Title: What Would You Do?
Author: BlueEyes
Posted: 06-06-2004
Email: Feline1178@aol.com
Rating: NC17
Category: AU, BtVS
Content: C/A
Summary: Angel gets a second chance to relive his destiny.
Spoilers: All of the ATS and Buffy series
Disclaimer: The characters in the Angelverse were created by Joss Whedon & David Greenwalt. No infringement is intended, no profit is made.
Distribution: Just Fic, any others ask please.
Notes: First, I hope this doesn’t suck. Second, I wanted to have a way for everyone to relive the show but not in such a …hmmm……..way. Third, the writers here have inspired me. I hope I do you justice. Although this is not my first work of fiction it is my first Angel piece. So, if it makes you laugh, makes you cry and just plain old makes you feel good then my job is done. Enjoy.
Feedback: Feedback is like an IV to a drug user. Need it. Want it. Must have it. Plus it makes me feel all good and tingly inside. That and it inspires me to write more. So..feedback=more story.
Thanks/Dedication: And much thanks to Susi, she made me a wonderful fic pic.Part 11: I need A Hero
"No. Cordelia." He ignored her. He could ignore her.
"Yes. Angel." She followed him through the office. Her way of getting to him.
"N-O." If he could only get to the elevator door.
"Y-E-S." Nope, not getting to the elevator buddy.
"I’m not playing Dark Avenger."
"Why not? You’re dark and avengery. All I’m asking is for you to be nice and talk to the little camera. You don’t even have to smile."
"You do try my patience, you know that right?"
"So, you’ll do it?"
"No." He slides by her, goes to the elevator.
"Fine. Don’t do it. Be all broody because Buffy dropped into your life. Life does go on buddy." She yells at him as the elevator descends.
"Princess, I think that means he doesn’t want a commercial." Doyle stood in the doorway. Boy but did he enjoy watching those two.
"Five minutes. She’s here five minutes and he goes all the world is over." Cordy walks past him to her desk. Picking up her leftover yogurt container.
Knowing there would be no explaining to her, Doyle walks downstairs. Hearing the sound of flesh hitting leather he finds Angel going a few rounds with the punching bag.
"What do you want, Doyle."
"She isn’t upset enough to break down and let me comfort her. I was wondering if you could be a little more demon like and just tear into her." Doyle stands behind the bag, holding it as Angel punches. Letting out a grunt as the bag moves him.
"I need to deal. Is it ok to just deal around here before someone asks you to done a cape and start a superhero shtick? Is that too much to ask?"
"She’s trying to take your mind off of things."
"No kidding." He lets go of the bag, walking over to the couch. "That’s not why I’m in a pissy mood.
"Then why?" Doyle went to sit beside him.
"Have you ever felt that you’ve lived something before? Like a certain event?"
"Déjà vu? Been getting that ever since I met you but then again, visions. I normally live half our day in my head. He play"ed with a matchbook between his fingers.
"She was here longer than five minutes."
"Heard our Cordy, did ya now?"
"Yeah. She was here for a day." He told him about his missing day. About Buffy, turning human. He left out the part about Cordelia. Angel got up, going to the stairs. Just face her and get it over with.
Doyle stayed on the couch as Angel looked up the stairs. "Buffy?"
"Buffy. And why haven’t you sent me to the Oracles before now?" Angel began walking up, leaving Doyle behind.
"Wait, wait. Oracles. Who told you about Oracles?" Doyle darted up, catching up with Angel.
"You did."
***
The television showed nothing but snow. The tape having ended. She sat there, numb, unfeeling. It was over. It couldn’t be over. She wanted him back.
"You don’t know until you’re tested." Doyle’s last words echoed through his ears, his mind. His soul.
"Am I done?"
Angel picked her up off the couch, carrying her down the stairs to his apartment. Laying her on his bed. The tears still would not come. He removed her shoes. Massaging her feet lightly before putting them back on the bed. He moves to go. A hand on his back.
"Stay."
He sits beside her, a hand on her cheek. Comfort. They hurt. He laid down next to her, taking her in his arms. Their faces close.
Silence takes over the room as they hold each other. Comforting.
A kiss, a touch of the lips. Another. Hands go to buttons as Angel lets her hair down. His tongue teases her mouth as she unbuttons his shirt, seeking the skin underneath. She moans as he rolls on top of her. Kneeling between her legs as he brings her to a sitting position. Pulling her shirt off. Their mouths go back to each other as he toys with her pants. They don’t part as he pulls them down.
Cordelia kicks them off as she unbuttons the top of his pants, unzips them just a bit.
"Angel…" A moan of pleasure as he cups a breast. Too much. It feels like a damn was going to burst.
He lifts up, looking into her eyes. The tears shining there. He felt the need too. But he couldn’t. Not to her. Leaning his forehead against hers, he wraps his arm around her waist, pulling her to her side.
"We can’t." He brushes his thumb over the skin of her cheek, catching a tear.
"Please." She arches against him, feeling, needing.
"Baby, Angelus." The curse.
She bites her lip, her hands tucked between their chests. "I didn’t think I could give you perfect happiness. Especially not today."
"No, not today but I’m not going to use you to make me feel better." She meant too much to him.
"It’s ok. It’ll make me feel better too."
"No, I’m not going to be like the rest of them." He gets up off the bed, pulling the covers up over her.
"Don’t leave me." She tries to sit up, only to have him push her back down.
"I won’t. I’ll be right here by the bed. Get some sleep, k?" He sits in the chair, not bothering to fix his pants or put on a shirt. He watches her as her eyes close. Her breathe evening out as she drifts off to sleep.
Hating his soul for not letting it take her.
***
"Doyle told me about your missing day." She laid on her side, facing him as he sat in the chair by his bed. As comfortable as she could be in a skirt and tank top.
"Doyle has a big mouth." His feet were spread out, along with his legs. His arms dangled at the side of the chair as his head laid back. His hair still wet from the shower he just took.
"Doyle was worried about you." She bunched the pillow up under her head. Her hands buried underneath.
Silence. A moment of remembering.
"Why didn’t you tell me?" She whispered it.
"It wasn’t really important." She got up off the bed, grabbing the white shirt laying at the foot. He watched her not moving as she buttoned it up.
"Not important? Buffy is the love of your life. Automatic brood mode. Not to mention, never mind." She sat back down, grabbing the high heels, sliding them on.
"What?"
"Angel, why is it you can tell me about turning Dru. About what you did as Angelus but you can’t tell me a simple little thing like you turned human and got to be with Buffy?"
Bet Doyle didn’t mention the part about me telling you I love you. "I don’t know."
"Oh, you don’t know. Well then that just makes it all better." She left the apartment, going upstairs. After a few minutes, Angel followed. Leaning against the doorjamb he watched her as she picked up mug after mug. Setting one down to pick another up.
Cordelia stood at the coffee maker. Coffee cup in hand. She senses Angel standing in the doorway.
"I’m mad at you." She doesn’t look at him, just kept looking at the mug in her hand.
"I hadn’t noticed." Angel folded his arms against his chest "In case you couldn’t tell that was my sarcastic voice. Why?"
"Why?" She stormed into his office, sitting in his chair. "You have to ask?" She gets up, going over to the window. "I know how you like your blood. How you like your laundry. How you hate me doing your laundry. I know what makes you moon over buffy. What will make you laugh." She turns to him, looking at him with tears in her eyes.
"I know all about you. But I don’t even know if Doyle had a favorite coffee mug. He had feelings for me and what do I do? I’m so stuck up on not feeling anything for you that I totally ignore him." That I’m glad it wasn’t you.
"Cor." Angel reached for her, not totally computing what she just confessed to him. She backed away, her hands up in front of her.
"Just, stay away, Angel. I-I need to be alone." She walks out of the office, picking up her purse and coat on the way out.
"Where are you going?" Angel follows her to the door, the sunlight stopping him as she opens it.
"I have an audition. It shouldn’t cut into your brooding time." She walks out, knowing he can’t follow. Brood on that, broody boy.
She walks along the street. She’s not interested in a cab or the bus. She needs to walk off some steam. She mutters to herself. About vampires, blondes and half demons that sacrifice themselves for the greater good. Her emotions were on over drive.
"Ow." She ran head on into someone.
"Sorry." A masculine voice and strong hands grabbed her arms, steadying her.
"Watch where you’re go……..ing. Hi." She looks into the bright eyes of a young man. Sincere eyes.
"Hi…." He smiles at her. Leaning down, retrieving her purse from the ground. "Sorry about that."
"How can I make it up to you?"
"I don’t know…." Her smile faded as he hit on her.
"Can I buy you a drink, come on, coffee? Or do you have plans? I bet a pretty lady like you has a full calendar.
"
It was an old line but this time she’d go for it. "Actually, I have plans."
"That’s ok. I can take a hint. Tell you what. Take my number. When you have a free night, give me a call. I’d like to buy you dinner." He took a piece of paper out of his pocket. A business card.
"I don’t know…" She had an uneasy feeling in the pit of her stomach.
"It’s ok. I don’t bite. I’m a good guy. I’ll tell you what, we’ll even go out as a group if you want. Get a few of your girlfriends together, I’ll get some of the guys together. It’ll be a group thing." She still looked hesitant. It could be a way to get her mind off Angel. And he did seem sincere.
"I promise. I’m a nice guy. And I have a great portfolio."
"I’ll think about it." She smiled as he clutched his heart and blew out a breathe.
"That’s all I can ask………….?"
"Cordelia." She was starting to feel at ease. Angel didn’t have to know.
"Pretty name for a pretty lady." He held out a to her. "Wilson, Wilson Christopher."
***
Angel stood at the desk. Writing the notes from the information Barney had given him in a case file. He looked up, seeing Cordelia standing in the door. Watching him.
She walks forward, eyes still on him. She stands in front of him, her arms going around his neck. His body frozen as her skin touches his. She pulls his head down to hers, her kips parting. The skin of their lips touch as Barney falls through the door.
Breaking apart they jump at the sound.
"Who the hell…….?" Cordelia looks at Barney, a questioning look on her face.
"Cordelia, meet Barney. Our new client." Angel leans back on the heels of his feet, his hands going into the pockets of his pants.
"Oh. OH. Oooooh. HI!" Cordelia walks over to him, pulling his head down to hers. She heard him moan as she kissed him. Pulling away just as he was about to grab her ass.
"Damn." She still had them.
"Uh, Cordy? Are we trying out a new greeting for clients?" Angel looked at her, torn between jealousy and just wondering what the heck she was doing.
"Wow. Now that’s the way to treat a client."
"I didn’t feel anything. Did you feel anything?" She stopped Barney from answering. "That means I still have them. Corde"lia paced in front of Angel’s desk.
"Have what? Barney, do you mind….?"
"Oh, sure, sure. Wow, wait til I tell my friends about this…." Angel walks over, closing the door behind Barney.
"Cordy. Them what. What do you still have."
"He gave them to me. I can’t believe Doyle. If he were here I’d, I’d…..Ugh"
"Cordy, did you have a vision?" Angel takes her shoulders in his hands.
"Boy Howdy! Did I have a vision."
"They told me another door would open but this….you‘re my new connection to the powers."
"This. This. He kissed me and gave me visions. I don’t want a connection. I’m still vibrating from seeing the gray blobby thing."
Angel hands her a pad and pencil. "You draw what you can from the vision. Look after Barney." Angel grabs his coat running for the door.
"Where are you going?"
"I need to check something out."
***
"Angel? Why were my stockings under your sink? And have shaving gel on them?" She walked out of the bathroom, her lingerie in hand. A pair of black stockings and garter. Her face in a frown as she approached the kitchen.
He was cooking her breakfast. Eggs no doubt. It had become ritual. She looked at the third chair. Empty.
She watched his back as he cooked. He had placed the drawing of the "blob" she had affectionately named the item from her vision on the table, along with a frame. The idiot. Thought she would want to frame it. Damn him for knowing her so well.
He was whistling too. She left him, taking the lingerie with her. A soak in the tub would do her good.
Sinking into the hot water, she let out a long suffering sigh. In the span of a few days Doyle had left them and Wesley had returned. Of course kissing him wasn’t very smart. She still hadn’t passed off the visions. So. That must mean they belong to her now. She had a reason to stay. Before, she had no connection to Angel. He could have her leave whenever the feeling hit him.
Now, now he had to let her stay. Now she could be important to him. Closing her eyes she sank deeper. Now he couldn’t leave her.
Toweling off afterwards she looked in the mirror. She didn’t look different. Were seers supposed to look different? Taking her hair down from the bun she had knotted at the top of her hair, she brushed it out. She missed Angel doing her hair.
She pulled it up into a messy bun, giving up on any grooming she might need. After pulling on her clothes and once last glance in the mirror she left the bathroom. Angel was still in the kitchen.
He heard the door to the bathroom creak open. Knew she was coming to the kitchen. He couldn’t ignore her this time. Busying himself he stood at the stove. Hearing the sounds of a moving chair. The scrape of the metal legs against the linoleum of the floor.
He heard her sigh as she began to put the drawing into the frame. Ironing it out to erase the creases.
"Hello all." Wesley bumbles in. The tense silence not noticed.
Cordelia looks up at Angel as he sets the plates. "I’m putting this up in the office. As a thank you for you saving me and as a reminder of Doyle. A part of him will always be here." She hides her eyes under her lashes as she silences.
Angel smiles at her. He knows, no matter how they feel or what rocky road is ahead. He still knows what she’s thinking.
"Well." Wesley clears his throat. "I guess I’m off." He slides on his jacket. Mumbling about rogue demon hunting. Trying to put off an obvious hint that no one seemed to be picking up on.
"Breakfast?" Angel scrapes eggs onto Cordelia’s plate. Making sure she took a bite before going back to the stove.
"Oh yes." Wesley eagerly sits down, taking the empty seat.
"On mornings after an all-nighter, we get eggs. Who would of thought the non-eater was a good cook?" Cordelia leaned over slightly to talk to Wesley.
Angel sat, a mug of blood in hand as the two ate.
It would be ok.
***
She lay on his bed. Sleeping as the nights events wore on her. Her hands tucked under her cheek. Her hair splayed out behind her. Her legs curled up, her knees tucked into her stomach. She was now his connection to the powers. His soul damned him for letting the decision be taken away from her.
His demon was crowing. She couldn’t ever leave him now.
He listened to her even breathing. He had not shared a bed with her since the day he had taken back. He knew it would be too tempting. His feelings proved that. The night Doyle died proved it was not a good idea.
He was afraid for her. Knowing that the road ahead was not going to be an easy one. Yet knowing she was taking on the visions, his heart filled with that of love.
He would protect her, for she was now his.
He leaned back in the chair he had placed there. Feet propped up on the edge of the bed. His chin being held up by his fingers. His vigil of his seer.
He watched her eyelashes flutter as she dreamed. He knew by the beat of her heart she was reliving the vision from earlier. Reliving having to kill a demon.
Her hands were tainted with blood and he had put it there. Yet he felt no shame or guilt. Only pride at watching her kill. She was a fighter. She was no slayer but he knew, he felt it in his soul. She was more.
He was certain now, his destiny was in place. It was here, in this city, with this woman by his side. The dreams he had been having came to mind. She sat there, in front of him, telling him she couldn’t be with him. No one would take her anywhere.
He looked up as her heartbeat changed rhythm, his eyes meeting hers. Neither moved as they watched each other.
"Angel?" A soft whisper.
"Yeah?" His voice was a hoarse rasp. He did not move his position as he spoke.
"Can Wesley stay?" A sound of hope. A sound of sadness in her voice.
It was then he knew. He would go to his death keeping her alive.
***
"Skip, Skip, Skippy." She sang in a singsong voice. She twirled around the dungeon room, the white skirts of her dress floating around her. The demon dimension blocking her from any higher beings view. She was safe to be here.
The demon looked at her. The one he would end up dying for he knew. The one he would rape and pillage an innocent young woman for. Her mocha skin, turning from blue as she walked. Her gold hair turning to a curly black. Her light eyes turning dark. The white gown she wore seemed to be out of place. He watched her smile at him as she stepped toward him. He had turned his back on the powers. A spy working both sides. She had offered him a place by her side in the new world. Her guardian, her right arm.
"Ah, there you are. It is nice to go into my future form from that nasty blue skin. Yeck." She looked around the dungeon prison that located Skip’s current position. Finding no place to sit other than the stone steps she shrugged. Brushing the bottom one off before plopping down.
"Master." He bowed his head causing her to giggle.
"You look forlorn." She pursed her lips at him, her head tilted to the side. A look she had learned from the supreme one. The one she was planning to betray.
"We have hit a snag."
"Do I look worried? All is going as planned. Darla will be here soon. The darkness will come forth. She will birth Father. The Senior Partners are doing their part." She stood, her step having a bounce in it as she walked around d Skip. "It’s quite yummy, you know. To deceive both good and evil at the same time. The true tro clan will never be born and I will live again on Earth. Then my love will join me. We shall take over good and evil and shall rule all that is."
"Ma’am." Such big ideas for one person. Being. Thing.
"Skip, you’re being melodramatic again." She stopped in front of him, her hands clasped behind her back. She had been watching her mother. Trying to pick up her earthly habits and body language. She found her quite…..interesting.
"Evil has been searching. He was here. Fortunately the spell you cast held. He does not know I am with you. You know my ligeance is with you."
"But? Spill it Skip. You are starting to try me."
"Fate it seems has a sense of irony." Oh, he was dragging this out. How to tell her….
"Skiiip!" She stomped her foot in frustration.
"She has the visions…" He scratched his head, looking for the right words to use.
"And…..?" She waved her arms at him.
"If she should get pregnant, the visions will manifest and not kill her. Instead they will come as ordinary views, just an image, no pain."
"That was part of the plan before Skip, tell me something I don’t know." She gave him the duh look.
He took a deep breathe. Just say it. "She can’t be demonized." He said on a rush of air.
She was silent for a moment. Then a blank look took over her face. Registering the news she raised an eyebrow, a look of hatred taking over. Someone was playing her for a fool. "What?"
====
"Hello, Francis." She watched the hero walk towards her.
"My supreme." Doyle knelt on one knee in front of Good. His head bowed.
"No, do not kneel. My heroes are worthy of being kneeled to. Come, let us speak." She lifted his chin with her fingertips, taking his hand in her as she pulled him up, off the ground.
"Did I do you worthy ma’am?" He looked down at her, his eyes pleading.
"Yes, yes, you did very well." She led him over to a bench, appearing out of nowhere, vines growing forth, creating a garden haven. " I’m sorry you had to relive your death once again."
"It was for the greater good. Did it work this time, you think?" He sat, as did she. Turning to face her. Their hands entwined.
"We can hope. How was it seeing our Cordelia again?" She titled her head, looking over his face. Judging his aura. Not yet knowing his reward.
"She was like I remembered. Beautiful. When she came up here, when she rescued you. I barely had time to speak with her." A ghost of a smile lit his face as he spoke.
"But?"
"Now, seeing them together. You are right. It was meant to be. I just hope I was able to do enough to help things along."
"You did. I know you loved her." She laid a hand upon his cheek.
"It’s very hard not to." They both smiled at that. Doyle’s fading as he looked down, then back up to her face, looking her in the eyes as he spoke. Something she did not miss. Something she appreciated. "There is a rift my supreme. Between the two. I believe it is a result of interference." He looked back down at his hands. "Buffy, although was here long enough to cause doubt, she is not the cause."
"Yes, I know. We have a rat amongst us. But it is not your worry Francis Doyle. Go, my trusted one will show you a place to rest. We have a mighty fight ahead of us and your reward for your courage will be just." She went to stand but the look on her hero’s face stopped her.
"Ma’am?" He laid a hand on her elbow, cupping it. Not threatening, more like a closeness between two souls that know a secret.
"Yes?" She sat back down, her hand going over his at her elbow.
"Will they be ok? I know Wesley is important and Cordy getting the visions was foretold but………."
"But? Go ahead, say it." She knew this would come.
"Isn’t it like shooting ourselves in the foot? To put the same happenings out there, for the same mistakes to be made again?"
"Do you think the same will happen again, has it? Take for instance, Cordelia went around kissing everyone to get rid of the visions. Except this time she did not get to kiss Angel. I had nothing to do with that. If she had, the feelings she holds for him, the visions would of passed to him. See, fate has already stepped in for us. We have to be patient and believe."
"No, it was different this time. They were different. I can’t explain it. I’m sorry, I shouldn’t question."
"You worry over Cordelia? As do I. She was not meant to be mother to evil but to our tro clan. Come, we shall speak about our plans over the mountains of Ireland. I pine for our mother country." She took his hand in her, linking elbows as the garden faded to bright white light to a field of green. They were standing on a cliff, overlooking the ocean beneath. "You must know, even though we are higher beings, mistakes are made. Unfortunately we can not be perfect. My kidnapping proved that." A sigh. "Brother and I know we are being deceived. The culprit will be found."
"I don’t think I can watch the princess die again." He overlooked the scene. Breathing in the fresh Irish air.
"We all die Doyle. You should know that." She watched as he walked to the edge of the cliff.
"But I signed on for this. I knew when my demon came to be, when Whistler and I met. Cordelia really wasn’t given a choice." He looked down, watching the waves hit the rocks at the bottom.
"She made her choice the moment she fell in love with our champion. Besides, would you rather have Buffy be his salvation, his reward? It can still be done." A bluff.
"No! No, no. Cordelia is his reward, his shanshu. Not Buffy. I just meant. To die the way she did…" He turned to look at her, his hands in the pockets of his pants.
"I understand. You are tired yet you have concerns. Death has taken it’s toll on you. I can not promise perfection but the plan will be followed this time. We all depend on it to. Trust me, this time there is a loophole to the visions."
"A loophole?" Doyle watched as a grin appeared on her face.
"A little something of a surprise that went against the original plan. Whoever is behind this will be quite surprised indeed." She stepped off the edge. Stood on the air as the wind swirled around her, her arms held out to her sides. "I’ve decided the rules need to be changed. As brother likes to say. Fight fire with fire." Lowering her arms she looked at Doyle, holding her hand out for him to join her. "It’s time to make things right, once and for all."
Continue on...