Part 2<\/b><\/p>\n
Angel froze. Although he didn\u2019t need to breathe, he felt like he was suffocating.<\/p>\n
It was Cordelia. His Cordy. Alive and whole. No gaping wound in her chest, draining her life away. No blood drenching her clothes.<\/p>\n
For a moment, he was overwhelmed. The emotion was so beyond happiness, so beyond hope or relief or need, that he couldn\u2019t move. Couldn\u2019t believe.<\/p>\n
Then, the vampire put its filthy hands on her.<\/p>\n
The demon emerged with a snarl that was pure beast. Fangs bared, eyes glinting amber, Angel bounded across the clearing. His duster whipped around his legs.<\/p>\n
The vampire was so focused on the struggling form of Cordelia Chase, it didn\u2019t realize it was in danger. Until Angel slammed into it. The force of his rage sent the creature sailing through the air. It crashed into a tree, then dropped to the ground, stunned.<\/p>\n
Cordelia, abruptly released from the vampire\u2019s hold, stumbled backwards, and fell into the grass.<\/p>\n
The vampire forgotten, Angel hurried towards her. Donning his human face, he knelt at her side.<\/p>\n
\u201cCordy,\u201d he whispered. And his hungry gaze drank her in. The beautiful face that graced his bedroom walls from floor to ceiling. The hazel eyes that haunted his dreams. The lips that could light his entire existence with a simple smile.<\/p>\n
Angel\u2019s body strained towards her. Strained to wrap around her, and feel that she was really there in front of him. To feel her breath on his neck and know that she was\u2026<\/p>\n
Alive.<\/p>\n
But an inner voice warned against it. And, as he continued to study her, he realized why.<\/p>\n
Her hair was long and loose, and reached just past her shoulders. Her expression was colder, more closed, than he was used to it being. She looked younger\u2026<\/p>\n
Now, Buffy\u2019s presence made more sense. And he had some idea of where and when<\/b> he was.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy don\u2019t you take a picture?\u201d Cordelia snapped. \u201cGeez!\u201d<\/p>\n
And Angel realized he\u2019d been staring at her for longer than was normal.<\/p>\n
\u201cSorry,\u201d he said. He looked away from her, but only for a moment. He couldn\u2019t keep his eyes off of her for longer than that. \u201cAre you okay?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, I\u2019m not dead.\u201d She rolled her eyes. \u201cBut the grass stains are never coming out of these pants. And I just<\/i> bought them!\u201d<\/p>\n
She sounded like the spoiled, self-absorbed brat everyone believed her to be. Like the stains on her pants were more important than being attacked by a vampire.<\/p>\n
But Angel could hear the fear she didn\u2019t want anyone to see. In the frantic pounding of her heart. The slight hitch in her breath.<\/p>\n
Standing, Angel held his hand out to her.<\/p>\n
For a moment, Cordy seemed insulted by the gesture. Then, with a haughty \u201cHmph!\u201d she took his hand, and allowed herself to be pulled to her feet.<\/p>\n
Angel was mesmerized by the feel of her hand in his. So warm and familiar. And real.<\/p>\n
It had been so long since he\u2019d been able to touch her. Months that felt like years. Like forever.<\/p>\n
When she pulled her hand out of his, he almost didn\u2019t let go.<\/p>\n
\u201cThanks,\u201d she grumbled. Then, she glanced at some point over his shoulder.<\/p>\n
Angel turned and saw Buffy fighting a trio of vampires with her usual strength and skill. Even as he watched, one of them turned to dust, floated away on the evening breeze.<\/p>\n
Beyond her stood Willow and Xander. They watched their friend fight, a mixture of admiration and worry on their young faces.<\/p>\n
For a moment, Angel considered helping the Slayer with the two remaining vamps.<\/p>\n
Then, he heard a groan.<\/p>\n
A frown crinkling his intense brow, Angel turned to glare at the vampire that had dared to touch Cordelia. The creature had recovered from its collision with the tree, and had staggered to its feet.<\/p>\n
Teeth clenched, Angel stalked towards the vampire. Reaching into the folds of his coat, he found a stake. And a\u2026<\/p>\n
An eerie smile shadowed Angel\u2019s lips as he pulled out the dagger.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis\u2019ll do,\u201d he said, his voice devoid of emotion.<\/p>\n
As Angel approach, the vampire growled a low warning. When Angel didn\u2019t stop, it bared its teeth and lunged.<\/p>\n
The first cut was a slash across its collarbone.<\/p>\n
Many more followed, in quick succession.<\/p>\n
A stab to the rib cage.<\/p>\n
A gash across the left eye.<\/p>\n
Angel moved with the grace of a seasoned killer. Cut with the precision of a surgeon one moment. Then, the ragged anger of a beast craving destruction the next.<\/p>\n
Angel\u2019s grief and anger and frustration were like a rain of razors, showering down on the hapless vampire, flaying its skin from its flesh. At first, the vampire tried to fight. But soon, as Angel hacked away at its cold body, all it could do was howl in pain. Hold up its hands to try to protect itself from the next incision. And howl a little louder when its fingers were severed.<\/p>\n
Angel didn\u2019t hear those howls. His mind was too filled with visions of this thing grabbing Cordelia.<\/p>\n
Of Cordelia sticking her tongue out at him.<\/p>\n
Of Cordelia holding Connor.<\/p>\n
Of Cordelia\u2019s body, lying limp and bloody in his arms.<\/p>\n
When the vampire fell to the ground, Angel straddled its waist. Continued to stab and slash. Until the creature was mostly still, an occasional whimper issuing from its bloodied lips.<\/p>\n
Finally, Angel pulled out the stake. Plunged it into the vampire\u2019s heart. Nodded with satisfaction\u2026and regret (it still hadn\u2019t suffered enough) as it turned to dust.<\/p>\n
Taking a deep, unneeded breath, Angel stood. Turned.<\/p>\n
And found Cordelia staring at him. Hazel eyes wide with shock\u2026horror. Mouth agape.<\/p>\n
As Angel realized what he had done, the viciousness she had just seen, his still heart sank. Forgotten, the bloodied dagger fell from his fingers. The blade stabbed the earth at his feet.<\/p>\n
\u201cCordy,\u201d he whispered. He took a step towards her.<\/p>\n
And flinched when she took a step back.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou guys okay?\u201d a feminine voice interrupted.<\/p>\n
Pulling his eyes away from Cordy, Angel turned to look at Buffy. The Slayer jogged towards them, brushing dust from her jacket. And the others were close behind.<\/p>\n
\u201cCordy?\u201d Xander asked. \u201cYou alright?\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia stared at Angel a few moments longer, a dazed look in her eyes. Then, with a hard shake of her head, she turned to look at Xander. \u201cYeah, I\u2019m fine.\u201d Then, her dazed expression turned into an irritated frown. \u201cBut these pants are ruined<\/i>!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, \u2018cause that\u2019s what\u2019s most important. Not the fact that we were all, for example, almost eaten<\/i>!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, please.\u201d Cordelia rolled her eyes. \u201cThose vamps are dust. Problem solved. But the stains are never<\/i> coming out of these pants.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel watched the two of them bicker. Noticed how close they stood to each other. Watched Xander place his hands on her shoulders. And she made no move to pull away.<\/p>\n
The two of them were dating then.<\/p>\n
Even as the knowledge awakened something dark and stinging in the center of his chest, Angel used it to narrow down exactly when<\/i> he was. This must be their senior year. After his return from hell, but before Spike came back to Sunnydale.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat are you guys doing<\/i> here, anyway?\u201d Buffy demanded, splitting a glare between Willow, Xander, and Cordelia.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, Oz is rehearsing with the band tonight,\u201d Willow explained. \u201cAnd I\u2019ve got all my homework done for the next two weeks.\u201d<\/p>\n
Xander continued. \u201cAnd all that\u2019s playing at the movies are heartwarming dramas, and sweet romantic comedies. You know. Girlie stuff.\u201d He frowned in disgust. \u201cAnd, since we had nothing better to do\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cUm, hello,\u201d Cordy interrupted. \u201cI<\/i> wanted to check out that new juice bar-slash-dance club. But I got out-voted.\u201d She crossed her arms and sighed. \u201cAgain.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnyway,\u201d her boyfriend continued. \u201cWe decided to come help out with the slaying. And since you said you\u2019d probably patrol here first, here we are.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel studied the three of them. He\u2019d forgotten how\u2026eager Buffy\u2019s friends had always been. So eager to help her, to ease her burden, they often ended up putting themselves in danger. From which she had to save them.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, you guys shouldn\u2019t have come,\u201d Buffy said. \u201cI mean, what if we went somewhere else first? Then who would\u2019ve saved you when those vamps attacked?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHey, we could\u2019ve handled it,\u201d Xander said\u2026but didn\u2019t explain how.<\/p>\n
\u201cUm, yeah,\u201d Willow half-heartedly agreed. \u201cSee?\u201d and she held up a stake.<\/p>\n
\u201cHmph,\u201d Cordy snorted.<\/p>\n
It was such a familiar sound, Angel couldn\u2019t help but smile. For the first time in too long, his soul felt something besides ice cold.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, you\u2019re here now,\u201d Buffy sighed. \u201cSo\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLet\u2019s get with the patrolin\u2019\u201d Xander said, casually tossing one arm around Cordy\u2019s shoulders.<\/p>\n
A long, silent growl rumbled in Angel\u2019s chest. And he imagined how good it would feel to rip that arm off.<\/p>\n
As the gang moved to follow Buffy, Cordy glanced in Angel\u2019s direction\u2026then quickly looked away.<\/p>\n
With an exasperated sigh, Cordy stomped through the overgrown grass. She hoped her body language made it obvious how not<\/i> happy she was to waste a Wednesday night traipsing through creepy cemeteries and empty parks.<\/p>\n
Folding her arms tight, she refused to shiver at the chill breeze that cut through her flimsy jacket. No way would she admit\u2014even by shivering\u2014that Xander and Willow had been right when they said she needed something warmer. No way!<\/p>\n
Not that there was anyone to see<\/i> her shiver. Buffy, Willow, and Xander\u2014the original Three Musketeers\u2014had moved ahead. They were now gossiping about the latest rumor to hit Sunnydale High. Something about Miss Hildebrand, leather\u2026and tattoos.<\/p>\n
Cordelia, of course, had been left to lag behind with the most un-talkative member of their wacky little band\u2026who was walking about four steps behindher<\/i>.<\/p>\n
Was he really staring at her? Because she had that stomach tickling, flesh tingling feeling that someone was staring at her. And he was the only other someone there.<\/p>\n
Of course, it was probably her imagination. That, combined with what she\u2019d seen. The slice and dice he did on that vamp\u2026<\/p>\n
This time, she couldn\u2019t hold back her shivers.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re cold.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordy was so startled to hear him talk, she jumped a little. She was even more startled to find he was walking right next to her. Much closer than she\u2019d realized.<\/p>\n
\u201cHere,\u201d he said, as he took off his coat.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d Cordy yelped, eyes widening at his actions. \u201cNo, I\u2019m fine.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re cold,\u201d he insisted. \u201cI can feel you shivering.\u201d Not giving her a chance to protest further, he draped his duster over her shoulders.<\/p>\n
And it felt like his hands lingered longer than necessary. Like his fingers pressed into the flesh of her shoulders…<\/p>\n
But that was probably her imagination, too.<\/p>\n
For a moment, Cordy was too stunned to do anything but stare at him.<\/p>\n
Angel stared back, expressionless. But there was this weird determination in his eyes. And Cordy suddenly knew, for a fact, that he wouldn\u2019t take the coat back.<\/p>\n
The coat that was oddly cool against her body. Easy to understand since the guy who\u2019d been wearing it didn\u2019t have a body temperature. But it kept out the chilly breeze that had been responsible for her shivers.<\/p>\n
Cordy allowed herself a mental shrug. Okay, so Angel giving her his coat felt a little weird. But she felt a hundred percent warmer. So, why argue?<\/p>\n
\u201cUm, thanks,\u201d she said as she quickened her pace.<\/p>\n
She didn\u2019t hear him fall into step behind her. He was really good at that whole stealth thing. But she could feel him there. Like a weight against her back.<\/p>\n
And, this time, she definitely couldn\u2019t blame her shiver on the cold.<\/p>\n
Cordy had seen her share of vamps get dusted. In some pretty unusual ways. But what Angel did earlier. She was sure he could have dusted that vamp in 5 seconds flat if he wanted to. Instead, he\u2026<\/p>\n
Well, that hadn\u2019t been a typical slaying. It had seemed more like punishment. Like\u2026torture.<\/p>\n
Maybe it was the way he always did it, and she just hadn\u2019t noticed before. And, after all, he was<\/i> a vampire. Should it really surprise her that he, maybe, enjoyed killing? That he would turn it into, well, an art, almost.<\/p>\n
After all, not many vamps were as sickly creative as Angelus had been.<\/p>\n
I wonder if my mom\u2019s therapist is looking for new patients,<\/i> Cordy thought. Half joking.<\/p>\n
Half not.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
Angel couldn\u2019t take his eyes away from her. Had to push his hands into his pockets just to assure he wouldn\u2019t grab her. Wrap himself around her. Press her to the length of him.<\/p>\n
He had to remind himself that this wasn\u2019t his<\/i> Cordy. This wasn\u2019t the woman who encouraged his hugs. Who gave him a hundred comforting touches every day. Who didn\u2019t cringe away when he<\/i> touched her<\/i>.<\/p>\n
To this Cordelia Chase, he was a virtual stranger. One she was a little afraid of.<\/p>\n
Angel\u2019s still heart clenched in his chest. He didn\u2019t want her to be afraid of him. He wanted her to\u2026<\/p>\n
Angel cursed himself for killing the vampire the way he did. In front of her. But, at the time, all he could think about was the vampire\u2019s hands on her. And hurting the vampire as much as possible before letting it die.<\/p>\n
He just wished Cordy hadn\u2019t seen. Hadn\u2019t been so horrified by his actions.<\/p>\n
It would make things that much harder.<\/p>\n
Angel moved closer to her. So close, he could feel the heat of her body against his skin. Wearing his coat, she was surrounded by his scent. And the smell of her scent mixed with his was\u2026intoxicating.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think that\u2019s it, guys,\u201d the Slayer\u2019s voice said.<\/p>\n
Cordelia halted suddenly.<\/p>\n
Angel stopped half a second later. But not soon enough to stop his chest from being pressed against her back.<\/p>\n
Before he could enjoy the moment of delicious contact, Cordy gasped and took a startled step forward.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis place is as dead as the everywhere else,\u201d Buffy continued. Apparently, she, Xander and Willow had stopped to wait for him and Cordy. Angel had been too lost in his own thoughts to notice.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt looks like most of the vamps are on vacation,\u201d Xander quipped.<\/p>\n
\u201cI guess,\u201d Buffy agreed. And she turned.<\/p>\n
Angel knew the exact moment when she saw Cordy wearing his coat. Her body stiffened. Her eyes widened. A confused frown clouded her expression.<\/p>\n
Angel calmly waited for her to ask. And wondered what he would say. After all, at this point in his life, he\u2019d loved Buffy to the exclusion of everything else. He would\u2019ve done anything to keep her from doubting him in any way.<\/p>\n
But that wasn\u2019t who he was anymore. So, how much of that part was he willing to play?<\/p>\n
\u201cI got cold,\u201d Cordy said into the silence.<\/p>\n
Which, from the look in the Slayer\u2019s eyes, wasn\u2019t enough of an explanation.<\/p>\n
\u201cHey!\u201d Xander said indignantly. \u201cI would have let you wear my jacket, Cordy. All you had to do was ask.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, right. And you would\u2019ve spent the night making me feel guilty for letting you freeze to death. I don\u2019t think so.\u201d She shrugged out of the duster, handed it to Angel without looking at him. \u201cThanks,\u201d she mumbled.<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah,\u201d Angel said\u2026watching with sad eyes as she hurried to her boyfriend\u2019s side.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
Cordelia sat on the edge of her bed, and ran a towel through her wet hair.<\/p>\n
It had been a freaky night. Freakier than usual. First, she was almost killed by a vampire. Then, Angel\u2026<\/p>\n
Almost instinctively, Cordy\u2019s mind started to deal. It was something she was really good at. So good in fact that, by tomorrow morning, it would all be a distant memory. A waste of time to bother thinking about.<\/p>\n
So, a vamp tried to make her his first meal of the night. If she kept going on freak patrol, it wouldn\u2019t be the last time that<\/i> happened.<\/p>\n
So Angel had killed said vampire with more enthusiasm than she was used to. What mattered was that the vamp had been dusted\u2026before it got the chance to take a bite out of her. That was all that mattered.<\/p>\n
As for Angel giving her his coat, the guy was born over 200 years ago. All that chivalry stuff was probably second nature to him.<\/p>\n
Nodding at the satisfying perspective she\u2019d put everything into, Cordy stood and went to the window. She reached out to close the curtain\u2026and gasped.<\/p>\n
For a moment, a fraction of a second, she thought she saw someone. Standing there, near the trees. Moonlight sparkling in their eyes as they gazed up at her window.<\/p>\n
But there was no one there now. If there ever had been.<\/p>\n
A chill racing up her spine, Cordy pulled the curtain closed.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was probably\u2026just a shadow.\u201d<\/p>\n
Part 3<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Part 2 Angel froze. Although he didn\u2019t need to breathe, he felt like he was suffocating. It was Cordelia. His Cordy. Alive and…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2163","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-completed-fics"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2163","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2163"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2163\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2163"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2163"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2163"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}