Part 10
Wesley and Gunn stood on the periphery of the circle of press that enclosed Cordelia and Angel.
“The vamp seems to be okay.” Gunn whispered.
“Yes, he only looks like he wants to kill two or three of them.”
“They shouldn’t keep asking him what his last name is.” Gunn said, nodding towards the reporter in front of Angel.
“’Angel’ what kind of name is that…are you a model, is that how you met our Cordy. Where are you from? How’d you meet? Do you even have a last name? Come on, the fans want to know.” The persistent report fired the questions at the motionless tense vampire.
“He’s going to blow.” Gunn whispered, recognizing the silent growls and anger building in the vampire’s being. “Where’s the steel net?”
“No. Look,” Wesley urged somewhat amazed.
Both Gunn and Wesley watched as Cordelia placed a delicate hand over Angel’s arm while chatting to another reporter. She ended that conversation with a bright smile and turned towards the reporter that was badgering Angel with incessant questions.
“Did she just do what I think she did?” Gunn said.
“If you mean did Cordelia just touch Angel and he accepted it without flinching or growling but rather calming down. Yes. Amazing. Angel doesn’t like people touching him. Interesting, Cordelia and Angel weren’t that close in Sunnydale at all. I don’t think I ever saw just the two of them talking. Then again, Angel didn’t talk to anyone really, except Buffy.”
“Well, they’re talking now.” Gunn nodded his head in their direction.
Wesley shook his head and wondering what in the world Cordelia whispered into the vampire’s ear that made him not only lose his former tenseness but also made him shove his hands in his pockets and look at his shifting feet. Wesley moved closer to the couple, listening to what Cordelia was now saying out loud.
“Justin, Justin,” Cordelia tsked. “Go away, you’re annoying my date and I do want to go out with him again. So, all of you go away. I promised him a fun night, not the Hollywood’s version of the Spanish Inquisition.”
“But, Cordy, why doesn’t he have a last name? Is he the dark version of Fabio? Or maybe a hairdresser? Who is he? Where did he come from?”
“Of course, he has a last name. Fabio, dark or light, Good God no, look at him. Hairdresser- look at his hair. Angel’s my date. And he came from pretty much everywhere, settling here making me happy and feeling safe, so do a girl a favor, go bother Jennifer Hewitt, I understand she sings now- go.”
“Cordy’s in love, the male population of America is going to be heartbroken.”
“Shoot guys, when the female population get a gander at Angel, they’ll be the ones heartbroken. Now, shoo and let us enjoy some of the night. Before we both have to go home to get our respective beauty sleeps. And remember spell Angel right and keep him properly mysterious.”
“Cordy,” the reporters rolled their eyes, groaning at the same time. “You’re pulling our leg aren’t you? He’s an upcoming and you’re showing him off. When will you ever fall in love and give our ‘Cordy’ the happy ever after she deserves.”
Cordelia smiled softly. “I’m just an old fashion girl, I’m waiting for my very own hero. Good enough?”
“For now, but some day you’re going have to seriously answer our questions.”
Cordelia kept smiling as the laughing reporters wandered off to find their next victim.
“Cold day in hell,” Cordelia whispered harshly after the reporters. She looked up at the owner of the arm she was still clutching.
“Sorry, I should’ve warned you. Are you okay? You did really well. Honest. They won’t be coming back. They’ll go after the A-list now. The second string they go to first, but the A-list they hope to get with more than a few cocktails under their belt. You did very well,” Cordelia smiled reaching up with a small caress to the staring vampire.
“Can you talk? Or did they scare my brave ‘grr’ guy into silence, they are pretty scary and vultury.”
Angel pulled her hand away from his cheek, forcing a smile on his lips. “I’m okay. You got rid them very well.”
Cordelia shrugged. “Used to it. Though, Damn.” She hit her forehead.
“Cordy” “Cordelia” Both Gunn and Wesley called moving closer.
“What?” Angel’s arm that was no longer being held by Cordelia’s snaked around her waist bringing her up and behind him in a reflexive protective move.
“I should’ve told the truth. Stupid.”
“Uh?” “ Cordy” Wesley and Gunn responded.
“What?” Angel said again, not yet releasing her from his secure hold. That’s wasn’t happening until he understood her meaning. Which he acknowledged based on past experience could be awhile. He held Cordelia tighter.
“Angel Investigations, sillies, I should of at least said Angel was a private investigator- who wouldn’t hire him to keep them safe. Look at him tall, dark and imposing, when he’s not a dork, but for most of the pictures I bet you good money and a Prada bag, it looks like he’ll kill someone just like that.” Cordelia snapped her fingers, then wiggling as she noticed how tight Angel’s hold was on her.
She wasn’t sure if she liked being pressed up against him. Okay, now she’ll just call herself silly. Gee, being pressed up against a hard male body- a really awesome hard body.
Remember. Vampire, Buffy’s, Buffy’s Vampire, Buffy’s, oh, evil possibilities can’t forget that, whoa big one. Cordelia nudged harder moving out of Angel’s embrace.
Angel slowly released Cordelia. No danger, just Cordelia babble. Good lord, he wanted to smile again. Impossible. Angel hated this place-too many people, too many fake smiles, just too many of everything. Cordelia was….well… okay, but the rest- Angel wanted to be able to kill or leave.
“Thank you for you concern, Cordelia. But, bodyguards- to the stars is not our goal. We fight the evil in Angel’s vision, that’s our mission.” Wesley offered.
“I get that, really I do. Noble. Worthwhile. But to help the helpless you need money. Hey, I work, get paid tons and because of that I can eat and wear really great clothes and shoes as well as give money and promotion to Breast Cancer Research, Humane Society, Amnesty International, Friendly Stars of the Homeless, actually, I think I’m getting out of that one. I’m not sure all the money goes to the shelter. Hey, you’re private investigators; maybe you could find out. Oh.” Cordelia’s eyes got big.
“Cordelia.”
“Wolfram & Hart, they gave me a whole list of charities, how much do you want to bet I’ve been subsiding evil, oh- that’s not right. They need to be stopped. If I give you the list, you can find out right? I’ll pay.”
“Cordy, we don’t want your money.” Wesley shook his head.
“Stupid, I’ve got money, you could stand some, how can you concentrate on saving the helpless, if you can’t pay rent for a office and salaries for staff.” She blinked. “You don’t even have an office do you? You’re all the helpless, got a name, but no office. Geez. Hey, look, that’s Oliver Simm and Rebecca Lowell. What’s she doing here?” Cordelia looked up at Angel.
“Stay away from her. Her career is so gone and she refuses to do age appropriate parts. She finds out you’re a vampire with the whole eternal life giving thing- she’ll go for it- cheaper than plastic surgery and surgery only lasts so long. Hmmph. Go with grace, I say.” Cordelia glared at the older dark haired woman.
Angel blinked at Wesley and Gunn. Was he supposed to answer or comment on any of Cordelia’s monologue? Wesley and Gunn shrugged. Gunn’s eyes got big. “Hey, is that J-Lo?”
Cordelia looked to where he was pointing. “Yeah, she came with her honey, you know the star of the movie. I never got to sleep with him.” She sighed.
Gunn jerked his head towards the brunette as Wesley choked on his champagne. Angel just stared at the man holding the hand of the movie star that Gunn had pointed out. He didn’t seem so great. Probably couldn’t kill a D’xoial demon or any other kind.
Angel looked again. The guy couldn’t save a cat out of a tree. “Cordy, do you want to?”
“Yes, well, my glass seems to be empty.” Wesley held up the flute. “I think maybe I’ll just get some more. Gunn?”
“I think I’ll go with you. You’re going to the bar over there right?” Gunn pointed to the area that Jennifer Lopez and Ben Afleck were standing.
“Just don’t embarrass me.”
“Cordelia,” Angel asked again.
“What?”
“Do you?”
“Do I what?”
“Want to sleep with him,” Angel pointed.
“With Wesley, eww, kissing him was enough. Not fun- humiliating even.”
“Not him, the other guy?”
“Gunn, hardly know him, but he is hot.”
“The other one.” Angel growled his frustration. Why he wanted to know was again beyond him. Like almost everything, since he was drawn into ‘Cordy’ the TV Star’s orbit. Where exactly was the teenager that he could ignore.
“Oh, you mean the multi -million dollar mega star- that I just met on the movie set. He was the star. You know the one I didn’t sleep with. My best friend’s boyfriend. Weren’t you watching the movie at all?”
“Didn’t recognize him.” Angel said quickly, not mentioning that he hadn’t seen any of the movie except when Cordelia was on. And he didn’t have a clue who her character had sex with, since every man’s face had been bloodied, beaten and screaming in terror as he watched the scenes, happily administering the horror.
“Eww.” Cordelia grimaced moving closer to Angel.
“What?” Angel blinked away blood and torture thoughts. She couldn’t know or she would be running not pressing into his side.
“Satan’s most charming toady, Lindsay McDonald, how much do you want to bet that woman with him is evil too, she’s got the look. The vicious bitch look, like her dress and shoes though, great, their coming this way. Wesley said that you had dealings with Wolfram & Hart before. You’re not going to be violent are you? I’m mean- are you going to have to?”
Angel directed his attention to the stylish couple heading their way. He didn’t know them but he did know about the law firm that they worked for. Angel had run up against them when he first came to LA, he’d actually threatened a conference room full of their lawyers before Doyle died and gave Angel the visions thereby leaving him increasingly useless in the fighting and threatening area.
But Wesley and Gunn had told him that they were still running up against Wolfram & Hart occasionally.
“Cordy,” Lindsay, held up a flute of champagne. “You were wonderful, another hit I imagine and this must be Angel,” the lawyer studied the vampire.
Angel straightened, pulling Cordelia closer. “I don’t know you.”
“Well, we you know, hi, I’m Lilah Morgan, one of your greatest fans,” she cooed to the vampire. “Well, that was until you became completely worthless in the ‘champion’ arena. Now it looks like the apocalypse will just have to go on without your input. What a waste of a soul, uh. Bet you wished you were still evil. How’s the craziness going? We had such hopes for you. Hello,” Lilah turned to Cordelia.
“Love your shoes. How did you manage to get the vampire out of his babbling and banging at the walls for the night.”
Cordelia stood straight, her eye’s leveled at the other woman. “Thanks. Love your shoes, too, and the dress; I saw it on the rack at Anthony’s but figured it wasn’t quite the thing- kind of last year. I wouldn’t worry about Angel, he IS the champion, be careful, he may just bite your evil ass one night and he won’t even be evil; just pissed at your arrogance and culpability of the evil in the world. Go away and watch out for those bumps in the night, it could be an angry vampire.”
“Right,” Lilah ran her eyes up and down the vampire. “I imagine you’ll have to lock him up in a closet before the night is over.”
Angel narrowed his eyes stepping closer to the female lawyer. “Lilah, right? Cordelia’s correct, don’t worry about me. Closets have doors and I’m feeling pretty good right now. Good enough to squeeze the life right out of you and toss you over the balcony. I can do it, too, really quick. Vampires are like that -quick and quiet and easily pissed off. Take Cordy’s advice and go away.”
“Let’s go, Lilah, we can be gracious and allow Angel to enjoy his one brief moment of sanity and vampachismo. Good-bye, Cordelia, you really should re-think your connection with Angel. He’s going nowhere fast. You need to concern yourself with your career. Hollywood is so fickle.” Lindsay said pulling Lilah away.
“Yeah, whatever, minions of hell. Hmmph.” Cordelia turned to Angel. “Are you okay, they didn’t upset you did they? You’re not crazy, screw them.”
Angel stood still staring at the young woman; confidence and surety were clear on her face. “Cordy, the visions, Wesley explained right?”
Cordelia waved her hand at his words. “Angel, you survived being shish kebabed into a hundred years in hell by Buffy dearest and you weren’t real ‘all wheels spinning’ when you popped back into Sunnydale from that little side trip.” Cordelia’s hands wildly demonstrating her statement.
“But you got over it, fine. Maybe a little broodier and amazingly if possible wearing more black, but all oars in the water, you’ll get over this too.”
“Cordelia, the visions make me…. I don’t ever want you to be around when one hits.”
Cordelia scrunched up her nose. “Pooh, Angel, you’re my friend, I don’t abandon my friends. I’ll always be around.”
Part 11
Cordelia sipped at her champagne and leaned over the rail, glancing up at the vampire next to her. “Sorry, this has been so horrible. Nevin, says I only have to stay to 12:00, then we can leave. I wish there was a demon or stalker you could beat up to have more fun or something.”
Angel stared, not having a clue what to say, but knowing somehow he should be saying something, anything to get that frown off Cordelia’s face. That beautiful face was made to smile and to light up a room or even a dimly lit balcony.
“You could’ve let me beat up Justin.” Angel said, praying that his statement wasn’t dorky or stupid or frightening. God, Angelus was the worst, meanness funniest psychopath in centuries. He could charm, entice and captivate.
The talent must have gone when the soul came in, because Angel just felt mortal- awkward, and 17 again, and eternally alone and souled, and hopeless at the same time.
Cordelia bit her lip, her eyes lighting up as she turned resting her back against the brace of the iron balcony. Small sounds of giggles and then laughter came from her chest. She lifted a hand back up to the vampire’s face. “Now, that would’ve been funny. He’s just a prick, but probably not the best picture to have on the front page. I’ve got an idea.”
Cordelia shot up, grabbing the vampire’s hand. “Lets go for a walk. Maybe if my stalker’s out there you can find him and beat him up.” She nodded encouragingly.
“Let’s not.” Angel shook head.
“Why not? Out there, beat up, case over.” Cordelia nodded.
“You aren’t going to be bait.”
“Hate to tell you this, Angel, but I already am.” Cordelia shrugged. “Weird, I so much wanted to get away from Sunnydale, vampires, death, weirdness in general. I had managed actually to forget it all. Hmmph. Thank you very much stalker-guy.” She complained into the night.
“I’m sorry.” Angel felt an overwhelming sense of guilt forming in his toes expanding up to squeeze his undead heart and thoughts.
Cordelia scrunched her nose looking back at the vampire. “Why? You didn’t bring the weirdness back. I feel safe with you, so you are a good thing. Eww.” Cordelia sighed under her breath, standing straight.
Angel watched as the Cordelia that he had been talking and staring at changed into “Cordy’ the girl with the million dollar smile. He looked for what brought on the change.
“Cordy, darling.” Oliver Simm and Rebecca Lowell came sliding on the balcony.
“Remember, femme fatale, stick with me ‘Raven’ my ass. ” Cordelia leaned up on Angel’s shoulder whispering furiously.
Perplexed, Angel looked at said Femme Fatale then back at Cordelia. The issue was? He wasn’t going anywhere. Angel didn’t know when or exactly why, but sometime over the night, maybe it had been the first thing, he didn’t know anymore.
The point was, his rambling mind decided, that he didn’t want to be anywhere except where he was- beside Cordelia Chase. Angel didn’t understand it. He lost count of the times she had touched him over the night. Pats, caresses of assurances, smacks of silliness, all soft all her and why in the hell didn’t he mind, why in hell did they feel right?
For that matter, why hadn’t he had a vision and why was he still sane?
“Cordy, sweetie, it’s been way too long, you’ve just shot up there haven’t you. But then such a pretty face and such a simple format, it’s amazing now days how far you can come when you’re young, pretty and willing to do anything, I mean anything for anyone. I wish you the best.” Rebecca held up her glass. “Who’s your friend?” she purred over the top of her glass.
Angel waited for Cordelia to respond. He sure didn’t want to. But the young woman seemed to be still, her nails piercing into his hand. He shot a look at the lovely brunette. The smile was there. Angel blinked. It was false and somehow he knew it. He breathed for the first time around Cordelia.
Angel had decided that Cordelia’s scent wasn’t something he needed to experience once her saw her in the flesh. But now he had to figure out Cordelia’s brave face and panicked reaction in his hand. It was fear. This was new and Angel didn’t like it.
Angel gently released Cordelia’s grip from his hand. He felt the increased panic in the young woman’s form. He cupped a hand quickly to her neck, soft fingers caressing as his released hand got a more secure grip around the young woman’s waist.
Angel smiled, ignoring the relief in the soft body that fell against him in trust. “Angel” he told the intruding older actress.
“You sure are,” Rebecca purred.
Angel moved his fingers on Cordelia’s neck and pressed in harder giving a tender massage.
“Just a name, Mother was biblical in the bizarre sense of the word.”
“Are you in the business?”
“I’ve seen you before,” the short suited man said suddenly. “I saw you. …what…. three years ago….the party where I met you,” he pointed to Cordelia.
“Right, the one where you laughed at me and told me to go running back home to a fast food job and community theater- maybe.” Cordelia gave a tense smile.
Oliver Simm gave a fake smile in return. “Well, look at my mistake. So, Angel, I haven’t seen you on the rounds, maybe you would like another card?” the little man looked hopeful.
Angel fingers started working overtime as Cordelia’s body tensed even more. Angel narrowed his eyes. “Right, you gave me your card at…what was her name, Cordy…Margo’s? Good thing you didn’t get one otherwise you could’ve ended up on a stinker of a show like Raven’. Angel smirked.
Cordelia blinked up at the vampire. Who was Angel? Swooping down in black leather she sort of expected, that’s what he did in Sunnydale when he wasn’t smooching on the slayer or in a dark corner fading into nothingness. Cordelia had stopped trying to find him in the shadows of the high school library. Cordelia had figured he’d come out when Buffy was threatened and if he turned evil then some one would tell her eventually.
Eek. Now she was pissed- how many times could she have been killed in that hell burg of a hometown.
Cordelia studied the vampire. She wasn’t pissed at him and anyway he was saving her from the evilness of Hollywood, how he knew she needed saving, why he was saving her, and why was he looking at her like she could save herself, she didn’t know.
Cordelia bit her lips and looked at the man and woman before her. They were the first in the ‘business’ she’d met, the first with power and the first that went out of their way to smash her confidence and who she was.
They individually and together tried to destroy her. Cordelia blinked up, her smile getting less fake but more poised- the bitchy duo had failed. She was the star now. Hmmph.
“Now, Angel,” Cordelia cooed, tapping her finger up to his jaw as she settled even more comfortably against him. “That’s not nice. ‘Raven’ was already on the air when I came to Hollywood. And it was silly of me to even think about auditioning for the show. Sure, I know they were auditioning much younger actresses to take the part of ‘Raven”. I mean, Geez, even Sean Connery and Roger Moore had to retire-too old for the franchise. But, I should’ve realized that Rebecca still had a couple of years left in her, hell with surgery and a personal trainer, the show could’ve lasted a little bit longer. What was it Rebecca, couldn’t find a surgeon or trainer that could work with you?”
“Smile it up, little girl, I’ve still more pull in this town than you ever will,” Rebecca smiled up to Angel. “I can open doors.”
Angel forced down his desire to throw the woman off the balcony. Cordelia was calmer, but all was not right with the young woman. Tension and tendrils of fear ran through the body pressed against him. She needed him. It was….
It brought out a part of him that he had hoped was dead, buried when his soul took hold and precedence. Angel felt the smile come over him, the one he hated but the one he could use with such lethal skill.
Angel leaned up, tightening his hold on Cordelia. Cordelia wasn’t going to leave, but the overpriced self-important whore with promises of nothing and- god who dressed her -would leave, if he had to toss her over the railing on her purchased fake ass.
Cordelia whispered up, her arms still cradled along the vampire’s arms that encircled her waist. “You do realize that you said that out loud and scared the shit out them with surround sound growling and everything, well except for the ‘visual’ aspects.” She looked at the empty space where the couple had been.
“Cordy, why were you scared of them?” Angel turned, his arms holding on to her shoulders. Ignoring his part in driving the annoying Hollywood people away.
“I…what? I’m not…”
“Cordelia.” Angel said sternly.
Cordelia glared, then relented. “Will you stop pinching my shoulders, I’ve an early shoot tomorrow and “Cordy’ is suppose to be in a strapless gown for part of it.”
Angel’s hands shot in the air, his eyes zeroing in to Cordelia’s shoulders trying to see any bruising.
Cordelia grabbed the vampire’s hand and pulled him to the wrought iron bench on the balcony. “It’s not that I’m scared of them- exactly. It’s just…I was really scared when I moved here from Sunnydale, my parents in jail, fighting the IRS, leaving me with nothing, which okay, tons of people have nothing and build themselves up, but it was a shock to me, I was a spoiled bitch.”
Cordelia took a deep breath. “And then, I get here, find out that my parents actually avoided real prison and after some deal were off to an island somewhere, I was alone…broke…boring…I’m sorry, but you asked. Anyway, those two, the barracuda and her toadstool, were nasty, mean and hateful. I…only met them once but they tried to black ball me, make me feel worthless, etc.” Cordelia shrugged,
“it only had a small effect because lucky I had gotten a card that night and an interview with Stan Anderson, who while not in the trade papers as much as Oliver, didn’t make my skin crawl. And Stan does have the gift of gab and magic, not icky Sunnydale-type but just a gift for the business. I’m okay, better than okay, because of Stan. But it still …effects me how easy some of the people I met believed all the shit Rebecca and Oliver spouted. Hollywood is so not real. Maybe, Rebecca reminded me too much of what I had been, but still…I wasn’t that person anymore,” Cordelia rolled her eyes.
“I’m sure many would say I deserved their treatment. Oh well, it hurt and if I ever did that to some else, which I probably did, I’m really sorry. Whew, wow, I hadn’t spurted a vent like that in a while.”
Cordelia paused and then looked up. “Thank you. You were great, really, my hero.” Cordy smiled bringing her hand back up to caress the vampire’s face. Angel caught it before it completed its intimate caress. He brought it gently down between them.
Angel leaned a little back, wondering what to do with the delicate hand that he held. It was now clenched around his. It wasn’t going away on its own. It just kept getting tighter around his and the body it belonged to kept getting closer.
He looked. Cordelia’s eyes were staring out to nothing, remembering maybe, whatever she was thinking about caused her to want him close. What he should do was push her away- yeah, on what world? Angel pulled her closer.
Cordelia peeked up to the vampire. “Oliver Simon gave you his card?” she smiled slightly. “You must’ve loved that.”
“It was interesting.” Angel answered. Noticing that a small smile had returned. He wasn’t sure what to do but he wanted the young woman in his embrace to feel safe…and happy…. he would follow her lead.
“Three years ago, I’m saying it was the same party,” Cordy scooted back. “Why, didn’t I see you, I can’t believe I’d miss you. I’ve got hottie radar.”
Angel looked at his hands in confusion, where did the warmth go. He looked up. He wanted those wringing hands back. What good were they doing to Cordy just squeezing each other? He grabbed.
Cordelia blinked as her hands were suddenly seized. Okay.
“They can’t hurt you now. You said Rebecca Lowell was a has-been. And I’ve never seen ‘Raven’ but I have seen ‘Cordy’- and I can’t imagine it was as near as good.”
“You watch my show?” Cordelia looked at her hands encased in the larger ones, trapping them but also caressing them. This was so surreal. Angel watched a sitcom, her, and he was holding her hand. Angel had made her feel better.
What the hell was going on? This wasn’t possible. She didn’t know Angel, except as the ‘salty goodness’ guy, and Buffy’s undead potentially evil broody silent boyfriend. Why was he helping her?” Why did she want him too? Why did she expect it? Why did she want him? He was a vampire, for god sake, and not even a sane one from what Wesley said. But she wanted the vampire from her toes to her hair.
“Angel,” Cordelia licked her lips. “Something’s not right.”
Angel would have to agree, the need he had right then to decipher every nuance of emotion on the beautiful face as well as the desperate need to keep Cordelia Chase safe, as well as fearing the prospect of just ‘her’ was slightly world rocking. Angel slowly nodded.
“Angel, I want to leave….” Cordelia paused looking straight at the point in between Angel‘s collar and first tuxedo button. “You can take me home without calling in ALL the guards, right. You can protect me at home. No sign of a stalker, maybe there wasn’t one, can you just take me home now, please.”
Angel looked at the head that some how became buried into his chest and his own arms and hands were doing their best to comfort the body within their immediate dominion and control. Angel gulped, wanting to push the body away.
His sanity hadn’t been the most stable thing…oh hell, be truthful, the visions turn him into a homicidal suicidal lunatic. What comfort could he give this woman?
“Angel,” Cordelia leaned up, her hand back to his face. God, Angel wished she would stop doing that.
“I’ll take you home.” Angel gave in to the eyes that flickered between deep brown and gold and locked into his soul.