Part 30
Angel paused at the door of the room trying valiantly to shove aside the picture of a flesh colored soccer ball with an annoying, useless ponytail highflying through the bedroom windows. Could Cordelia sit any closer to the Immortal?
“Excuse Me.”
“What do you want?” Cordelia swung her legs off the bed, stomping her feet on the floor, her hands indignantly fisted on her hips.
“I…I owe Duncan an apology.” Angel stood at the doorway, quite proud that he hadn’t grabbed Cordelia off the bed, locked her in the closet, and ripped violent gouges in the Immortal’s flesh before plucking his head off.
Angel wasn’t really a soccer fan but he could see the pleasure of kicking, smacking, and otherwise beating the hell out of the head shaped ball.
“You what?” Cordelia scrambled closer to the vampire. “I don’t believe you.” She cocked a brow.
“Cordy, of course, I realize that I over-reacted, it was the heat of battle.”
“Battle…battle…it was practice, not a battle.” Cordelia huffed, still glaring.
Angel shrugged. “It felt like one, MacLeod is a very skillful opponent. I got carried away that’s all and I’m sorry.” Angel directed the apology to the Immortal that was now standing.
“Hmmph.” Cordelia walked up to the vampire studying him closely. Suddenly she grabbed at the sides of the shirt Angel had put on over his muscle shirt that he had been wearing during the fight. Cordelia jerked the material exposing the tight fit of the white shirt around his waist. She narrowed her hands as she immediately bent over to pull up the legs of his loose pants.
“What are you doing?”
“Checking for sharp pointing things. Don’t think I don’t know where you hide them when you want to be all sneaky.”
“Cordelia,” Angel brushed at the young woman’s still searching hands. “You can’t believe that I intentionally tried to kill your friend, can you?” Angel put on a hurt face and tone.
Angel’s expression became sincere and a little frightened as Cordelia stood back and seemed to seriously consider the question.
“Geez,” She suddenly rolled her eyes. “Of course I don’t, don’t be stupid. But you could’ve killed him.”
“The blow wasn’t that close to his head…but,” Angel held up his hand stopping her next words and the anger that was quickly rebuilding in the young woman. “It was reckless and for that I am sorry.”
Angel wished Cordelia would hurry up and accept it, before he had to choke on another apology to the Immortal. He had to do something. Hiding his grimace, Angel tried again. “Instead of going to Caritas to celebrate my coming home, how about we go as a gesture for thanks to MacLeod and Methos for all they have done to help you and everyone else while I was away.” A stagnant pause descended while Angel waited to add his coup de grace. “I’ll pay.”
Duncan crossed his arms across his chest, impressed that vampire’s nose wasn’t a foot long or that a lightning bolt didn’t fry his ass.
Any anger Cordelia might have had was replaced by shock. “You’ll PAY? For EVERYONE? With MONEY?”
“That’s usually how it’s done, Cordy.”
“I don’t believe…you…money…” Cordelia gaped her mouth opening and closing like a stunned goldfish. “Why?” She managed to sputter.
“Cordelia,” Angel took a chance and placed his hands on Cordelia’s shoulders and tugged her a bit closer.
Cordelia still blinking let herself be moved.
“I know I haven’t been acting very sociably. With Buffy’s death and all the changes with you and everything…I just haven’t…” Angel’s brown eyes sadden as he held Cordelia’s and damn if there wasn’t a hint of a quiver in his voice.
The shock was gone as suddenly as the anger. “Oh, Angel. It will be alright.”
“That’s what I’ve been waiting for you to say every since I got back.” Angel said with true sincerity. “You promise?”
“Of course.” She caressed at Angel’s jaw.
The vampire couldn’t help but lean into the motion of the soft touch.
Duncan began to wonder if he was invisible. He cleared his throat.
Cordelia dropped her hand, immediately. “Angel, didn’t mean…”
Angel gently tugged at the hand that left him. “I can apologize for myself, Cordy.” He smiled softly.
“Right, of course you can.” She leaned up. “I’m so proud of you,” she whispered into his ear. “I better go tell everyone that the plans have changed and back on.” She smiled then narrowed her eyes at the vampire and leaned up again.
“Don’t think that your little puppy dog look got you completely off the hook, buster. I know all your tricks now. You’re still paying and I’m ordering everyone to eat and drink as much as humanly, demonly and immortally as possible.” She tapped her whispered condemnation gently against Angel’s cheek.
Angel tried to look offended, but a smile kept jerking at his lips. “Yes, Cordelia.”
“Hmmph.”
Angel stood and watched the young woman depart. He turned at the sound of Duncan’s clapping hands. “Nice job. Any of it true?”
Angel studied the Immortal any trace of a smile long gone. “Actually, most of it. If I meant to kill you, you’d be dead.”
“Right, a heat of the battle thing.”
“That and a intense dislike of you and what you represent. Cordelia believes you are her friend. Everyone agrees that you’ve been helpful. Fine, great. You’re a good guy. But, you are a potential threat to Cordy and that makes me angry and not all caring about your well-being. I apologized for one reason only- It upset Cordelia. And, to that end, you’ll stay alive and you’re welcome to stay as long as you like.”
Duncan chuckled disparagingly. “Thanks for the invite. I think I will stay for a while longer. After all, I still owe Cordelia dinner in Sunny old San Francisco.”
“Don’t push me, MacLeod.”
“Oh, I’m not worried, Cordy’s got my back, and if you happen to ‘overact’ again in the ‘heat of battle’ she’ll nurse me through. The fact that I’m all healed just doesn’t seem to deflect from her loving concern.
Angel stood motionless and let the Immortal leave with the last word, because Angel knew that if he responded in anyway the Immortal would be dead.
Part 31
“Angel apologized to Duncan?” Wesley had to repeat it again just to be sure he heard Cordelia’s announcement correctly.
“Geez, Wes, how many times do I have to repeat it.”
Wesley thought better of retorting ‘until he believed it’.
Gunn waved his hand to get Cordy’s attention. “The vamp’s paying? And we have free reign to order as much of anything we want? Say that part again.” He nodded at Cordelia’s exasperated repetition. “Cool and pretty damn amazing.” Gunn looked up suddenly worried. “We’re not going have to listen to a running a commentary about how cheap everything was in ‘the day’.”
“Can’t guarantee that.” Cordelia shrugged.
“Damn. Who cares how much hookers cost in the ‘day’. It came up in conversation.” Gunn explained quickly at Cordelia’s sharp glance his way.
“So, you don’t believe Angel did it on purpose, I knew it.” Fred said happily.
“Who said I did?” Cordelia glared around at the other occupants of the room.
“You did.” Fred blinked.
“I did not.” Cordelia answered clearly offended.
“You..”
“Fred.” Wesley cleared his throat.
“But, she did,” Fred looked up at Wesley, then back at Cordelia. “You did.” Fred insisted. “You said that Angel tried to kill Duncan and that you were going to take Angel’s testi…”
“Please, girl, stop, I’m still hurting from that.” Gunn looked pained.
Cordelia cocked her head and patted the young woman on the shoulder. “Don’t be silly, I didn’t say that. Of course, Angel wouldn’t try to kill Duncan. It was an accident.”
“But…”
Wesley cleared his voice again, this time louder. That time Fred listened and didn’t finish her recitation of exactly everything Cordelia had said when she stormed into the lobby with a wounded Duncan.
Cordelia smiled at the young woman’s silence. “Okay, what do we have here?” She turned to the dresses. “Ooh, Fred, this one.” Cordelia picked up a spaghetti strapped knee-length brown cotton dress with tiny black beads designed in intricate pattern on the bodice and dangling black beads along the mid-thigh slits and hem-line.
Fred’s confusion at Cordelia’s seemingly inability to remember all that she had yelled earlier was diverted as Cordy held the dress up to Fred’s slim form. “Are you sure? I kind of like the flowered one.”
Cordelia shook her head. “You are one of the few people that actually looks wonderful in brown and it’s simple with enough ump not to be plain. The flowers are too busy. You’ve got that whole sweet cute prettiness going for you, don’t want it to get lost in a bunch of flowers.” Cordelia scrunched her nose at the floral dress.
“I helped you pick this out? What was I thinking? That’s grandma material.” Cordelia shook her head. “I was still on the Seltrax wasn’t I? I tell you that stuff- thinking back on some of my outfits then- it should’ve come with a warning- don’t go shopping while under the influence. Hmmph.” She tossed the offending dress down.
Fred vowed then that she would never wear flowers again. Fred’s earlier confusion was no longer diverted but completely tossed in ‘the who cares’ bin. Cordelia said she was cute AND pretty AND looked wonderful in brown. Fred nervously looked around at the men, the brown dress still up against her.
“Very lovely,” Wesley said.
“Whoa, momma.” Gunn winked.
“I agree with both.” Methos smiled.
Cordelia smiled, pleased that men actually said the right things to the shy pretty brunette.
Part 32
“Are you done yet?” Cordelia yelled. “It’s not like you can see yourself or anything.” She pounded on the door.
Cordelia jumped back as the connecting door between the bathroom and her room swung open revealing a dripping wet vampire dressed only in towel.
“Can I please finish my shower without you beating and yelling at the door every five minutes.”
Cordelia blinked and stared. Oh My. Cordelia blinked again, trying to get the image of a wet gorgeous vampire out of her head. Which was pretty much impossible since the said vampire was half-naked right in front of her.
Did she know that Angel’s stomach was quite so…and his chest so…damn yummy. Cordelia couldn’t help smile that she found the right adjective. Damn yummy. She had to have known that she patched Angel up before-tons of times. Did she forget? She couldn’t have or…”Hey, did you lose weight?”
This time Angel blinked. “Did I…What?”
“Lose weight, go on a Tibetan fad diet or something, low fat blood?” She pointed to Angel’s flat stomach.
Angel’s eyes jerked to his waist. “You thought I was fat?”
“Well, you’re not now. Hey, hurry up. My hair dryer is in there and so is my make up and you’re dripping water all over.” She pulled at the vampire pushing him around back in the direction of the bathroom.
Oh lord. Cordelia blinked. She did remember the ass, though it was better in a towel, if that was possible. She closed the door on Angel’s mutterings protests about his weight.
Angel stood in the middle of the bathroom, running his hands over his stomach. It was the same. Cordy called him fat. He glared at the door
Cordelia jumped as her hair dryer and makeup pouch flew into the room. “Hey.” She yelled but the door was already slammed shut.
Cordelia thought about it a moment, tightened Angel’s robe picked up the strewn items and barged in the bathroom.
“What?” Angel jerked his head around the shower curtain.
Cordelia ignored him as she plugged in the appliance and placed her makeup back on the shelf.
“I’m in the shower.”
“Yes, you are.” Cordelia gave an appraising glance up and down the vampire.
Angel followed the gaze. Nope. The shower curtain was opaque. What was she looking at? “Get out.”
“No, I have to get ready and the light is better in here. Geez, don’t be such a baby. I would’ve thought vampires weren’t the modest type. Anyway, I can’t see anything.”
“Not so much modest but privacy.”
“It was your idea to share a bathroom. I’m sharing.”
“This is my time.”
“My time? Geez, Angel your time for what? What exactly are you doing in there?”
“Cordelia, get out.”
“I can’t hear you.” She flipped the switch on her hair dryer.
What had he been doing? He had been trying to enjoy his shower and maintain the image of the wet naked Cordelia that popped in his head as soon as he had heard her turn the water on for her shower. But the infuriating girl wasn’t letting him enjoy his fantasy. Hey, had Angel heard a tad bit of disappointment when she said she couldn’t see anything.
Angel peeked out at the young woman. That was interesting. Angel’s head turned as he leaned further and further downward trying to see into the gape of the robe that Cordelia’s bent over body created as she dried her hair upside down.
“Shit.” Angel yelled as he fell, his hand ripping the shower curtain tumbling in an undignified heap out of the bathtub.
“What the?” Cordelia dropped her hairdryer. Giggles, then laughter erupted from the young woman as Angel tried to untangle his limbs from the wrapped around plastic and get to his feet.
“Hey, Grace that was amazing.” Cordelia brought her hand to her mouth to stop her laugher.
“Shut up.” Angel struggled with the curtain.
“Here.” she giggled, leaning down to help.
Angel glared up at the young woman. Cordelia was too busy trying to stifle her giggles to notice when the vampire’s expression turned from embarrassed anger to contemplation. If she had she would’ve never reached out her hand.
In an instant, Cordelia was on her back in the bathtub, soaked wet by the shower’s steady stream.
She sputtered and yelled. “You could’ve killed me. What if I had hit my head?”
“Immortal, duh?” Angel smiled evilly.
“I…”
“Shut up, Cordy. Like I would’ve let you get hurt.” He tugged a bit.
Cordelia looked down, noticing Angle’s strong arm holding her and cushioning her body against the porcelain.
“Hmmph.” She pushed at his arm, “Let me up.”
Angel leaned and gently removed his arm.
“Thank you.” She spit out as she gave off a lethal glare.
In response, Angel pushed her back down under the spray of water. “That’s for calling me fat.”
“I didn’t call…” She struggled to get up as Angel pushed her down again. “That’s for interrupting my shower.”
“I…” She tried again.
“And that’s for laughing at me.” He pushed one more time. “I’m done.” He stood up turning off the shower and holding out his hand.
Cordelia looked suspiciously at the offering for a long moment before grabbing at the hand. “I’m all wet again.” She whined.
“Yes, you are.” Angel admired his handy work. The sopping robe clung to Cordelia’s every lovely curve and the gap had now opened wide to become a vision of two enticing plump breasts. Enough. Angel couldn’t look anymore or he’d have to take another shower, this time cold. Angel quickly pulled a towel off the rack and wrapped it around Cordelia covering her exposed chest.
“Hmmph. Don’t expect another thank you.” She glared then squeezed her eyes closed, yanking the towel from around her shoulders. “You’re naked,” she squeaked throwing him the covering. The protection of the shower curtain had been disposed of in a torn heap at the vampire’s feet.
Angel caught the towel. “I was taking a shower, Cordelia, not real effective if wearing clothes. And I think you need this more than I do.” He offered the towel back to her.
“I’m not naked,” she said looking down at where Angel’s gaze had fastened. “Eek.” She clutched at the wet robe pulling the sides tightly together. “You get out and stay out until I’m done.” She raised her head in mustered dignity.
“Hurry up, don’t want to be late.” Angel walked out of the room, the towel dragging behind him.
Cordelia just watched as Angel left. Okay. Deep breath. The towel-less view was a much better view than the toweled. Learn something new every day, vampires DIDN’T have any modesty and wow it was confirmed- every part of Angel was gorgeous.
Part 33
“You look lovely, Fred.” Wesley came up to the young woman.
Fred nodded distractedly.
“Fred?”
She bit her lip. “I heard yelling and a crash.” She indicated the close doors to Angel and Cordy’s rooms. “You don’t think they’re fighting again do you. We’re still going out, aren’t we?”
“Fred, we’ll go even if they don’t. Okay?”
“It won’t be the same.” She said worriedly.
“Come on,” Wesley led the girl to Angel’s door and knocked.
“Yeah, oh, hi.” Angel glanced up once and returned to buttoning up his shirt. “I’ll be ready in a minute. Cordelia hogged the bathroom.”
“Oh, then no fighting.”
Angel glanced back up, puzzled. “You wanted to fight?” He looked questioningly at Fred and Wesley. “You’re kind of dressed up for that.”
“Not us, you, and Cordelia.” Wesley sighed.
“We’re going out, no time to practice.”
“Angel, Fred heard yelling and sounds of destruction.” Wesley wondered at the denseness of the vampire sometimes.
“Cordy was hogging the bathroom,” Angel repeated.
“Oh, well, that explains it. Come on Fred, let’s let Angel finish dressing.” Wesley shook his head. What in the world was he going to with his two closest friends?
“Be down in a minute.” Angel shut the door.
***
“Angel.” Cordelia’s voice floated into his room.
A small smile settled over Angel’s countenance as he heard her footsteps accompany the sound. It hadn’t been that long; there was a good chance that Cordy was still in his robe. He liked that robe. It refused to stay tied.
“Angel.”
Angel’s first reaction was disappointment then silent appreciation. Cordelia was dressed in form fitting low cut butter leather pants with a white draped t-shirt that hugged her amazing chest and danced above her belly button. Her hair had been quickly dried, leaving the ends to curl in waves around her face and shoulders.
Angel refused to let his jaw drop. “Yes.”
“I can’t find my lipstick.”
“Cordy, there is a least fifty little tubes cluttering up the bathroom.”
“Pfft. Here we go, Mr. Exaggeration spouts off. I need my ‘toasted almond ’ it goes with the outfit. The last time I wore it I was sleeping in here.” Her eyes darted quickly over Angel’s dresser as her hands pushed and shoved at his neatly lined items.
“Pfft, 50 lipsticks, more like 50 hair products.” She knocked over a bottle of hair gel.
“Hey, be careful.” Angel quickly righted his gel. “I’ve only,” he scanned the shoved aside products. “Three.”
“Four.”
Angel grabbed the tube from her hand. “That doesn’t count. I don’t like it.”
“Hmmph. Girlie girl,” she mumbled under her breath. “Ahh.” She triumphantly held up a gold tube. Cordelia placed herself in front of the mirror and proceeded with great precision to color her lips a golden bronze.
For the first time since he reclaimed his room, Angel saw the benefit of the new mirror. He could watch unobserved the delicate operation. Each stroke of the colored waxy stuff brought Cordelia’s lips into immediate focus. Soft, full and so sweet. Angel wetted his own as she popped hers.
He was so intent on the picture in the mirror that he had to jump back as Cordelia twirled around.
“See,” she smiled. She frowned popping her lips again. Cordelia grabbed at Angel’s arm planting a kiss on the exposed skin of his wrist. She smiled again as a perfect lip print was left.
“Cordy?” Angel blinked at the woman and the mark on his arm.
“Too much, gets the excess off can’t leave lip prints on everything can I? That’s just tacky.”
“Oh.” Angel wetted his lips again.
Cordy stepped back, her finger to her jaw. “I like.” She fingered the purple silk shirt Angel was wearing.
“You bought it”
“I’ve great taste.” She nodded and searched the dresser again. She dove into the second drawer. “Planning to leave this behind? Don’t think so.” She held his wallet out. “A deal’s a deal.”
Angel grabbed the wallet in lieu of the woman standing before him, shoving the billfold in his pocket. Good lord, it had been a joke but she could really smell cash.
“Ready,” Cordelia said as she finished buttoning Angel’s shirt, leaving a respectable few unbuttoned at the top.
Angel looked at the nimble fingers wishing that they were going down rather than up. “Yeah.”
“Good.” She smiled. “Let’s go party,” she tugged at the vampire’s hand.
Damn. Angel let her pull him along as he watched a sun tattoo dance in front of him. This view was as good as the front.
Part 34
“What’s taking her so long?” Fred whined.
“The gallon of make up she has to put on.” Cordelia rolled her eyes.
“Can’t we just leave her? She knows where we’re going.” Fred tapped her foot.
“I’m with you sister.” Cordelia glanced again at the stairs. “I know lets change the plans and just go, serves her right for making us wait.”
“Cordelia” Wesley chastised.
The brunette rolled her eyes and turned to Fred. “That dress looks better than I thought. You look great.” She beamed.
Fred plucked at the cotton and leaned in closer to Cordelia. “Everyone said so, even Angel. Thank you, Cordy.”
“No problem,” Cordelia smiled. She’d have to remember to praise Angel for remembering her last order. The vampire could be so clueless. Geez, he hadn’t said anything about Cordelia’s outfit. But, Cordy wasn’t going to let him get all-oblivious with Fred. She did look pretty and deserved to be told.
“Cordelia.”
Cordy turned towards Duncan.
“Haven’t you forgotten something?”
Angel swiveled at the Immortal’s question.
“No.” She pointed to the couch.
“Good.” Duncan went to pick up a tailored yellow overcoat. “Here.” He held it up for her to put on.
“Thanks.” She smiled.
“And.” He held out her sword.
“I didn’t forget.” She huffed and in a flash the weapon vanished behind her back hidden in the confines of the coat.
Angel blinked and stepped forward. He glanced questioningly at his friends but none of them seemed to question Duncan or Cordy’s actions. He looked around finally noticing Methos dark heavy cotton jacket and Duncan’s leather duster and realizing what the coats must conceal. “Lorne doesn’t like weapons in Caritas.”
“Made an exception for Cordy and gang,” Gunn looked up from his handheld game. “Immortals aren’t bound by the ‘no violence’ spell, had to be sure Cordy wasn’t weaponless if she got challenged. He just made them promise to take it outside.”
Cordelia turned sensing Angel’s growl rather than hearing it, “Just a precaution, so far no problem, and it’s not like you don’t have stakes and sharp things hidden on you.”
“Cordelia.” Angel ignored the press of his ankle holster equipped with a knife and the slight weight of the stakes conveniently tucked in the inside of his leather jacket.
“Can’t leave home without it,” Cordelia shrugged. “But at least it doesn’t ruin the line of my jacket, though wearing a jacket all the time can be a pain, especially in California. Can we say way hot? The days of cute little numbers are gone. Nope, always to be covered up by a coat.” She tugged at her overcoat.
Angel’s next words were cut off by a squealed yell, which was fortunate because Angel wasn’t at all sure that he could trust what would’ve come out of his mouth. There was just something so wrong with Cordy having to carry a weapon with her for the rest of her life.
Cordelia never backed away from a fight when the helpless or a friend needed to be saved but violence wasn’t in her nature. The death symbolized by the sword was in direct contrast to the joy and love of life that was inherent to her being. Angel wanted it gone. He wanted none of that darkness to ever touch his Cordelia.
“Would you look at that,” Cordelia rolled her eyes in disgust at the blonde woman that had squealed that she was finally ready.
Fred blinked up at the bouncing Gabriel her ample attributes barely contained in the short tight red leather dress and then back down at her own small chest. “Cordy?” Fred whispered.
Cordelia jerked her head. “Fred, look at her. She should be welcoming the soldiers home rather than going to your neighborhood demon karaoke bar. You look wonderful. She looks like trash. Why doesn’t she just spread her legs at Angel, why the ‘dress up’ charade. Hmmph. Hasn’t she even heard of the curse?”
Fred didn’t know much about human social dynamics, a lot of that particular knowledge had been lost in Pylea, but she did know this. “Um, Cordy, Angel hasn’t stopped staring at you. I don’t even think he sees her.”
Cordy turned. Sure enough, the vampire’s dark eyes were glued on her. Cordelia sighed. It wasn’t a dark gaze of appreciation. She walked over and laid a hand on Angel’s chest. “Stop. I don’t want to face a challenge but I do have to prepared.”
“Cordy,”
Cordelia blinked at the emotion vibrating in Angel’s one word. “Angel…I…”
Angel covered the smaller hand on his chest leaning down to rest his forehead against her. “I don’t want to lose you. I don’t want you ever to be challenged. I don’t want you to ever have to wear that sword so efficiently. I don’t…”
Cordelia leaned back lifting her hand gently against the vampire’s lips stopping his words. “No choice, not really. But, won’t go looking for it believe me. But, I promised to stay with you and I can’t break that promise by being careless. I need my sword; I need you to train me. Killing Duncan wouldn’t have made it go away, Angel. There is nothing you can do to fix this, so stop trying. I need you to accept it.” She said softly.
Angel pulled her back as she attempted to move away. “You didn’t believe me.”
“I did-do believe you. But, Angel, I also know you. I know that you didn’t give a damn that your ‘practice’ stroke could’ve beheaded Duncan. Angel, you can’t. He is my friend. It’s not his fault that I’m Immortal. He’s just trying to help that’s all.”
At that moment, all Angel wanted to do was to kiss the young woman, lay claim on her, and be done with it, but his intentions were jerked away by another squeal and another small hand pulling at his jacket. Irritated, Angel looked around. He lurched back as a blonde made up face sprung up close to his. “I’m ready.”
“Good.” Angel jerked a couple of steps back. The blonde followed.
Cordelia crossed her arms and glared.
Angel shot a frantic look towards the brunette.
Cordelia rolled her eyes. She walked up and yanked the blonde from climbing up on the vampire. “If you’re finally ready, then its time to go. And for your information, Doyle, me, never tried to bond with Angel by humping his leg in the middle of a crowded room.”
Wesley stifled his snort of laughter. After all, he did feel sorry for Gabriel- she tried so hard to fit in.
Gunn didn’t even bother. He didn’t know the Doyle character but the image was just too funny not to laugh at.
Fred blinked and started to giggle. She grew up on a ranch. She knew what Cordy meant.
Methos leaned over to Duncan a small smile teetering on his lips. “This is going to be an interesting evening.”
Duncan frowned. He was beginning to realize that the past few months had been unreal. Then, Cordelia’s attention had been on him. But, two days later at the vampire’s return, Duncan had to be injured or force himself into Cordelia’s ‘Angel only’ sphere to be noticed. “She loves him.”
Methos held his sigh. “Yes.”
“Does she even know it?”
Methos shrugged. “From what I could gather, he doesn’t either.”
Duncan gave a long hard look at his friend.
Methos expanded his answer. “Well, from what I could gather from Wesley’s allusions, Angel’s instant attentions have been a bit more blatant than in the past, but previously Angel had been as universally blind as Cordy.
Actions galore, but no idea why they both were ready and willing to sacrifice anything and everything for each other. It seems that your presence may have helped trigger Angel’s comprehension which is probably the basis for his desire to kill you.”
Duncan stood silent for a brief moment. “I don’t trust him.” He finally said.
“Mac is that because you don’t want to or do you have a specific reason other than he’s a vampire.”
Duncan shot a look at his friend. “Do you really think a vampire could make her happy, an eternity without sun.”
“She already made that decision when she was mortal.”
“Yeah,” Duncan sighed.
Methos turned suddenly. “You fell in love?”
“I could’ve. After I killed Ritchie, I got so tired of living. She…Cordelia reminds me why I love life- joys, pitfalls, and all. She’s so exuberant, strong, fun and caring.”
“In a great body.”
Duncan shot another hard look at his friend and then softened. “That too.”
“All of what she projects is still true. Life is worth living. Friends, not lovers are the best reminder of that fact. Lovers have a more frequent tendency to come and go.” Methos commented lowly. “What are you going to do?”
“You say that my presence got Angel to acknowledge his feelings. And, you agree that she loves him.”
“It helped from what I have observed and yeah, blind but yeah, she loves him.” Methos said cautiously.
“Well, by the end of the night, if he doesn’t fully realize it, then it’s his loss.” Duncan moved forward leaving his friend behind. “Cordy,” the Immortal slid up to the young woman. “We can’t all fit in one car. I’ll drive,” taking her by the hand leading her way from the vampire and the blonde seer.”
“I’ll go with you.” Gabriel jumped up excitedly to Angel.
Angel blinked but Cordy was being escorted out of the hotel by MacLeod. Did the Immortal really want to die?
