Title: Blinded with Love 
Author: Lysa
Posted: 06/03
Rating: NC-17
Email
Category: Smut, Humor
Content: C/A
Summary: Cordelia ends up under Angel’s care after she is blinded by a spell.
Spoilers: BtVS: S1.3 The Witch
Disclaimer: The characters in the Angelverse were created by Joss Whedon & David Greenwalt. No infringement is intended, no profit is made.
Distribution: Anywhere, but please let me know
Notes:
Thanks/Dedication:
Feedback: Want it, love it, need it.
“I’m blind!” Cordelia felt a pair of small hands helping her to her feet. “Oh, God! I can’t see a thing.”
Buffy wasn’t sure what was happening, except that Cordelia had driven through the school fence in the Driver’s Ed car taking Mr. Poole and her fellow students with her. She darted out of the car arms flailing helplessly in front of her directly into the path of a Mack truck.
Only Buffy’s enhanced Slayer speed and a quick acrobatic move saved the brunette.
At the nurse’s office, the school RN was frankly puzzled by the white haze that appeared over the teenager’s eyes. It seemed to be fading leaving Cordelia with normally looking eyes, but she remained unable to see.
Buffy had her own suspicions. This seemed magical rather than natural. Something weird was going on and Cordelia was obviously the target of someone’s scheme.
Figuring Cordelia Chase probably had a lot of enemies, Buffy had to narrow down the list to the ones that might have something recent to complain about. Amy Madison was the most likely candidate since she was vying for one of the cheerleader positions and bitchy Cordelia was a probable shoo-in.
Considering the spontaneous combustion of one of the girls at the cheerleader tryouts, it was possible that these two events were related.
The school nurse explained that they would have to notify Cordelia’s parents and that she needed to see her physician today.
“My parents are in Europe,” Cordelia told her. “They might be in Paris or London right now. Is it Thursday? Maybe it was Lisbon.”
“Oh,” the nurse seemed put out. “Who else do we have listed for an emergency contact?”
Cordelia shrugged. She couldn’t think of anybody except maybe Harmony’s parents and that would not be a good thing. Whatever this was, she did not want the whole school talking about it. Cordy figured she could handle the driving through the fence situation with a story or two.
Sitting next to Cordelia, Buffy let out a long sigh. “Cordelia can stay at my house until my mom can talk to her parents.”
“Good! That’s good. Shall I contact your mother now?”
“No,” Buffy hastened to say. “I’ll deal.”
Leading Cordelia out of the nurse’s office, Buffy kept a hand on her elbow. “Take it slow so you don’t trip over anything. It’s the end of the day, so we can head straight to Giles.”
“To the library?” That made no sense. “I thought you were going to take me to my doctor.”
The school librarian, Rupert Giles, was rather curious about Cordelia’s condition. Buffy seemed to believe that he would be able to find a cure. Cordy knew that Buffy Summers was way strange. Just look at the weirdness at the Bronze the other night where those ugly guys from those rival gangs were fighting for turf.
Buffy *knew* them.
Now she was talking to the librarian about her sudden blindness. Cordelia figured he was the faculty for Buffy’s little Crime Club or whatever after-school activity kept Xander Harris, Willow Rosenberg and Buffy closeted up in the library for hours at a time. They were into such gross things. Buffy was all into looking at the extreme dead guy found in Aura’s locker.
“Mr. Giles, are you sure you shouldn’t take me to the Emergency Room?” Cordelia called out in the direction she last heard his voice.
From another side of the room the Englishman spoke, “They can’t help you. I believe that your affliction is mystical. Likely a result of magick very akin to voodoo.”
“Huh?” Cordelia could not see his face to tell whether he was joking or not, but the man certainly sounded serious. “Did you say voodoo?”
“My research has thus far proved fruitless,” Giles revealed. “I can find no specific spell that brings on such sudden blindness. Considering the information Buffy provided about Amy Madison, I think we should look to her.”
“Klutzy Amy? The one who nearly blew my cheerleader tryout?” Cordelia was suddenly believing the girl was responsible. “She is *so* jealous of me. Are you saying she’s— a witch?”
“Quite possibly.” Giles insisted upon looking through a few more books, but found nothing helpful. “If it is what I think, the only way to end the spell is to destroy the source.”
“Amy?”
“No. There would be a doll representing Cordelia.”
Finally, Giles offered to drive them to Cordelia’s house. “I can only drop you off. I— have something I need to do tonight.”
“That’s great,” Buffy thanked him. “Saves us walking. I don’t have my license yet or a car and the buses don’t run that frequently at this time of day. It was already past six o’clock and sunset would soon be upon them.
Giles let them off at the gate to the Chase estate. Cordelia held onto Buffy’s elbow and instructed her on the correct code to enter. Once inside, they headed up to Cordelia’s side of the mansion to collect some things for her to stay overnight at the Summer’s house.
“Nice house, Cordelia,” admitted Buffy gazing around at the rich furnishings. Still, it seemed awfully big and empty. Shouldn’t a house this size have lots of servants. “Where is everybody?”
“There is only Rosaria and me,” Cordy told her. “My parents don’t keep a lot of servants around when they’re out of town.”
“Rosaria?”
“The housekeeper. She comes in and keeps things going.”
“Does she live here?” Buffy wondered if this Rosaria could keep an eye on Cordelia instead of having to drag her home to her house. It was going to be time to patrol soon and Buffy needed to get rid of— uh, get Cordelia settled before then.
“No. She goes home at six,” Cordelia explained. “We probably just missed her.”
Buffy drooled a bit as she walked into Cordelia’s bedroom closet. It was almost the size of a small room and filled with designer clothes. Trying not to sound jealous, she talked to Cordelia about shopping. It seemed a safe subject for the two of them. Soon, Buffy had gathered the clothes and personal items that Cordy needed to bring with her placing them all into a gym bag.
“This should be good for a night or two.”
“I hope this doesn’t last longer than that,” Cordelia looked horrified at the thought. “Are you sure I don’t need to go to the ER?”
“Almost positive.”
“That is *so* not reassuring!”
They called a cab to take them back to Buffy’s house. They waited and waited until finally, Buffy suggested that they walk. She needed to patrol. Not that she was trying to give herself extra time to run into the mysterious guy who gave her jewelry and cryptic warnings, but if she accidentally found him following her— that wouldn’t be so bad.
“We’ll take the shortcut.”
Cordelia was agog. “You plan to drag a blind girl through Sunnydale Park after dark?”
“No,” Buffy answered. “I was gonna take you through Restfield Cemetery. If we cut down the middle it will take almost fifteen minutes off. We’ll be closer to main street then and can grab a cab or hoof it over to my house.”
“The cemetery!”
“Yeah. No big.” Buffy shrugged then realized the brunette couldn’t see it. “I’ll keep you safe.”
“Why do I get the feeling this is not a good idea?” Cordelia grew up here in Sunnydale. It was common knowledge that ruffians hung out in the cemeteries after dark. “Two hotties strolling through gang-infested territory. We should just post the ‘victim here’ signs right now.”
With a sigh of frustration, Buffy tried to convince her, “Nothing will happen that I can’t handle.”
“You may have a black-belt, Miss Karate Girl, but I can’t even see much less defend myself. Unless— you’re planning to meet one of the gang that terrorized the Bronze.”
“What? Is that what everyone is saying?” Buffy still couldn’t believe that nobody realized the attackers were vampires. “Sunnydale is full of blind idiots— no offense.”
“Blonde idiots?”
“I didn’t realize the spell affected your hearing, too,” Buffy’s mouth twisted into a wry smile realizing that she had walked right into that one.
Cordelia caved into Buffy’s ranting since there was still no sign of the cab arriving. They headed off in the direction of Restfield Cemetery with Buffy carrying Cordy’s gym bag and leading her along the sidewalk.
About ten minutes into their journey, Buffy’s Slayer senses quirked at the sensation that there was potential danger nearby.
“Shh!” Buffy hushed Cordelia who had been talking her ear off ever since they left the mansion. Picking up the pace, they were walking faster. “I think we’re being followed.”
Whispering furiously, Cordelia ranted, “I told you this was stupid.”
Buffy stopped suddenly, pulling the brunette to a halt next to her. Glancing around, she saw no sight of trouble. She just felt that someone was watching. “I know you’re out there.”
Letting out a hiss, Cordelia demanded she be quiet. “What are you doing?”
Ignoring the cheerleader, Buffy continued to scan the perimeter. Then a familiar form stepped from the shadows. “It’s Angel.”
“An angel?” Responding in confusion, she could only wonder if that was the nickname of Buffy’s scummy gang-member boyfriend or something as otherworldly as the spell she was under. “Of the heavenly variety?”
“Not quite,” an amused male voice sounded in front of them.
Despite the fact that she could not see him, Cordelia experienced a strange shiver along her spine at the sound of his voice. He didn’t sound like a scummy gang-member, but then again he had only said two words— and he was hanging out near the cemetery.
That could not be good. If he was one of those guys from the Bronze, Cordelia wasn’t about to let him intimidate the blind girl.
“Too bad. I was hoping you were a Guardian Angel. We could use one about now,” she quipped while tagging on a mega-watt smile.
Entranced by that smile, Angel found himself staring. A stunning beauty, the brunette’s fit frame had curves that wouldn’t quit and legs that went on forever. The long waves of her chestnut hair fell loosely beyond her shoulders looking so soft and touchable that he got the urge to bury his hands in it. At least until he moved on to cup those luscious breasts.
He imagined burying his face in the cleavage her top just hinted at. Not like he needed to come up for air.
Raising his gaze back to her face, Angel finally realized that while she was turned in his direction her gaze wasn’t really focused on him. It seemed to shift around as if trying to pinpoint his location. Slowly, it came to him that the girl was blind and he felt a burst of feeling in his chest at the realization. To be so beautiful and not be able to see it— that was a tragedy.
“If you need a Guardian Angel, I’ll volunteer for the position for tonight. Where are you ladies headed?”
“My house,” Buffy answered still frowning. Catching herself pouting at the attention he had garnished upon Cordelia, she made an effort to pull her lower lip back into place. “We don’t need help, but feel free to tag along.”
She started moving only to realize that she left Cordelia behind when the other girl called out her name. “Buffy? Hello— blind person here.”
A hand was instantly at her elbow to lead her safely forward, but it did not belong to the petite blonde. The hand was large, strong and decidedly male. Cordelia felt his arm brush against hers and got the impression that he was tall.
“Thanks,” she gazed into the darkness wishing she could tell if this tall guy was as scary ugly as the other gang-members Buffy seemed to know. “Your name is— Angel?”
He nodded, and then realized that she couldn’t see it. “Yes.”
“I’m Cordelia.” Best not to mention she was a Chase. That might flash a few dollar signs around this potentially dangerous man, even if he did go around volunteering as Guardian Angel to blind girls and blonde weirdoes.
Within a couple of minutes after that Angel knew that she was a cheerleader at Sunnydale High School, loved dancing at the Bronze and was recently blind due to a spell cast by a jealous witch.
“But it’s only temporary,” Cordelia assured him. “That’s what Mr. Giles says.”
“The Watcher,” Angel connected the name.
“The what? He’s a librarian.”
Angel glanced over at Buffy who gave him a silent warning. Cordelia did not know anything about her status as a Slayer, but Buffy found it interesting that Angel obviously knew about Watchers and Slayers.
He knew the drill. He’d been trailing after her during the past week or so keeping an eye on her Slaying duties. Hinting at upcoming trouble as if he had an inside scoop.
“Uh— librarians watch their books,” Angel rushed to fill the void.
Cordelia rolled her eyes. “Don’t be a dumbass! Is Watcher the title you’ve given Mr. Giles as the head of the Crime Club? I know Buffy and her little cronies have something going on with him in the library. They try to keep it secret, but I am just too observant for that.”
Buffy and Angel exchanged another look. The blonde cupped her hand over her mouth trying not to laugh at Cordelia’s conclusions. Changing the subject, Angel offered to carry the gym bag that Buffy had over her shoulder.
“Let me carry that.”
A guardian angel *and* a gentleman? Impressed, Cordelia figured that he was no ordinary scummy gang-member. Had to be the leader of the gang. Unless, “Are you in the Crime Club, too?”
“Not directly.”
Cryptic much? Cordy never realized how much a person’s face gave away until now. “Hmm.”
They were halfway through the cemetery when Buffy sensed danger. Before she could say anything, Angel’s head turned to look to their right catching movement amongst the gravestones.
“Buffy—,” he started to issue a warning, but the Slayer was aware of the problem.
“Stay back, Angel,” Buffy gave him a nod toward Cordelia. “I need to take care of this. If I’m not back in five minutes, would you make sure Cordelia stays safe?”
Angel nodded.
Cordelia had no clue what was going on except that she seemed to be leaving her with this Angel guy. “Where are you going?”
“Uh— she’s already gone.”
“That girl has a lot of nerve dragging me into a cemetery and just leaving me with you—
some stranger.”
“You can trust me,” Angel promised and the truth of his words carried to her ears. “I’ll never let anything harm you.”
“So what now?”
“We wait five minutes.”
About three minutes later, the Slayer reappeared outside the crypt she had entered. Its steel door had been broken off the hinges. Immediately following her into the open was a large red and black demon with a horned browline and spiky fur lining its back and haunches.
Even from this distance Angel knew that Buffy needed help.
“What’s that growling sound?” Cordelia asked. “Did Buffy find a big dog? Is that why she ran off— to catch it.”
“Sort of.”
“Cordelia, I need you to sit here,” Angel gently pushed her down onto a tombstone. “Don’t move. I have to help Buffy with that de— dog.”
Sitting blindly, Cordelia could do nothing except await their return. Off in the distance, she heard the occasional growl and what sounded like the serious mistreatment of animals. Then, much closer, the sound of shifting earth caught her ear. Was there another dog? Scratching at the dirt? Burying a bone?
“Puppy? Nice puppy,” she hoped the creature would respond to her positive tone and be a good dog. “There’s no need to bite me. No need to bite Cordy.”
“Bite you? I’d say its going to happen,” a stranger’s voice sounded in front of her.
Instinctively, Cordelia let out a blood-curdling scream that pierced the night. Buffy and Angel saw what was happening even as they dodged the demon they were fighting. “I have to finish this,” Buffy told him. “Just get Cordelia out of here.”
Angel was already running at breakneck speed across the distance separating him from Cordelia. The vampire in front of her was a fledgling, newly risen and hungry. No match for Angel who shifted into game face and attacked. “Get away from her.”
“Saw her first,” the fledgling complained as he hit the ground.
“Like hell,” Angel grabbed onto his head and twisted it sharply until a snapping sound immediately preceded a cloud of dust. He stood over the small pile on the ground and glared at it. Possessively, Angel told the remains of the vampire, “She’s mine.”
*Cough! Cough!* Cordelia waved her hands in front of her face trying to get the flying dust out the way. “Gross! What happened? Is that you, Angel?”
“It’s me,” he confirmed just before snatching her from the tombstone into his arms. “Are you okay? Did he bite you?”
Before Cordelia could answer, Angel’s hands were moving over her body checking for injuries. At least, she assumed that was what he was doing. Although it seemed that he spent a lot of time at her throat.
“Was that the dog catcher?” Cordy asked. “Did he take the dog to the pound?”
“Uh, he’s gone.”
“Where’s Buffy?”
Angel looked over toward the crypt, but there was no sign of the Slayer or the demon. “I think she ran after the other one.”
Still holding her within the circle of his arms, Angel pulled back to run his hands down from her shoulders to take her hands in his. “Cordelia, I know that you don’t really know me, but I need you to trust me. I have to get you out of this place.”
“Take me to Buffy’s. The address is in the phone book— unless you already know it.”
“Revello Drive,” he indicated that he did know. “It’s too far. There is no time for that. I need to get you to safety quickly because I need to get back to Buffy.”
“So where are we going?”
“My apartment. It’s just on the other side of the cemetery,” Angel explained.
Realizing that she really had no choice in the matter, Cordelia agreed to go. Besides, there was just something about Angel that made her feel safe when he was at her side. “So— is this what Buffy does in the Crime Club? Chase stray dogs in the cemetery?”
Angel gave a moment’s pause before answering, “Something like that.”
“I knew she was weird.”
A short time later, Angel led her into his apartment building in such a way that she would have no clue that it was otherwise abandoned. “Just plunk me down on the couch in front of the television and I’ll be fine,” Cordy told him. “Oh— and show me the bathroom.”
“Uh— I don’t have a television,” Angel admitted.
“What? Are you a space alien? Everybody has a t.v. these days.”
“Except me, apparently. I prefer to read the newspaper.”
With a grin, Cordelia pointed out, “There are other things on television besides the news.”
He was giving her such a different picture than the one she first conjured about being Buffy’s scummy gang-member boyfriend. That had another question popping into her head which she immediately asked, “Are you dating Buffy?”
The query caught him off-guard. “N-No.”
Geez! The guy stammered like he wasn’t sure about the answer. “Just asking.”
“Look, I need to get back out there. Let me show you where the bedroom is located. You should be comfortable enough and I have less stuff in there to trip over. The bathroom is connected.”
Angel guided her around orienting Cordelia to the room. “I’m putting your gym bag here on the edge of the bed.”
“Okay. I’ll be fine,” she assured him. Touching his forearm, Cordy fought off the insane urge to wrap her arms around him and kiss his worries away. It seemed obvious even to her sightless self that Angel was concerned about Buffy’s wellbeing and her own safety. “Go my Guardian Angel.”
His mouth quirked into a smile at the playful expression on her beautiful face. Palming her cheek, Angel leaned forward and pressed his lips against her forehead. Cordelia let out a little gasp of surprise immediately followed by a soft moan from her throat. Angel tilted his head noting that hers instinctively raised to give him access to her lips.
Angel’s mouth hovered in the space above Cordelia’s slightly parted lips for moments that seemed like forever. Gaining control over his urge to kiss her, he pulled away not wanting to take advantage of her situation or scare her. “I better go.”
“I’ll be waiting.”
Cordelia heard the front door open and close realizing that she was now alone in Angel’s apartment. She found her way back to the bathroom to wash off any traces of remaining dust from the cemetery. That activity took some time as she had to feel around the walls to find the towels. Afterward, Cordy wandered back into the bedroom and crawled into the middle of the bed flopping over onto her back.
Now that she was alone in this ultra-quiet apartment and staring into the blackness before her eyes, Cordelia felt the impact of the day finally hit her. Fear crept up from the place she had pushed it to encompass her.
She started to cry and then couldn’t seem to stop as her sniffles became sobs.