Part 4
“Y’know, after a while, you just sort of run out of excuses at the Laundromat.” Cordy said, glancing down at her shirt and making a face.
Gunn laughed. “Cordy, why don’t you wear less fancy stuff to fight in? That way you can kick ass without worrying about your clothes or having to make up excuses for demon goo on every alternate outfit.”
Cordy smirked. “Because if I did that, then I’d look like you, and that really isn’t an option.” She winked at him, a warmth accompanying her bite and looked over at Angel. He looked incredibly pale, well…paler than usual. They had managed to remove the wooden plank from his torso and wrap the wound with Gunn’s jacket.
Gunn hadn’t been happy with that. He had actually suggested Cordelia be the one to remove her shirt and use it, that way everybody wins…apart from her. But seeing the state Angel was in and acknowledging the fact that Cordy’s shirt was far too small to cover the whole of Angel’s midriff, Gunn had given his jacket to the suffering vampire.
Wesley sighed loudly, stopping to drape Angel’s arm more comfortably around his shoulders and then walking again. His neck and his arms were sore and he desperately wanted to sit down. But no matter how bad he was, the vampire he was supporting looked ten times worse.
“Ow.” Angel muttered softly, eyes closing as the skin around the wound slowly, so slowly, began to heal.
“Alright Angel, you’re going to be fine. Just relax, take deep breaths”
He doesn’t breathe dumbass.
Angel smiled at the sound of Cordy’s voice and waited for Wesley’s retort. It never came. He did breathe then, sucking in a breath as the gash in his stomach pulled slightly, adding further pain to the already cruel injury.
Fuck, it really hurts.
“I know honey, I know. But you’re gonna be fine. We just have to get you back to the Hyperion, get some blood in you and you’ll be great.” Cordelia rubbed soothing circles into Angel’s back.
I love you, Cordy.
“I love you too.” Cordy smiled at him and ignored the strange look Gunn sent her way. My God Angel, you’re so pale. Cordelia’s breath caught in her throat and she swallowed the anguish bubbling up inside her.
“I’m fine Cor.” Angel smiled reassuringly, flinching yet again. Cordelia smiled softly at his reassurance. The thing with Angel was, he never showed his pain. He could have been knee-deep in wooden spikes but the big dummy would never complain about it.
He does seem to be moaning and groaning a hell of a lot more than usual today, though, Cordelia thought. He’s already cursed about a million times and he keeps bitching about his ‘gut wound’.She was surprised Wesley hadn’t picked up on that and taken a chance to assert his own story.
In fact, Wes and Gunn haven’t batted an eyelid.
Angel turned slightly and whined, “I’m not bitching! It hurts like hell Cordy.”
Cordelia looked up, slightly shocked. “How did you…?”
“Perhaps we should sit him down for a while. I don’t think he has the energy to walk any further.” Wesley looked at Gunn who was supporting Angel’s other arm. Gunn shook his head.
“Nah, the sooner we get him to the car…”
“Plymouth” Angel muttered.
“What?” Gunn looked at him incredulously.
“Plymouth. That’s the type of his car. Crap Angel, you’ve just been stabbed with a wooden spike, you can barely walk at all, you look like a Victorian wig and you’re worried about the name of your freakin’ car?!” Cordelia raised her voice slightly, fear and worry for Angel causing her irate temperament to rear its ugly head once again. God, sometimes you’re such a…
Bitch.
“What did you just call me?” Cordelia’s eyes sizzled dangerously as she turned to face the vampire, whose eyes were closed and appeared to be in a trance-like state. Wesley looked at her perplexedly.
“He didn’t say anything Cordy.”
“Yeah he did! He just called me a bitch!”
Gunn and Wesley looked at each other vacuously and then back at their friend.
“Barbie, I am standing right here. He didn’t say a word.”
Cordelia rolled her eyes dramatically. “So what, I’m hearing stuff now?” Great, make a wacky life even wackier!
You think your life is wacky? Hello? Vampire with a soul, cursed by gypsies, dated a vampire slayer…
“Yes, thank you for that fabulous reminder, let’s reminisce about your ex-girlfriend.” Cordelia snapped, annoyed.
Let me finish. Lost my soul, took a summer vacation to hell, now currently fighting against the forces of evil with the help of the Powers that be, my seer, who’s the love of my life by the way, and my friends, one of whom just happens to be the ex-watcher of that slayer I was with and one of whom got sucked through a portal and into a hell dimension for five years. Don’t talk to me about wacky!
Cordelia turned around and stared at Angel. “Just because you’re the King of wacky, doesn’t mean I can’t have a wacky life too buster! I’m the seer! Mind splitting visions, work for the PTB and I got sucked into a hell dimension as well! Hell, I have friends who are demons, slayers, werewolves, witches, watchers, yada, yada, yada. You name it, I got it!”
Angel jerked his head up, looking thoroughly confused. Gunn and Wes looked absolutely terrified.
“Um…Cordy?” Wesley smiled tentatively. Cordelia looked at him. “What…what was that?”
“What was what?”
“Your little…rant?”
Cordelia’s forehead creased and she stared at Wes. “He started it!” She pointed at the vampire, whose eyes were now open but whose body was still completely bent over.
Wesley’s eyes narrowed and he asked cautiously, “Started what exactly?”
“Uh hello? Earth to Wesley! Where the hell have you been for the last few minutes? He just said, his life was wackier than mine because he was a vampire with a soul, blah, blah, blah…” Chattering out of his fat ass as usual. Talk about egotistic!
“I’m not egotistic! And for the love of God, stop calling my ass fat! I do not have a fat ass!” Angel protested, growling.
Wesley’s eyes widened and he looked at the vampire being held up on his arm before glancing at Gunn, who looked dumbstruck.
“Yeah, sure. And I’m…” Cordelia trailed off. “Wait a minute, I never…”
“Has she gone crazy?” Gunn asked Wes bluntly.
Cordelia’s jaw dropped. “I’m not crazy! What…why would you think I was crazy?”
Because you threw me out of the house in my underwear…
“Jeez Angel, this is hardly the time to bring that up again! And you said it was okay!” Cordy pouted.
Gunn looked at her as if she’d grown a tail, “Cordy, Angel didn’t said a word. You must be imagining it or somethin’.” Cordelia’s eyes narrowed and then she let out a short laugh.
“Oh ha ha! I get it! This is all a big joke. Very funny. Oh yeah. Cute, real cute. You all got me.” She turned around and began walking again. Dumbasses.
Cordy…
“What?” she swivelled around and caught sight of three wide-eyed men looking at her. She raised both eyebrows. “That’s my name, don’t wear it out.”
Gunn shrugged, wide-eyed. “We didn’t say anything.”
“Uh…” Wesley couldn’t form a coherent sentence but the look on his face was priceless. Several emotions passed across his features at once; confusion, fear, contemplation and finally, realisation. Cordelia folded her arms over her chest and waited.
The ex-watcher looked from Cordy to Angel. Then he looked at Gunn.
“Oh…dear…God…”
***
“WHAT???” Angel bellowed, the sound ringing loudly in Wesley’s ears. The vampire was feeling much better since they had gotten back to the hotel. He had drunk three large glasses of blood that had made him feel far stronger and he was no longer in pain.
Cordelia had muttered something about a shower and wandered off. Gunn was outside playing his gameboy. Wesley had hurried into his office and grabbed a large book off his shelf, scrambling through it, obviously trying to find something important. Angel just watched him now, the dread that had earlier crept up his spine at the smell of Cordy’s tears, once again enforcing itself upon him.
The ex-watcher glanced at his tome again, checking for the thousandth time that he hadn’t made a mistake, that there was some way he could change his earlier statement of what was happening to Angel and Cordy. Nope. It was clearly there, written in ink in a spidery Karranjian script.
Wesley removed his glasses and began to clean them. “I’m sorry Angel. That’s what it says.” He pointed at the large book again for emphasis.
Angel glared at Wesley for a moment, before his shoulders slouched and he dropped into a chair. “God Wesley…are you sure?”
Wesley sighed, rather annoyed at Angel’s scepticism. “Angel, I have been over it a million times. I have had Fred go over it a million times. Both of us have gone over it together a million times.” Wesley emphasised ‘together’ and Angel looked at him strangely.
“I am quite sure…”Wesley held up his hand when Angel opened his mouth. “Forget that, I’m positive. This is what it says.”
Angel sighed resignedly. “Tell me again.”
The ex-watcher resisted the urge to strangle the vampire as he returned to his books. “Ahem…” he cleared his throat. “In the event of it being deeply wounded or at the time of its imminent death, the Karranja releases a blue gel from its nostrils upon its assailant, as a curse, one that enables the recipient to hear the thoughts of the individual they hold most dear, thus hearing both the positive and negative elements of their loved one’s opinions towards them, the pessimistic factors driving them slowly mad.”
Angel’s eyes widened. “M…m…mad?”
Wesley nodded sympathetically, removing his glasses once more. “I’ll attempt to locate a cure as soon as possible. No one wants either of you going crazy.” He winked and then sat down on his chair.
“Wes, I don’t think this is funny.” Angel said sternly. Wesley bit back a smile.
“Of course it isn’t funny Angel. I’m just laughing at the image of you telling Cordelia that you’ll be able to hear her thoughts for the next…well, until I find a cure.” Wesley did smile this time, as the vampire’s face paled. “Oh come on, she won’t take it that badly!”
Angel nodded and rose slowly. “I…you said assailant. That’s singular. Why the hell did both of us get infected?”
Wesley gave Angel a look that clearly implied that the vampire had just asked the stupidest question in the history of the world.
“What?” Angel said defensively.
“Angel, the demon sprayed the liquid over both of you. Hence both of you got infected.” Wesley spoke slowly, as though talking to a small child. Angel glared at him. Then something else entered his dim little head.
“What about the visions? Will I hear the visions?”
Wesley squinted his eyes. “I don’t know. We’ll just have to wait and see. That is, if Cordy actually receives a vision before we work out how to get rid of this new found telepathy.”
“Okay.” Angel proceeded to walk away, before turning back again, just as he got to the door. “Hey Wes? You want me to send Fred in here? To help you out with the mind mojo research?”
Wesley’s entire face closed up for a split second, before he cleared his throat and said, “No, just go tell Cordy. I’ll be fine. There are a few things I want to look into before I actually start.”
Angel’s brow creased with worry for the Englishmen. “Wes…”
“I’m fine Angel, just go talk to Cordelia. She needs to know.”
Angel nodded reluctantly and opened the door. “Oh, Angel?”
The vampire turned around slowly. “Try not to think about anything that would piss her off.”
***
Cordelia Chase strolled out the shower, wrapped in a large, pink, fluffy towel. She was seated on Angel’s bed, moisturising her legs when the vampire walked in, a glum look on his face, quickly disappearing to be replaced by a large grin, as he caught sight of all the delectable skin available for his inspection.
Tasty.
Cordelia raised an eyebrow. “Don’t even think about it Broody.”
That snapped Angel back to reality. “Uh, yeah Cor? That reminds me. I have to tell you something.” He walked over to her slowly, sitting down by her on the bed and taking her hand. Cordelia looked at him, amused.
“Is this one of those ‘I’m really sorry I’m such an dorky dumbass and I love you more than anything in the whole wide world’ speeches?”
Angel raised his eyebrows. “No. Am…am I suppose to give one of those speeches?” Cordelia stared at him, a loving smile gracing her lips as she gently leaned forward and kissed him. When she freed his lips, he leaned forward for more, out of habit, before catching himself and remembering, “Uh…we…I, we were in the sewers today…”
“The words ‘well’ and ‘duh’ come to mind.”
Angel glared at her. “Y’know that demon? With the…” he made a gesture with his hand, as though something was shooting out from his nose.
“Gross mucus spurtage?”
“Yeah, that one…well, it sort of…did something…”
Jeez Angel, get on with it!
Angel took a deep breath. “Right well, it sort of infected us with its demon mojo when it sprayed out that blue liquid stuff and now we can hear each other’s thoughts which is supposed to slowly drive us insane.”
Cordelia’s jaw dropped. “What?”
“We can hear…”
“I heard you dumbass!”
“Oh.”
You can hear my thoughts?
“Yes.” The vampire replied.
Cordy jumped up, clutching her towel to her. “Oh…my…God…”
“Cordy, you can hear mine too. It’s not like a one way deal.”
“But this is an invasion of privacy! I don’t want you to hear my thoughts!”
The vampire sighed. “I know.”
“I mean, I wouldn’t have a problem with hearing your thoughts cos hello? I love invading privacy! But you! You’ve never been the gossip King! Why do you get to hear what I think?”
“Well, why do you get to hear what I think? Maybe I don’t want you to hear what I think!”
“Why? What are you thinking about that I shouldn’t be hearing?”
“Nothing!”
“Really? Are you sure? Cos maybe you’re thinking about me as a Happy Meal with legs. Or maybe you’re thinking about something short, blonde and whiny. Or maybe…”
“Cordy! Stop alright, this is not a big deal!”
“Not a big deal?!”
“No. Wesley is trying to find a cure and as soon as he finds one this will stop. And,” he continued before she could open her mouth, although he heard the objectionable opinion of him that went fleeting through her head, “Wesley is always efficient when something’s important.”
Cordelia stopped to consider that for a moment before asking, “Well, what if I’m thinking about you?”
Angel raised both eyebrows and smiled. “Well, then you better make sure it’s a good thought.”
Cordelia felt a wave of reassurance sweep over her when he smiled. She mock-glared at him. It won’t always be a good thought dumbass! Like when I think about how I hate the way your wardrobe only consists of black clothes, and how I hate that shirt, and how I can’t stand the fact that you growl every time anything with a penis even looks at me, or how you…
“Jeez Cor, I can hear you!” And I don’t like what you’re wearing either! The vampire cringed when he realised how much like a four year old he sounded.
Cordelia raised her eyebrows, the familiar playfulness they shared making its presence apparent. “Fine.” Angel didn’t even have time to blink before she dropped the towel and stood before him, gloriously naked, her hair damp. Angel swallowed. Hard.
“You better be thinking good thoughts too.” Cordelia smirked sexily, sauntering over to him. So…watchya thinkin’?
You…with the…um…wow…
Cordelia slowly put her arms around his neck. I’m guessing that’s good…
Angel nodded. Good. Definitely good. “Cordy…”
“We should talk about this…”
Or think about it…
“Cor…”
What? I’m beginning to like this mind stuff. Think something dorky.
Cordelia…
Ooh, even in your head you use the stern voice! She pressed her body up against his, purring like the fiery and beautiful cat she was. That really turns me on Angel.
The vampire glanced down at her, feeling his resistance crumple. His strong arms went around her small waist, pulling her flush against him. He walked her backwards towards the bed, smirking. Turns you on huh?
Oh yeah… think it again.
Cordelia…
Cordy laughed out loud and kissed him hard, then scrunched her nose up and pulled back to look at his face. Don’t think I’ve forgotten that you called me a bitch. And you really need a shower.
You really need to be gagged.
Cordelia’s jaw dropped for the third time that evening. Her vampire just grinned broadly and kissed her nose, a gentle gesture that made her remember just how much she loved him. So she told him.
“I love you.”
“What, did you get tired of the thinking?”
“Well, I just figured my thoughts about you right now are way too naughty for your already colossal ego to actually hear.” She winked at him.
Angel’s grin, if it was possible, widened even more. How about if you show me?
Cordy’s smile was feral. I don’t think you could handle me.
Angel’s hands lowered slightly and he squeezed her butt. “Au contraire…”
Squeeze all you like Batman, but if you fall asleep on me again…
Angel mock-glared. Do you want me to bite you?
Cordy couldn’t hold back her smile. “Well…”
Angel smothered any retort she had by firmly placing his lips on hers, moving them with a tenderess that surprised her. After all that sexual tension in the sewer tunnel she would have thought he’d give her a little more grope. Angel’s lips jerked away from hers.
“Grope? You want me to grope you?”
No…
“You just said…”
“I didn’t say…I thought. That’s not the same thing.”
“Well, when I can hear you, it really is!”
Cordelia smirked and bit his bottom lip, using it to pull him towards her. He growled, lifting her up and wrapping her legs around his waist. She bit the spot where his pulse would have been, making the vampire growl.
Do that again.
She bit him again. “This is kinda useful y’know.”
Angel lifted his head from where he was planting kisses on her shoulder. “What is?”
“This mind reading thing. You didn’t have to say a word and I knew exactly what you wanted.”
You always know that anyway.
That’s because I’m a Goddess.
Yes you are. He pushed a rebellious strand of hair behind her ear. You’re so beautiful.
Cordelia’s eyes sparkled. Sweet talker.
“I wasn’t talking. I was thinking. It’s not the same thing.” Angel smirked, returning his attention to her shoulder and slowly lowering her down on the bed.
Cordy laughed, feeling a familiar sense of warmth and love build up in her womb. As Angel laid her gently down on the bed, she became fully aware of her completely naked state, as well as his totally clothed one. She smirked.
You wanna know what I really want you to do?
Angel raised his eyes to her face, a wolfish grin appearing on his handsome features when he noticed her devilish grin. “What?”
Cordelia’s eyes danced with humour. Take off your pants…