{"id":7319,"date":"2015-08-05T13:19:07","date_gmt":"2015-08-05T12:19:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/?p=7319"},"modified":"2015-08-05T13:19:21","modified_gmt":"2015-08-05T12:19:21","slug":"elemental","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/2015\/08\/05\/elemental\/","title":{"rendered":"Elemental"},"content":{"rendered":"

Title: Elemental<\/b>
\nAuthor: <\/b>Mab<\/strong>
\nPosted: <\/b>11-2003
\nEmail<\/b><\/a>
\nRating: <\/b>PG
\nCategory: <\/b>Angst
\nContent: <\/b>A\/C
\nSummary: <\/b>Post-Ep for \u201cEpiphany\u201d and \u201cDisharmony\u201d
\nSpoilers: <\/b>Um…I’d say Birthday.
\nDisclaimer: <\/b>The characters in the Angelverse were created by Joss Whedon & David Greenwalt. No infringement is intended, no profit is made.
\nDistribution: <\/b>
\nNotes: <\/b>Psychofilly wanted sex-on-the-hood-of-a-car-in-the-rain, but it turned out that Angel and Cordy weren\u2019t ready to have sex and I\u2019ve always wanted more of a resolution to Angel\u2019s actions in Season 2. Here\u2019s my version.
\nFeedback: <\/b>Oh, yeah. Give it to me good, or bad. Whatever floats your fancy.
\nThanks\/Dedication: <\/b>Thanks to my lovely betas, starlet2367<\/b> & Little Heaven<\/b> for helping me dress this baby up and down. And to Lara<\/b> for always giving me her brutally honest opinion.<\/p>\n

\n

The rain suited her mood – dark, dismal and dreary. What had started off as a drizzle had escalated into a full-fledged downpour. Cordelia Chase sighed wearily as she and Angel made their way back to the Hyperion in Angel’s car.<\/p>\n

\u201cCordelia, about Harmony\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t want to talk about it,\u201d Cordelia answered him tersely, refusing to look at him, choosing instead to gaze into the black night.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut I\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

She turned to him with a stony glare that threatened more than just emasculation. \u201cI. Don\u2019t. Want. To. Talk. About. It.\u201d<\/p>\n

She turned her head back to the rain pelting the car with sharp blows, the sound of it almost hypnotic. She focused on a single drop of water and followed its path down the window with her finger.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe was the closest thing I had to a best friend, ya know? I mean, sure she was as vapid and shallow as they come, but still, nobody could apply make-up like Harmony Kendall. I can\u2019t believe she betrayed me.\u201d Her voice was quiet and achingly hollow.<\/p>\n

\u201cCordy,\u201d Angel began softly. \u201cThat wasn\u2019t your best friend. The real Harmony died a long time ago.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSee, that\u2019s just it. Until she came to LA, I didn\u2019t know that she had died at all. Nobody bothered to tell me, so as far as I knew she was living it up in Malibu. So to me, Harmony isn\u2019t dead, she\u2019s just a sucky friend.\u201d She paused. \u201cA sucky friend who still has my favorite shirt. That tramp.\u201d<\/p>\n

Angel patted her on the shoulder. \u201cSee,\u201d he said, smiling weakly. \u201cThat\u2019s the spirit.\u201d<\/p>\n

She looked at his hand on her shoulder with raised eyebrows. \u201cExcuse me? Personal bubble? Ever hear of it?\u201d<\/p>\n

He removed his hand quickly and she caught a flash of hurt in his eyes. Not that she cared. Like, at all. She\u2019d just had an eyeball removed from the back of her head and her best friend was a vampire that had tried to sell her out to a bunch of other vampires. This was her time of trauma and she didn\u2019t mean to share it.<\/p>\n

With anyone. Least of all Angel. After all, he was the biggest seller-outer in the entire world \u2013 universe, even. She shouldn\u2019t have been surprised, to be honest. Hell, if he couldn\u2019t stay with Buffy, and they\u2019re love transcended like, everything, then how could she expect him to stay for loyalty and friendship?<\/p>\n

Sighing, she reached out to turn on the radio, hoping that music would mask the hovering tension.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe repeat, the greater Los Angeles area is under a severe weather advisory. Expect lightning, flash flooding and possible hail. Do not leave your home unless it is absolutely necessary. Stay tuned to KROQ 106.7 for further updates.\u201d<\/p>\n

Frowning, she turned to Angel. \u201cWhat the hell is up with this weather? I\u2019d better call Wesley.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt’s just rain, Cordy. I think Wes can handle a little rain.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pursing her lips, she ignored him, pulling her cell phone out of her purse and punching in the code that would dial Wesley\u2019s cell phone number.<\/p>\n

\u201cWes?\u201d she asked when he answered.<\/p>\n

\u201cCordelia. Did you and Angel run into any trouble? Gunn and I are going to wait out the rain before heading home.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, we\u2019re fine,\u201d she answered. \u201cWait. Do you mean you guys are already back at the hotel?\u201d her voice was incredulous and she looked at Angel accusingly.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, yes,\u201d Wesley said, \u201cWe’ve been back for quite some…\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll see you soon,\u201d she interrupted, and snapped her cell phone shut.<\/p>\n

\u201cSome shortcut, Angel,\u201d she said sarcastically.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey, don\u2019t blame me, blame it on the rain.\u201d<\/p>\n

She rolled her eyes. \u201cQuoting Milli Vanilli isn\u2019t going to win you any cool points.\u201d<\/p>\n

He looked confused. \u201cMilli \u2013?\u201d He shook his head. \u201cNo, I wasn\u2019t, I was just\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Could he be any more of a dorkus? \u201cWhatever,\u201d she said, shaking her head. She turned back to stare out the window. Lulled by the sound of the rain and the beat of the windshield wipers, and thought she did try to fight it, she fell asleep. She dreamed that it was her birthday and Angel was dressed in a clown suit, making balloon animals.<\/p>\n

\u201cCordy? Cordy?\u201d<\/p>\n

Someone was shaking her. \u201cMmmph,\u201d she moaned, reaching out to push the offensive hands away.<\/p>\n

\u201cOw! Jeez, Cordy, wake up. I need your phone.\u201d<\/p>\n

She opened her eyes and saw Angel rubbing his head. She scowled at him, angry with him for waking her, but angrier with herself for falling asleep in his presence.<\/p>\n

\u201cUm, Cordy, now would be good. Something weird is going on. Of the bad kind.\u201d<\/p>\n

Was he irritated with her? Of all the…\u201cGeesh, have a little patience, Mr. Demando. What’s the rush?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, nothing much. We’ve just been driving around for two hours now and the Hyperion isn’t in sight,\u201d he replied sarcastically.<\/p>\n

She looked around and for the first time realized that it was still pouring outside and they weren’t moving, Angel had pulled over onto the shoulder. \u201cBut that’s impossible, we were only five blocks from the hotel, there’s no way that…\u201d she trailed off. Her eyes narrowed. \u201cWhat did you do?\u201d she demanded.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt wasn’t me,\u201d he said defensively. \u201cGive me the phone, please. I need to call Wes.\u201d<\/p>\n

She couldn’t pass him the phone fast enough.<\/p>\n

Angel looked at the phone as if it the keys were marked in Sanskrit. She snatched it out of his hand and worked speed-dial’s magic, handing the phone back to him with a huff.<\/p>\n

\u201cWes? Wes? You’re gonna have to speak up, there’s a lot of static.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cordelia grabbed the phone from him, held it in front of his face and slowly pulled the antenna out, a look of mock-awe on her face.<\/p>\n

He grabbed it back, scowling.<\/p>\n

\u201cRetard,\u201d she mouthed.<\/p>\n

\u201cWes? What the hell is going on? We’ve been driving for two hours and – what? No, I’m not lost. I didn’t do anything.\u201d<\/p>\n

He was silent for a moment as he listened to Wesley’s reply.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, but make it quick. Cordelia’s going to be running out of oxygen very soon,\u201d he said pointedly, staring at her. She stuck her tongue out at him and crossed her arms over her chest.<\/p>\n

She heard Wes’s exclamation from across the car and very nearly laughed, but then stopped herself.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, no, just kidding,\u201d Angel assured Wesley. \u201cShe’s fine. Read your books and tell me how to get home,\u201d he said and hung up.<\/p>\n

He placed the phone in between them on the seat.<\/p>\n

\u201cI’m not a retard,\u201d he mumbled.<\/p>\n

\u201cAre too,\u201d she retorted hotly. \u201cWe’re lost<\/i> and you told Wesley to research<\/i>? That was a genius idea.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are not<\/strong> lost,\u201d he said emphatically.<\/p>\n

\u201cAre too,\u201d she repeated and they both retreated into silence. She dug her nail file out of her purse and began to file her nails.<\/p>\n

\u201cCordy, about what I did…\u201d Oh, for a pair of ear plugs.<\/p>\n

\u201cAngel,\u201d her tone full of warning.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, Cordy. I need to know. What can I do to make it better?\u201d he pleaded.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. Tell me,\u201d she said, her nails forgotten for the moment. \u201cTell me what someone has to do to make you not<\/strong> leave. You won’t stay for blondes and true love, you won’t stay for friendship and you won’t stay for someone who experiences mind-numbing pain just to get a friggin’ message to you so that you can kick some ass and become a real boy some day,\u201d she finished, out of breath and shaking. Well, he wanted the truth.<\/p>\n

\u201cCordy,\u201d he started, his eyes sad. \u201cI can’t tell you how sorry I am, I…\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAngel,\u201d she said, her voice having lost its previous fire. \u201cYou just don’t get it. These visions, it’s not just that they’re painful…\u201d She paused. \u201cAngel, they’re ki…\u201d<\/p>\n

The phone rang. Angel shot her an apologetic glance and answered it.<\/p>\n

\u201cWes. What’ve you got for me?\u201d<\/p>\n

She didn’t know whether to be frustrated or relieved that Wesley’s call had interrupted her confession. It was probably for the best, she acknowledged to herself. Angel would have thought her weak, and that was the last thing she wanted.<\/p>\n

\u201cUh, Wes. That’s not what I wanted to hear.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAngel,\u201d Cordy whispered. \u201cWhat did Wesley say?\u201d<\/p>\n

When he ignored her, she poked him. \u201cWhat? Tell me,\u201d she insisted.<\/p>\n

\u201cHold on just a second, Wes,\u201d Angel said, lowering the phone from his ear and turning to Cordelia. \u201cHe’s, uh, having trouble finding out what’s causing this.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re lost, Angel. L-O-S-T. And the cause is you. Y-O\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAlright, dammit,\u201d he interrupted. \u201cWe\u2019re lost. The power is out and he can\u2019t log on to MapQuest. Okay? Satisfied?\u201d He resumed his conversation with Wesley.<\/p>\n

\u201cWesley, don\u2019t we have any, ya know, paper maps?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGreat, just great.\u201d Cordelia whispered furiously. \u201cYou tell him that I’m not sitting in this car with you one minute long — Oh, God –\u201d Her hands flew to her head as a vision hit her. She screamed as the images assaulted her in all of their sense-o-ramic glory. She felt Angel’s familiar arms wrap tightly around her just as her body began to convulse.<\/p>\n

When she came to her senses, she found herself tightly clasped against Angel’s solid chest. He was rubbing her back and murmuring assurances in her ear. She resisted the urge to snuggle closer, to burrow further into the safety he projected.<\/p>\n

To succumb to that urge implied forgiveness on her part and she wasn’t ready for that. What he had done to her, to them, made her stomach clench. She’d often wondered if his actions would have been the same had he known what the visions were doing to her, but had decided that she was better off not knowing. She tried to extract herself from his arms, but he held fast.<\/p>\n

She raised her head to look at him and he looked down at her, his expression concerned.<\/p>\n

\u201cBetter?\u201d he questioned softly, tucking her hair behind her ear.<\/p>\n

She shook her head and gently pulled away from him as his grip loosened. \u201cNo ,\u201d she said, rubbing her temple. She took a deep breath and continued, her voice hoarse. \u201cInglewood. An old woman, a spell. Two young girls,\u201d she said, looking at him. \u201cThey’re going to die, Angel. We have to help them. Now.\u201d<\/p>\n

He nodded, her cell phone still in his hand. \u201cI’ll call Wesley back. He and Gunn will have to take care of it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cordelia half-listened as Angel gave Wesley the details of her vision. She brought her legs up on the seat and rested her head on her knees.<\/p>\n

After he finished talking to Wesley, he turned to her and asked her if she had any aspirin.<\/p>\n

She shook her head. \u201cBack at the hotel,\u201d she answered. The aspirin didn’t help anyway, they were just a cover for the stronger medicine she took while no one was looking. She had some in her purse, but didn’t want Angel to see her take them. Pain was preferable to loss of pride. Funny how her priorities had changed.<\/p>\n

\u201cI’m sure Wesley and Gunn will be fine,\u201d Angel said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey’re used to going it alone. Aside from Wesley getting shot, they – we- did a pretty damned good job of holding the agency and ourselves together.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI got that,\u201d Angel said softly. \u201cYou guys did a – I’m proud of you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYay?\u201d Cordelia asked sarcastically. \u201cAngel the Magnificent approves? Well, I hafta tell you, that just makes my millennium.\u201d<\/p>\n

With a muttered curse, Angel flung the car door open and stepped outside.<\/p>\n

Heedless of the storm raging outside, she flung the car door open and stepped out into the maelstrom, ignoring Angel’s protests. She walked around to the back of the car and found Angel walking down the dark path of highway. Damn vampire speed.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhere are you going?\u201d she yelled. Bastard.<\/p>\n

No response. She yelled at him again and he finally turned around. She did not like the look in his eyes. Purposeful. Intense.<\/p>\n

\u201cDammit, Cordy. What do you want me to do, what do you want me to say?\u201d His voice was pleading.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m dying, Angel, she wanted to scream. Instead she said nothing, just looked at him. Through fat drops of rain, she watched as he made his way toward her. She was fully clothed but had never felt more naked in her entire life. Her rain soaked shirt was plastered to her body, her pants were a second skin. She backed up, her hands in front of her, as if to ward him off. As if she could. Her butt hit the hood of the car and she almost slipped. Would have slipped had he not been there to catch her.<\/p>\n

\u201cCordy–\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, Angel, stay away, just stay away,\u201d she said, placing her hands on his chest in an attempt to push him away.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can’t. That’s the one thing I can’t do,\u201d he said, but released her nonetheless, slicking his wet hair back with his hands.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, I dunno, you seemed pretty good at it that one time,\u201d she muttered. Her shoulders slumped in defeat and she crossed her arms over her chest and she eyed him warily.<\/p>\n

\u201cI used to watch you, you know. You and Wesley and Gunn. I wanted to make sure you were okay.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy are you telling me this?\u201dshe asked. \u201cDo you honestly think that it makes it better? We put our lives on the line for you every friggin day, fighting your fight. Your<\/b> fight.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI told you not to,\u201d he said defensively. \u201cIt was your choice. You could’ve walked away-\u201d He started to say more before her hand connected with his cheek. Hard.<\/p>\n

\u201cBullshit,\u201d she spat, her entire body shaking. \u201cBull. Shit. See, I don’t have that luxury, Angel. I just don’t. Remember those memo’s from the Powers That Be? Well, the memo reminders keep coming until the day is saved. Not to mention the fact that I can’t sit idly by while people are dying.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCordy, I-\u201d he started.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, Angel,\u201d she interupted. \u201cYou don’t get to talk. You don’t have the right.\u201d She was crying now. \u201cYou gave it up the night you fired us. Your opinion doesn’t count for shit,\u201d she sobbed, her tears mixing with the rain.<\/p>\n

Dammit, she hadn’t wanted to cry and she could only hope that the rain would conceal her tears. She laughed inwardly. The rain might conceal her tears, but they couldn’t conceal the harsh sobs wracking her body. She wrapped her arms around herself and tried to control herself. She didn’t notice that Angel hand come closer until she felt his arms go around her.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo!\u201d she cried. \u201cLeave me alone!\u201d She fought him tooth and nail, trying to push him away, but he took each hit, each slap and held her tighter.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am so sorry, so sorry,\u201d he murmured into her wet hair. This only made her cry harder and she continued to struggle against him, falling to her knees in the process. Angel fell right along with her, his arms still wound tightly around her.<\/p>\n

She stopped fighting him and allowed herself to be held. Her sobs calmed down to an occasional hiccup.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy, Angel? Why Darla?\u201d Her voice was hoarse and muffled from crying.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2026\u201d he hesitated. \u201cI thought that if I could save her, I could save myself.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can\u2019t save everybody, Angel. That\u2019s not your job. Your job is to try. To try and to fail and to fall down and then get back up again. Promise me,\u201d she insisted, tugging at his duster. \u201cPromise me that you’ll stick around, that you’ll help us fight the good fight.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI promise,\u201d he said kissing her forehead.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd promise me that you’ll never, ever give away my clothes again. If you feel the urge, raid Wesley’s closet, but stay away from my clothes,\u201d she said, punctuating her statement with a poke on his nose.<\/p>\n

He laughed. \u201cI’ll buy you new clothes,\u201d he said, smiling. He leaned down and kissed her softly on the lips.<\/p>\n

Cordelia wasn’t prepared for the spark that his touch ignited. She inhaled sharply and looked at Angel in surprise. He looked from her mouth to her eyes and back to her mouth again. Wordlessly he lowered his head again, his mouth touching hers, this time with firmer pressure.<\/p>\n

She parted her lips and his tongue swept into her mouth, taking her breath away. She arched against him and moaned as his arms tightened and the kiss deepened. Her fingers latched onto his neck, anchoring his lips to hers. She was lost in the incredible sensation of being in Angel\u2019s arms, but those feelings weren\u2019t strong enough to squelch the tiny voice of reason that dwelled within her.<\/p>\n

She wrenched away from him, gasping for breath, not quite sure at what had just happened.<\/p>\n

\u201cUm,\u201d Cordelia mumbled, wiping the back of her hand across her mouth.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe’re obviously under a lot of stress and the intensity of this situation was really, um, intense what with the rain and we couldn’t help but cling to each other in this time of, of intensity,\u201dAngel babbled, not meeting her eyes.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah. I don’t think so,\u201d Cordelia said, rolling her eyes. \u201cWe were obviously under the influence of some spell.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cA spell.\u201d Angel looked skeptical as he held his hand out to help Cordelia up.<\/p>\n

\u201cA spell caused by massive amounts of rain,\u201d she said, looking up at the sky. \u201cRain that has mysteriously stopped falling,\u201d she said, both of them looking up at the rapidly clearing sky in disbelief. Their eyes met and they smiled at each other awkwardly before looking away.<\/p>\n

Baby steps, but they would get there. Just not yet.<\/p>\n

\u201cYep, a spell,\u201d she confirmed, trying to squeeze as much water as possible from her shirt. \u201cNow, think you can find your way to the mall?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd why would I want to do that?\u201d he questioned, his amusement plain to see.<\/p>\n

\u201cBecause, dumbass,\u201d she explained, smiling. \u201cWe have some shopping to do.\u201d<\/p>\n

End<\/b><\/p>\n

QueenMab<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n

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