Part 2<\/b><\/p>\n
He sat down beside her, dropping a bucket of probably the greasiest Buffalo wings known to mankind at her feet.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, c\u2019mon,\u201d he muttered sourly, pointing towards them as if they would sway her mood in his favour. \u201cYou can\u2019t stay mad at me forever.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cReally?\u201d she asked, arching a perfectly shaped eyebrow, \u201cbecause I\u2019m doing pretty well on that.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cEven when I\u2019m doing this much grovelling?\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia gave him a withering look, \u201cFYI, Spike, Buffalo Wings? Not the way to this girl\u2019s heart. That might have worked with Little Miss Likes to Slay, but me? Not so much.\u201d<\/p>\n
He sobered completely at the mention of Buffy and got up, the drop of his shoulders irking Cordelia and making her feel sorry for him all at the same time, “Oh for God’s sake…”<\/p>\n
He turned and grinned, dropping next to her on the circular sofa that just wasn’t God’s way of letting you be comfortable. “Wing, pet?” he offered, holding out the bucket.<\/p>\n
Cordelia wrinkled her nose and shook her head, “Not in this lifetime.”<\/p>\n
Spike sighed and delved into the greasy portions himself, tearing into one and asking through a mouthful of food, “You still mad at me?”<\/p>\n
“Let’s see, are you still an asshole?” she asked, only semi-disgusted at Spike’s eating habits these days. Sad to say, but she’d actually gotten used to the guy – the only Champion in her rolodex these days, and she used that term loosely.<\/p>\n
“Always have been an asshole,” he murmured around his food, “Ask Ang–” He cut himself off before he said that name, knowing damn well that it was a sore subject where Cordelia was concerned. “Where’d Percy go?”<\/p>\n
Cordelia looked up. Wesley had made himself scarce right around the time that Spike had appeared at the lobby doors, not wishing to get ’embroiled in yet another fight with you two’<\/i>. She’d huffed silently at that, but she’d had bigger fish to fry, namely Spike. Only she hadn’t quite fried him in the sense she’d first meant. “Translating something, I think. Shocker, huh?”<\/p>\n
Spike pulled a face. Two months he’d been working at this little venture and if Wesley wasn’t moaning about the state of the lobby, he was out reading something, checking out a new book from the demonic library of crap.<\/p>\n
The bloke seriously needed to get out more. “So, I hear Angel dropped by.”<\/p>\n
He dropped this into the conversation so casually that Cordelia was almost shocked by it. Almost. She’d learned not to be shocked by certain things these days. Angel turning up where he was least expected was one of them.<\/p>\n
“Yeah,” she nodded, “He was less than happy about my current living situation.”<\/p>\n
“You told him to piss off, right?”<\/p>\n
“Not quite like that,” Cordelia shrugged slightly, “but I think he got the general gist of it.”<\/p>\n
From the look on her face, Spike gathered that Angel had more than got the gist of it. He’d left, and so he should, with his proverbial sodding tail between his legs and it’d been about damned time he got a dressing down.<\/p>\n
Spike was only slightly miffed that he hadn\u2019t been round to see it. “He say anything interesting?”<\/p>\n
“You mean, ‘did he ask about you’?”<\/p>\n
Spike grinned, “Well, that too. What’d you tell him?”<\/p>\n
Cordelia met his gaze, “I told him we were comshukking like bunnies, Spike,” she said deadpan, “What d’you think I told him?”<\/p>\n
“That you’d seen me naked?” He asked, deflating visibly when Cordelia gave him that look again. “C’mon, pet, gotta have some fun with the big poof.”<\/p>\n
Yeah, fun\u2026<\/i> thought Cordelia, rolling her eyes. Angel had been at his broodiest, picking his way through the lobby and casting an almost critical eye at it. It had been as clean as the day she’d left it, at least, no dust bunnies clawing their way through the hotel to sneer at.<\/p>\n
“I hear you’ve got a new addition to the family,” he\u2019d tried to bait her, enjoying the way she flinched, even though she’d done a more than stellar job at hiding her uncomfortableness.<\/p>\n
That was his problem – he knew her more than anybody else ever had, than anyone else had ever tried and that just pissed her off.<\/p>\n
“Is that why you’ve come here?” She asked, pretending to look busy as she cleared away folders, “Because if it is you can just stow it, Angel, I’m not in the mood.”<\/p>\n
“So how’s it going?”<\/p>\n
Conversations between them had been strained at best since she\u2019d come back. They started out civil enough but before long they were back to the bitterness, to the recriminations that just wouldn’t settle.<\/p>\n
More than once, Cordelia’d had to bite her lip where Angel was concerned, stop herself asking why he just hadn’t noticed that there was something up with her. Why, when he knew her better than anyone, hadn’t he noticed that there was something very wrong?<\/p>\n
“How’s it going?” She repeated. “You took time out of your busy CEO schedule to come ask me how it’s going?”<\/p>\n
Angel stiffened. Every time he got close to Cordelia, close to talking to her about what happened, she threw Wolfram and Hart and his current status of CEO in his face. It was bad enough that she\u2019d left, taken Wesley along with her \u2013 he saw it as more of a blessing that she\u2019d taken Spike \u2013<\/p>\n
but for her to bring it up every single time, knowing that he simply didn\u2019t have an answer for it\u2026well, that was just playing dirty as far as Angel was concerned, because he couldn\u2019t stoop as far as the level that he wanted to go, that he could go if she pushed him far enough. Angel knew he never would.<\/p>\n
\u201cDo we have to do this again?\u201d He growled.<\/p>\n
Cordelia just stared at him. \u201cAre you still working for them?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou know I am.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen no,\u201d she shook her head, \u201cwe don\u2019t have to do this again \u2018cause we don\u2019t have all that much to say to each other,\u201d said Cordelia coldly. \u201cDon\u2019t let the door hit you in the ass on the way out.\u201d<\/p>\n
She started to walk away from him and Angel was across the lobby in three short strides, grabbing her wrist and spinning her towards him so that she was flush up against his chest.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d She demanded, seeing the flash of anger in his eyes, \u201cHit a nerve, Angel?\u201d<\/p>\n
She was maddening, infuriating, the biggest pain in his ass he\u2019d ever known\u2026and he loved her desperately. Loved her so much that at times he couldn\u2019t stand it, knowing that they were playing on opposite sides of the battlefield these days, that Spike had taken his place as her friend, her Champion.<\/p>\n
She didn\u2019t waver, didn\u2019t even move or let a hint of fear show on her face, but Angel heard her pulse quicken, watched her tongue creep out to moisten her lower lip.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy him?\u201d he asked, his voice husky. \u201cWhy Spike?\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia\u2019s gaze remained on his, \u201cYou see many other Champion\u2019s beating down my door?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s not a Champion,\u201d Angel growled.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe cares,\u201d she retorted. \u201cThat\u2019s enough for me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd I don\u2019t? Is that what you\u2019re saying?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know, Angel,\u201d she said, her voice sounding weary all of a sudden. \u201cYou used to. Maybe you just lost too much and decided it was easier this way.\u201d<\/p>\n
She really had hit a nerve with that one because Angel had shoved her away, knocking her into the desk as he\u2019d stormed out of her hotel. She hadn\u2019t been hurt, not really, but there was a bruise on her thigh to add to the list of general aches and pains of this fight.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat well, huh?\u201d<\/p>\n
Spike\u2019s soft voice broke into her thoughts and Cordelia glanced up, so painfully aware that she\u2019d \u2018gone off on one again\u2019 as Spike liked to call it. \u201cYeah,\u201d she nodded, \u201cThat well.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe tell you about Lorne\u2019s bash?\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia shook her head, \u201cBash?\u201d They\u2019d been too busy arguing to have anything resembling a normal conversation.<\/p>\n
\u201cHalloween thing. Fancy dress.\u201d Spike\u2019s mood soured a little at that.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat, you\u2019ve got something against fancy dress?\u201d She asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not that,\u201d said Spike, \u201cit\u2019s bloody Harmony asking if I\u2019ll be her date. There must be a dozen birds in that law firm who could\u2019ve asked me and instead I get her.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, well, you know what they say, Spike. You made your bed\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHey!\u201d He snapped, \u201cI haven\u2019t shared that bed in at least three years. More, actually. So don\u2019t go starting in on that. You going?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTo a Wolfram and Hart Halloween Bash?\u201d Cordelia gave him an incredulous look. \u201cYou\u2019ve got more chance of me eating one of those wings.\u201d<\/p>\n
Spike shot a baleful look in the direction of his bucket, \u201cI was sort of hoping we could\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat, go together?\u201d Cordelia blinked, \u201cLook, Spike, I like you but\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not a date,\u201d he murmured, seeming flustered. \u201cI just\u2026well, don\u2019t you wanna wind Captain Forehead up a little? It\u2019s a chance to get dressed up as well, pet, let our hair down, so to speak. And you know as well as I do that it\u2019s the slowest night of the year.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah,\u201d she muttered, \u201clike that\u2019s stopped the Powers before.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll answer their visions if they send you one. C\u2019mon, love, girl I\u2019ve heard everyone talk about wouldn\u2019t dream of passing up a party.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAgain, I say Wolfram and Hart,\u201d Cordelia scowled, \u201cNot looking to make with the merry in that building.\u201d And she very much did not like the impression that she\u2019d turned into some kind of killjoy or something.<\/p>\n
They\u2019d had different things to worry about, just because she hadn\u2019t been all \u2018Yay, Party!\u2019 since she\u2019d woken up, didn\u2019t mean she didn\u2019t know how to have a good time any more. Did it?<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019d do you good, y\u2019know.\u201d Wesley\u2019s voice from the other side of the lobby made Cordelia look up.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow long have you been here?\u201d she asked, wondering why it was they were suddenly ganging up on her.<\/p>\n
\u201cLong enough to think Spike\u2019s right,\u201d said Wesley, ignoring the incredulous looks he was shot by the two. It wasn\u2019t often he agreed with Spike so when he did, it came as a shock to them all. \u201cWe could go. It\u2019d be a chance to catch up.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou want to see Fred,\u201d Cordelia accused.<\/p>\n
His cheeks flushed slightly, \u201cYou\u2019ve got me there. We could also use it as a chance to see what Wolfram and Hart are up to. I don\u2019t think they\u2019ll have thought of revoking my security pass.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTrust Percy to think of work,\u201d Spike rolled his eyes.<\/p>\n
Looking affronted, Wesley hung his coat on the back of his office door, \u201cI don\u2019t think we can afford not to. Those Bendril demons were a client of Wolfram and Hart\u2019s.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia glanced at him sharply, he hadn\u2019t told her that, and it just seemed to drive it home that they really were on opposite sides of the battlefield these days. They were fighting the things Angel was representing and that was still kind of bewildering.<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, and since someone<\/i> let one of them get away\u2026\u201d Spike smirked, knowing full well that the bloke would bite. He was wound tighter than Cordelia, some days.<\/p>\n
Wesley frowned, \u201cIts mate was standing on my face, Spike. It was rather hard to contain anything, never mind a bloody demon. And I don\u2019t recall you stepping in to help.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s a shoddy excuse, that. And besides, I had my own demon to contend with,\u201d Spike shook his head, before turning his attention back to Cordelia. \u201cC\u2019mon, love. You heard what he said. It\u2019s all for the good of the team.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia sighed, maybe they were right. \u201cFine. But I\u2019m gonna need a killer costume.\u201d<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
\u201cYou done yet?\u201d Spike\u2019s voice filtered through the curtain of the costume shop, sounding bored, annoyed and reverent of the fact that she could totally kick him when she came out.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m\u2026looking.\u201d She decided on one finally, turning this way and that to see her best angle \u2013 currently her ass right now, since she\u2019d been working out.<\/p>\n
She\u2019d checked the credentials of the guy she was buying from three times already, telling him that if she even got near changing into her costume de choice, she\u2019d be back here kicking his ass so fast his head would spin.<\/p>\n
Truth be told, he looked at her like she was a little crazy but Cordelia was oh-so-used to that. Years of having visions in public places had kind of set her up for the \u2018let\u2019s stare at the Crazy Lady\u2019 parts of life.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019ve been \u2018looking\u2019 for twenty minutes,\u201d said Spike, \u201cWhat\u2019s up with it? It can\u2019t make you look any scarier than that last costume.\u201d<\/p>\n
The last one had been a costume dress, period piece in red and black that\u2019d really brought out Cordelia\u2019s, uh, better assets. Spike had shaken his head, looked up to find her grinning, and then realised who she\u2019d looked like.<\/p>\n
Spike had shuddered imperceptibly, avoiding her gaze.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat? You don\u2019t like it?\u201d She asked, biting her lip uncertainly. She hadn\u2019t been sure when she\u2019d pulled the costume from the rack, even though red and black were totally her colours.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s\u2026it\u2019s not that I don\u2019t like it, pet. It\u2019s\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d She glanced down at the corset, smoothing her hands over the lacy fabric. \u201cWhat\u2019s wrong with it?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou just look like someone, is all.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWho?\u201d<\/p>\n
Spike glanced at his feet and mumbled a name that had Cordelia retreating right back into the dressing room to change. Drusilla.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo what\u2019s wrong with this one?\u201d He asked again.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m trying to decide on your next biggest insult,\u201d she shot back.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt wasn\u2019t my fault,\u201d he groaned, catching the eye of some hapless idiot across the way who looked just like he did, trying to placate his better half through the filmy curtain separating them. \u201cYou looked fantastic, pet.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, I just reminded you of a blood-sucking vampire, is all.\u201d<\/p>\n
The salesgirl walking near shot Spike an odd look and he gave a resigned sigh, muttering \u201cold girlfriend\u201d as she passed. \u201cCordelia\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay, okay.” The curtain flipped open and Cordelia stepped out, making Spike\u2019s mouth fall open.<\/p>\n
She grinned, spun to give Spike the full view and arched an eyebrow, \u201cWell?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGonna be a lot of guys adjusting their crotch area tomorrow night,\u201d he observed, making her laugh.<\/p>\n