{"id":3993,"date":"2015-07-05T23:12:06","date_gmt":"2015-07-05T22:12:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/?p=3993"},"modified":"2015-07-06T00:58:13","modified_gmt":"2015-07-05T23:58:13","slug":"bad-timing-13","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/2015\/07\/05\/bad-timing-13\/","title":{"rendered":"Bad Timing. 13"},"content":{"rendered":"

Part 13<\/b>: Shakespearean Kareoke<\/em><\/p>\n

Angel\u2019s hand dropped away from her waist and immediately she missed his touch. The two of them stood their staring at each other, neither talking for God knows how long, before Buffy walked up.<\/p>\n

\u201cHi Cordy,\u201d she stated. Cordelia jumped backwards, as if she had been caught doing something wrong.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey Buffy. I, uh, I like your skirt.\u201d<\/p>\n

Buffy casually fingered the material as she moved to stand next to Angel, so that their arms were brushing against each other. \u201cThanks Cordelia. Your dress is nice too. I\u2019m surprised though, you\u2019re usually a lot more\u2026obvious.\u201d<\/p>\n

It honestly took a minute for Cordy to realize what had just been said. Whoa, wait a second, did she just say that I usually dress like a slut? Does she not remember her wardrobe decisions her first year in Sunnydale? This is so pot calling kettle black. <\/i><\/p>\n

Cordelia didn\u2019t know exactly how to respond. She was used to initiating the cattiness with Buffy; she had been caught off guard. She looked at Angel, who just looked confused.<\/p>\n

\u201cComing through, coming through,\u201d Spike said as he walked over to where the three of them stood. He set the two drinks down on the table. \u201cSo what did I miss?\u201d<\/p>\n

Buffy hand started to move for the pink drink he had placed next to his beer. She didn\u2019t like the fact that Spike hadn\u2019t asked her if she wanted a drink, but it was nice of him to think of her.<\/p>\n

Spike\u2019s hand swooped down, picking up the glass before she actually reached for it. \u201cOne Cosmo for the lovely Miss Chase,\u201d he said, handing Cordelia her drink. Cordy took it, biting her lip to keep from laughing. Every once in a while even Slayers got put in their place.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s just nice to know there is still justice in the world. <\/i>\u201cSo, whose up for karaoke,\u201d Spike asked.<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

Angel couldn\u2019t really decide if he was having fun or not. It was definitely better than that time he had gotten impaled by that demon in North Hollywood, and yet nowhere close to as good a time as when he killed those five vampires with only a broken broom handle in the alley behind Mann\u2019s Chinese Theatre.<\/p>\n

The fact that he hadn\u2019t had a single moment alone with Cordy since she walked in had a little something to do with his lackluster opinion of the night so far. Spike\u2019s presence, and the fact that at some point his presence had started to not bother him as much also had something to do with Angel\u2019s ambivalence.<\/p>\n

But what was really confusing him was Buffy\u2019s behavior. He hadn\u2019t seen her acting this way since the time she came back from spending the summer in LA with her father. Except then she had been all over Xander. This time, he was the object of her weird conduct.<\/p>\n

This is not just my imagination. It\u2019s not like I mind her standing next to me, but she gets any closer and I\u2019m going to start yelling \u201cPERSONAL BUBBLE.\u201d <\/i><\/p>\n

She kept touching his hair or sitting on the arm of his chair or rubbing her chin on his shoulder. What\u2019s her problem?<\/p>\n

Cordelia had just about had it up to there. What is Buffy\u2019s problem? <\/i>The Slayer seemed to have developed an addiction to rubbing herself on Angel. It was such a transparent lesson, one obviously intended for Spike and herself, to show them that Buffy was going to be with Angel and there wasn\u2019t anything anyone could do about it.<\/p>\n

Fine. Go be together forever. But if she doesn\u2019t quit shoving her eternal love in my face I\u2019m going to use some sort of super secret demony deal to beam her ass back to the Hellmouth. <\/i><\/p>\n

She saw Buffy put her hand on Angel\u2019s thigh and couldn\u2019t take it anymore.<\/p>\n

Cordelia stood up without saying anything and walked over to the bar behind her. Why am I pretending that I am such a hard-ass? Why do I keep telling myself to be noble and that this is the way it is meant to be? Fuck that. I don\u2019t want to be noble. I get that I can\u2019t have him but that doesn\u2019t mean I have to help HER have him. And even if Angel and Buffy do end up together, there is no reason on earth for me to sit there passively, like it doesn\u2019t bother me. For I am very bothered. I haven\u2019t been this bothered since the great flannel fad of 1993.<\/i><\/p>\n

\u201cThere, there love. Buck up.\u201d Cordelia turned around to find Spike. \u201cSure it smarts,\u201d he continued, blowing smoke up in the air, \u201cbut that\u2019s because we\u2019re letting it get to us.\u201d<\/p>\n

He had a point. \u201cWell, what do you suggest?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI suggest we get off our asses and quit telling ourselves we lost. You and I, we haven\u2019t even started to fight but we\u2019re getting all mopey, like the battle\u2019s already over.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is over Spike. Let\u2019s say, for arguments sake\u2014since both of us still haven\u2019t actually admitted anything yet, that I don\u2019t want those two together, that I want Angel, that I want Angel to want me. And let\u2019s say you feel the same way about Buffy. How do we fight?\u201d<\/p>\n

Spike walked over to lean against the bar and Cordelia moved to mimic his position. \u201cIn love and war it\u2019s best to keep things simple,\u201d he said after a moment. \u201cWe need to have some sort of plan. I vote we go the classic route.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhich is?\u201d What is it with these guys from other centuries? Why did they always have to be so damn cryptic?<\/i><\/p>\n

\u201cWe make them realize what they are missing,\u201d Spike said slowly, as if he was speaking to a child. Cordelia was too intrigued to be offended.<\/p>\n

\u201cLike make them jealous? How are we supposed to do that? Do I go flirt with that blue scaled guy over there in the corner? Oh, and you could hit on that girl with the pointy ears. That is a girl, right?\u201d<\/p>\n

Spike ignored the question and turned to the bartender, requesting two shots.<\/p>\n

\u201cAlabama Slammers,\u201d Cordelia put out, not wanting any more tequila.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s a girl shot,\u201d Spike whined. Cordelia gave him a look. \u201cFine. Anyway. What we need to do is pool our resources. Kill two birds with one stone.\u201d He sighed upon seeing Cordelia\u2019s blank look.<\/p>\n

\u201cWE FLIRT WITH EACH OTHER.\u201d Before Cordy could react to that suggestion, someone else gave their opinion.<\/p>\n

\u201cI vote for that plan,\u201d Dawn said. Spike and Cordelia whipped around, surprised and worried about how much she had overheard.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh please, it\u2019s all so obvious. I don\u2019t care what the two of you need to do, just straighten this mess out. I swear I\u2019ve never seen four people act more adolescent, and I\u2019m in HIGH SCHOOL.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDawn, you don\u2019t\u2014\u201d Spike bit out.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s really not like that,\u201d Cordy said shaking her head.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s exactly like that. That\u2019s why I think you should go for this plan. Just don\u2019t let it turn into some creepy Shakespearean comedy. I can see this going very \u2018A Mid Summer Night\u2019s Dream\u2019 on all of us, and I don\u2019t want that to happen.\u201d With a snort of disgust, Dawn walked away.<\/p>\n

Reaching for her shot, Cordy smiled. \u201cI like her so much,\u201d she confided to Spike.<\/p>\n

\u201cMe too,\u201d Spike said, taking the shot and offering a grim smile.<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

Angel was trying to tell himself not to turn around to see what Cordy and Spike were doing at the bar. He had enough problems for the moment. Wesley was pissed because Angel kept calling to check on the baby and the last time had woken up Connor.<\/p>\n

Lorne had just kindly informed him that the entire group had been ordering drinks and telling people to put them on Angel\u2019s tab. Add to that the confounding issue of Buffy \u201cGrabby-Hands\u201d Summers and his plate was full. Maybe another beer was in order. Where did Lorne run off to? <\/i>Angel looked around until the sound of the demon\u2019s voice directed him to the stage.<\/p>\n

Lorne was at the microphone.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, is everyone having a good time?\u201d he cooed. The crowed roared yes. \u201cIt\u2019s about to get even better. Folks, I have what could be a real treat for you. May I proudly present, William the Bloody and Cordelia the Hottie, with their interpretation of the Paula Abdul classic, Opposites Attract.\u201d<\/p>\n

Angel and Buffy\u2019s mouths dropped open. They traded horrified glances with each other, realized the irony in that, then quickly turned back to the stage.<\/p>\n

Cordelia couldn\u2019t sing all that well. Spike wasn\u2019t singing at all, he had settled for basically speaking his lines. They were mostly off-key. They didn\u2019t seem to know all the words. The crowd loved them.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t like cigarettes\u201d Cordelia sang.
\n\u201cAnd I like to smoke,\u201d Spike countered, lighting up on stage.<\/p>\n

Buffy wasn\u2019t sure this was really happening. The stage in front of her was like something out of a creepy Twin Peaks dream. Spike and Cordy really were awful, but they didn\u2019t seem to realize it, or maybe they just didn\u2019t care.<\/p>\n

And why do they look like they are having so much fun up there? Karaoke is NOT that much fun. Did she just whisper in his ear? You\u2019re supposed to be up there singing Cordelia, not sharing secrets with my\u2026my\u2026with Spike.<\/i><\/p>\n

<\/b><\/i>\u201cIt ain\u2019t fiction,
\njust a natural fact,
\nwe come together cause opposites attract.\u201d<\/b><\/p>\n

Angel didn\u2019t know about that. He didn\u2019t want Cordy and Spike coming together in any way, shape, or form. Plus, they weren\u2019t really opposites. They both had a lot in common, with their tendencies to be loud and nosy and tactless. If Cordy was looking for her opposite, well, Angel was a much better candidate. She liked to watch TV while he liked to read. She drank Diet Coke while he drank blood. See, opposites.<\/p>\n

The song ended and the audience literally stood up and cheered. It was amazing. Some Rubsa demons in the corner started chanting “encore” and the rest of the crowd joined them. Spike dragged Cordelia in for a bear hug, stuck his tongue out in the direction of Buffy and Angel, then shouted something to Lorne.<\/p>\n

Buffy mumbled something about going to the bathroom and Angel felt like if he didn\u2019t get some air he would pass out (which was odd, since he didn’t actually need air). As he walked out of the club, he heard a familiar tune and then came Spike,<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, they say we\u2019re young and we don\u2019t know, we won\u2019t find out until-l-l we grow\u2026\u201d<\/b><\/em><\/p>\n

Part 14<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

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