{"id":1710,"date":"2015-06-25T07:40:36","date_gmt":"2015-06-25T06:40:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/?p=1710"},"modified":"2015-06-25T07:46:29","modified_gmt":"2015-06-25T06:46:29","slug":"night-moves-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/2015\/06\/25\/night-moves-1\/","title":{"rendered":"Night Moves. 1"},"content":{"rendered":"

Title: Night Moves<\/b>
\nAuthor: <\/b>CydneStorm<\/strong>
\nPosted: <\/b>1\/2\/2006
\n<\/a>Email<\/b><\/a>
\nRating: <\/b>N-17
\nCategory: <\/b>Full of Angst. A little Blood and Gore. A lot of Sexual Tension and Situations
\nContent: <\/b>C\/A
\nSummary: <\/b>A Darkness Within<\/b> fic. A blending and twisting of \u2018Hero\u2019 and \u2018Somnambulist\u2019 with Wesley arriving shortly after Angel\u2019s old friend Penn begins to play.
\nSpoilers: <\/b>Season 1
\nDisclaimer: <\/b>The characters in the Angelverse were created by Joss Whedon & David Greenwalt. No infringement is intended, no profit is made.
\nDistribution: <\/b>DW\/TIO <\/del>GTCA. anyone else please ask first
\nNotes: <\/b>
\nThanks\/Dedication:<\/b>Written for Darkness Within.<\/strong>
\nFeedback:<\/b>Yes please<\/p>\n

\n

Part 1<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll get a case.\u201d Except for a furrowed brow, Angel\u2019s expression was almost blank as he peered at the door. \u201cThings always work out; you know that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Less than surprised to find Cordelia in his bathroom when he returned, Angel looked around the small apartment. His usual confusion setting in when he didn\u2019t find the expected selection of rented movies. That\u2019s how it had happened last month. Cordelia had shown up at his door, videos in hand, eyes lost in hopes of not spending the night alone with painful memories.<\/p>\n

It had been exactly two months since they\u2019d lost Doyle and Cordelia had received his special gift. So Angel had assumed Cordelia would be waiting, videos laid out for him to pick their first movie; but maybe he\u2019d assumed wrong. For the past couple of weeks she had complained practically non-stop about their lack of paying clients, suggesting that The Powers might cut her some slack if he was busy working on a case.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf there\u2019s one thing I\u2019ve learned from the acting business it\u2019s that you can\u2019t wait for opportunity to come to you.\u201d Cordelia yelled back from her side of the door. \u201cSo get your butt out there and find us a paying client. One of us has rent due.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have to pay rent on the office too.\u201d He countered, not sure why it sounded like an acceptable comeback in his head.<\/p>\n

\u201cYea but office rent gives you a place to live. What about me?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf things get too tight\u2026\u201d The thought drifted to memories of another time Cordelia had lived with him. It had not worked well for either of them. Cordelia\u2019s lack of respect for others\u2019 personal space the least of his uncomfortable difficulties with their brief arrangement.<\/p>\n

Angel caught the scent of her perfume, its taste lingering in his throat. Odd, he mused; Cordelia normally saved the expensive fragrance for the occasional date. Dates she rarely bothered with anymore.<\/p>\n

His bathroom door opened, the view greeting him not the expected sweats and t-shirt. Her hair was swept up in a loose bunch of curls leaving soft shoulders and a flawless neck exposed. Dark eyes were drawn to full lips enhanced by deep crimson gloss before traveling down her body. The black dress clung to curving peaks and valleys while two narrow straps pretended to hold it in place. Barely more than a slip, Angel mentally noted as he continued the slow trail of slender legs until stopping at black, shiny pumps.<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought we were watching movies tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou maybe; but I intend to steal into the night with an incredibly handsome, and wealthy prince.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou have a date?\u201d He voice blew a gravelly rasp. His throat unusually dry, it tightened against his attempts to swallow.<\/p>\n

\u201cMakes your life seem a tad drab, doesn\u2019t it?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCordelia, money can\u2019t buy happiness.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSays the man that doesn\u2019t have any.\u201d<\/p>\n

Biting hard into her tongue, she pushed back the surge of guilt as hurt washed over Angel\u2019s face. Cordelia didn\u2019t want to hurt him, and she didn\u2019t want to leave him; but she had fled her past in search of a better life, and was determined this wasn\u2019t it.<\/p>\n

In his desperation to preserve the visions, Doyle had made a mistake. Cordelia Chase wasn\u2019t meant to be vision girl, and she certainly wasn\u2019t Buffy Summers. She didn\u2019t intend to fight evil and love a vampire. Once she was gone The Powers would send a new seer. Angel didn\u2019t need her, he only needed a source for the visions.<\/p>\n

Relieved to hear the faint knock on the outer door, Cordelia released an audible sigh. \u201cIf I\u2019m not here in the morning, start without me.\u201d She murmured before scurrying up the stairs, refusing to notice the heavy boots grazing the back of her heels.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou look amazing.\u201d The young man offered too eagerly.<\/p>\n

Cordelia flashed a brilliant smile, ignoring his over executed adulation. \u201cDo I?\u201d She innocently feigned her surprise, and glancing back at Angel offered a quick, \u201clet\u2019s go.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s your hurry Cordelia? You didn\u2019t even introduce me to your friend.\u201d Angel interjected, halting their swift departure.<\/p>\n

\u201cFine! Angel\u2026Pierce. Pierce\u2026Angel. Happy now? Goodnight.\u201d Cordelia grabbed her date\u2019s arm, literally tugging him toward the door.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou work, Pierce?\u201d Angel casually enquired, hiking his thigh up to rest on the edge of Cordelia\u2019s desk.<\/p>\n

\u201cI trade, futures and options market.\u201d His smug expression evidence of his assumed superiority.<\/p>\n

\u201cHard to find a good restaurant on short notice, reservations I hope.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLe Petite Renard.\u201d Pierce answered almost mechanically, leaning down to whisper at Cordelia\u2019s ear. \u201cIs this your employer or brother?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLe Petite Renard, nice place. I hear the duck is a bit dry.\u201d Angel droned, and setting aside plans to correct any misconception of his and Cordelia\u2019s relationship, quickly committed the location to memory. \u201cCordelia, how late will you be?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLet me see.\u201d She feigned contemplation, brightly polished nails tapping against her chin. \u201cOh, I know; don\u2019t wait up.\u201d<\/p>\n

Again Cordelia snatched her date\u2019s arm, and ignoring his protests sprinted to the door as fast as her four inch heels would cooperate.<\/p>\n

Angel stood alone in the quiet office. He had planned to spend the evening with Cordelia, sharing their grief over a fallen friend. He couldn\u2019t remember ever doing that. Willingly sharing his brooding time with anyone, and actually looking forward to it.<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

He tossed the book onto his desk. Reading and solitude just wasn\u2019t doing it for him tonight. Perhaps tonight required something more acroamatic. A little Aristotle would fulfill that order, but Angel doubted he commanded that level of patient at the moment. Maybe a Greek tragedy was what his night needed. His life felt pretty much like a tragedy.<\/p>\n

Angel smelled Cordelia before he heard the clickety-clack of her heels. The expensive fragrance, her unique scent, but it was the fresh aroma of salty moisture that caught his attention.<\/p>\n

Cordelia was wrapped inside Angel\u2019s arms instantly. She was safe, and if a few minutes of honesty could be managed, it was where she wanted to be. Her body fit perfectly inside his; pressed against the contours of his chest, soft and hard melted into a seamless union.<\/p>\n

She could stay here forever, wrapped inside the haven of Angel\u2019s body; but then her fate would be sealed. Cordelia Chase would fight evil and love a vampire. The choice was too easy, too simple. Proof it had to be the wrong choice.<\/p>\n

\u201cMen are spineless pigs!\u201d She hissed, pushing Angel away.<\/p>\n

Her hair fell from the gold clamp, flowing down her back; her dress was dirty and torn. Pierce would die, but first, Angel needed details then he could decide how long the young man\u2019s death would last.<\/p>\n

\u201cCordelia, what happened? Did he hurt you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat happened! What does it look like? I was attacked by one of your relatives…and my handsome prince ran off, screaming like a girl.\u201d<\/p>\n

Little had changed, her attacker would die after a sufficient amount of suffering. However, Cordelia\u2019s trauma held one small morsel of good. It proved Angel\u2019s point. She need him just as much as he needed her.<\/p>\n

\u201cLooks and money don\u2019t guarantee a man can protect you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell excuse me for forgetting to ask if he had a spine. Silly me, I thought it was enough that he could keep me in little blue boxes for the rest of my life.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBlue boxes?\u201d<\/p>\n

Cordelia slumped into a chair, her hands sliding up and down the length of her legs.<\/p>\n

\u201cTiffany\u2019s. God, keep up! I listened to that wimp gab all through dinner about pigs and beans, and fractions…and things spreading.\u201d<\/p>\n

Angel needed a distraction. Cordelia was talking about things spreading. He needed to concentrate on her needs, which would keep wandering thoughts off his needs.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo if Mr. Money Bag bailed, how did you escape the vampire?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTook him out with my ever fashionable and multi-tasking Louis Vuittons.\u201d Cordelia lifted her leg out and up, pointing the unsuspecting weapon in Angel\u2019s face. \u201cThey\u2019re left over from my days of financial status. Back then six hundred and eighty dollars was a steal.\u201d<\/p>\n

Eyes turning dark, they faded into the shadows. From his new vantage point it was safe for wandering eyes to roll up the length of presented flesh, from the deadly tip of her four inch stiletto to the even deadlier juncture of her thighs. His jaw clinched, his misbehaving groin twitching under the burden of self control.<\/p>\n

Her leg quivered against the pull of gravity, and control momentarily in place, Angel wrapped his fingers around her ankle guiding the warm limb back to the floor.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve seen enough.\u201d<\/p>\n

Angel had come to LA to avoid these situations, but this wasn\u2019t avoiding. This was making avoidance harder to endure. Only when the face remained a stranger after the clothes went back on would the few people that mattered remain safe. Lust would be sated in a dingy back room with bodies skilled but uncaring, or not at all.<\/p>\n

\u201cCome on. I\u2019ll drop you off on the way.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOn the way to what?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI have something to take care of.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCan\u2019t I go?\u201d Cordelia asked, innocently unaware of the forbidden thoughts concentrated on her.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo.\u201d His voice was gruff. Even if he could explain, Cordelia wouldn\u2019t like the explanation. \u201cTrust me, you don\u2019t want to know.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, gonna be messy huh?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWith any luck.\u201d<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

Her night had been a disaster. Pierce being a boring and spineless jellyfish only a small piece of the disaster overwhelming Cordelia\u2019s life. Suddenly rich and handsome weren\u2019t enough; she needed brave and interesting; and God forbid, substance. This was Angel and Doyle\u2019s fault, and they weren\u2019t getting away with it.<\/p>\n

A new rule was in place; one she refused to break even for Angel. Cordelia had braved that uncharted path with Xander Harris, and would rather die than tackle another fixer-upper. Angel wasn\u2019t a total loss, he did have hidden depths; but he loved Buffy. At least he did, and whether that was still true or not didn\u2019t matter. A fixer-upper with a broken heart was too much to take on, even for Cordelia Chase.<\/p>\n

She needed a good night\u2019s sleep. Too many serious thoughts made a girl\u2026well too serious. Tomorrow, when the sun was shining, everything would fall into place. And just as likely, Cordelia mused, the IRS would give back her inheritance.<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

His night had gone from bad to worse. First Cordelia had ditched him for a loser simply because he had money and status. Then she had run into his arms long enough to arouse those pesky yearnings that were getting harder to suppress.<\/p>\n

Even his secret place had been a disappointment. The one that didn\u2019t mind appeasing the needs of a vampire with a soul. And if the bodies of strangers lost their appeal, where did that leave him? With pent-up frustrations and hungry for more than warm, fresh blood, that\u2019s where.<\/p>\n

Angel\u2019s immediate problem was far worse than his fading attraction to a brothel. Cordelia would be returning in a few hours, oblivious to what might be waiting for her if he didn\u2019t get a handle on his emotions.<\/p>\n

Sleep was out of the question. Sleep led to dreams, and lately dreams led him to the joys of killing. Even if it was only his subconscious, Angel couldn\u2019t risk getting comfortable with the familiarity of his bloody past. The sun would be up soon, and control was always easier in the light of day. Yea right, Angel mused, and the Gypsies will tell me my soul is mine free and clear.<\/p>\n

To say things had been tense the past week would be an understatement. Cordelia and Angel were being civil, and Cordelia hated forced politeness. Better to just say what\u2019s on your mind and hurt feelings be damned. Civil was not how she and Angel worked. She talked, Angel ignored, they bickered then took care of each other. Their system worked for them…until lately.<\/p>\n

The one bright spot in her dismal world? Kate Lockley had come by this morning with colorful snapshots of dead people. The work of LA\u2019s newest serial killer. And Angel being, well Angel, had rushed to help the blonde detective slash damsel in distress.<\/p>\n

Like all bright spots did, Cordelia\u2019s had a downside; and being a lucky girl, hers had two. Angel had gruffly announced, in front of Kate no less, her job was answering phones and filing not working cases.<\/p>\n

Being left behind wasn\u2019t Cordelia\u2019s quandary. That small development could easily become personalized alone time. No, her wrath was directed at Angel\u2019s easy acceptance that they wouldn\u2019t be paid for their services.<\/p>\n

Concentration on her paperwork didn\u2019t take long since she didn\u2019t have any. More time for me, Cordelia reasoned, her eyes traveling to the open doorway of Angel\u2019s office for the umpteenth time. Kate\u2019s file was in there. The one with notes and obviously grotesque pictures Angel refused to let her see.<\/p>\n

Angel didn\u2019t lock them away and he knew her to be snoop; so it stood to reason he expected her to sneak a peak behind his back.<\/p>\n

Bracing herself for a horror show, the pictures were almost a let down. Not at all what she had expected. The victims hadn\u2019t been mutilated; so why was Angel so insistent that she not see the them? All the victims were young, and female. The oldest looking to be in her mid twenties at best.<\/p>\n

However that wasn\u2019t the common factor that drew Cordelia\u2019s undivided attention. Each victim\u2019s cheek had been slashed. Two carefully placed cuts intersecting in the middle to form a perfect cross.<\/p>\n

Ewe, creepy.<\/i><\/p>\n

Cordelia shivered then considered she may be looking at the pictures from the wrong angle. Maybe it was an X instead of a cross. Maybe the psycho wasn\u2019t flamboyant after all, he was just crossing them off his list.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhatcha doin,\u201d husked over her hunched shoulder and was quickly met with a blood-curdling scream.<\/p>\n

Lost in her exploration, Cordelia had failed to catch the squeak of their door\u2019s rusty hinges.<\/p>\n

\u201cDamn it Angel! You almost gave me a heart attack.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cUnless you have a good reason to be sneaking around my office, it\u2019s not your heart that\u2019s about to feel my anger.\u201d<\/p>\n

Huh? Was Angel threatening her, and with what?<\/i><\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re the detective, you figure it out. Gees Angel, what\u2019s with you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re my problem Cordelia. You don\u2019t listen.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell whoop-de-do. I never listen. What\u2019s the big deal about this time? The pictures weren\u2019t even all that gross.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cordelia was walking, walking and talking her way to the door. Whatever was going on, Angel was a loose cannon and she didn\u2019t intend to be standing in the line of fire when he went off.<\/p>\n

Somewhere between her spluttered admission and foolish dash, her wrist became trapped inside a large hand. This assumption was based on the two fists pressed against her back; the small one was obviously hers which meant the larger one wasn\u2019t.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou need to learn there\u2019s consequences to not doing what you\u2019re told.\u201d<\/p>\n

His breath was hot, and his voice carried the hint of a threat. This wasn\u2019t her Angel. Cordelia wasn\u2019t surprised she had irritated Angel. That was an everyday occurrence for them, but Angel had never touched her in anger\u2026until now.<\/p>\n

\u201cIs there a problem here?\u201d<\/p>\n

If not for the fists still digging into her back, the familiar voice might have held more promise. But regardless of her current situation, Cordelia could feel relief meshing with the nervous tingles fluttering up her spine.<\/p>\n

Loosening his grip, the hand holding her wrist fanned out before returning to the small of her back. It was a small concession on Angel\u2019s part, hardly the encouragement Cordelia was hoping for.<\/p>\n

The detective\u2019s arrival was an invasion of privacy. One that Angel wasn\u2019t prepared to forgive. A distant voice, quiet but crystal clear whispered its deadly notion. Kate would be pretty with a small but permanent decoration on her left cheek.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat do you want Kate?\u201d<\/p>\n

Attention still narrowed on Cordelia, the force of his words blew down her exposed cheek. The voice was the same, angry and menacing. Why Kate Lockley had returned didn\u2019t matter. Her intrusion offered an opportunity to escape, and Cordelia wasn\u2019t about to pass it up.<\/p>\n

\u201cI need to go.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kate\u2019s advantage in strained situations was that she never strayed from detective mode. Being a cop was her life and she was adept in trusting her instinct. This scene was simple even for a rookie; Angel was angry and Cordelia was scared. The particulars weren\u2019t important. Kate needed to encourage a peaceful separation then get on with solving her case.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you need to go Miss Chase, I suggest you get going.\u201d Trained calm firmly in place, Kate offered a practiced smile. Too much and it wasn\u2019t believable, but too little would reveal hidden tension. \u201cI need to go over new evidence with Angel. It\u2019s classified, so if you don\u2019t mind.\u201d<\/p>\n

That was her cue. Now she needed Angel to agree. \u201cAngel, I should leave so you and Kate can talk.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cordelia held her breath waiting for Angel to respond. It was simple really, yes or no, not much room for anything in between.<\/p>\n

A hand still pressed against her back, the other slipped into her hair, his fingers working through the silk strands.<\/p>\n

\u201cGo home,\u201d he whispered. Her hair caught in a gentle grasp, her face tilted up meeting parted lips that grazed across cheek. \u201cI\u2019ll call you later.\u201d<\/p>\n

Relieved that Angel’s hands fell free when she stepped away, Cordelia seized her opportunity and dashed from the office, barely slowing down to grab her purse.<\/p>\n

The large glass pane rattled as the door slammed shut behind Cordelia\u2019s swift exit. Kate\u2019s signal to find out exactly what she had interrupted.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know we haven\u2019t known each other long, but that was strange; even for you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re right Kate; we don\u2019t know each other; and my relationship with Cordelia is none of your business.\u201d<\/p>\n

Maybe not the response Kate hoped for, but it was one she expected. The accused rarely gave up information willingly, and right now Angel\u2019s behavior was suspicious. He might have an office and a sign on the door, but he was a detective without a license and as far as Kate could tell, without a past.<\/p>\n

\u201cI wasn\u2019t aware you had a relationship with your secretary.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLike you said, you don\u2019t know Cordelia and me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Neither of them had time to volley empty threats. Angel might be mysterious, but Kate had to admit, it seemed to help her with bizarre cases.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s another body. I thought you might want to work the crime scene with me.\u201d<\/p>\n

The detective had made a healthy decision. His life with Cordelia was private, and he wasn\u2019t going to let Kate or those women who kept showing up in his dreams intrude. Angel needed to know if he recognized the latest victim, because soon he had to decide where the dreams ended and reality began.<\/p>\n

Part 2<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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