Part 11
Wesley sat at the table nibbling his toast and sipping his freshly brewed tea as he scanned the age worn text for a spell that would protect a vampire’s dwelling. His chafed legs feeling much better since changing into the cotton slacks he had discovered inside his valise. “Hmmm…no.”
Angel had been anxiously pacing back and forth in front of the sofa for the past hour waiting for the irritatingly thorough bookworm to complete his task. “You pretty much know hmmm is gonna be followed by no.” Angel sniped mid pace.
The arrival of Cordelia and the threat of Bane had opened Angel’s eyes to a very serious issue in their relationship. This was his home and if this would one day be Cordelia’s home, Angel had to make sure she would be safe from the array of demons that was sure to intrude on their lives. So far, Wesley had not been able to locate a spell designed to protect a demon’s home from other demons.
The smart thing to do would be to take Cordelia to her apartment. The irritating ex-watcher had already suggested that very idea twice to the stubborn vampire. Angel did not intend to argue with himself that he was in fact stubborn, selfish and maybe just a tad egotistical. He wanted Cordelia safe here, in his home. He wanted this to be Cordelia’s home even if he had to settle for home away from home for the time being.
Cordelia has been comfortably stretched out on the sofa filing her nails and trying to ignore the annoying vampire and his even more annoying nonstop pacing. “Gees, will you relax Angel, you’re really beginning to get on my nerves with all that pacing. Besides Wesley can probably think better now that he’s wearing his comfy and loose cotton trousers.”
Wesley’s suggestion that they simply take her home before continuing their search for the evil Darcy Bane had made Cordelia inwardly give herself a hard smack on the head. Frightened by the evil vampire’s call, she had forgotten that he couldn’t come in without an invitation. So she had no one to blame but herself. In a moment of panic she ran straight to the one person she knew would protect her. And now that she was here, the thickheaded, overprotective vampire wouldn’t let her leave.
“Well if someone wasn’t taking up the entire couch I would sit down.”
“Pfft. You’ve got a big ole leather chair in the next room, sit your fat butt on that.”
Alarmed by her straightforward and rude comment, Angel twisted his upper body around so that he could view his backside. “You think I’m fat?” Angel almost squeaked in panic.
“Only your butt.” Angel quickly cupped his butt cheeks checking for extra baggage. “You are so easy. Maybe you were a girl in a past life.”
“I was human in a past life. A very male human.”
“Not in those pants you weren’t.”
Angel leaned down resting one hand on the back of the sofa and the other on the sofa arm that supported Cordelia’s head. He hovered over her face just close enough that his whispered words could force a cool breath against her pouty lips.
“Speaking of fat butts, maybe yours needs to be spanked.” Brushing his parted lips against her mouth, his tongue snaked out for a quick taste.
By the time Cordelia could inhale a nervous breath, his looming presence was gone. “My butt’s not fat and where are you going?”
“To change.” Angel growled before slamming the door to his bedroom. Even though he was angry over Cordelia’s remarks about his leather pants and his obviously huge ass, it at least gave Angel a few minutes alone to gather his thoughts.
Angel knew he should follow Wesley’s advice and take Cordelia home. But he had already admitted that he was selfish. They couldn’t have a real relationship if Cordelia would never be safe here without him. And while he had the watcher’s knowledge of spell casting available, Angel was determined to make use of it.
“Yep so easy you can hardly call it a challenge.” Cordelia was relieved to have a few minutes away from Angel.
His pacing and unexplained obsession with Wesley being able to cast an uninvite spell on the apartment was freaking her out. And she was already freaked out more than she was letting on. Cordelia already had a possessive psycho vamp in her life and now an evil psycho vamp that wanted to rip out her heart was being added to the mix.
“Better?” Angel asked as he returned to find Cordelia still slouching on the sofa.
Cordelia smiled as she looked at Angel dressed in his trademark black on black and not a smidgen of Angelus panache in sight. “Ah, there’s my big, strong, broody hero.”
It only took a morsel of flattery from Cordelia to reduce Angel to a bashful, lovesick schoolboy. “Hero huh. Hey Cordy, maybe after…”
“Eureka!” Wesley shouted from the kitchen.
“That’s a new word. Doesn’t sound like a word that would be followed by a no either.” Cordelia smiled at Angel knowing he would likely pounce with a barrage of questions as Wesley joined them from the kitchen.
“There’s a spell, quite old actually; it was used to protect one’s guests when the master of the house was away. Perhaps it will work in this instance. Cordelia is a guest here and you do plan on being away.”
“Great.” Angel’s reply was direct and simple, impatient for Wesley to step up his pace.
“There is a small catch.” Wesley hesitantly added under Angel’s anxious expression.
“Always is.” Cordelia snipped, having no concern for the sarcasm in her tone. “Go ahead Wesley; read us the big bad off the warning label that’s sure to bite me on the butt after Angel ignores it.”
“Ah yes, well it seems with the limited travel options, guests might stay with a particular friend or relative for months at a time. It would only be natural for them to grow accustomed to the place and began to, as one might say, feel as though it was home away from home.”
Home away from home; that’s perfect. “What are you getting at Wesley?” Angel questioned, twitching his hands in a motion for Wesley to continue with his explanation.
“It seems that in order for this particular spell to be effective Cordelia must regard this dwelling as her home or at least her home away from home.”
“OK, sounds good; let’s try it.” Angel instructed as Cordelia rolled her eyes at Wesley in an I told you so fashion.
“Alright then Angel, you need to remove your presence so you won’t be included as an occupant. Since the upper level will not be protected by the spell, it should be sufficient for you to wait in your private office. Keep the door to the stairs closed until I call out for you to attempt to enter the apartment.”
Angel bounded up the stairs, the door slamming shut behind his exit. “Alright Cordelia just make yourself comfortable and…ah…think homey thoughts.”
Cordelia settled herself on the sofa, this time curling herself into the corner with her knees pulled tight against her chest.
Have homey thoughts. Is this home? Angel didn’t even ask me if I felt like this was home. Did he just assume if I were told to, I would follow orders? He didn’t treat Buffy this way. But of course, Buffy could kick his ass. Maybe he likes having me around because he can be in charge. He never got to be in charge when Buffy was around. Crap Chase you’re not exactly having the positive, homey thoughts; are you? And Wesley’s already started the spell. Must have because I’m hearing all that mumbo-jumbo pig Latin.
“There, that should do it. Angel see if you can come downstairs without Cordelia inviting you.”
The door slowly opened with a long squeak. They listened to the sound of Angel’s footsteps moving closer and closer as his heavy boots hit each wooden rung. Stepping into the apartment without any interference Angel continued his slow walk to the sofa, towering over the infuriating girl.
Cordelia looked up in shock at the angry and disappointed face. “Don’t look at me Angel. Mr. Spell-caster is over there. He must have done it wrong.”
“I don’t think so Cordelia. Perhaps the spell simply will not work here. Angel we need to move on to more pressing matters. If Bane isn’t stopped…”
“Don’t you think I know that Wesley! I know what Bane is capable of, after all I taught him; didn’t I?” Angel backed away from the sofa, rubbing his hands over his tired and tense face. “Wesley, give us a minute. Go have some more tea and toast.”
“Angel we nee…”
“One minute Wesley. OK?”
“Very well Angel.” Wesley left for the kitchen wandering if perhaps Darcy Bane wasn’t their most urgent problem.
Angel reached down and grabbed Cordelia’s arm, pulling her from the sofa. “Let’s go.”
“Go where?” Cordelia shrieked as Angel proceeded to drag her toward the bedroom. “Angel, I don’t think now is the time…”
“Hush…and sit down.” Angel ordered in a harsh whisper as he pushed her into a seated position on the edge of the bed before kneeling in front of her. “Cordy look at me.” His tone softer now but every bit as commanding. “Don’t you think of this as your home? Don’t you feel safe and…wanted here?”
“Of course I feel safe here Angel. It’s the first place I came running to when the evil vamp called.”
“Then what is it?” The commanding tone now almost completely eclipsed by the desperate rasp in his voice.
“It…maybe it just happened too fast. Wesley said have homey thoughts. You just assumed the homey thoughts would come pouring in. It just happened too fast. Everything is happening so fast Angel.”
“I know baby. A lot has happened in the last few days.” Angel released his grip from Cordelia’s arms and cupped her face. “Cordy I meant everything I said to you this morning. We are linked. I know we are.”
“But Angel that’s because of the visions. The PTB know I won’t be as strong as Doyle and they probably…”
“No Cordy. They couldn’t cause what happened between us. That was just us. I’ve been trying to tell you that for days. Everything that’s happened has been between us and only us.”
Wesley listened from the kitchen between sips of his now lukewarm tea. The coupled tones resonated through the closed door in a mixture of apprehension and desperation.
So this relationship is rather new. Perhaps only days old. Well then, Miss Summers may not yet know. Should I be fortunate enough to survive my encounter with Darcy Bane, I may get to enjoy her reaction after all. Quite snotty girl really.
“Alright Angel. But I think Wesley’s right. We have to concentrate on stopping this Bane guy, then we’ll talk; OK?”
“But Cordy you’re not safe here. We have to…”
“Then take me home, Angel.”
“What?” Angel questioned in disbelief as her words spoken with confidence and clarity echoed inside his head
“Take me home. Then you and Wesley can do the hero stuff without having to be worried about me.”
Angel had been jerked back and forth from fantasy to reality too many times to count in the past few days. This current slap in the face of cold reality was one too many and he was in no mood for turning the other cheek.
“Fine. You want to go home. I’ll take you home. Let’s go.”
“Angel…” The impact of his words angry and harsh and full of disappointment, Cordelia beckoned him to wait but fell silent realizing matters of the heart had to be set aside and dealt with later.
“No. You’re right. Wesley’s right. We’ve wasted enough time on this. My priority should be stopping Bane. It’s time I remembered that. Get your things so we can go.”
Leaving the bedroom, Angel walked over to the cabinet on the far wall that housed his weapons collection. “Wesley do you have a weapon preference for demon extermination?”
“I have my crossbow and stakes.” Eyeing the available choices in Angel’s superior collection, Wesley decided one more wouldn’t hurt. “Perhaps that Dagesse Sword.”
Angel tossed the centuries old sword to his temporary partner. “Good eye Wes.”
Cordelia watched as Angel readied for battle, his face somber and bare of emotion. The eyes that had allowed her to see his soul closed off, empty except for the intense concentration of his purpose. Angel attached a wrist sheathe to each arm before loading them with well-sharpened stakes. Both men strapped large knives to their ankles, the razor-sharp edges glistening even under the sallow basement level light.
Slipping on his coat, Angel eyed the ex-watcher for signs of weakness. Seeing none, Angel pushed down his surprise as he slid his favorite broad sword from its leather case, whipping it with perfected skill to its place inside his coat.
His eyes focused on nothing, Angel turned toward the stairs. “Let’s get this over with.”
Silent comrades fell in place behind his lead. Reaching the stairs, Wesley stepped aside for Cordelia to follow Angel up first. The warmth in his fleeting glance gave her hope at least one of them understood.
