weasel-snitch in the club and Gunn figured it was just something demons do, like growling.
"The Prio, if Merl can be trusted this is where we'll find it." Angel's voice took on a slight echo as he descended into the sewer tunnel, Gunn reluctantly following him down.
"Whoa talk about your dark," Gunn whispered fishing the flashlight from inside his jacket.
"If the Prio sees your light you'll lead him right to us."
"Well if it does we might find him quicker and besides if this Prio can see in the dark like you do, chances are he can sniff us out too."
Another grunt emanated from the vampire's barely visible backside. "OK man, spill it."
"Hummm."
"We already got trust issues and your tude ain't helping our hunting a demon with big teeth in a dark hole situation."
Silence was almost the only thing Gunn heard. His breathing a little louder than he would have liked practically blocked out the sound of his own footsteps and the sound of slow dripping water that lay just ahead.
"That's just great the vampire's got a problem with the human. Look man, you asked me. I've got more than my share of demons in my own neighborhood. I don't need to be comin' to yours. If you don't need me here just say so."
"I don't want Cordelia to be hurt." Angel's words rang out as though he had stated the obvious to the world.
Gunn looked around the dark tunnel then eyed the weird behaving vampire. "She ain't here. I left her safe and sound with that hyped up ghost but he's lookin' pretty laid back compared to you right now. Man you're knotted tighter than a tightrope."
"How do you know Cordy was taking a bath when I called?"
"Cause the girl was yellin' for her personal assistant to get Mr. Bubbles ready the minute we walked through the door. You know I didn't have to spend the better part of my night at some gawd awful play. I was doing you a favor, another one; not that I'm keeping track."
I know...sorry...and thanks. She was pretty bad, huh?"
"Nah, Barbie was actually good, but the play sucks and good acting ain't gonna change that."
"So what did you and Cordy do all afternoon?"
"Man you are a piece of work; you know that?"
"I've been told."
"Well some things can be taken at face value and in case you're not getting it, that's one of 'em. Now can we do the chop and dice thing and get back to where there's street lights?"
Angel put his hand out halting Gunn. "Any minute now, he's just around the corner."
"How'd you-" Angel tapped his nose easing into the turn of their path.
The Prio charged the intruders releasing a beastly growl. "You take the lead, I'm the back up so I'll just be watchin' your back," Gunn yelled ducking a hard swing of the demon's arm with a heavy grunt.
The demon was strong, maybe one of the strongest Angel had ever fought. Its large hands closed around Angel's throat cutting off the air supply he thankfully didn't need. He beat against the Prio's outstretched arms as his feet lifted from the ground. The grip tightened then quickly weakened when Gunn's axe chopped into the demon's shoulder blade.
Angel grabbed the small opportunity slipping behind his opponent as he shifted into his demon form. His hands seemingly larger and stronger took the demon in a chokehold breaking its neck with a swift snap, his heavy mass hitting the tunnel floor with a loud thud.
Angel jerked around at the feminine gasp. "Hey, it's okay. I won't hurt you. Are you alright?"
The woman stared at him for a moment then gazed down at the slain demon, her hands resting on her obviously pregnant stomach.
"It's all right, he's dead," Angel announced glancing a questing look at Gunn who shrugged his shoulders unsure why a pregnant woman would be in the sewer tunnels.
She walked slowing to the demon kneeling down as much as her large stomach would allow. "Oh my God, what did you do?" She caressed his face with tender strokes then closed his eyes, sobbing quietly. "What have you done?"
"I didn't... I thought he was gonna hurt you."
"He was my protector!" She yelled trying to get up. Angel reached out to help her. "Stay away from me!"
"I'm sorry. I was sent here to... I'm not exactly sure, but..."
"You were sent here?"
"By the Powers That - it's a long story...I help people."
"You're joking, right?" The chuckle she had intended was muffled under another jerky sob. "God, I hate this town!"
"Follow her man, you just killed the wrong dude." Gunn whispered when the woman turned to leave.
"Hey wait, I'm really...what was he protecting you from?"
"Things you couldn't handle!"
"Like what?"
"Like the Tribunal. Look, I don't know who you are or what your deal is and I don't care, he was my protector. I had one friend in this world and you killed him! Now, you stay the hell away from me."
Angel stood helpless watching the sobbing, pregnant woman walk into the dark of the tunnel.
"Let's look around, see if we can find where the woman and Prio were staying, then we'll head back to Cordelia's and regroup."***
Angel stumbled into Cordelia's apartment, his body battered and beaten. They had been ambushed by two demons and Angel had stayed behind while Gunn took the woman to the safety of Cordelia's apartment.
"God Angel, are you alright; what happened?"
"The woman, is she here?" Angel anxiously asked ignoring Cordelia's concern.
"No, Gunn brought us the talisman but the woman, she refused to come with him...and she took off."
The talisman, so worried about failing the woman again Angel had forgotten to ask about it. He sent a questioning look to Wesley too tired and sore to even ask.
"Working on it," Wesley responded understanding the heavy glance.
"I told her to come here. She doesn't trust us...me. Why should she?" Angel asked of no one, his fist smacking against the whiteboard almost sending it toppling over.
"You can't see everything." Cordelia offered choosing to ignore her knee-jerk reaction to Angel's anger. "You're just a vampire like everyone else...that didn't come out right."
"I thought I was out of the tunnel." Angel confessed slumping onto the sofa, his face buried inside his palms.
Cordelia joined Angel not quite sure what to do. If this were Wesley, a few witty words followed by a few finger strokes through his hair would be her choice of comfort strategy, but this was Angel. Who knew what he wanted or needed?
Angel had stayed after finding out the woman had ditched him because of his fumbling attempt to help. He had plopped down on her sofa instead of storming off to brood alone so he must want something.
"Sure you did... because the tunnel is you know it's something we all... Are we talking real tunnel or symbolic? Just give me that much."
"I-I saw the light at the end of the tunnel...that some day I might become human. That light was so bright, I thought I was already out."
"Yeah, we all got a little cocky, didn't we? It's gonna be a long while until you work your way out but I know you well enough to know you will. And I'll be with you until you do."
Getting no response from her brooding vampire after her heartfelt encouragement Cordelia laid her hand on his thigh, the heavy fabric of his coat and pants separating the hopefully not too personal contact.
Her touch was soothing. Angel could make the slight touch of warmth last for days if he had to; carry him through the drought until the next morsel found its way to him. Leaning back, his head lobbed against the back of the sofa, his eyes remaining closed. His hand slid down his thigh landing to rest atop hers; so large it covered hers completely embedding the warmth even further into his densely covered flesh.
"Uh-hum," Wesley cleared his throat hoping to garner attention from the couple on the sofa seemingly lost in another place. "I think we have something. It's medieval, a small badge or coat of arms, to be presented when going before the Cahair Binse. Roughly translated that's chair of judgment."
"The Tribunal," Angel whispered giving a quick squeeze to the small hand still trapped beneath his.
"Right, an ancient court to settle grievances."
"You mean with like lawyers and stuff." Cordelia asked sending Wesley a surprised look.
"This is a little more primitive. It's a fight to the death."
"That's why she needed a champion. Where would this Tribunal take place?"
"There is no way to tell Angel. They're mystical events, they could rise up in our reality whenever they please."
"Look, we have to find her right away, whatever it takes." Angel had vowed never to return to the weird karaoke bar with its even weirder owner but there was really no alternative. "Do you have another rehearsal tonight?" Angel asked finally releasing Cordelia's hand.
"Yea, but I can blow it off if you need me."
"Want to watch me make a fool of myself?"
"Always."
Chapter 3Cordelia found it hard to believe. She felt every sexual thought, every sexual feeling she had ever felt for Angel drain from her body. How was it possible for a man so good at so many things to sound like...that? No wonder he listened to that yodeling music of all those fat opera people, not like they'd show him up. Cordelia wondered why they had risked death and maiming so many times. Angel could have sang and the demons would have opted for suicide.
"Well you can almost always find something right out of something so wrong." Cordelia said casting a doubtful glance at Wesley.
"Right, the man will do anything to save a life." Wesley answered with a pained look on his face.
"I was thinking more along the lines of our heads haven't exploded but that too." Cordelia admitted relieved to see the host take the mike away from Angel.
"Hey how 'bout that, a performer. Why don't we just call him Angel, the vampire with soul? I'm gonna have a chat with Mr. Tall Dark and Rockin' and meanwhile, Durthock, the child-eater, is gonna open up to y'all. He's searching for the gorrishyn mage that stole his power and he's feeling just a little bit country. So, let's give him a hand."
The host led Angel off the stage to a table several feet away from Wesley and Cordelia. "Well, aren't you a hot ticket? These are the only two seats left but you still have a partially unobstructed view of your...friends." His remark sounding more like a question puzzled Angel. Why would the anagogic demon doubt his friendship with Cordelia and Wesley?
"What can you tell me?"
"I can tell you're all business."
"She's in danger."
"No, not at the moment," the host replied peaking around Angel for a better look. "She was feeling a might queasy earlier but the cause seems to have stopped."
Angel looked over his shoulder following the green faced demon's eyeing trail. "No, not Cordelia, she's fine; she is fine, isn't she? Did you sense something?"
"No strudels your dumpling is fine. You have plenty of time to take care of any pressing engagements."
"Then tell me where I can find the woman. She has to face The Tribunal and she's alone."
"And you're feeling pretty guilty about that. Hey, you made an honest mistake. You killed her protector. A lot of guys would have done the same. Of course now she's gonna have to face the judgment with no champion and that's looking grim for her and the baby."
"Then tell me where she is so I can help her."
"Well, who's a little curt? Who's a little Curt Jurgens in 'The Enemy Below'? The Tribunal will be wherever she is. She can't escape it."
"Where is she?" Angel growled his patient past the point of growing thin.
"My question first and answer true, because you know I'll know; why Mandy?"
"Well, I-I know the words and," Angel leaned closer to the host embarrassed someone would hear, "I kind of think it's pretty."
"And it is, you great, big sap! There is not a destroyer of worlds that can argue with Manilow and good for you for fessin' up. She'll be at Forth and Spring. The trial will be there."
"Trial, how does it work?"
"I can only tell you what I tell you. The rest is up to you."
"Can I save her?"
"Try and find out. You can tell me how it turns out on your next visit." Angel cast the host a silent question. His reply a big, green grin and a simple, "you'll be back; tonight's the easy one. Tootles to you and your...friends."
There was that tone again, maybe not so much questioning as sarcasm. Angel was sure he didn't like this guy and he was damn sure he was never singing for him again.***
The woman, panic stricken, rushed down the almost empty street as fast as her swollen stomach would allow. Three huge thrones rose from the ground blocking her flight. She heard a horse whinny behind her and turned to see a knight in armor riding in her direction. Looking back at the thrones blocking her escape she found three, dark-robed figures prepared to rule on her future and the future of her unborn child. The knight threw down his disk.
"Where is your champion?" The judge asked the frightened woman, her arms clutched protectively around her stomach.
"He's-he's dead. I ask for asylum."
"You have no coat of arms and no champion? Asylum is not ours to give. Two are chosen to meet in combat. One can save your life. One can take it. This is the ancient law. Your life is forfeit. You have no champion."
The knight pulled his sword prepared to take her life. As the woman backed away a bronze disk landed on top of the first.
"Yes, she does." Angel stepped up addressing the tribunal.
"The trial by combat will begin." The voice commanded from inside it's hooded cloak.
"I really appreciate you coming through for us like this. But you know how you're not really good at anything? Are you sure you can do this?"
"Hey," Cordelia challenged, "he may be a little slow coming out of the gate but he makes up for it in the stretch."
"It's OK Cordy, let me handle this." Angel responded urging Cordelia to the sidewalk with Wesley before returning to the woman. "Trust me, I grew up around horses."
"How long has it been since you've ridden one?"
"It's been a while but don't worry. It's not something you forget, I can do this."
The woman walked over to the side joining Wesley and Cordelia as Angel stepped closer whispering to his horse. "Nice horse. Try not to make me look stupid out there. Cordelia's already heard me sing so it'd really be nice if I didn't fall off; OK?"
Angel mounted the horse taking up his shield and lance. One of the judges dropped a red cloth to the street below, the challenging knight immediately charging.
"I guess that means go." Angel instructed his horse.
The challengers charged, their lances meeting in a heavy clash. Angel managed to strike his opponent knocking him back but he remained firmly in his saddle. They turned and charged again. The impact knocked Angel from his horse, the stretch of his back landing on the hard pavement. Picking himself up Angel hurried to his horse retrieving his sword as the challenger charged again.
Angel knocked the knight from his horse with one heavy blow, their sword fight continuing on foot. Evenly matched their exchanges were fast and furious until a move Angel was unprepared for turned his sword plunging it into his stomach.
Dropping to his knees Angel clutched the embedded sword with one hand supporting his weight with the other.
"Oh my God...Angel," Cordelia screamed, Wesley's tight grip preventing her from rushing to Angel.
"Cordelia, you can't. We can not interfere, the tribunal will not allow it."
The demon knight approached the Tribunal waiting for its ruling. "The champion is defeated. She and all her issues are yours." Unaware of the movement behind him the demon drew his knife prepared to slit the woman's throat.
Angel stood from the street stained with his blood yelling out to stop the would be assassin. "I move to appeal that ruling." Pulling the sword from his body Angel beheaded his opponent with a clean sweep of his sword.
"That's the champion I know and love," Cordelia shouted.
"Cordelia, please."
"Oh shush yourself Wesley; what are they gonna do, we won."
Angel dropped the bloody sword panting against the pain of his injuries but managed a quick smile in Cordelia's direction before addressing The Tribunal. "She's safe now, right?"
"You have won. The woman is under our protection, as is her daughter until she comes of age." The Tribunal vanished, taking any trace of the battle with them.
Angel straightened and still panting limped off the now deserted street.
"You okay?" Cordelia asked rushing to his side.
"Yeah, I'll live," he answered with a sly grin.
"You sure seem to bleed a lot." The woman said, taking Wesley's offered arm as they walked down the street with Cordelia helping a limping Angel.
"It's part of the job."
"Yea, the fights may vary but the clean up never changes. Angel bleeds and I clean it up. Gees Wesley, come help me. How much tonnage do you think my back can carry?"
"You think I'm fat? I am not fat."
"Pfftt."***
"Wes, what do you think about us getting rid of the case board?" Angel asked leaning back on the sofa, Cordelia knelt between his outstretched legs cleaning and patching his wounds.
"Good idea. Start over with a fresh slate."
"Actually, I was thinking of us starting over with no slate."
"Of course, we shouldn't be keeping score. We're not running a race we're doing a job one soul at a time." Wesley agreed as he began dismantling the board and its stand.
"There you go big guy, all done." Cordelia announced with a warm smile and gentle rub to Angel's stomach. "You did good tonight, champ."
"Yea I did, didn't I?"
Cordelia had been surrounded by evil most of her young life and yet she seemed untouched by it as though an invisible protector shielded her from the iniquities that flailed the rest of the world.
She had remained in her spot nestled between his legs, her arms now resting atop his muscular thighs. Angel reached out one hand, his touch wavering. Would this protector stop him if he risked moving a little further into her sunlit world? Would it fail her should she slip into his dark world?
Her smile was warm and inviting, the love in her eyes genuine and he felt that glimmer of hope just a little more. "You know word on the street is that I'm your champion." Angel whispered placing a couple of light taps on her nose with the tip of his finger.
"Well you can't believe everything you hear on the streets."
"I also heard from a pretty reliable source you were going to help me find that light at the end of the tunnel."
"Well reliable sources are hard to come by these days so I suggest you take good care of that particular source."
"I intend to," Angel decreed with a certainty that still felt foreign to him. "Listen, there's something I need to do tonight but tomorrow I want to show you and Wes this place I stumbled across. It might provide a good office location and me a place to live."
"Sounds good, OK tomorrow we office and apartment hunt." Cordelia answered pushing herself up. Angel stood up with her grabbing his coat. "Goodnight big guy."
Maybe her light wouldn't be extinguished. Just maybe it was bright enough for both of them. "Cordy, what about your inevitable stardom?"
"I never said I wouldn't have a day job."
EpilogueAngel peered through the thick, shatterproof glass picking up the phone of the prison's visitor booth. "Hey."
"Hey," Faith replied a pleased smile etching across her face.
"How you doing?"
"Pretty good, I guess. I did sign up for this."
"Regretting the choice?"
"Bad day. One of the girls in the yard tried to build a rep by throwing down with me. She had low self esteem and a home-made knife, so.."
"Oh, is she...you know...alive?"
"She lives to tell the tale. Took the knife away but I can't say much for the wrist it came in."
"So you didn't kill her?"
"I really wanted to...took a big beating from the guards, too."
"Sorry."
"Earned worse. Guys like us kinda got it coming."
"I had to sing Barry Manilow."
"You're kidding."
"In front of people. In front of Cordelia Chase," Angel added leaning closer to the glass separating them.
"You lie," Faith challenged unable to stop the laughter. "And here I am talking about my petty little problems."
"Just wanted to give you a little perspective."
"Copa Cabana?"
"Mandy."
"Was Queen C impressed?"
"I don't want to dwell on it." Angel dropped his gaze remembering the look of horror on Cordelia's face. It had been worse than her reaction to the demon pregnancy.
"Food getting any better?"
"It's not that different from what I grew up on. It's a little one note, eating the same thing every day."
"I wonder what that's like."
"The road to redemption is a rocky path."
"That it is."
"You think we might make it?"
"You know, a week ago I would have probably said no but now I think we just might.