Title: Next Best Thing
Author: Frazi
Posted: 03-2004
Email
Rating: NC17
Category: Humor, Drama, Angst
Content: A/C
Summary: A wonky spell forces Angel to lose his soul and the demon takes the next inhabitant. Cordy. Willow is summoned to despell them and Spike tags along for good measure. (Can't seem to keep them out of anything it seems. heh)
Spoilers: Up to the induction of Wesley into their team. I don’t really remember the name of the episode. Don’t kill me.
Disclaimer: The characters in the Angelverse were created by Joss Whedon & David Greenwalt. No infringement is intended, no profit is made.
Distribution: By all means just tell me where? Stranger Things is a given.
Notes: This is after Doyle’s dead and before Angel’s beige period. I'm sorry about cutting Blood is Thicker, the Angel/X-Men crossover, because that just took too much brain and I've been dog busy lately. I will post it after I'm done with this. This is smaller, simpler and easier to finish! Thanks to Califi for telling me this isn't total crap. Love you babe.
Thanks/Dedication:
Feedback: Like breathing air.
Part 1
“This is the perfect way to get rid of the Kisbath demon!”
“Wesley! The thing doesn’t HAVE a head!”
“Just because it doesn’t look like a head, doesn’t mean it ISN’T!”
Cordy’s head whipped from left to right at the two men arguing in the lobby. If her arms hadn’t been holding an assortment of charms and dust and musty old books, she might have smacked them both, but the fact was that she was trying to get their attention and they weren’t paying any to her. How dare they!
“The head implies the opposite end of the side he’s standing on and there’s NOTHING there!”
“A head constitutes a brain Angel and since the demon is rather coordinated for a brainless creature, I’d say it HAS a head!”
“I’ve seen it from all ends Wesley! There is no…”
“SHUT UP! Shut up! Shut up! Shut up! Just SHUT up!”
Angel blinked a the mahogany haired woman standing there her soft suede heels stomping down with wicked intent onto the floor of the hotel lobby and she did not look pleased. Wesley himself, drew away from the death glare that Cordy had perfected over time. Wesley cleared his throat and pushed his glasses more firmly on his nose while Angel shoved his hands into his pants. This woman could instill fear in men and vampires, Angel realized again for the hundredth since he’d met her.
Standing there with am arm load of various ingredient Cordy seethed with silent fury. “First of all! While we stand here arguing about which side of this Kissbutt demon is up, IT’S probably eating its next victim as we speak. Second of all, Wesley, just because its constitutes a brain doesn’t make it a head! Think of Xander. Third of all! Angel, what the hell do you mean you looked from EVERY end! Can I just say Eyow? And LAST of all, this stupid stuff isn’t exactly LIGHT!” Without further delay she shoved the entire contents of her arms into Wesley’s before planting her hands on her hips. “Okay you may speak now.”
Angel blinked at her. For a second he wondered if he should tell her he didn’t need her confirmation to speak but then let it rest considering the girl did have the innate ability to make him feel exactly five inches high with just one look. He figured it was better to just not antagonize the woman further. He might have to buy her clothes. “Cordy, it’s a Kisbath demon.”
She rolled her eyes and ‘pfffed’ emphatically. “That’s what I said Kissbutt, so are we doing this spell so we can blind the ugly little thing or not?”
“Well we still need to figure out where his eyes are.” Wesley put the contents of his arms on the table and took a deep breath as he regarded the material. It was really nice of Cordelia go out and get these ingredients for them and with such accuracy too. Considering that newt testicles were hard to find. And magic wasn’t really his strong suit. Now research. Research he could do and he still felt that it was lacking since they really didn’t know where the eyes of the demon were before they threw the spell-cast dust in its eyes to blind him and then kill him.
“Considering it HAS a head.” Angel picked up a small jar with floating bits as he shot back petulantly.
“Angel, technically if it can hypnotize its victims it must have eyes and thus a…”
“Oh my god! You both are like schoolyard pygmies arguing over the last banana! Will you just MIX the ingredients so we can get on with our lives! I DO have a life unlike you two wallflowers!”
For an insane moment Angel wondered if pigmies even ate banana but when Wesley began his feeble protest he only shook his head and let her silence him.
“MIX!” She commanded pointing a finger to the assortment of spell casting material.
He watched with amusement as Wesley immediately went to putting the ingredients together to mix and sifting through the book to find the appropriate incantation. After Doyle’s death and Cordy’s unwanted visions and their final adjustment into this hotel, Angel was finally beginning to believe that the saying was true. For every door closed another opens. Besides, he’d lost enough people in his long life to realize that mourning those that you lost isn’t fair to the ones that are still with you.
And so Angel set out to rebuild his family. Again.
“Well this incantation needs to be said in the vicinity of the demon before it’s blown into his eyes.”
“Define vicinity Wes. How close do we need to be?” Angel walked to the counter and ducking behind it to grab his axe and to strap on his blades.
“A couple of yards to be on the safe side.”
Cordy frowned. “Well this Kissbutt demon is small but he packs quite a punch, how are we going to get that close without it putting the whammy on us?”
“There is no ‘us’ Cordy.”
The girl spun around and glared at Angel as he shrugged on his coat and the axe disappeared underneath it. “Well the demon’s victims were all male. YOU said so. I’d say I’m the best bet. Unless you plan to grow boobs.”
The vampire that had a hard time answering all of her questions and replying to her remarks stood there staring at her and pondered the mental image she spoke of. He could almost hear his demon cackling in the background. Stealing a glance down at his chest he quirked an eyebrow. She did say manly boobs once right? He couldn’t confirm in a mirror, but he was also called ‘salty goodness’ by said woman once before. Did she thinkg…
“Stop! Stop that right now!”
He nearly jumped at the finger poking him in his gut.
“I know what you’re doing buster. You’d think a vampire with your history and fame would not need reassurance about his sexiness.”
His mouth twitched with a smile. Cordy thought he was sexy.
“No.” She shook her head vigorously. “I am NOT babying you about this Angel. Nope. Not happening.”
Wesley cleared his throat softly and both eyes turned to him. “Well she does have a valid point about the Kisbath.”
“Wesley I can’t grow…”
The watcher’s eyes widened. “NO! I meant…I mean she is female. The hypnotic stare of the demon doesn’t affect her.” Cordy bit her cheek to keep from grinning at the shock on Wesley’s face and Angel’s misinterpretation before she grabbed the small bottle of baby blue dust that Wesley had prepared and the small note of the incantation he’d scribbled on a paper. This sure as hell was a faggy color to kill a little bad demon. But she wasn’t one to judge. The demon was a stark fashion statement anyway. Red slimy skin with yellow spots. As if. Didn’t he know polka dots were like so last century?
Angel ran a hand through his spiky hair before regarding the smug girl before him. With a relenting half sigh, half growl he thrust the hilt of one of his daggers at her. “The ugly little thing also has claws the size of a very large lobster that can take your head off. And yours is pretty visible.”
The girl whooped happily at being included and threw her arms around his neck. Yay! She got to kick butt of this Kissbutt demon! “Oh thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you!!!”
“WHOA!” Angel ducked his head before the dagger in her hand nearly caught him in the eye.
***
If things went they way they were supposed to the Fang gang would take days off. So when they tracked the demon to a local warehouse and it seemed to be resting, they made the mistake of thinking they’d have more breathing room.
“When this is over, I’m going to have a manicure.”
“There’s this lovely new old bookstore around the corner. I’m thinking of building a rather large library in the hotel.” The blue in Wesley eyes were glassy with an almost orgasmic glow. Both Angel and Cordelia shuddered before stepped forward through the dark warehouse.
“He so needs to get laid.”
Angel bit his cheek when Cordy grabbed his sleeve to steady herself while Wesley was lost in visions of dancing books and talking scrolls. “Don’t we all,” Angel muttered low under his breath, his demon’s voice a lot more assertive when it came to being laid.
It was while they were hatching eggs that weren’t even laid when the demon woke up.
The roar was loud for a little red demon with six legs or arms. And the sharp keening sounds was louder than either of them were prepared for. When the slashing claws came out of the darkness Angel shoved his seer away from him and Cordelia was thrown across the floor screaming about rude vampires. The bottle got knocked out of her hand and Wesley was flung into a row of boxes. “Cordy get the bottle!” Angel was just in time to jump away when the Kisbath launched itself at him.
The girl groaned before slowly dragging herself to her hands and knees. “Gimmie a minute.”
Angel squeezed his eyes shut and listened with his vampire hearing trying his best to duck the onslaught of snapping claws. “Cordy I might not HAVE a minute!!!!!”
“Well just keep him busy!” She crawled across the dusty floor as the sounds of snapping claws filled the empty warehouse. She grumbled when the dust coated her hands and knees. “These jeans are ruined.”
“CORDY!!!!!!!!” Angel swung his axe when one of the claws catch the hem of his coat. “Let GO of the coat right now!”
“He’s worried about his coat. Pffft! This is CK!” The seer shook her head trying to clear the buzzing in her ears before her fingers closed around the glass bottle. “AHA!”
“CORDELIA!” Angel was fighting blind and although his enhanced vampire senses were keeping him dancing out of the demon’s reach the little creature was faster than he’d expected.
Wesley stood up taking aim of the crossbow. “The larger tentacles Cordy! Go for the largest ones!” He knew he couldn’t shoot with Angel in the fray.
“There’s three of them!” She rolled to her feet and uncapped the little blue bottle. Decisions. Decisions.
Angel winced as a claw slashed across his abdomen tearing skin and he smelled the metal tang of his own blood. “Take all of them dammit!”
“HEY! Pudgy!” Running across to the struggling figures Cordy momentarily panicked when the demon turned its body towards her. Pouring the sand like dust into her palm she looked up and screamed. The creature definitely had a head and teeth and they were a few inches away from her face.
Angel’s eyes flew open at the smell of familiar fear and the axe slid into his hand. “Cordy, look out!” He saw one claw slide out to snap shut on her arm, but before he could step further he caught a face-full of the dust that Cordelia dumped all over the screaming demon and him.
“The words Cordy!” Wesley yelled, “say the words!”
Flailing blindly, the sharp end of Angel’s axe was lucky enough to cut the arm that was reaching for his panicked seer and gave her enough time to pull out the slip of paper from her pocket. Pointing a shaking finger at the demon and she started speaking the incantation in Latin.
The little creature let out a shrill howl and Cordelia stood there panting and staring down wide-eyed at the demon struggling at her feet. If the sudden gulping of air didn’t faze her the ugly creature at her feat nearly made her revisit breakfast. “Oh god, its not dead! Wesley if we live through this I’m going to KILL you!”
Angel felt his nose twitch before he sneezed the dust clouding his vision and his nostrils burned. And for a second there, the stale air in his lungs was sucked out of him and a hollow remained in his un-breathing chest. Coughing with the itch in his throat he groaned and tried to make out the squirming demon on the floor, the axe raised in his hand, but the dust had gotten into his eyes and mouth and the odd ache in his chest only deepened.
Wesley’s eyes widened as the claws stretched up towards the frozen seer and he pulled the trigger. Dust or no dust, the arrow lodged itself into its midsection. And with a last wail it fell to its side. When it collapsed Wesley walked over watching Angel groaning and rubbing his eyes sprinkled with sparkling blue dust and Cordy stood there her breath caught in her throat. “Well, I’m guessing there was more than one way to kill it.”
“You think!” The vampire blinked, his were eyes burning but his vision cleared slightly. The dull ache in his chest remained. “Good work Cordy. The demon might not be blind, but I am.”
“Well fuckity dee soulboy. When you entrust the backbone of the plan to a half pint cheerleader, it’s a wonder you don’t get castrated.”
Wesley’s head snapped around to stare at Cordelia.
Angel blinked rapidly a couple of times to make sure it was her who spoke before he leaned a little closer to look into her face. “Cordy?” When Cordelia raised her hazel eyes they were flashing with anger and a hint of cockiness he’d never seen on her.
Her usually beautiful mouth spread into a wicked sneer. “Guess again soulboy.” Then the widening of her pupils was accompanied by a gasp. “Oh no. NO! This can NOT be happening to me!”
And now he realized that it wasn’t his breath that was sucked out of him.
It had been his demon.
Part 2
“Gettitoffme! Gettitoffme!”
“Cordelia it’s not ON you it’s inside you! And for the record, this is your fault!” Angel was trying his utmost to not touch the girl, because every time he made contact with her skin, she jumped before cursing in profuse Gaelic and he was getting piqued. He couldn’t touch her.
“How the hell was I supposed to know newt testicles weren’t the same thing as lizard testicles.”
Her hazel eyes were blazing with irrational fear and the pacing wasn’t helping, not to mention the smell of her fear was starting to grate on Angel’s nerves. Only this time he couldn’t blame it on his demon. Which to say the least, unsettled him. “Cordelia, we will figure a way to fix this don’t worry.”
“I knew I wasn’t very good at magic.”
“Well why the fuck did you suggest it in the first place you geek faced watcher!”
Wesley stared at the fuming woman now glaring down at him and he had to hide the shiver. It just wasn’t right that this woman could wield the profane vocabulary and it only came out suiting her. It was just wrong. “Angelus, stop cursing.”
“You put me in this shit Weslips! I will curse all I want with this pretty little mouth!”
Angel was still having a hard time trying to decipher when Cordelia stopped the talking and when Angelus began. At first the spurts of half words and half screams had been torturing until they seemed to find some sort of gulf in his seer’s head to complete sentences. He didn’t know if he should be happy or sad. He was glad the constant taunting and mocking was gone from his head, but knew his demon wasn’t the politest or the easiest one to get along with. He felt bad for the young woman who was now pacing erratically in the hotel lobby. “Cordelia. Sit down.”
He gently grabbed the woman by her shoulders and tried to guide her to the couch, but she jumped like a fish batting at his hands. “Don’t touch me dammit! It’s weird!”
He was about to protest when one hand was lifted between them and Cordelia sighed. “It’s okay Angel. I’ll sit. He’s just a little freaked out.”
“You would be too Cheerleader if you were touching yourself. Oh…then again maybe not.”
“Oh my god!” Her eyes widened as the mental images of previous nights ran through her mind like a mantra and the cackle in her head escalated to a purr. “Stop this instant you prying demon you! That’s private! NO don’t LOOK!”
Angel watched with amusement as Wesley ducked behind his book and Cordelia’s cheeks flushed with soft pink before she dropped herself into the couch, her hands folded in her lap. For a second he stood there watching her morph between aghast embarrassment and wicked giggles and envied the demon. Only for a second though. Because this was Cordelia. May Queen, Sunnydale snob extraordinaire and his new best friend. Nope. No envy there. Clearing his throat and pushing away the very indecent image of Cordelia alone in her bed, he looked down at her. “Look, I know this is hard for you.”
“You have no idea peaches.”
“I’m talking to Cordelia.” He squatted down in front of her, her hands fidgeting nervously in her lap and he put his hand over hers and held before Angelus could yank it away. “Cordy?” Liquid hazel eyes peeked up at him through thick lashes, the confused fear mixing with the doubt. His un-beating heart would have lurched if he had been alive. He so wished this didn’t have to happen to the girl. Angelus was a bastard and this was a violation, that shouldn’t have been subjected to the young woman. Not to her. “He’s a bastard, but don’t let him push you around.” When her eyes flashed with irritation, his grip tightened. “No listen to me. He’s not stronger than you Cordy. He might be in there trying to confuse you and trying to mislead you, but you are the soul Cordelia.” Reaching up he let the arch of his knuckles slide against her jaw as if to reassure her. “The soul’s always been stronger and you know why?” The light in her eyes had already softened and so had the hands under his. “It’s because we feel and we believe.”
A shaky ragged breath was followed by a smile. “You should have been the fucking poet instead of William, you sappy piece of shit.” She blinked before pulling her hands out from under him. “It’s okay Angel. He’s just loud and I want him out of my head.”
He held back the smile at the flickering emotions across her face as she leaned back in the couch. “Consider it done. Wesley?” He looked up to see the watcher riffling through the book. “Ideas?”
“It seems when the spell backfired, your demon was plucked out of your body and by mistake. Given the situation its probable it had to pick the quickest and nearest host. In this case Cordelia.”
“Always at the wrong place at the right time.” She sighed. “Just my luck.”
“This isn’t a walk in the fucking park for me either Hazel.”
“Isn’t there a way to pluck him back! You know how it works; someone gets bonked on the head and loses their memory, or in this case their demon, and you bonk them back to make them remember?”
Angel’s eyebrows shot up. “Don’t even think it Cordelia.”
Wesley took off his glasses to rub his eyes tiredly. First they’d been up all night researching the Kisbath demon now poor Cordelia was playing musical chairs with her body between her and Angelus. Could things get any worse? “I believe I should call Mr. Giles. Angelus is right I’m afraid. Smaller summoning spells are one thing, tampering with souls is not really my department.”
Angel nodded and stood up. “Okay. Call Giles, see what he can do.”
“Yeah, call the big British geek and maybe he’ll send the slayer down here to stake me and we can all just have a fucking reunion. It’s been a while since I’ve tasted slayer blood.”
“Oh god, shut up Angelus! I’m human! I don’t bite!” The throbbing headache that was left over from the vision was slowly escalating into another migraine the more Angelus argued in her head. She wondered if she should just let him take the reins until she was feeling stronger and less suicidal.
“Well let me show you precious how well you can bite.”
Angel had barely taken in all that was shooting out from Cordelia’s mouth, before he saw her jump to her feet and stalk over to Wesley purposefully. The young watcher had barely time enough to look up before Cordelia’s mouth fastened around the side of his neck, one of her hands sliding up into his hair and fisting there harder than he would have liked before her teeth came down.
Angel's eyes widened in the space of a heartbeat and Wesley let out a very undignified squeal.
“Cordelia!” Grabbing the girl by her shoulders, Angel was only just able to keep Wesley from getting scalped as he pulled the struggling girl away, her hazel eyes flashing with hunger and her body rigid with barely restrained control.
Wesley had slid from his chair and from his perch on the floor he stared at the feral glint in Cordelia’s eyes and felt sharp sting on his throat. Touching the red skin where her blunt teeth had bit, he tried his best not to tremble. Jesus Mary mother of Christ. Wasn’t it just wrong that he was totally turned on by that?
The struggling girl stilled. “Oh dear. Oh dear god I bit him. I DID! I bit Wesley!” Her eyes widened as she tasted the salt on her tongue, her own body shaking with the realization. “EYOW!” Turning swiftly she almost threw Angel off his feet before grabbing his shirt and yanking him close. “Eyow! Eyow! Eyow!”
The vampire stood there staring down at the woman standing there wiping her tongue on the hem of his shirt and the constant whine that was building in the back of her throat.
For once the two century old vampire had no idea how to react, besides stare like a blithering idiot while Cordelia went into a disgusted fit.
~HAW HAW HAW!!!!~
~You asinine freak! You made me bite Wesley!~
~It was him or Angel and I do so hate Angel.~
~My TONGUE touched Wesley-skin you freak! I’m scarred for life.~
~Hey I just licked. You sucked face with him. Twice.~
~......how’d you know that?~
~In your head! Hello!~
~Shut up just please! Shut up!~
~No way! This is way to much fun. I never thought being a woman could be this fun. Look at him, he’s hard.~
Her eyes snapped over to the flustered watcher on the floor as he slowly stood up rubbing his neck and her gaze dropped below his waist. “Oh god, I think I’m gona be sick.”
Angel frowned as the girl paled considerably, her hands still clutching his shirt. “Maybe you should lie down.”
Her face turned up and she met his eyes.
~Oooh, I am a rather handsome fellow now that I look up close. And I smell niiiiiice. Goddamn gorgeous if you ask me.~
~Oh hello salty goo....WHAT! NO!~
Angel blinked as she jerked away from him as if burnt. “No?”
“No, I mean.” Cordelia took a deep breath, her senses on overload and swallowed thickly. “You’re right. I should probably rest. But not here. I’ll be...going home now. Yes.” She walked over and grabbed her purse from the couch. ~Home where there is nothing to bite.~
~Still got that lofah?~
~ARGH!~
Angel frowned. “But Cordy you should stay…”
Shaking her head the young woman touched her aching temples before meeting her boss’s eye. “I can’t. I’ll be fine. Don’t worry I’ll call you if something goes wrong. I’ll see you guys in the morning. I just need to clear my head. Literally.” Her eyes snuck a look at Wesley and she cleared her throat. “Sorry Wes.” Then she was running, the sound of her heels drowning the snickering of her newly acquired demon.
Angel sighed before looking at Wesley heading up the stairs. “Where are you going?”
“I believe a cold shower will...er...wake me up Angel. So that I can research this new...development. Ahem. Could you make that call to Mr. Giles?”
Angel could have sworn he saw a disturbing twitch in the British man’s brow before he disappeared without waiting for an answer.
With a sigh, Angel shook his head. “It’s always me. Call the Scoobies Angel, you ransacked most of their lives, but they’ll listen to you. Call Buffy, you consorted with her enemy, left her in the lurch, tried to drain her, but she’ll help you. Call Giles; you only ate the love of his life; he’ll be raring to help you. I’d rather stake myself,” he muttered before picking up the phone and dialed the extension for Sunnydale.
Part 3
Cordelia was caught between the bathroom door and the tub. One of her hands was gripping the doorpost while the other was stuck to the rim of her tub and she literally felt like she was going to snap in two. “LET GO!”
“You need to you dramatic dame!”
“I can hold it!”
“I don’t think I can hold it woman! Let go of the damned door.”
“I’m not going with you in my head!”
“Oh for! This is stupid! This is ridiculous! Will you please just go to the stupid bathroom and I promise I’ll keep my eyes closed.”
For the first time in her life Cordelia had no idea who to glare at while she stood there stretched to her limit, Angelus pulling and fighting for control even when she knew she couldn’t keep this up longer. “I don’t believe you.”
She could almost feel the demon start to give in and the grip on the tub loosened. ~Look May Queen. I don’t want to be here as much as you don’t want me to watch you go take a leak.~
~PEE!~
~PEE! Whatever! The point is you can’t hold it anymore and I’m going out of my mind will you just PLEASE let go of the fucking door before you embarrass us both!~
***
Five minutes and teeth brushing fiasco later Cordelia stood in front of her closet a yawn nearly tearing up her eyes as she tried to straighten her back. “Oh god, I can’t believe you kept me up all night.”
“Well if you had listened to me we could have gotten better rest.”
“I’m not that bendy Angelus and I’m NOT touching myself with you in my body.” She reached out and snatched a blue cashmere sweater left over from better days. With the most jaded man in her head, Cordelia wanted to wear something innocent. It was a natural defense mechanism. The sweater was flung across the floor an she stared as it slid under her bed. “What is your damage!”
“Oh for fucks sake it’s baby blue!”
“SO!” She couldn’t help let out an outraged snort. “ME! This is MY body. I’m the one wearing the clothes and I look damned good in baby blue you blood sucking twit born in the 18th century!!”
“First of all, you do have a delectable body and second of all you do have me in your head so tell me you have something sexier than prissy little school room miss apparel.”
Her mouth dropped open. ~Are you calling me a prude? ME! The boy slayer of Sunnyhell?~
~If the shoe fits my lady. Now where’s that lovely black leather miniskirt.~ She rolled her eyes as her hand shot forward and started rummage though her neat stack of skirts. “AHAH! This will do nicely. Got something in red Queen Bee?”
~I’m not wearing Angelus-y clothes! Now I know why Angel can’t get past wearing basic black, he has your bland fashion sense.~
~I bet you’d look damn good in leather Hazel.~
~I look damn good in anything I wear!~ Stalking over she grabbed the blue sweater, but before she could reach out and grab it her legs were swiped out from under her and she fell smack on her back onto the bed. Panting and slightly shaken from the fall, she sat up glaring. ~That’s it! I’m going to wear a tent instead!~
~Let’s not get bitter Hazel. You’ll wrinkle faster. Fuck Cor, if I had a body like yours I’d wear what accents those delicious curves best and with stems like you’ve got; a leather skirt will just say it all.~
And there with those words whispered in her head Cordelia Chase stood in front of her mirror, her lower lip caught between her teeth. God, it had been such a long time since she’d felt like a woman and a woman who could charge up a room by just walking into it. The whole let down of not being able to make it as an actress and be independent had been a harder kick in the stomach than anyone knew. From getting everything you want to scrounging and picking the next best thing Cordelia Chase was just Cordy now. Somewhere along the lines she’d forgotten about the intrinsic sexiness that was a part of who she was. And after the whole demon babies incident, she had no desire to try her hand at dating.
~One step at a time Hazel.~
Taking a deep breath she grabbed a soft red sweater with a rather dipping V-neck and held it up. “I was saving this for a party.”
“Oh like you’re ever going to be invited to one. Newsflash cheerleader. You’re one of the heroes now. You don’t get days off.” Her night shirt was whipped off her head.
Cordelia’s eyes widened as one of her hands slid up her stomach and she growled. “Hands OFF!”
“How do you expect to get dressed then?”
“With my eyes closed and with you acting the gentleman!”
“Darling I wasn’t a gentleman even when I was man; will you just fucking strip. It’s not like you’ve got something I’ve never seen.”
~Not mine you haven’t.~ She couldn’t hold a smile as she kicked off her pajamas and stepped into the skirt. She couldn’t believe she was actually getting fashion advice from the Scourge of Europe. It was a tragic farce Cordelia herself would have laughed at a few years ago. Before she knew that vampires and demons were for real.
~I’m in your head. I even recall the lovely little tirade you had with yourself in front of your full length mirror. What do you think Angel would say when he finds out you’re such a fucking exhibitionist?~
“Oh god!” The defeated whine was torn from her lips as she leaned her head forward against the closed closet. Although, she had more control on her body she didn’t know how she was going to be able to make him shut up. He’d kept complaining and inciting her all night. And the shittiest part was he knew it was turning her on. He knew she wanted to touch herself and she knew that if she had fallen asleep she’d have woken up in the middle of an orgasm if he had his way. It was flattering that Angelus was so persistent, but Cordelia chase was no fool. The demon entity might have been sharing her head, but the memories flooding her mind were not just her own. They were his and Angel’s and most of them were not pleasant for her.
~Dear god Hazel Where’s the whip?~
~WILL YOU PLEASE KEEP YOUR NOSE OUT OF MY SEXUAL FANTASIES!!!”
~Uh……..nope? So about this little diary you keep of your sexy dreams…~
Her head thumped against the hard wood of her closet until the ache in her head clouded everything besides the splintering headache.
***
Angel walked out of his room and fixed the collar of his black shirt as he descended the stairs. Walking into the lobby he blinked when he found Charles Gunn standing at the counter with Wesley on the other side looking down at a magazine. Walking over silently he stood there listening to their hushed voices.
“I always liked the one with the red leather you know.”
Angel’s left eyebrow hiked up.
Wesley was intent on staring down at the open magazine. “I’m partial to the black silk and fishnet stocking I’m afraid. The woman does have legs to carry them off.”
Crossing his arms he glared at them both. “Bonding over porn?”
Both men jerked away from the magazine and looked turning various shades of red as they noticed Angel standing behind them. Gunn was the first to speak. “Gawd Angel! You always sneak up on people?”
“Porn?”
Wesley coughed slightly before gathering the thin magazine clothes. “Comic books actually. We were discussing the costume changes of Electra.”
“Carmen?”
“No the gorgeous ninja chick usually hanging around Matt Murdock.”
This time Angel couldn’t hold the frown. “Who?”
“It’s Marvelverse dog; you won’t get it.” Gunn stuck the magazine into the back pocket of his pants. “So Wes here tells me you guys have yourselves a situation.”
Angel sighed before walking into the little make shift coffee table and fridge behind the counter before grabbing himself a mug of blood. “Yeah. Cordelia had a little accident last night. A spell back fired.”
“Magic usually does from what I’m told.” Gunn snickered before throwing a teasing glance towards Wesley.
“I’m not all that bad. In fact I did a pretty good summoning spell when we came into this hotel. It was Cordelia’s fault really.”
“You called the cavalry?” Gunn leaned against the counter, his elbow resting against the top as Angel warmed his blood.
“I called Giles. He wasn’t happy to hear from me, but he agreed to look in on reversing the spell.” Behind him he heard the distinct jingle of the door before Gunn let out a slow whistle.
“Oh I don’t know if reversing it would be a good idea. Wes?”
“Oh dear lord!”
Angel turned, raising the mug to his lips for his first sip of breakfast and met the sight before him.
If he’d been breathing he probably would have stopped.
Framed with the slightly breezy morning and the golden sunlight that pooled in through the open door stood one Cordelia Chase. Only it wasn’t the Cordelia they met everyday. It was Cordelia chase, dark hair tumbling down her back, wearing a black leather skirt that cut below the curve of her ass, a blood red sweater than hung halfway off one shoulder and calf length boots as black as sin giving her the added inches she didn’t really need and her eyes turned to rest on the stunned vampire.
“Oh good you’re all here!” She let the door slide shut behind her and the golden aura around her disappeared as she walked towards the three men. Angel caught the distinct swagger in her gait as she dumped her bag on the couch before walking towards the counter looking irked and sexy as hell. He had to mentally remind himself that Angelus was in there. Cordelia was never this brazen! He frowned letting his eyes run over her again as his mind drifted to her rule as Queen C back in Sunnydale. Was she? “Please tell me you’ve got this figured out. Please!”
Wesley hadn’t stopped staring. Gunn was trying really hard not to smile and Angel’s eyes were fixed on the soft curve of her shoulder.
When none of them spoke she blinked leaning closer to Angel’s stoic face. “Guys?”
“I told you the fucking skirt was sexy Hazel.”
Wesley blinked startled before he cleared his throat and shifted behind the counter. Gunn let his eyes travel over the woman with appreciation and Angel felt his fingers tighten on his mug. Those clothes and she had to look at them with that come-hither flutter of her eyes? If this was Cordelia’s idea of a joke he wasn’t amused. “Did Angelus put you up to this?”
The seer blew the air out of her lungs explosively before rolling her eyes. “He wouldn’t shut up; I didn’t have a choice. Besides, they’re just clothes.”
Angel would have to disagree.
The clothes weren’t just clothes. They were a second skin and every inch was more enticing when she moved. He wondered if he dropped his mug on the floor she might reach down to…
Goddamit! Angel shook his head almost furious with this train of thought. Two hundred and some year old vampire reduced to cheap tactics because his coworker suddenly wore something he liked? What the hell was he, an adolescent teenager! Raising the blood to his mouth he started to drink. Hunger would shut out the spinning images of Cordelia Chase sliding back into his arms as his hand slid up to cup one breast possessively.
Cordelia didn’t hear the soft growl from her vampire boss as she leaned against the counter next to Gunn.
~The black dude is staring at your ass Cor.~
~I can tell you perceptive bastard!~
~Sticks and stones Hazel.~
~Can we shut up about my ass please?~
~Mmmm but what a nice ass it is.~
Wesley let out an undignified squawk and Angel reached out and grabbed Cordelia’s hand that was sliding down the curve of her own ass as he drowned his breakfast in one last swallow. The woman looked up with startled hazel eyes and he sighed. “Watch the hands.”
Her mouth spread into a blatantly seductive smile as she leaned a little closer to Gunn who now stood beside Angel with wide black eyes nearly falling out of his head. “Oh but you know what they say Angelpuss. When you’ve got it fault it.”
The muscle in Angel’s jaw worked as she ran one blood red nail down a frozen Gunn’s jaw and Angel had no choice but to grab her other hand too with half a mind to throw her over his shoulder and this time he couldn’t blame the baser instinct on his demon. “Cordelia! Get a hold of yourself.” Before I hold you for you woman.
The girl groaned softly her eyes sliding shut. “God! I’m sorry okay! I didn’t get a lot of sleep last night and this nocturnal psycho doesn’t need much.” With a deeper sigh that drew every male eye to the plunging neckline she pulled her wrists out of Angel’s grasp. “A cup of coffee would be greatly appreciated.”
Wesley was the first one who cleared his throat uncomfortably before stepping away. “I’ll get it.”
Walking around the counter Angel followed Cordelia to the couch where she dropped unceremoniously the skirt hiking further up her thighs. Angel wondered if this woman had the right to look this damned delicious and although, he knew she exploited every womanly trait she had to get men to do her bidding, he’d never seen his best friend this blatantly inviting.
Laying her head back against the back of the couch she sighed. “Give me some good news Angel.”
He wished he had more than just reassurance. “I called Giles. He said he’ll get back to me soon.”
Lifting her head, she watched the concern chase doubt across his face. “How soon?”
The vampire shrugged not able to meet her eyes.
A frown stretched across her forehead as she sat up straighter. “What?”
“Buffy picked up the phone.”
“I knew the slayer bitch would pop up sooner or later.”
“Angelus, just shut up for a second. Angel you okay?”
The vampire nodded before lifting his gaze to meet hers. “You know I don’t even remember why anymore.”
The hazel softened and Cordelia couldn’t help the flashing of images running through her mind. The emotions of love, frustration and betrayed anger nearly made her gasp at the mention of the slayer in context to Angel. ~Angelus! Stop the stupid kaleidoscope of doom. I get it. You don’t like the slayer. Point taken.~
~He doesn’t either anymore.~
She sighed. ~I’m realizing that. But I don’t think he does. So just shush.~
~Don’t shush me!~
~SHHHHHHH!~
She felt the demon recede huffily before she put a comforting hand on Angel’s shoulder. “Come on Broody. You’ve already realized its not the same with the whole Faith episode. She’s rather wrapped up in her world of slaying you know?”
“And I’m a vampire. I get that.” At the sound of the familiar nickname he looked up at her. In this new leather encased, and draped with red body it was hard to imagine this woman without sexual reference. The delicious curve of her throat was fully exposed. The creamed firmness in her thighs was accented with the black skirt and boots and just the curling of her dark mahogany hair was a distraction. How was he supposed to reassure her in his state when every instinct the vampire had screamed possession instead of protection? He shook his head slightly, partly to clear it and partly to her question. “But there’s been little purpose in my life before this Cordy. I sort of forgot why I was doing this.”
“Shoeshine?”
His mouth quirked at the corner. “No. It was her in the beginning.”
“But not now?”
He shook his head. Watching the utter understanding shining in those hazel orbs, the hand on his shoulder warming skin that had no right to feel warmth. And she was still here. Fighting his demons for him. “No. Not now. And while she was asking me how I’m doing and that she was sorry for being presumptuous; I knew that wasn’t what she was feeling. And while I was telling her that I missed her and that I was getting by; I knew what I really wanted to say was that I’m happy, not blissful, but happy with what I have here.” Chocolate brown eyes lifted to meet hers. “With you and Doyle before and Wesley now and even Gunn. I like that here’s finally a place that I can call my own. Call home.”
“Nice speech soulboy.”
Cordelia slapped a hand over her mouth at the insensitive observation. ~Heartless creep!~
~Sightless bitch.~
~WHAT!~
~You know this would be a good time to kiss the living daylight out of him.~
Angel blinked started as he hazel eyes widened. “What?” Maybe he imagined it, but for a split second he could have sworn she slid closer her eyes dropping to his mouth, but then she was jerking away shaking her head as she jumped to her feet. When the soft shift in her scent reached his nostrils they flared and he watched her with concern. “Cordy?”
“Idiot! Idiot! Idiot! IDIOT!” Cordelia hissed, fighting for control, trying to shut the nagging and chuckling demon out of her head long enough to control the heat building in her chest and flushing her skin. When the first image of Angel nakedness from his own eyes hit her, she reeled. The smooth chest lying in the bath tub. Perfectly muscled legs sliding under the bed covers. Powerful arms slamming into the punching bag, And then she gasped, as the first wave of dizzying pleasure shook her entire frame and she squeezed her eyes tighter, the image of Angel’s torso, the stroke of his hand and the familiar name echoing off the walls forcing her to squeeze her eyes tighter. ~Stop it! Stop it right now!~
~Hot virile male vampire with screwed up insecurities that just beg to be comforted Hazel. Where’s that maternal instinct of yours?~
~Lunching! Angel is my boss, the slayers ex-catch and I don’t take hand me downs Angelus!~
~I’m not a fucking hand me down Cor!~
~He’s my best friend you psycho! This is the one relationship I’m not fucking with; you hear me! NOT!~
Angel waited while the myriad of emotions flickered of Cordelia Chase’s face while she battled his demon. Of all the things he’d watched Cordelia do for him Angel hadn’t expected or had at least hoped she’d never had to meet Angelus again. Somewhere along the lines of helping the helpless and then helping Cordelia, he’d come to letting her help him. When he’d been trying to explain about Buffy, he’d been trying to reassure her that he wasn’t going to let anything happen to her. That no matter what crap his demon was screaming in her head, she was one of them. She belonged with him. “Cordy?”
She gulped air finally gathering enough strength to meet his eyes. “Coffee?”
And he watched her grab the mug from Wesley as soon as the man walked out with it.
He met Wesley’s concerned eyes before walking to the phone. Giles was getting his English bumpkin butt here even if Angel would have to drag it here himself. He couldn’t let Cordelia deal with Angelus.
The bastard knew too much.
Part 4 |