{"id":6941,"date":"2015-08-01T12:59:13","date_gmt":"2015-08-01T11:59:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/?p=6941"},"modified":"2015-08-01T14:03:33","modified_gmt":"2015-08-01T13:03:33","slug":"the-upper-hand-1-5","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/2015\/08\/01\/the-upper-hand-1-5\/","title":{"rendered":"The Upper Hand. 1-5"},"content":{"rendered":"

Title: The Upper Hand?<\/b>
\nAuthor: <\/b>(Only)Anneb<\/strong>
\nPosted here: <\/b>
\nEmail<\/b><\/a>
\nRating: <\/b>NC-17 (for some sexual content and violence)
\nCategory: <\/b>
\nContent: <\/b>
\nSummary: <\/b>This is just a C\/A story and it’s done, not even close to being as long as ‘Mother’s love<\/em>‘.
\nSpoilers: <\/b>No real spoilers- Connor doesn’t exist and I didn’t even bother with Birthday and all it implies. So, if I had to place it- I guess it would be after Plyea, but before everything else- and no mention that Buffy even supposedly died. I just figured that ‘Mother’s love’ was long enough, mentioning all of those things.
\nDisclaimer: <\/b>The characters in the Angelverse were created by Joss Whedon & David Greenwalt. No infringement is intended, no profit is made.
\nDistribution: <\/b>If you want it, it’s yours- just let me know.
\nFeedback:<\/b> Please<\/p>\n

\n

Chapter 1<\/b><\/p>\n

\u201cCinnamon or nutmeg.\u201d Cordelia held up the two spices.<\/p>\n

\u201cNeither.\u201d Angel grimaced.<\/p>\n

\u201cAh, you want to be surprised, okay.\u201d She smiled and turned back to the counter.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, Cordy. I don\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPooh, you can\u2019t really be that boring.\u201d<\/p>\n

Angel just sat his shoulders slumped and stared at the back of Cordelia\u2019s shaking head. She never listened to him; never. He\u2019d growl if he thought it would do any good. But she would just pout or worse glare and do it anyway.<\/p>\n

For his own good she would say, to liven things up in his icky dull diet. Angel liked his icky dull diet. Well, actually, he really didn\u2019t \u2018like\u2019 pig\u2019s blood. But, it was all right, not as good as human of course, but since that wasn\u2019t really an option, it was fine. It worked and it didn\u2019t need to be spiced up or livened in anyway.<\/p>\n

\u201cHere ya go.\u201d Cordelia smiled handing him the warm mug.<\/p>\n

Angel reluctantly took it and he would drink it, because Cordelia wanted him to. Someday, she would listen to him. Who was he kidding? Cordelia would always have the upper hand in their relationship.<\/p>\n

Puzzled Angel put the mug down. It was just pig\u2019s blood.<\/p>\n

\u201cAh, Gotcha,\u201d Her smile was even brighter; laugher filled her warm hazel eyes. \u201cScared ya, didn\u2019t I? I scared the big bad \u2018grr\u2019 guy.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou definitely scare me.\u201d Angel took another sip. And she definitely got him. Angel didn\u2019t know when or how it exactly it happened but Cordelia Chase definitely got him all dead heart and tenuous soul of him.<\/p>\n

His realization that he needed her happened the first year of their working together and becoming friends. The love- he wasn\u2019t so sure about, the love just sort of snuck up on him. He probably still wouldn\u2019t realize it if it hadn\u2019t been for Fred\u2019s nonsensical ramblings about Kyerumption and Moira.<\/p>\n

Angel still didn\u2019t know whether he should thank Fred or hate her for that insight.<\/p>\n

Angel\u2019s musings were cut off as he saw Cordelia\u2019s body tense and her hand fumble for the back of the chair. Angel was off the stool and over the counter before the scream emerged from out of her mouth.<\/p>\n

\u201cCordy, Cordy.\u201d He murmured trying to hold her body from thrashing as the pain of the vision overtook her.<\/p>\n

The sounds of Cordelia\u2019s yells brought Wesley, Gunn and Fred running.<\/p>\n

The three friends knelt down beside Angel and Cordelia\u2019s trembling form.<\/p>\n

Finally, after what seemed like forever, Cordelia stopped moaning and shifted in Angel\u2019s arms. \u201cI\u2019m fine, large demon, spikes a lot of them, razor like claws about to put an end permanently to a couples\u2019 grope session under the boardwalk. Hurry or the guy will never get the chance to be lucky again.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

Chapter 2<\/b><\/p>\n

Fred glanced at the other brunette sitting next to her. Cordelia was rubbing her temples as she read the computer screen over Fred\u2019s shoulder. \u201cCordy, are you sure you don\u2019t want to lie down or at least have some more aspirin.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cordelia gave a small smile. \u201cI\u2019m fine. Really.\u201d She emphasized at Fred\u2019s doubtful look. \u201cWe need to keep looking. I want to identify that ugly of uglies. There was something about it in my vision. We need to know what it is- it\u2019s important.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cordelia looked towards the door of the lobby. \u201cI wish\u2026It doesn\u2019t feel right Fred. They shouldn\u2019t have gone without knowing what type of demon it was.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut you said\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know\u2026the couple didn\u2019t have the time, but I can\u2019t get over the feeling that we should have somehow found the time. Let\u2019s keeping looking.\u201d<\/p>\n

Fred nodded and continued to search the All Thing Demons\u2019 website. \u201cWhat about this one?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s ugly, but no. The one in my vision had five claws, not four and it was uglier.\u201d<\/p>\n

They both jumped as the front door slammed open. Cordelia was on her feet running as soon as she saw Angel\u2019s unconscious form cradled between Wesley and Gunn.<\/p>\n

Cordelia swallowed her panic as she saw the deep incisions ripped into the vampire\u2019s chest and stomach. \u201cTake him to his room. I\u2019ll get the first aid kit.\u201d She ordered.<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

Cordelia said nothing as she gently pulled the material of Angel\u2019s shirt off the bloodied wounds. Cordelia refused to let her fear get in the way of what she was doing. She wiped the blood and\u2026. Cordelia looked up questioningly to Wesley. \u201cWhat\u2019s this?\u201d Pointing to a black oozing substance that seemed to be embedded in the cut.<\/p>\n

Wesley peered in closer as did Gunn and Fred. The ex-watcher fiddled with his glasses. \u201cI don\u2019t know it must have come from the demon.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWesley, you didn\u2019t recognize what kind of demon it was?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, it was obviously some species of Incisoratic demon, but I\u2019ve never read of the one we wounded or of such demon leaving a substance in their victim\u2019s injuries.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWounded?\u201d Cordelia asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt got away, we had to get Angel out of there. We saved the couple, though.\u201d Gunn said. \u201cAnd it was hurt pretty badly.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cordelia nodded. The couple was saved and Gunn was right, Angel needed to be brought home. That\u2019s all that mattered. \u201cWes, these wounds are bad, but Angel should be conscious by now, he\u2019s had worse.\u201d Cordelia stomach lurched as she said that, but it was true.<\/p>\n

Wesley nodded. \u201cI know. It may have been on the account of the substance.\u201d Wesley put on a pair rubber gloves identical to the one\u2019s Cordelia was wearing. \u201cFred,\u201d Wesley turned around to the address the young woman, but she was already out the door. \u201cI\u2019ll get the microscope set up.\u201d She called as she ran down the stairs.<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you, Fred.\u201d Wesley took one of the cloths that Cordelia had used to wipe up Angel\u2019s blood and the black substance. \u201cI\u2019ll take this and see if I can identify it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFred and I were looking on the website, we couldn\u2019t find the demon.\u201d Cordelia called after him.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe will discover it. Angel will be fine.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cordelia shook her head, fighting against the tears that were threatening to fall. \u201cHow do we know that? We can\u2019t even tell if he\u2019s still alive. I mean he\u2019s dead and he seems dead, for all we know he could be\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s not dust.\u201d Gunn said.<\/p>\n

Cordelia shot the black man a look and then softly smiled. \u201cYeah, he\u2019s not dust so I guess then he’s the right kind of dead, uh.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gunn smiled back. \u201cCordy, can I get anything for you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, just make sure that there is enough blood. We should\u2019ve enough, but double check, Angel will need at least four more bags than usual once he wakes up.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gunn nodded and left.<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

\u201cDamn you, Angel. You\u2019re the champion. You aren\u2019t supposed to be the one hurt. Wake up, please.\u201d Cordelia finally let a small tear escape.<\/p>\n

\u201cPlease,\u201d she begged as she tenderly taped the last of the bandages on his chest. Cordelia force a smile. \u201cYou\u2019ll be fine. You will.\u201d Curling up beside the vampire. He was so still and cold, colder than normal.<\/p>\n

Angel\u2019s body temperature was always colder than a human\u2019s but after awhile once Angel had been in contact with them, his temperature would rise, as if the dead flesh soaked up the heat around it. Maybe, her body heat would warm him, make him heal faster.<\/p>\n

\n

Chapter 3<\/b><\/p>\n

\u201cWesley.\u201d Fred beckoned the ex-watcher to the computer and pointed. \u201cThe Axis has five claws and leaves a purple substance in its victims, it eats away the flesh it penetrates. I know it says purple, but maybe they meant black.\u201d Pointing again to the authors of the site on the demon.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, if that was it, we should have seen a reaction by now.\u201d Wesley looked up as Gunn came down the stairs.<\/p>\n

\u201cNada, and Cordy is passed out hugging the vamp. I was going to wake her but she\u2019d probably just yell and get mad.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat was probably for the best. You didn\u2019t detect any signs of Angel\u2019s flesh being eaten away around the bandages or discoloration or infection.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cUh, gross. No.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWesley,\u201d Fred called again. \u201cThe author\u2019s cited this text as an authority on Axis\u2019 and other rare Incisoratic demons, but I can\u2019t pull it up on any other web page. It\u2019s seems to be out of print. Do you have a copy of it?\u201d<\/p>\n

Wesley came over and read the title. \u201cNo. Fred, please print it out for me. Gunn, just in case it was an Axis and the reaction is delayed because Angel\u2019s a vampire, I need you to go to the herbalist and get\u2026\u201d Fred held out two sheets of computer printouts. One with the list of ingredients needed to counteract an Axis\u2019 poison and the title of the book. \u201cThank you.\u201d Wesley smiled. Fred smiled and pushed up her glasses.<\/p>\n

Wesley handed Gunn the list of ingredients. \u201cI\u2019ll go to Anatolia\u2019s book shop, if the book is still in existence, she will have a copy or at least know where to obtain it. Fred..\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll stay with them.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

Chapter 4<\/b><\/p>\n

The vampire\u2019s eyes remained closed as he used his other senses to discern where he was. He felt great, but he wanted to know as much of everything that was going on before he reacted.<\/p>\n

The warmth that surrounded his body felt exhilarating, the scent that confronted him was as intoxicating as it was familiar.<\/p>\n

The demon resisted the urge to plunder the source of the pleasure immediately, he had in the last 100 years learned the benefits of patience or rather his last two aborted tastes of freedom had taught him the necessity of thinking before acting.<\/p>\n

The seer\u2019s body wrapped around his pretty much told him that the human\u2019s had no idea what had happened. Angelus moved his arms slightly; he wasn\u2019t chained. Which guaranteed they had absolutely no clue what the effects of the demon\u2019s slashes had on the ensouled wimp.<\/p>\n

Angelus didn\u2019t either. He just knew he was free. Angelus lifted his head, his eyes resting on the brown head sleeping in the crook of his shoulder. The delectable, lush Cordelia Chase, Angel\u2019s little best friend and unspoken love. This was going to be such great fun.<\/p>\n

Angelus hid his smirk as he felt the body brush and move against him. Her warmth scorched against him. Angelus controlled himself. Angel was such a fool. The demon was going to have so much more than just fun with this piece of tasty ass.<\/p>\n

\u201cAngel,\u201d Cordelia leaned up and stared in the dark eyes of the vampire. \u201cAngel, you\u2019re awake.\u201d She hugged him tightly. \u201cWhoops, I didn\u2019t hurt you did I? Are you okay?\u201d She sat up, her hands quickly going to the bandages. Angelus started to sit up. \u201cLie down, you big dork, scaring me half to death. Stay still, I want to see how you\u2019re healing.\u201d Angelus lay obediently back down.<\/p>\n

Cordelia scrutinize the wounds. \u201cThey\u2019re better. They\u2019re better.\u201d She said grinning and hugging the vampire again. \u201cI bet you\u2019re starving. Don\u2019t move. I\u2019ll be back. I promise no added flavoring. Lie down.\u201d Cordelia stopped at the door and glared. \u201cYou scared me, don\u2019t do it again.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, Cordy.\u201d Angelus gave a sheepish smile. Cordelia flashed him a beautiful smile and went running down to the lobby.<\/p>\n

Angelus got off the bed. \u2018Yes, Cordy\u2019. Jesus, the ensouled wimp was whipped. He needed a shower and to get this show on the road. But, first, Angelus stilled and sensed the heartbeats in the hotel. Lovely Cordy\u2019s, of course and sweet innocent loony Fred\u2019s. Angelus smirked.<\/p>\n

Fred didn\u2019t think that Angel was a beast. Well, he was just going have to show that little cute Plyean refugee that just wasn\u2019t true. No, lame ass heroes. Where could Wesley and Gunn be? Angelus thought about that. He had planned on killing all of them, well except Cordelia at least not right away, she deserved special attention, after all, it was her that made his ensouled counterpart so pathetic.<\/p>\n

She was worse than the Buffmonster. Well, Cordelia was his priority, he didn\u2019t want to take a chance that they would figure out he was back, not before he had her safely away, but there still maybe time to play and kill Fred before the dumb heroes get back.<\/p>\n

He\u2019d play it by instinct.<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

\u201cCordy,\u201d Fred jumped up as Cordelia came running down the stairs.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s awake and healing fine.\u201d Running into the kitchen to get the blood.<\/p>\n

\u201cAngel\u2019s awake, wonderful.\u201d Fred smiled.<\/p>\n

Cordelia paused and looked around. \u201cWhere\u2019s Gunn and Wesley?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWesley went to get a book that he thinks will identify the demon and Gunn went to get some ingredients, just in case the black oozy stuff was poisonous.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cordelia scrunched up her face as she put a mug of blood in the microwave. \u201cPoisonous? He seemed fine. But,\u2026\u201d Cordelia remembered her earlier unease about the vision. \u201cThat\u2019s a good idea.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

Chapter 5<\/b><\/p>\n

Cordelia glanced around the empty room starting to get worried, until she heard the shower running. \u201cHe must be better,\u201d she smiled to the young woman that had accompanied her back up the stairs.<\/p>\n

\u201cAngel, hurry up dinner\u2019s getting cold.\u201d She called heading towards the bathroom door. She jumped back as the door opened and the vampire strode out with nothing but a towel wrapped around his lean hips.<\/p>\n

Angelus debated about that but decided that he would wait too shock the seer and well, the towel would be enough to make the other woman all fidgety. He was right.<\/p>\n

Fred just gaped; her face turning bright red and she turned quickly around. Cordelia didn\u2019t notice Fred\u2019s embarrassment. Cordelia just shoved the mug at the vampire and looked again at the wounds on his chest, her finger tracing each line.<\/p>\n

Angelus swallowed his growl at her touch, her obliviousness to his semi-naked state and the smell of pig\u2019s blood. He would show Cordelia that he was not a eunuch.<\/p>\n

Cordelia scrunched up her face at the vampire. \u201cDon\u2019t be growly, I told you I wouldn\u2019t spike it. Geez.\u201d She smiled and hugged him. Angelus had to move the mug to keep from spilling it at her embrace. \u201cNow, drink it, you need it. You lost a lot of blood.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cErm,\u201d Fred said her back still turned. \u201cAngel, I\u2019m glad you\u2019re better, but you should probably still rest, Wesley and Gunn went to find out what kind of Demon attacked you and the possible effects of the black oozy stuff. It may not have effected you now, but it just might, so.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAngel, she\u2019s right. That stuff was just gross and not normal. Well, demons in general aren\u2019t normal, but you know what I mean. Drink it, I\u2019ll get you some more and you lie down.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCordy, what about you? Are you hungry? You haven\u2019t eaten since way before the vision. And the guys will be back soon. About I go to that Mexican place down the street and get take out?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou just want tacos. But yeah, I am kind of hungry. You go and I\u2019ll stay and make sure stubborn \u2018grr\u2019 guy eats and rest. Angel.\u201d Cordelia turned pushing the mug to his mouth.<\/p>\n

Angelus sighed and took a sip. He was hungry, but pig\u2019s blood was definitely not on his menu of choice. That was standing before him. But he drank and let Fred leave. He would have time, after he took Cordelia away.<\/p>\n

After all, she was his priority. He couldn\u2019t take the chance that he would waste this opportunity by playing with Fred and having Gunn and Wesley come back. Who knew, by the time he killed all of them Cordelia may escape. Angelus knew he would find her, but all that time wasted.<\/p>\n

Anyway, if they did figure out what happened, their fear would just be an added bonus. He could wait for them, but not for Cordelia.<\/p>\n

Angelus handed Cordelia the empty mug. She smiled.<\/p>\n

\u201cCould I have some more?\u201d<\/p>\n

Her smile got even bigger. \u201cI\u2019ll be right back, now put some clothes on Fred almost fainted seeing you\u2019re manly boobs, and get back into bed. You need to take advantage of this Angel, I\u2019m waiting on you, won\u2019t happen every day, you know.\u201d<\/p>\n

Angel went to the closet and pulled out some clothes. Leather and silk always a comfortable combination. He sat on the bed and thought. Angel was one stupid vampire and his stupidity had prevented Angelus from even seeing the truth.<\/p>\n

Or rather, Angelus\u2019 own desire to taste and destroy the seer had blinded him from sensing Cordelia\u2019s true feelings for the vampire. She wanted him, or she wanted the ensouled one, she was just better at the denial thing than Angel.<\/p>\n

Clueless idiots, both of them. But it made it all the more fun for him. Angelus would make the seer scream his name, beg for him, then terrorize her until she screamed in hate at Angel and him, then he would take her again, then\u2026.well, then one way or another she would die.<\/p>\n

He got up and went downstairs.<\/p>\n

Chapter 6<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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