Part 14
Angel decided to leave. He wasn’t needed. Cordelia already had the marks. If that were what had to be stopped to prevent the change in history, it wouldn’t happen in this time. He would tell Wesley what he found out.
Angel stilled. One, then the other Angelus had leapt to the ledge of Cordelia’s balcony. He watched and waited. When they went in he would.
Angel’s brow creased as the vampires left one after the other going in the opposite directions. He looked after them then back up to the window. He jumped.
Angel tried to close his eyes to keep out the sight, but it was impossible. He had thought he had seen the beauty of Cordelia Chase but he hadn’t- not even close.
Her face bathed in pleasure, whimpering, giggling, and sighing his name, as the vampire over her thrust into her. His hands roaming her skin with the knowledge of its secrets, pleasure points exploited with gentleness and purpose. Her hands traveling along the broad pale back, pausing to circle the tattoo on the shoulder, descending, her hands meeting to caress over the ass, urging the vampire deeper into the warmth.
Angel stood outside looking in- transfixed at the sensual loving display. It was he and Cordelia joined in pleasure and love. Angel’s memories floated up, transposing the look of ecstasy on the lovely face to one of terror, the hands that stroked and teased became locked in bands against a headboard. The soft laughter and words of love turned into screams. Angel jerked his head away, banishing the images.
Those he never wanted to see again. He glanced back at the couple on the bed. Cordelia’s eyes squeezed tight, the pleasure on her face vibrant, the words of love sighing from her pleasure swollen lips and it was all for Angel. That’s the image he needed to see.
Angel’s hand moved to the handle of the window, opening it slowly, the couple to absorb in each other to notice. He leaned into the slight break, inhaling the combined scents. His and Cordelia’s, intermingling become one. He closed his eyes and breathed it all in, wondering in awe how the coupling could exist, and accepting without guilt that this was the future he wanted-a future without the pain of the past.
Angel clenched his jaw refusing to let the burning in his loins be released as the cries and shouts of completion echoed in the scent and silence of the room.
He leaned his forehead on the glass, closing his eyes living in the scent.
Angel’s brown eyes went back to the couple, not sure how much time had passed. The vampire stood at the dresser, Cordelia stretching, showing her lean and subtle form.
The vampire came back to the bed, pushing her down, exploring the body again. This time with an intense concentration, the girl writhing and gasping, pulling at the vampire, bringing him to the marks on her neck. Involuntarily, Angel’s growl echoed the vampire’s on the bed, his eyes matching in a gold gleam.
The vampire on the bed stopped in his purpose, jerking his head, his golden glare locking on the one staring through the window. The vampire moved, ignoring Cordelia’s sudden whine of surprise and shout as she landed on floor with the vampire and bed between her and the window.
All Angel’s instincts screamed to attack. He forced his emotions down, his demon face receding, making his decision. Angel pushed on the floor length window and entered.
The vampire’s narrowed golden glare scrutinized Angel, pausing sniffing cautiously, and then his own demon guise disappeared.
“Angel?” Cordelia peeked up.
“Down, Cordy,” the vampire pushed at the brown head at his side.
Cordelia’s head popped back up. “But, it’s Angelus 1. Eww, how long as he been out there….sick perv.” She glared at the clothed vampire.
Both vampires turned their stares at the young woman.
“Angelus 1?” The naked vampire raised a brow.
“Sure, look at all the black. I told you he was limited, or maybe it’s just Wolfram & Hart without an imagination or fashion sense. Angelus 2 likes flashy bright silks and leather.” Cordelia appraised the dark vampire at the window. “Not wearing the pants. Angelus 1…wait same my name,” she glared.
“Cordy, he knows your name.” The naked vampire turned in exasperation.
Angel just watched, his passive expression hiding his renewed awe. Didn’t anything faze the young woman?
“Shh, that’s great, Angel, give him a hint.”
“Cordelia.”
Cordy nodded. “Good save. So, evil vampire, what’s my name?” she glared at the dark clothed vampire.
“Cordelia Chase.”
Cordelia leaned back, her face scrunched up in consideration. She shook her head. “That’s a new one, we’ll have to stick to fashion.”
“Cordy, what the hell are you talking about?” The naked vampire demanded.
“Angel, Angelus 1-1898- wears black, limited, that’s why the big ‘wear’ the purple shirt request and he calls me Cordy- well, my Cordy, but icky to that. Angelus 2- 1998- is a little gay in his choice of wardrobe. It’s not necessarily the leather pants; you’ve got a great ass, so they look good, but with his choices of top wear, the combination is just well a biker Lorne.” She shrugged.
“Oh, he calls me Cordelia….or Coordeelllia, in a really obnoxious evil way. See, the way I figure it, Gertie, Pa, all the girls at the Inn called me Cordy, so Angelus did. But, here Angel never thought of me as anything other than Cordelia, or Xander’s girlfriend…so Cordelia. Or the moron’s slut, which by the way I really hated, because it wasn’t true.”
“I did not…”
“Yeah, you did, the first time around.” Cordelia nodded. “It was an off the cuff remark, not even directed to me, but to Buffy. If she hadn’t been so freaked about you popping up all evil in her face, she probably would’ve agreed…well, not about the moron part. Xander was never a moron, just sweetly clueless and goofy- and a cheater, but that didn’t make him necessarily a moron, just hurtful and a guy.”
“He was a moron.” Both vampires said.
“Angel, why isn’t Angelus 1, trying to kill you?”
“Probably too stunned by the nonsense coming from your mouth and STAY down, and put this on,” Angel tossed the sheet over her. Angel shook his head and looked back at the other vampire. “Asking who you are is pretty stupid, so how about what version and why are you are here.”
“Angel, why aren’t you going ‘Grr’,” Cordelia stood wrapping the sheet around her.
“Cordy, I told you….”
“You aren’t ‘grr’ so why should I hide. If he’s not Angelus 1 and I’m still not sure he’s not, look at that horrid expression, all scowly.”
The vampire blinked at the young woman and the finger she waved at him. “Wesley sent me.”
Cordelia wrinkled her brows. “You sure you didn’t mean Wolfram & Hart, easily mixed up, one a law firm, on a man, one evil, one smart and good, both starting with W.”
Angel turned to look again at the young woman matching the other vampire’s stare. “What? What did I say?”
“I have no idea.” The naked vampire shrugged. “Why did Wesley send you and from when.”
“Angel?” Cordelia interrupted.
“Cordy, he has a soul.”
“Oh, oh, you can sense that? How? Are you sure, he looks pretty soulless, no color.” Her eyes widened. “Oh god, you’re not beige again are you. Or, is he your sewer guy? Why would Wesley send Angel B here?”
“Angel B?” Both vampires said.
“Angel A,” she pointed to the naked vampire. “You’re B. I can’t call you Angel. He’s Angel,” she pointed back to the naked vampire. “But then again, if you have a soul, then I guess you are too, so ‘B’.”
Angel A closed his eyes counting to ten. “Go get dressed.” He said with manufactured calm.
“No, I want to find out what Angel B is doing here.”
“I will tell you when I find out and AFTER you get dressed.”
“No.”
“No?” Angel A eyed her.
Cordelia bit her lip. “No,” she said quickly and with a lot less enthusiasm. Angel was getting close to using the no nonsense growl of his. She had to stop him otherwise he’d win. Cordelia opened her mouth.
Angel blocked the oncoming words with a hand. “Cordelia, don’t try, okay.” He picked her up and tossed her in the bathroom, closing the door after her, ignoring her banging. “You were saying,” he said to Angel B.
“God Damn’t Angel, I don’t have anything to change into in here. Let me out.”
“Would you,” Angel nodded indicating that he wanted the vampire to take his place blocking the bathroom door.
Angel B shrugged a little stunned by both of them taking the other vampire’s place against the door.
“Thanks.” Angel went to Cordy’s closet pulling out an armful of clothes and then went to her drawers and gathered some more. Angel stood outside the door. “Okay, when I count to three you can open it but you’ll have to be quick, she’s fast. Ready.” Angel counted throwing the clothes in as soon as the door opened. “Now.” Angel stepped back as the door shut again and the high-pitched curse sounded.
“Get dressed, then I’ll let you out.” Angel shoved her desk chair under the doorknob.
“YOU are so in for it, buster.”
Angel picked up his pants, shoving them on, slumping to the bed grounding his fingers to his temple and holding his stomach.
Angel B stared. “What’s wrong with you?”
“Migraine, ulcers.”
“You can’t get migraines and ulcers.”
“You obviously haven’t lived with Cordy…” Angel’s eyes shot up, standing immediately the imaginary ailments gone. “You haven’t lived with Cordy. Why haven’t you lived with Cordy? Why did Wesley send you here? From what future?” Angel growled.
Angel B finally recognized the vampire. “Wesley found me four years from now, he came with Gunn and then a woman named Fred showed up they told me the last four years of my life shouldn’t have happened. That Cordelia Chase should be with me as my seer, as my lover. I didn’t believe them.”
Angel’s body vibrated in a low growl. “Where was Cordy?”
“Wesley warned me not to tell you, but you’d know if I was lying and you need to trust me, she needs to trust me, so…In my future, Cordelia Chase has been in a coma since 1998.” Angel B watched as his counter part stilled, the rage and fear cementing his body to the floor.
“Angel, I’m dressed now let me out or when we get home, you’re sleeping on the sofa forever.”
Angel B watched as the vampire before him weighed the words, not the threat but the voice and what he had just learned. Angel B wouldn’t have let her out. He didn’t want the other vampire to let her out. He didn’t want her to hear what he had done to her, but it looked like he wouldn’t get a say in it.
Angel walked to the bathroom and opened the door. “No more.”
Cordelia blinked up. It was his no nonsense voice. Something had happened while she had been locked in the bathroom. She looked again at the vampire and nodded her acquiesce.
“Thank you.” He kissed her forehead.
“Cordy, Angel.” Angel hesitated, then shook his head.”Angel B…was just saying that Wesley sent him back because the time line to our present has been changed.”
“I take it since reinforcements arrived that we didn’t win the lottery or you shansued, so…it’s not good.” Cordelia studied the strange vampire with Angel’s face and a soul. “But you still have a soul, so I’m not dead.” She scrunched up at the vampires. “I’m not good though am I and either is he.” She pointed to Angel B. “What happened?”
Angel studied the young woman. “You’re are in a coma, have been since 1998.”
Cordelia frowned. “Why didn’t Angelus just kill me?”
“We don’t …”
“Please, Angel, 1998, coma- what’d you think, I was crossing the street and got hit by a car? Accidents don’t happen in Sunnydale.” Cordelia stared at Angel B.
“You did it. You lost your soul and in 1998 you did it…it couldn’t have been Angelus 1, he knew about the prophecy; he wouldn’t have left me in a coma. What happened…did Buffy interrupt or did you just decide that a coma was better than death, what?”
Angel B’s first reaction was to run, to run as far as possible from her frank stare, but he resisted. She wasn’t accusing him, she was just asking.
“Cordy, it doesn’t matter.” Her Angel pleaded.
Angel B studied the other vampire he didn’t want to know as much as Angel B didn’t want to say. The vampire was afraid that what Cordelia would hear would affect her feelings for him.
Cordelia gazed at the vampire she loved, touching his face tenderly. “You’re right-it doesn’t. I love you. I told you that Angelus would never come between us, I meant it.” She smiled into the vampire’s deep unsure eyes.
“You don’t have any memory of whatever happened so don’t even think about being getting all broody about it. And you,” she walked up to Angel B. “Shouldn’t either, though, I know it pretty useless to tell you to stop. I can’t stop him completely about his time without a soul, but it wasn’t you or it wasn’t who your soul let’s you be. You are good, you are wonderful.” Cordelia stared into the vampire’s eyes.
“Didn’t anyone forgive you, not even Buffy? She forgave Angel for killing Jenny Calendar and torturing Giles, I can’t believe that me in a coma would change that -she loved you. Granted, she didn’t want to accept the whole ‘Angelus is a real part of you’ bit but she did love you. She didn’t turn her back on you before. Oh, god, you didn’t even have Doyle did you? Wesley? You said Wesley sent you here, so you did have him right. Gunn? Fred?” Cordelia pleaded with the vampire to answer her.
Angel B didn’t know what to think except his decision was the correct one. He didn’t want any future without Cordelia Chase it in. She was more than just courage and spirit she was love. His soul ached to claim her surpassing the want of his body.
Angel narrowed his eyes at his alternate twin, gently tugging Cordelia closer to him. The vampire had a soul but Angel didn’t like the way he was staring at Cordelia as if she were the answer to all of his dreams, the cure for whatever caused him pain. Angel understood it, but he didn’t like it.
“Cordy, it doesn’t matter. We have to get out of here.”
“Why?”
“Because I’m here in your bedroom and so his he,” Angel pointed to the other vampire.
“But,” Cordelia started to question, then the realization hit her. “When I invited you in, I invited everybody in didn’t I?”
Angel nodded.
“Oh.” She glanced at the vampire’s naked chest. “Be right back.” she ran.
“Cordy,” Angel took off after her, catching her in the hall. “Cordy?”
“Angel,” she scrunched up her face. “Angel, he scares me.”
Angel B tensed as he heard her words from outside the bedroom. Had she been lying about accepting him? Was he wrong to want and hope?
“I won’t let…”
“No, it’s not that, he’s not an Angelus, it’s just that…Angel, he so sad and alone. I don’t ever want you to be that way. Whatever future he came from can’t happen, promise me. I don’t want you to be alone.”
Angel leaned his forehead against hers. “Wesley sent him to make sure that didn’t happen. Everything will be all right.”
Cordelia nodded and then scrunched up her face again. “How long do you think he was out there? I mean he has a soul right, so he wouldn’t be doing the peepy evil perv thing, would he.”
“I’m sure he just had arrived.”
“At my bedroom window when we were making love?”
“He probably just sensed us in the same place and figured it would be quicker than knocking on the door.”
“Oh. You think?” Cordy paused. “Okay, you should know. I’ll be right back.”
“Cordy, where are you going?”
“You said to get dressed. Well, you Mr. Impatient ruined ‘my’ favorite shirt, so I’ll get you one of my dad’s. Be right back.”
Angel watched Cordy run off. ‘He should know’. Angel was afraid he did know and he was pissed. Pissed that he hadn’t sensed the other vampire’s presence sooner,
Angel didn’t know how long Angel B had been outside watching, but he knew with a surety it was longer than he would ever tell Cordelia. Angel would have to hope that the guilt he sensed in the other vampire outweighed any lingering desire.
Angel B stared out the window as he listened to the low conversation in the hallway. He hadn’t been wrong.
“Why a coma?” Angel entered the bedroom. He needed to understand, and then he could gauge how trustworthy the vampire was- soul or no soul.
Angel B turned away from the window to hold Angel’s hard stare. “Buffy interfered before Cordy could drink. She was on the cusp of death and remained that way. No amount of transfusion helped. The hospital was private and as an added precaution, her room was sealed by a barrier spell. Her parents were dead, so she was the only one that could’ve given me permission, but she wasn’t talking.”
“Her parents?”
“Her mother thought I was Cordelia’s date. She was just grateful it wasn’t Xander, so was her father. Didn’t seem to mind that I was older. He gave me a drink before he died, mom died quickly after that. Cordelia came home shortly afterwards. The whole gang had escorted her safely to the door. They didn’t even figure out that something was wrong until Cordelia didn’t show up in school the next day.
In retrospect, I made some mistakes. I was too arrogant regarding Buffy’s love for the face and the soul. But, finding Cordelia’s headless parents and Cordelia gone had obviously pushed her to the edge where she could no longer hesitate or block out Xander’s demand for her to kill me or Giles’ anger over Jenny Calendar’s recent death.
That’s why Buffy could never forgive me or love me when the soul returned. It was Xander. Giles could distinguish the actions of Angelus from the soul abet reluctantly- Xander couldn’t. So, she chose Xander.”
“But, Buffy didn’t kill you.”
“Not from lack of trying, I just made sure that she didn’t get the chance to win.”
Rage and sorrow surged in Angel’s chest as he heard the other vampire’s matter fact recounting. Angel had no illusions. There were more horrors in between the bare recitation that could be told. His senses searched out, relieved that Cordelia was still safely out of listening range.
Cordelia could forgive Angelus the injury to herself. It was a memory she didn’t have, but Angel wasn’t so sure about the knowledge that Angelus killed her parents could be pushed aside so easily.
Angel closed his eyes and shook his head, willing the need to kill the vampire that had caused that pain away. He had to keep reminding himself that it hadn’t happened yet and that it wouldn’t. And he had to give the vampire credit for being honest.
But, his honesty triggered warning bells through out Angel. That vampire had acted out of the same desire and need that Angelus 1 had. What were the chances that that desire went away after four years of a guilt-ridden soul.
Angel B watched the vampire that was him but not him. The vampire was weighing what he heard deciding whether to trust him. Angel B needed the vampire to trust him.
“The day that Buffy came to the mansion and told me the choice she had made was the last day I saw her. I left Sunnydale. I never thought of Cordy again.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“Would you have? Would you have dreamed of the beautiful brunette that got away once again or would you have dreamed about the broken lifeless body that was hooked up to machines, put there because of your demon’s desire, a desire that destroyed Buffy’s love. Could you think about Cordelia without thinking about the horror’s you committed on her young body or the sadness and finality in Buffy’s eyes.
You’re judging me based on the feelings that you have for Cordelia now, feelings developed without Angelus’ acts to prevent them, with four years of knowing her and her knowing you. I didn’t have that all I have is a fleeting memory of desire and want and an unbearable memory of the atrocities I committed on a young girl and the resulting loss of the only woman I ever loved. You do remember that you loved Buffy, don’t you.”
Angel narrowed his eyes. It sounded good but off somehow, something was still tugging at him warning him. “I also remember the demon’s need and the soul didn’t, doesn’t cure it, or make it go away.”
“Again, you are judging me by what you feel. I don’t understand you. I know why Buffy chose Xander, I understand that as Angelus I broke the final straw of her trust, what I don’t understand is how that when you didn’t you somehow decided that you were no longer in love with Buffy but with Cordelia Chase. What I feel for that girl is spurned by guilt, the desire long buried and dead because of it. I am here only to erase the memory of Buffy’s choice. The future you have I will settle for, if only to get rid of the sound of Buffy’s voice, the tears in her eyes as she told me that our love was destroyed. Cordelia Chase will be safe from Angelus.”
Angel’s response was halted at the rapid heartbeat out side the door. He broke from the vampire’s steady gaze and went to Cordelia.
“Cordy,” his hands went to the young woman standing by the door; her shoulders slumped by truth that just wasn’t true.
“Whatever. Here,” she handed Angel a sweater.
“Cordy,” Angel urged forcing the young woman to look at him. “You know why I love you.”
Cordelia blinked up. “No, Angel, I really don’t. I don’t even know why Angelus wants me. Actually, I think I do know. It was just a bad-fucking comedy of errors. I beamed down in 1898. I had a vision, a big turn on for Angelus, can we say Drusilla, that was just it, but because I escaped, Angelus got his poor old ego bruised. And now all this shit.”
Angel B slid into the shadows. He had played the Buffy card to get the reaction he wanted from the other vampire but he hadn’t realized the effect it would have on Cordelia.
Angel B knew as well as the vampire trying to draw in the tense brunette that Buffy wasn’t a component to be considered in the vampire’s love or desire for Cordelia but obviously the young woman had doubts. Angel B stood immobile but winced inside, he had never wanted to hurt the young woman, but the other vampire had to believe.
In Sunnydale,with a soul, Buffy was the only woman that Angel had loved, the other vampire knew that and knowing that Cordelia hadn’t ever been a part of his life, the other vampire would have to accept Angel B’s truth.
“Cordy, of course you know. You’ve lived the same days, months and years I did. You were there for me, always. We were, are best friends. You know you are the one that made me laugh. You know you are the one that made me go shopping. You know you are the one that made me not kill Paulie, you know you are the one that got be hooked on all Body Works products, you know…”
Cordelia’s finger stopped his continuing list. “Paulo.” She said with a small smile.
Angel raised a brow.
“Not Paulie, but Paulo. And I didn’t do anything you were just too shocked at the idea of highlights and teal leather to kill him or run. For which both Fred and I are grateful because he’s still the best hairdresser around.”
Angel fell into her smile holding her close. “I love you.”
“I know.” She whispered back. “Just a slight flashback of insecurity, must be the room. Now, put the sweater on so we can go. Um, Angel where are we going to go?”
“I have an idea,” Angel sat on the bed to put on his shoes.
“Well, share with the class,” Cordelia placed her hands on her hips.
“First, we need to know why he’s here,” Angel nodded his head at the other vampire.
“He told us -Wesley sent him.”
“Specifically. So,” Angel stood, facing and waiting for the other vampire to answer.
“It’s too late.”
“What do you mean it’s too late?” Angel growled.
“It can’t be.” Cordelia yelped.
“It is. I told Wesley why Angelus noticed Cordelia and I was sent to stop it. But it’s already happened. The marks.” he pointed to Cordelia’s neck. “Wesley said that the 17 year old Cordelia didn’t have the marks, but I saw them on her in 1998. And well,” he pointed again. “When did Angelus mark you, I’ll have to go back and tell Wesley to readjust the spell.”
“Cordy,” Angel swung around to face the young woman.
“Like you didn’t notice, so don’t go all grry,” she held up her hand. “These aren’t from Angelus they came with me same as the visions.” She shrugged. “Don’t know how or why for that matter I don’t know why I’m in my 17 year old body. Where is my body by the way? Wolfram & Hart don’t have it do they. I better still have my eyes.”
“You had a vision?” Angel held on to the young woman’s shoulders peering at her face. “Are you all right? You don’t have the potion.” he brushed at her hair to get an even better look at Cordelia.
“I’m fine. Mom as a well stocked pharmacy in her bathroom.”
Angel pulled the young woman in a hug. “I’m sorry Cordy.”
“Sorry that my mom has pain killers?” She pushed back with a puzzled frown.
“That I wasn’t here that you had a vision and the victim, well…I know how that must of hurt.”
“The victims were saved, well except…well, the one Angelus 1 killed after I saved him.” Cordelia frowned. “Bastard.”
Angel’s hand went immediately to his temple rubbing furiously. “You went to Buffy,” he said with hopeful false hope.
“Of course not. Right, how would’ve I explained that. No, I went. It was only vampires. You should have seen me. I kicked the first like,” she started to demonstrate. Angel blocked her kick holding her leg in the air. “Cordy, you went on a vision, more than one, knowing that Angelus was out there.”
Cordelia hopped up and down trying to free her captured leg. “Don’t be silly, I didn’t know Angelus 1 was here then. I couldn’t let that stupid horny couple die now could I? I kicked.” Cordelia paused in her hopping, glaring a moment at her imprisoned leg. “I hit,” she swung in the air. “And then staked. You would’ve been proud.” She beamed. “Can I have my leg back now?”
“And the second?” Angel bit out, still holding her leg. “Nevermind, I don’t want to know, my head will explode.” He pushed down her leg.
Cordelia rolled her eyes. “Big baby, you don’t get migraines.”
“How do you know?” Angel glared.
“Because you’re a vampire, dumb ass. I asked Wesley, he said it was physiology impossible, no pounding of blood vessels or swelling of the brain cuz you’re dead.” she stuck out her tongue.
Angel growled, getting up. “What else haven’t you told me?”
“Like I had time to tell you anything. You, all me vamp you my woman, dragging me by my hair. Hmmph.”
“I did what? If I recall you were the one that had me slammed up against the door, telling me too shut up a kiss you.”
“Oh, like little old me could push you around Mr. strong ass vampire,” completely ignoring the truth.
Angel B watched, pushed back to the shadows by the intimacy of the loud shouting. It amazed him. The young woman had no hesitancy in being loved by the vampire or yelled at by him. He glanced at his counterpart. There was a freedom in his stance, one allowed by the complete acceptance by Cordelia. It made him hungry for the same liberation.
“You push me around all the time and don’t change the subject.”
“Hmmph.”
“Cordy,” Angel ordered.
“You’re just going to get mad.”
“I already am.”
“Fine. While I was out, I happened by chance to run into Angelus 2, then Angelus 1.”
Angel closed his eyes rubbing at his temples. “And.”
“And, nothing. They were charming as usual but neither bit me. These,” Cordelia laid her hand over the marks.” Are yours, I told you they came with me. Which brings me back to WHERE’S MY BODY? Why am I not in it?”
Angel took a deep breath. “Wolfram & Hart used a spell and the portal to transport your soul- you’re body is safe at the Hyperion.”
“Soulless? Am I evil? I better not be evil.”
“You are in a coma.”
“Another one. Geez, I really hate those Satan toadies.” Cordelia paused, her brow fixed in concentration, her thoughts bringing a smile to her face. “The visions and your marks must come with my soul. Pretty cool, uh.” She nodded with Angel to agree with here.
“Cool?” Both vampires questioned.
“Sure,” she smiled wider to Angel. “You marked my soul. Which is cool and good because nothing’s been changed, once we send Angelus 1 back and then me the marks and soul will go with me. Leaving this body without them until its time for you do it again.”
It was cool. Angel just didn’t think that he should agree that it was cool. When he first marked Cordelia it was at her urging to remove the memory of Angelus. But the times later that he tasted her blood infusing the marks with more of his scent couldn’t be justified by that original reason.
That Cordelia had been willing and accepting each time didn’t change the fact that during those times Angel had been allowing the need of his demon to take advantage of the young woman’s love. It made him feel guilty and undeniably happy.
Angel B couldn’t believe what he was hearing. He had listened to Wesley, Fred and Gunn’s words, their arguments and rationalizations that their vampire with a soul had touched Cordelia in such a manner. But, the concept had been so unbelievable that he hadn’t processed it. He hadn’t been able to imagine any scenario that would’ve allowed his soul to permit his demon to mark any human.
But, that vampire had. Angel B narrowed his eyes at the flashes of the couple on the bed before they were interrupted.
“It wasn’t Angelus. You are the reason.” He glared to Angel. “You just couldn’t resist the urge of the demon to mark that body,” he pointed to Cordelia. “You did it and left her vulnerable to…me. You bastard. It was your fault all of it. You are….”
“Hey,” Cordelia interrupted sharply. “Just stop it.” She stepped closer to her vampire grabbing his hand, her flashing gaze on Angel B. “I get that you’re guilt ridden about what YOU did without a soul and how it destroyed,” she quoted with one hand. “Buffy’s trust, love whatever, but that’s not Angel’s fault. Buffy just couldn’t deal with it. She never could deal with the Angelus’ part of him, just like she couldn’t with you. So, the breakup was more painful than the way it should’ve been, but the break up does happen with or without my marks. You obviously can’t understand why I wanted Angel to mark me and you know what WE don’t care,” she waved her hand between she and Angel.
“Because we do understand. So, just keep your judgments and blame to yourself. You’ve done what Wesley sent you to accomplish and you can just go now.” She turned and placed her hand on Angel’s chest. “And don’t you even think about getting broody or blaming yourself for something that hasn’t happened or for wanting something that I want just as much. Angel, we both know it makes US stronger.”
Angel’s statement died in his throat at Cordy’s determined lecture and angry words to the other vampire. He wouldn’t apologize. She was right. Cordelia’s complete acceptance did strengthen their love, making their bond all encompassing. He slowly nodded.
Angel B stood impassively as Cordelia’s censure towards him turned to a compassionate lecture to the other vampire. “I won’t leave yet.”
“You aren’t needed. I have my Angel.”
Angel B refused to flinch at the young woman’s harsh words. “It’s not just Angelus 1 that your Angel,” he bit out,” will have to deal with- Angelus 2 has seen the marks in the cemetery. They both were here,” he flung his hand to the window. “ And they both will be back.”
“Geez, were tickets being sold?” Cordelia threw up her hands. “Are you the only version that doesn’t have a perv bone in your body.” She glanced at Angel.
Angel B narrowed his eyes at the squirming other vampire wondering how he would lie his way out of Cordelia’s disregard.
Angel took a deep breath. “It’s not perversion. It’s you and wishful thinking on their part. It was their body they saw making love to you.”
“Oh. Still eww.”
Angel nodded, forcing down his anger. God, he had been a fool- too lost in the happiness at finding Cordy of needing her and he had put her in danger. “Come on, I need to get my coat. ”
Cordelia wrinkled her brow. “Where are we going?”
“You are going to Buffy’s until this is over.”
“I’m WHAT? No, I’m not.”
“Yes, you are. Buffy’s revoked my invitation. You will be safe there from either Angelus. Just tell her that you’re scared or something.”
“Tell her….NO WAY.”
“Cordelia, I’m not arguing about this.”
“Well, I am. I’m not going. I’m staying with you.”
“Cordy, the quicker I send Angelus back, the quicker we go home. I need to know that you are somewhere safe.”
“But, Buffy? How about Xander? Or Giles?”
“Buffy’s the slayer.”
“But we don’t want her to go stake happy on any of the Angelus’.”
“Cordelia.”
“Fine,” she huffed. “But I’ll get you and don’t think I won’t remember you locking me in the bathroom either. What about him?”
Angel B stepped up. “Cordelia, I am sorry that I made you angry before. You’re right I don’t understand. But, I do understand that you need to be safe and Angelus 1 returned to his proper time. That’s what I want.”
“Angel,” Cordelia searched her vampire for his decision.
Angel tried to put himself in the other’s place- what would be his reaction if faced with a healthy beautiful Cordelia after what he had done to the teenager. Keep her safe and move heaven and earth to make sure that Angelus never harmed her again. He would want to make that past go away, for Cordelia never to have experienced it.
Doubts about the other vampire aside, Angel was sure about that, his soul and guilt would demand it, even without the sense of responsibility and love that he found with the young woman in the last four years.
“We’ll need another tranquilizer gun. I only brought one.”
“The library. Giles keeps one there for the wolf.”
Angel nodded. “Let’s get you to Buffy’s.”
“Hmmph.” She scrambled through her top drawer.
“Cordy?”
She waved a scarf around then tying around her neck. “She’d freak. Angel, how will I know when it’s over it’s not like you can just knock on the door.”
“Keep a watch, I’ll be the one wearing your dad’s sweater.”
“Okay. Now, remember, you can’t kill them. Angelus 1 wears all black and 2-“
“Biker Lorne.” Angel shook his head. “Cordy, do you really think I looked gay?”
Cordelia rolled her eyes. “Do you really want me to say how sexy Angelus is as long as he keeps his mouth shut?”
Angel paused, thought about it, started to speak, paused again and thought about it. “I’m not sure.”
Cordy shook her head. “Let’s go, my beautiful insecure stupid vampire.” She tucked her arm under his leading out of her bedroom.
