Go TeamC/A
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Part 4 The first month of Angelus' involvement with the Scooby Gang came with uneasy feelings, suspicions and visible anger. Giles had every reason to hate Angelus and though he worked with the vampire and started to relax in his presence, they were never in danger of becoming friends. The fact that Angelus had killed Jenny Calendar was one that could not be forgiven. Angelus had more success with Xander, Willow and Oz simply because the wily vampire's sense of humor kept them amused, but while the vampire worked hard to ingratiate himself with the gang, they remained fearful of him.
Not that he cared a whit about them. It was all about Cordelia. Make the nice-nice with her friends and then pull out the big guns. Angelus had a plan and it was all about the slow seduction of Cordelia Chase. He'd told her that she belonged to him and he certainly believed that. Every word. One day soon, he'd prove it.
Cordelia remained terrified of the vampire for the first couple of weeks until she started to see his advances as being a skilled version of what she was already used to. Whenever the group was together, Angel was always around to prevent Angelus from coming on too strong. Then Angelus had stepped back and seemed to focus on building up a friendship, something Cordelia found highly suspicious.
It was the second half of the month that confounded her. Angelus saved Cordelia from an attack one night she had been acting as Bait Girl. The others were all in their places, but Angelus had somehow been close and keeping an eye on her. Something she later found out he did a lot. Cordelia expected the vampire to demand some kind of reward, probably of a sexual nature, but Angelus reacted only with concern over her wellbeing.
After that, Cordelia started to feel a little guilty for always riding the vamp for his behavior when it appeared that he was attempting to be nice. Angel had warned her not to trust his brother, as Cordelia had taken to calling him that. The two of them were like twins and it appeared more and more that Angelus was a lot like Angel, only funnier. Certainly just as sexy and he wasn't attached at the lips to a certain slayer, which was always a plus in her book.
She would have almost been convinced that Angelus had forgotten his vow to make her his if it wasn't for overhearing the two vampires arguing one night when she had dared to come over to the mansion under the pretence of needing to ask them both a question about her history homework. It never failed that Angel and Angelus had differing opinions and viewpoints of situations and Cordelia liked to listen to them both argue over things, even stuff as boring as history.
"I saw you sniffing after Cordelia again tonight," Angel commented as his brother lounged on the stone bench in the mansion's huge garden. He'd come out here just to have another chat and make sure Angelus knew to keep his paws off.
Cordelia heard him chuckle in response. She'd cut through the garden because she loved the walk through the park, all moonlight and shadows. The rustling trees and the direction of the wind kept her hidden, apparently, because neither vampire had a clue she was there listening.
"Was not." Angelus denied. "It was that boy I was trailing. The one who thought he had the right to touch her."
"The football player?" Now Angel sounded incensed. "I hope you corrected his way of thinking."
Angelus, his head resting in the palm of his hand as he stretched out on the bench, gave a wide grin. His teeth flashed white in the moonlight. "Absofuckinlutely. Bastard won't go near her now."
Knowing that he could only be speaking of Larry who had been bothering her lately, trying to convince her to go out with him, Cordelia found it extremely funny. Larry was obviously not playing on the right team and she wasn't talking football. Though a good football player, Cordelia wasn't about to go out with him just to give the guy a front. Nobody used Cordelia Chase and got away with it.
"He's obviously alive and well," Angel assumed knowing that Angelus' only real weapon against the human population was his caustic tongue.
"Unfortunately so, the little prick. Too bad I couldn't have carved him up a little just as a reminder not to touch what's mine," sighed Angelus. He missed the torturing.
Angel's shoulders stiffened at the words. Not the mention of torture. That was not exactly a shocking surprise. "Stop referring to Cordelia as being yours, dammit! She's not ever going to grace your bed, so forget it. I know you only want her for one thing and the only way I'd ever let her get near you is if she's begging for it."
Sitting up, Angelus glared at Angel for trying to deny him the pleasure of imagining Cordelia where she belonged— in his arms. "Pretend to ignore my feelings, Angel. I know what I want and you know as well as I do what Cordelia Chase means to us. Maybe I don't have a bleeding heart or soul, but I do know passion and desire. I know what I want even when I can't have it."
"What exactly do you want, Angelus?" came the question. Angel figured he knew the answer, but wanted to hear it straight from his brother's mouth.
"Cordelia would have been my queen," Angelus' face took on a far away look as if he imagined himself in a Sunnydale ripe for the picking and completely under his thumb as he ruled over the squabbling rabble. "Beautiful, sensuous and deadly. A killer like us. A vampire with the instincts born of the night."
In the shadows, Cordelia cringed. That's what he had promised her that night in the graveyard as he pinned her to the ground. It was something she feared. Something she never wanted to happen no matter how poetically Angelus phrased it, because she knew that it would not really be her afterward.
"It will never happen," Angel vowed. "Never. Cordelia won't be turned. Certainly not by you since you can't even sink your fangs into her."
"You can," Angelus pointed out.
"Never," Angel shuddered at the thought, but not in disgust at the idea. The thought of feeling his fangs in the buttery softness of Cordelia's flesh and tasting the coppery tint of her blood made his mouth water. Biting Cordelia was a concept that made him hard. Fantasies numbered one, two and three.
Angelus laughed at his reaction. "Wuss. Ignore your instincts and sit around and jack off all day if that's what it takes."
"Don't have too," Angel reminded him with a smirk.
"I'm sure the slayer loves being used," Angelus returned drolly. "Blonde bitch might not care as long as you keep putting it to her so often."
"Don't talk about Buffy that way," warned Angel very seriously. He wasn't happy with the way his relationship with the slayer was going these days. What little friendship they had had become all about sex, but she was still his girlfriend.
"What? Not mention the fact that you have to shut up and take it like a man when she comes in demanding your attention?" That always gave Angelus a good laugh. The tiny powerhouse liked it rough, but she preferred to be on top. Constantly. He'd often listened in just for the hell of it. Better than cable.
That was interesting, Cordelia's eyes widened. Buffy hadn't said much about the sex, except that they'd all gotten the impression that she was certainly satisfied by it. The slayer took to humming during patrols. At least for the first few weeks, but lately the pair had seemed to get into little snits even in public and either Buffy or Angel would walk off angry. Cordelia wasn't certain what to make of that.
"My relationship with Buffy is none of your business," Angel barked and it seemed to Cordelia that he might as well have been talking to her as to Angelus.
"What about Cordelia?"
Yeah, thought Cordy wondering where Angelus was taking this. What about me?
Angel remained silent, which only caused Cordelia to glare at him from the shadows. Stupid broody vamp. Had to keep stuff close to his chest. It was a good thing that Angelus was nothing like him because he filled up the silence with words that left Cordelia thrumming in response and fuming with anger in a way that Angel would soon learn was not an emotion he wanted to be on the receiving end of.
"I know you want her, Angel," his brother commented. "Can't hide it from me. I was you for a while, remember?"
"Shut up, Angelus."
"Why? So you can go off somewhere dark and brood about wanting what you don't have the balls to take?" Angelus growled. "Not that you'll have her before I do. She's mine. Maybe I can't turn her, bite her, torture her, but there are many other things I can do to Cordelia Chase."
Angel wasn't about to let it happen. "In your dreams, maybe,"
"Gotta face reality sometime," Angelus told him. "It's gonna happen. Sooner rather than later. The path of blood, pain and death may be denied me, but I can get off just as easily with pleasure, too. That's what I'll give her."
"Not if I stop you."
Reminding him of his comment that he would allow it if Cordelia admitted to wanting him, Angelus felt certain he could get her to that point. "I want her beneath me, her hair spread out on black…no, red silk sheets; nude in all her golden skinned glory and open to me. I want to taste every inch of her on my tongue and drink in that tangy honey."
Angel swallowed reflexively as he pictured himself in place of Angelus in that fantasy. He'd take her slowly, fill her up and let her muscles squeeze him like a hand in a too tight glove.
"Then I'd give it to her hard, banging that sweet pussy until she couldn't stand for a week. That would be starters," leered Angelus as he let his hand fall to his thigh so close to his stirring sex. "Bet she gives good head. Cheerleaders usually do."
"You ought to know," Angel commented knowing that his brother had been working off some of his tension with Cordelia's teammates. "She'll find out soon enough. The girls may not worship at Cor's feet like they used to, but she still has their ear."
"Counting on it. A little word of mouth is always a good thing." Then Angelus said, "Speaking of mouths…"
Cordelia listened as Angelus went on to describe the way he imagined she might use her mouth on him. When was he gonna start beating the crap out of his brother for saying such things, she wondered. Even if they sounded really, really hot and Cordy was just as caught up in the description.
Then suddenly she realized that he had Angel talking. Apparently, she'd hit on Angel fantasy number four.
"How many times have you imagined Cordelia's mouth on you?"
Angel answered, "Too many."
Hidden away, Cordelia gaped at the answer. More confirmation of what Angelus had hinted at that first day in the library. She wondered just how long Angel had feelings for her and if they were only sexual or if their friendship was somehow tied into them as well.
"You kissed her too," Angelus reminded him. "Those lips were so soft, so full."
"Pliant and warm," nodded Angel. "Her mouth is wide…just look at that smile. Large enough t—"
Urging him for an answer, "To what?"
"To open up and take me in," answered Angel caught up in the simple thought of it, "surround me and taste me with that hot tongue."
Licking her lips, Cordelia's thoughts were turned precisely in that direction imagining herself on her knees with Angel's hands buried in her hair. She'd felt him with her hand and knew exactly why Angel would say what he did. The vamp was hung in a way that made her knees quake just thinking about it.
"Looks like we'll both have to hit the showers," growled Angelus irritated. "I am so fucking tired of silly blond twits. Oops! I forgot about yours."
"Buffy's not a twit," Angel defended his girlfriend. Quite used to sharing his thoughts with Angelus, saying them aloud had become something of a habit between the two of them because it was basically like talking to himself. Angel crudely added, "The girl has control of muscles you wouldn't believe."
Outraged, Cordelia barely controlled the urge to reveal her presence. Not only had Angel openly fantasized about her using her mouth to pleasure him, he apparently found it easy to switch gears and talk about Buffy within two breaths of imagining her. That really, really pissed her off.
At least Angelus was honest about what he wanted. Angel had seemed to want it all and that was one thing that wasn't going to happen. The vamp was gonna be lucky if she didn't stake his ass the next time she saw him.
Cordelia waited until the two vampires returned to the mansion before moving out of the trees. A little friendly game of revenge was in order. "Just you wait, Angel. We'll see how you like looking at something you can't have."
Part 5
It was Friday night and as per usual the gang was at the Bronze. Cordelia nearly gagged on the sugary sweetness that was Buffy and Angel until their sweet nothings turned into snips and snarls. Always about nothing that Cordelia could make heads or tails of, but they were at it again. She left them there with Angelus, Willow and Xander deciding that if this was the Bronze and the Dingoes Ate My Baby were playing her favorite song, then she was going to dance to it.
Cordelia started moving to the music. It didn't matter that she started out alone, because it didn't take long before there were three guys buzzing around her, feeding off her energy and doing their best to keep up. Her body moved in a sensual rhythm, dancing with seductive charm and a natural allure.
The teenagers were within touching distance and Cordelia let them, giving herself permission to lean into their fumbling hands while occasionally stealing glances toward the table. Buffy and Angel were alone now, she noticed, wondering where the others had gone. Probably tired of the arguing. Buffy was still turned to Angel, her mouth going at a hundred miles an hour, but Cordelia noted with satisfaction that Angel's eyes were focused on the dance floor.
"See something you want?" Cordelia muttered the question as she moved against the torso of the male body behind her. The question wasn't for him, but he answered anyway with a question of his own.
"Playing with fire, baby?"
Cordelia stopped dancing and glanced over her shoulder to find Angelus glaring down at her. She was about to whirl around when he gripped her arms and held her tight against him. The boys made some attempt at complaining, but Angelus scared them off with nothing more than a dark scowl.
"Maybe I am," Cordelia answered as the song ended. The next one was a ballad and Devon's voice and the soft beat of the music had her leaning into the strong frame behind her. She wanted those arms around her, even if they were his. "Dance with me."
A moment later, Cordelia found herself laughing as Angelus held her in a very formal position for slow dancing. "What are you? A graduate of the Arthur Murray School of Dance?"
"If I was, you probably wouldn't be laughing," Angelus commented. "What's wrong with this?"
"No spaghetti arms here," snorted Cordelia. "You've got your dance space and I've got mine."
Angelus saw no problem with that. It was proper form. "Spaghetti arms?"
"Hello! 'Dirty Dancing'," Cordelia prompted drawing a blank from the vampire. "Pfft! You've got to be kidding me. How socially inept can you get."
"It's his fault," Angelus nodded in Angel's direction. "Dirty Dancing sounds like something I'd actually enjoy."
"No doubt," she answered dryly. "That may be a little advanced for you. Why don't you just try to make me feel like I'm dancing with someone other than my grandpa."
Glancing around at the other couples, Angelus quickly got the hint. Wrapping her up in his arms, he pulled her back into his hard frame and felt Cordelia wrap her arms around his neck. She smelled so good up close and Angelus buried his face against her head as Cordelia nuzzled against him.
Angelus smoothed his hand down her spine, up to her shoulders and down to her hips again drawing out a little purr from Cordelia. Damn, but it felt good to have her in his arms. All those firm curves and soft surfaces pressing against him.
With a sigh, Cordelia shifted her head so that she could look up at Angelus. He was gazing at her with a look of wonder on his face. His fingers trailed across her cheek and then moved so that his thumb pressed across her lower lip exposing the tender pink flesh inside to his gaze.
"Go ahead," the dare sounded on her lips. "Kiss me. Think he'll let you?"
The corner of his mouth twisted up into a knowing grin. "What's this, vixen? Trying to get me in trouble or to make him jealous?"
Cordelia's eyes sparkled with mischief even as they continued to sway slowly around the dance floor. "What makes you think that?"
"Because I know you, Cordelia Chase," he reminded her. "I know you just as well as Angel does. Better than that because I don't bullshit my way into pretending that I can't read your body language or the beat of your heart when you're near."
"Tell me you can't do that," she gasped in horror figuring a vampire with a couple of centuries of experience probably had that art down cold. "Tell me he can't."
Angelus merely smirked in return. Answer enough, perhaps, but he added, "Why don't I just tell you that you're nervous in my arms, but you like being here. That you're dancing with me, but thinking of him. That you dare me to kiss you thinking I won't, but wanting it anyway."
"Do not," Cordelia huffed.
"I don't lie to you," he said with a hint of anger. "I expect the truth when you talk to me."
"Fine. I'm mad at Angel. I overheard something he said about me and I'm a little tickled off," she revealed while glancing daggers in his direction. He was talking to Buffy again; this time it appeared they were back into snuggle mode. Making a little sound of disgust, it was easily picked up by Angelus.
He realized quickly, "You're jealous."
"Am not," was her automatic response. Upon hearing his growl of complaint at the obvious lie, correcting herself, "Maybe a little, but if you tell him that I'll make you pay for it."
"Might be worth it," Angelus grinned. Suddenly, he saw a way to get them both what they wanted. "You should take advantage of this, Cor."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Use me."
"Use you?" Cordelia snorted. "Don't think I can't tell what you're after. Pfft! Like I'd give you an inch."
Angelus twirled her around a couple of times and then off to the far side of the dance floor where he settled her against a column, placing his hands on either side of her shoulders. "I think you're missing out on an opportunity. Who else can rile my brother up better than me? Only you and me…together."
The idea had its merits, Cordelia considered, even though she'd be making a deal with the devil just to get back at Angel for hiding his feelings from her. He was over there now, she knew. Cordelia didn't have to look; she knew Angel was watching. He had been ever since they two of them left the dance floor.
Before Cordelia could talk herself out of it, she reached up taking Angelus' face in her hands and kissed him until her ears started ringing. Halfway through the kiss, he took over, making a growling moan into her mouth, taking her wrists and pushing her hands up over her head while pinning Cordelia's lush body against the pillar with his own. She gasped as his tongue teased her. His mouth crushed her lips and then softened in the next moment to capture her lower lip with a tender nibble.
Cordelia felt him hard against her and her hips naturally gravitated closer thrusting forward to meet his. Her right foot lifted and moved outward at the nudge of his knee against her thigh. Bending her knee, she ran it along the outside of Angelus' leg.
Their game of revenge led so quickly to actual arousal that both were caught up in each other neither one seeing the approach of the furious vampire. Angel grabbed Angelus and threw him off Cordelia. Facing her with rage darkening his features, he demanded, "What do you think you're doing?"
His eyes raked over her taking in her mussed hair, barely there lipstick smudged on her lower lip, flushed skin, the wrinkled blouse with her nipples poking up at him like wanton targets. The sharp scent of her arousal clung to the air.
"Isn't it obvious?" Cordelia asked while smoothing down her miniskirt.
"It looks like you're planning to get laid, sweetheart," he growled out, "but it's not going to happen. Not with Angelus."
"Maybe she wants it," Angelus cut in oblivious of the curious gazes that focused on them as they cornered off against each other. "It's none of your business what we do. Cordelia knows I'm not out to hurt her."
Angel told her point blank, "He can't hurt you, Cordelia, but Angelus can't love you, either. Is that what you want?"
"Is love so wonderful?" Cordelia asked him. "After seeing you and Buffy, I'm not sure I need it."
"Leave Buffy out of it," pleaded Angel. He didn't want to drag her into this. Mainly because it would mean facing up to the reasons they had been arguing every time they came within two feet of each other.
Cordelia countered with, "Love to. I'd love to leave her out of it, but I can't, Angel. She's right over there looking like she's gonna stake the two of you and rip my hair out by the roots."
Angel didn't bother to glance over his shoulder. He knew Cordelia was telling the truth. That wasn't his main concern at the moment. "Whatever you've got going on here stops now."
"Why do you care?" snapped Cordelia wanting to hear him admit the truth.
"Because I'm your friend and I don't want you hurt by me…my brother," Angel caught the error and fixed it, but not before Cordelia and Angelus heard the original intent of his words.
"Angelus won't hurt me," Cordelia reminded him of his own words. "Physically, he can't hurt anyone. I know he wants me. What's so bad about that?"
Glancing at his double, Angel saw that Angelus had assumed a relaxed pose against the column next to Cordelia. He wore that knowing smirk and it was all Angel could do not to punch it off his brother's face. The reason it wasn't okay was simple, but one he couldn't reveal.
I want you for myself, but I can't have you because I already have a girlfriend, he played out the scenario in his mind. The selfish nature of his desires plagued him. It wasn't right. It wasn't fair. Angel couldn't act on his attraction to Cordelia because it would not only hurt Buffy, but mainly because it would put his valued friendship with Cordelia at risk.
If it wasn't already in danger now that Angelus was free to say and do whatever he pleased. The fact that Angel knew exactly what his double wanted made it worse because he wanted all that and more.
"I don't care if you have a sudden urge to live dangerously," Angel told Cordelia. "I won't let this happen. You will stay away from Angelus or I swear you'll regret it, Cor."
Cordelia wasn't much for threats, especially coming from Angel. Hands on her hips, she stepped close, tilting her face up to him and glared hotly, "Whatcha planning to do to stop me? Put me under house arrest? Tie me up somewhere?"
"Don't tempt me," Angel answered imagining tying her to the posts on his bed, nude and spread-eagled awaiting him. The idea obviously affected Cordelia as well making her heart rate kick up another notch. Damn, he didn't need to know that excited her. "I get the feeling you might like that, sweetheart. There won't be any silk scarves involved, just the palm of my hand tanning your ass."
"You wouldn't!" Gasping, Cordelia was outraged he would suggest it and ignored the rush of heat curling low in her belly.
Angel returned, "I will if that's what it takes to make you understand Angelus isn't someone you should be involved with."
"First off, buddy, I will be involved with anyone I damn please," Cordelia poked him in the chest with her finger. "Angelus may not have a soul, but he does have a leash. Maybe I just want to give it a little tug. Ever think of that?"
There were definite rumblings of discontent to be heard…from both vampires. Angel wanted no talk of Cordelia tugging on anything belonging to his brother. Angelus was not very keen on the idea of having a leash, much less the idea of being led by it.
"No doubt you'd enjoy it at first," Angel admitted through clenched teeth as blunt as she'd taught him to be. "I know precisely what Angelus is capable of when it comes to pleasuring a woman. He'd have you screaming his name and coming six different ways before sunrise."
Just the thought made Cordelia's toes curl, because she knew Angelus wasn't the only vampire standing here that could do so. Then Angel asked her, "Is that all you want?"
"No," Cordelia answered truthfully.
Nearly sighing in relief, Angel added, "Please think about this before you jump in with both feet. Once you let Angelus have you, I guarantee having a relationship with a human won't ever be the same."
Angelus revolted at that idea. "Like that will ever happen. You think I'd let her go?"
"Exactly," Angel nodded. "You wouldn't. That's what I'm saying, Cordelia. Once you take that step, there's no going back."
Cordelia tried to keep in mind that she hadn't intended to take that step in the first place. She was just trying to get Angel to admit that he wanted her. The way he acted and the things he said went beyond the big brother act he was trying to maintain. Cordelia knew that, but she realized that Angel wasn't about to voice any admission of feeling other than concern and friendship as long as he and Buffy were together.
That wasn't something she was going to get in the middle of simply because Cordelia didn't want to feel second best. If Angel wanted her, then he'd have to find the balls to make a decision and come get her for himself.
"Okay," she decided on a different gameplan. "I won't rush into things with Angelus."
"Good," Angel nodded with a relieved smile while his brother scowled at the news.
"That doesn't mean I can't do whatever I want," Cordelia pointed out.
Angel was about to protest when she cut back in, "Maybe Angelus is like your evil pervert of a brother, but he's still a person…kinda."
"Am not!" Angelus protested.
"Which part?" asked his double drolly.
Cordelia rolled her eyes, "Okay, so you're a vampire. I get that, trust me. That doesn't mean you can't try to live the leashed undead life you've been given."
He couldn't disagree with that. "Right."
"What's to say you can't have fun?"
Angelus had a feeling his definition of fun was a lot different than the cheerleader's. "Does this fun involve you?"
Considering what she was trying to say, Cordelia shrugged. "Maybe."
That idea didn't sit well with Angel. "What are you getting at?"
"Just that Angelus needs to get out and do things besides tag after you everywhere. What fun is it if Angel the Bloodhound is watching every second?"
"That's the point, Cordelia," Angel reminded her. "He gets a life, but I make sure he doesn't get out of line."
"Pfft! You just don't trust him," she poked his chest again.
Angel grabbed her hand. "Damn right I don't. Especially with you."
"What's the problem? That you know Angelus wants me or that you can't stand the idea of me being his friend?"
"You're my friend," Angel actually tugged her closer.
Cordelia laughed at him. "Possessive, much?"
"Angelus doesn't want your friendship, Cordelia," Angel's voice deepened into harsh tones, "he wants to fuck you."
The crude words shocked her, but Cordelia snapped back the first thing that popped into her head. Challenging him, "And you don't?"
They stared at each other in a silent face-off. Angelus stood next to them eating up the tension in the atmosphere. Geez, he loved this. He wondered if Cordelia would haul off and slap Angel silly or if the other vampire would just throw her up against the column and take her where she stood. Hell, that's what he'd do if it wouldn't set off the severely debilitating pain-inducing spell that moderated his behavior.
"Don't go there," Angel shook his head, his eyes dropping to the fullness of her lips as they formed a tempting circle. Lifting his gaze back to hers, he said, "This is about you putting too much trust in Angelus, not about us."
"What 'us', Angel?" Cordelia demanded an answer. "We're friends and beyond th—"
Angel stopped her with a growl, "There can't be anything beyond that. There's Buffy."
"I know," Cordelia shrugged as if the fact didn't bother her and found herself under the scrutinizing stares of both vampires. "Being my friend doesn't mean you have exclusive rights to my friendship. I can give it to anyone I choose."
"To him?" Angel made it sound like the other vampire had crawled out from under a rock. "To Angelus?"
Cordelia glanced at the vampire over her shoulder. "Somebody needs to. He's kinda pathetic. Nobody likes him."
"Cor-de-lia," intoned Angelus trying to get her to shut up without using his hands to strangle her. Something that would only cause him pain and in the end would not get him what he wanted.
"Puh-lease," Cordelia ignored the threatening tone. "Giles and Buffy can't stand you. The Scoobies are afraid of you. Other vampires aren't exactly flocking to your banner now that you're fighting the Good Fight and your own brother doesn't trust you."
Angelus frowned to the point of pouting. "I don't give a crap about them."
"See," Cordelia told Angel. "He obviously needs to get a life. How can we expect him to be one of the good guys if he doesn't even have a friend among us?"
"Let Xander be his friend," barked Angel unwilling to concede that Cordelia could be anything to his evil alter-ego.
"Pfft! Yeah, right," she shared a chuckle with Angelus who found the concept equally amusing.
Cordelia strummed her fingers against her hips thoughtfully. "Since your free time is full these days with all the Buffy boinking, I'll just have to spend mine with Angelus. I need a new project, anyway."
"Project?" Both of them questioned.
"Y'know, easing the former serial killer back into society," she told them.
Angelus looked offended, "Former?"
"Face it, Bad Boy," Cordelia's mouth curled into a grin, "the only thing you can kill these days are demons, so flash your pearly fangs all you want. You don't scare me anymore."
That pissed Angelus off, but there was not much he could do about it if he wanted to get into those closely guarded panties. What with guard dog Angel around, Cordelia hardly needed to bother with a chastity belt. Not that it wasn't too late to bother with one now. He felt certain the cheerleader was no longer virgin territory, but he was oh so willing to find out just how much experience she did have.
Angel wasn't certain what brought on this crazy idea of Cordelia's. Taking on Angelus as a 'project' or as a friend was ridiculous. He told her so and managed to draw her ire. Not a fun place to be, Angel decided and eventually they came to a standoff.
"You're going to do this, aren't you?" Angel glared down at Cordelia. "No matter my opinion."
She remained silent, simply raising an eyebrow.
Then grabbing his brother's shirt front, Angel hauled him closer too. Angelus didn't protest because he knew this was all going in the direction he wanted. "Cordelia's misguided notion that you are redeemable in any way better not come back to bite her on the ass. Understood?"
"No biting," Angelus nodded trying to keep a straight face. "Got it."
Releasing him, Angel further warned, "I'll be watching. If you even attempt to touch Cordelia in any way that displeases her, you better prepare for the consequences."
"Big Brother is watching," Cordelia snorted just as Angel had turned to go back to Buffy and the gang who were once again gathered at the table.
Pausing, Angel moved his head just enough to let her know his words had an impact. Though the music continued to belt out its heady rhythm, she heard him speak, "I'm no one's big brother, Cordelia. Not his and certainly not yours."
"That went well," commented Angelus conspiratorially once Angel departed.
Cordelia gave him a look of disgust. "Are you kidding? That sucked. All it did was make me feel sorry for your pathetic existence. I didn't get anything out of it except confirmation that...big surprise here…Buffy is Angel's priority."
"What'd you expect? That he'd dump her for you?" Angelus gave her a look that said she should be a little realistic. "Soul boy is too much of a gentleman to do something like that."
She found herself smiling in spite of herself, "I know."
"And I'm the pathetic one?" Angelus guffawed. Then considered the possibilities as he queried, "So…am I pathetic enough for a pity fuck?"
"Eew! Angelus!" She whacked him on the chest with her hand. Then rolling her eyes, added, "As if!"
Angelus watched Cordelia stalk off in the direction of the Scooby Gang's table. "What did I say? Who says friends can't be fuck buddies?" he asked, trailing after her.