CHAPTER 13<\/b><\/p>\n
Cordelia sat hugging the cushion as she watched the woman smile stupidly at the man bearing his calves to her on the black and white screen; making sure he wasn\u2019t bowlegged.<\/p>\n
Sitting through the old movie, watching the lanky form of the actor she\u2019d never seen before, \u2018Shop around the corner\u2019 dug a hole into her chest in a way nothing else had yet.<\/p>\n
It reminded her of where she was. This disoriented woman had found her man in a shop around the corner. She\u2019d been right there with him the entire time. And it reminded Cordelia that the only intimacy she could share was this destructive soul bond she seemed to have with a demon.<\/p>\n
And it was then when losing Xander hurt the most.<\/p>\n
All her life she\u2019s gone from guy to guy. Never really staying back long enough to let anything last. Convinced. Confirmed cynic. She\u2019d been so sure the world was a bad place. Giving her heart away wasn\u2019t worth it. And despite that she\u2019d fallen for the loser.<\/p>\n
She sighed. Because only her heart would have made her overlook his obvious geekiness. Did anyone notice the haircut? Hello!<\/p>\n
Right at that moment she felt more alone that she\u2019d felt when her parents had abandoned her. What was it about approaching holidays that made being alone worse? She looked up at the frosted windows. The colder it got, Cordelia realized the closer it drew.<\/p>\n
She didn\u2019t want to spend Christmas here. Christmas was a time when they\u2019d convene in Giles\u2019 house. Eat brownies and exchange gifts. She had the neither the money nor the inclination for the exchange.<\/p>\n
Snuggling deeper into the couch, while Giles and Angelus were out hunting demons she\u2019d seen in her vision, Cordelia sulked. Angelus was a blood hound. He never let her take on the tough ones. Egomaniac.<\/p>\n
Could this get worse?<\/p>\n
\u201cHoney! I\u2019m home!\u201d<\/p>\n
She winced. It could. \u201cOh joy.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou know if you stare at the blank screen long enough Hazel, it might stare back.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cComing from a starving impotent, that\u2019s rich. Didn\u2019t you used to count cracks in the ceiling to pass the time? Loser.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angelus took in the scene of the empty plate of cookies and the half drained glass of lemonade along with the pile of the watcher\u2019s old movies.<\/p>\n
He rolled his eyes, kicking the door shut behind him and embedded the ax right into the wood of Giles\u2019 nice teak floor. \u201cChrist, don\u2019t tell me you\u2019re still sore about the cockroach.\u201d<\/p>\n
He had figured the Cheerleader would get used to the whole scenario with him slaying and her seeing. And he\u2019d been subtly weaseling his way into her personal space. After the near death experience, Cordelia had been avoiding him like the proverbial plague. She was never around when he woke up and she always went to sleep before he came.<\/p>\n
The unusual abundance in the demon population was troubling the watcher, but Angelus was just glad for the action. Being put on a leash was no fun. He hadn\u2019t had a bite in days. He smirked. Pun and all.<\/p>\n
Without giving it a thought, he stuck his hand into his coat pocket, his own \u2013thank Hades, and handed her a small bottle of Advil.<\/p>\n
Almost used to the regular supply of painkillers, she didn\u2019t bother to ponder his thoughtfulness, but rather just popped two pills out of the plastic bottle and drowned them with her remaining lemonade.<\/p>\n
\u201cSnakey bastard gone?\u201d She lifted her eyes with a calculated sweep over his frame. \u201cAnything to fix?\u201d<\/p>\n
Angelus grinned. He\u2019d been extra careful this time. Shrugging out of his coat, he lifted his black sweater to allow her the full view of the two gouging bite marks over his right hipbone.<\/p>\n
He delighted in the sharp intake of breath and the instant softening of her eyes. Smelling her anxiety, he had the decency to look sheepish when she glared up at him, almost seeing right into his head again.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou so did that on purpose.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNow why would I do that?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause you do it every time you sick masochistic freak.\u201d Uncurling from her position she walked into the kitchen to fetch the first aid kit.<\/p>\n
Shoving the smirking vampire into the couch, she dropped between his parted knees and lifted the sweater off him before proceeding to disinfect.<\/p>\n
Once the customary bandaging was complete, and Angelus had looked down her shirt to his heart\u2019s content he leaned back against the couch and grinned at her. \u201cSo what did my sexy little pigeon do while daddy was out?\u201d<\/p>\n
Her glower could have melted steel as she sat back on her heels. \u201cOne set of folks was enough. I don\u2019t need parental guidance; so save it.\u201d<\/p>\n
He leaned forward, elbows on his knees, face merely inches away from her and for a moment, Cordelia held her breath, her gaze indecisively flittering between his eyes and his mouth, almost unable to decide which was more attractive.<\/p>\n
\u201cCordelia, take my word for it, what I feel for you is nowhere near parental.\u201d<\/p>\n
She swallowed at the husky pitch of his gravely voice, the bottomless depths of his eyes reeling her in until she felt like he was drawing her towards him with invisible strings.<\/p>\n
Like fish line. \u201cI thought we weren\u2019t supposed to feel,\u201d she marveled at her squeak. If she had motor function, Cordelia would have smacked herself for the feminine clench to her vocal chords.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh we feel baby,\u201d his gaze swept low, mouth widening into a dark, sinuous smile.<\/p>\n
Cordelia had to physically drag her eyes away from his face, but her body still didn\u2019t obey her by moving away from the odd heat surrounding them. \u201cDon\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBe specific Chase, I like things laid out on the table.\u201d She didn\u2019t have to look at him to know he was leering. \u201cDon\u2019t kiss me again?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe kiss was a fluke. You don\u2019t want me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cKiss me again and let me prove it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Her flashing hazel eyes snapped to him, not biting for his bait. \u201cYou\u2019re just rebounding.\u201d<\/p>\n
He snorted, but didn\u2019t pull away from her challenging. \u201cNot the soul remember? No rebounds here. I like my women tall, beautiful and smart.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBlonde!\u201d She spat out disdainfully.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don’t see a blond hair on your head Brighteyes and I\u2019m still here.\u201d<\/p>\n
She let out an exasperated sigh. \u201cAngelus, don\u2019t.\u201d Before he could quip bout specifics, she held up a hand between them. \u201cI mean…don’t fall in love with me. I know it\u2019s easy.\u201d<\/p>\n
A dark eyebrow arched at her condescension. \u201cI\u2019ve learned very few of you humans really know what that means baby. Love.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLook; just don\u2019t.\u201d She stood, the white box cradled protectively against her stomach. \u201cYou\u2019ll just be in for a lot of unnecessary pain.\u201d<\/p>\n
He looked up at her, his gaze unwavering, not a muscle moved. \u201cI am pain. I get off on it remember?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI think you\u2019ve had enough.\u201d She purposefully willed her feet to move and moved into the kitchen. She didn\u2019t even have to see to know he\u2019d followed. \u201cAnd I so don\u2019t get off on pain.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh but you do Hazel.\u201d He leaned against the counter, arms crossed. \u201cPain is the number one motivator of life. Keeps the world going and such.\u201d He twirled one finger in the air for emphasis and for a second her gaze riveted to the movement and held.<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought it was pleasure…\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOpposite poles baby. Man and woman. North and south. Pain and pleasure.\u201d<\/p>\n
She scowled. \u201cYou’re a sadist.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s the trouble with humans.\u201d She still wouldn\u2019t look at him as she busied herself in warming blood for him. Without realizing what she was doing. \u201cYou give names to everything.\u201d<\/p>\n
Spinning on her heel Cordelia stuck the hard point of her nail into his chest, face set in a stubborn line. \u201cOpen your ears Fangless. I can’t love you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Trapping her hand against his chest with one of his own large ones he smiled down at her with a lazy ease. \u201cLook again Cheerleader.\u201d He heard the skittering of her pulse as he held her hand over his still chest.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou already do.\u201d<\/p>\n
If the world had come to an end, Cordelia would not have been able to tear her eyes away from the hot chocolate pools gazing down at her as if he knew her soul. And like always, the lies wouldn\u2019t come. Not with him.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d She felt more than saw the triumph in his face. \u201cBut not in the way you want me to.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMatter of time.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI am not IN love with you dumbass! Get it? Not IN love!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201c…\u201d<\/p>\n
At the enigmatic smile, she hardened her jaw. \u201cWhat the hell are you smiling at?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou’re so worried, Chase. Why?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLet go of my hand.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMake me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCordelia?\u201d<\/p>\n
The watcher\u2019s voice seemed to break the spell and Cordelia wrenched her hand out of his. How\u2019d it always end up there anyway? With complete disregard to the Giles\u2019 entry into the kitchen, she marched straight into the bathroom and slammed the door shut.<\/p>\n
Rupert Giles blinked owlishly behind his glasses. \u201cDid I miss something?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGiles, I’m damned infatuated with her.\u201d Angelus\u2019 statement held none of the aggravation he was feeling while he stayed there leaning against the counter, arms crossed and forehead creased with a frown.<\/p>\n
Cleaning his throat uneasily the watcher took off his glasses; cleaning them. \u201cAngelus, that is more than I care to hear.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTough.\u201d Angelus growled, his eyes tinged with gold and determination. \u201cYou\u2019re hearing this whether you fucking like it or not.\u201d<\/p>\n
It was then when Giles noticed the rigid line of the vampire\u2019s body and the brooding frown. One that was eerily familiar. \u201cOh dear\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
At the nearly accurate deduction reflected on the watcher\u2019s face, Angelus lifted an apathetic eyebrow. \u201cGot anything to drink little boy?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGet everything. I’ll need it.\u201d<\/p>\n