Title: Without You
Author: Helen
Posted: 12-16-2003
Email: helen_taft@msn.com
Rating: NC-17
Category:
Content: C/A
Summary:
Spoilers:
Disclaimer: The characters in the Angelverse were created by Joss Whedon & David Greenwalt. No infringement is intended, no profit is made.
Distribution:
Notes: This is for Scorchy and thanks for such a lovely challenge Hun. Here’s the details for ya: Demons have totally taken over Sunnydale, there's no Slayer or Watcher and there's only Cordy and Willow of the main SG around. The humans that are left alive are hiding out in caves, tunnels and whatnot.
Angel still has his soul but he's very Beigy as in dominent, overbearing, growly and snarly. He's with Spike at the mansion in Sunnydale and though he has a soul, he's not really all that bothered about the state of things!
One night when it's Cordy's turn to go get food for her and Willow, she runs into Angel and Spike who force her to take them to hers and Willow's little hideout. The vampires take both girls as slaves and things happen!!!
In my version I planned to have Angelus not Angel but to be honest, this would be more fun if it was Beige Angel!
Scenes to include if you choose to take this...
1) On a particularly rioty night, Cordy gets scared (bless her) and climbs into bed with Angel (sweet!).
2) Angel getting her to do proper slave things like wash his clothes, run his bath etc etc!
Whatever you do with Spike and Willow is entirely up to you, pair em up if ya like!
Feedback: Yeah feed me!
Thanks/Dedication:Part 5
THE BRONZE
The Master lay back, hands resting on his chest like a corpse and eyes closed. The booth had read cushioned seats in a semi circle around the table his booted feet rested on. On the stage a female vamp was reciting into a microphone from a huge, stained and thick leafed book. Waiting in the winds was a long queue of vamps waiting to take their turn in entertaining the boss.
The door banged open and the various gold eyes all looked up, then widened in shock when the tall leather coated figure strode inside, flanked on either side and behind by three of their brethren. The rising sound of muttering nearly disturbed the Master as he listened until he held a single hand up for silence.
The female vamp falteringly finished her allotted passages and stepped away from the mike, her yellow gold eyes darting between the disturbing presence of the most notorious vampire in Sunnydale and the still indolently reclining Master.
As if only just noticing his arrival the Master jumped off the couch, and spread his arms wide in sham welcome. “Angelus, good of your to visit us”. Red eyes filled with malice rested on the tall figure still shrouded in darkness outside of the lighted area near the stage.
“Come forward don’t be shy- you’re among friends” he said coaxingly.
He looked around him and then back at Angel and his voice echoed around the club like claws on a blackboard.
“Isn’t he children? We’re always pleased to see old and familiar faces are we not”? The jubilation behind the words was unmistakable, as was the menace.
The murmurs of assent where muttered through grinning mouths and sharp fangs, while his face remained the only human one. A distinction he was happy to keep- it bugged the crap out of them which was good enough for him.
“Hello Henri. Thanks for the invite. I like what you’ve done with the place- really its just…you”. Replied Angel smoothly impudent and arrogantly sure of himself.
Too much or too little insolence? Maybe the first, but now the ball was rolling he needed to keep it moving. The master had stiffened instantly at the insult to his once given name, a name he’d abandoned a long time ago. Red eyes bored into the approaching figure getting ever nearer.
To the on-looking vamps the lightly mocking voice seemed to float from the dredges of the clubs deepest recesses until first his legs, chest, strong chin and finally the narrowed challenging dark eyes came into view. The master put his hands behind his back and pursed his lips waiting for the other vampire to reach him.
“A compliment… from you. I’m touched” the master parried with ease and arrogance then waited for the impudent pup to dig his hole deeper. He had confidence in him on that score at least. Hearing the silky warning in the sing song voice Angel smirked this was going to easier than he’d thought- good!
“C’mon what’s not to love? You get free. Imprison everyone else and set off a mini apocalypse that guarantees starvation for all. What a guy”. Angel continued to mock and glacial brown eyes clashed with blood red as the dark haired vampire closed in on the Master.
The room went still as tension mounted if vampires breathed they would have all been holding theirs..waiting for the explosion caused by the fuse he’d lit. Satisfaction blazed within him and Angel could have sworn even those bat ears twitched in rage at his deliberate provocation.
Angel didn’t slow his loping stride but was forced to a standstill before he got too close by his escort. Irritated at being restrained he jerked one arm sharply nearly sending one of them sprawling and causing a riptide of unease to spread through the crowd. The light spilling from the stage encompassed them all now and the Master aware of how it might look abruptly signalled for his release.
Then leant forward until his face leered evilly into the hard arrogant face of his long-time nemesis. The only vampire in existence to have every challenged him and survived. But only because of Darla he assured himself, because he adored his favourite childe and indulged her obsession with this…freak, abomination. This time he would not be stopped.
“I’m so glad you haven’t changed too much Angelus and you are going to regret your insolence this time”. The master whispered hoarsely, and the low vibrating sound carried to all regardless of the lack of volume.
The Master felt a moment’s elation and gloried in his own rising fury. His face felt tight and seemed to expand as the deep crevices at his temples swelled.
Angel saw the hand rise up but didn’t try and avoid the backhanded blow or the pillar it sent him crashing into. Dizzily he sank into unconsciousness, remaining awake only long enough to feel the hard hands grab and lift him up. Then he let oblivion take him.
Sometime later Angel started to come too. His head jerked within the cage of his own strung up, straining arms and he groaned at the pressure on his shoulders. He’d been here a while then he guessed numbly.
Not wanting to but knowing he had to open them sometime. Angel cranked open his eyes and focused on the closest thing to hand. Which happened to be the wall next to his right shoulder. Almost charcoal in colour with shiny speckles in, it was a gruesome and not exactly reassuring sight with deep grooves in the grainy surface of the rock, some still having bits of skin and partial nails embedded inside them.
Blinking to clear his still fuzzy vision he heard a movement to his left and jerked his still throbbing head towards the sound. “Hello, my love”. He heard the sultry sound of her voice at the same time as he spied the bright blonde head of his sire.
“Darla” he acknowledged and pushed his head back to see her better, doing his best to ignore the strain on his arms. He watched her walk over to stand close enough that her breasts brushed his belt buckle.
“How’s it hanging” she asked tongue in cheek and ran her hands up his taut abdomen underneath his knitted shirt, caressing his skin while staring with a hypnotic gaze up into his wary brown eyes. He opened his mouth to tell her to go to hell, but she forestalled him.
“Don’t bother with any snappy comebacks darling”, said Darla coldly before he could think of one. “You lied to me and for that I’m going to leave you to him”. The chilling finality of that statement was ruined when she suddenly snatched her hands off him like she’d been burned and whirled away to pace.
“Did you really think I wouldn’t find you out? Have you watched? I know about your little hideaways but then you always did underestimate me didn’t you Angel”.
Angel kept his mouth shut and just tracked her agitated form. What could he say? ’Actually, baby I was counting on it’. He had to say something though. It was how the game was played. “How could I underestimate a 400+ woman in a schoolgirl’s outfit- feeling kinky Darla”. He gave a twisted sideways smirk when she turned away to continue pacing, obviously discomforted.
Abruptly Darla got control of herself again and stopped pacing to sashay back to stand in front of him. Her eyes were pure blue ice above the tauntingly hard smile curving her painted mouth. “I just came by to make sure you weren’t labouring under the mistaken impression that I’d intervene for you again”.
“Thanks” his tongue felt thick in his mouth “Don’t let the door hit your ass on the way out”.
Sharp nails raked his face when she slapped him, hissing in rage out of a twisted mouth and lights exploded behind his eyelids making him dizzy again while the sharp sting had him jerking away from those curving talons.
“Bastard”. She left while he was still swinging to and fro with the chains attaching him to the ceiling creaking sharply in protest.
“Always was” he sighed to the empty cell and worked his jaw to soothe the ache.
His next visitors where even less friendly and watching them troop in with a look of gleaming anticipation on their faces had him wondering if Spike wasn’t right and he was insane for doing this.
“Angelus, Angelus tut, tut look at you now. You really should learn not provoke me” the Master shook his head mournfully. “Such wonderful promise and potential for pure unadulterated evil going to waste. It hurts me at times to think of it” he continued, moving to stand in front of the chained up vampire with his hands behind his back.
So much for second thoughts, thought Angel. Long live insanity. “Just get on with it and stop yacking” answered Angel tiredly. Why the fuck do they always have to chatter? “Is it considered polite to bore your victim to death first now or something”? He didn’t have long to wait after that.
No matter how hard he tried he couldn’t hold back the roars of pain for long. It was a waste of time trying and only made the torture worse but being stubborn was a part of his nature and he hated giving them the pleasure. But pleasure they got.
A little later, with the smell of his singed flesh flavouring the air he hung limp and barely conscious, while the only things holding him up where the manacles around his wrists. They asked him the same questions time after time and it took all of his concentration to force the same answers out to each variation.
“Where are the humans”? The voices blended, coming from all corners while the Master sat back and enjoyed the show, waiting patiently for the finale.
“Escaped back to the sewers” he lied, powerless to stop them or fight back when they retaliated with fresh fiery pain.
“Your lying. Tell us where they are and we’ll stop”. They alternated between the heated tongs to burn him and using their fists to batter him.
“They’re gone” his voice was hoarse with yelling and he despised the weak sound of it.
“Do you like pain, or do you imagine that this will stop before we force it out of you”?
Why the fuck were torturers always so fucking well-mannered like they were seducing him or something. He knew why- he’d done enough torturing himself back in the bad old days, but it didn’t stop him wanting to rip their goddamned throats out.
Round and round came the same questions, some simple some not, “Are they female? Pretty? How about tasty did you get some”? Followed by a haze of pain almost but not quite leading to a blissfully numb black void.
In between bouts they’d gather to whisper among themselves, discussing tactics and favourite methods and arguing about who’d get a turn next- like he couldn’t hear them. Who gives a crap? He thought then arched back as another spasm of pain shattered his splintered and chaotic thoughts. He’d sunk into a stupor and now they brought him back.
After a time too long for him to gauge they retreated again leaving him to endure with gritted teeth the agony along every inch of his battered, bruised and wounded body. Everything swelled into a single wave now and even though they’d stopped- it didn’t. Out of dazed eyes he watched the Master get to his feet.
The Master slowly and methodically clapped his hands as he wandered over to stand next to the swinging bloodied figure. “Admirable. Really and truly admirable I must thank you for such splendid…. entertainment”. He inhaled deeply and held the smell of blood, sweat, fire and pain inside himself. If he could have he’d have flushed with pleasure.
Angel took a deep breath that hitched in his chest, struggling to get past the pain to bring this to the final act. “Darla likes it rough- did you know that”?
“What did you say”? The Master went still, his face a mask of stretched demonic rage and disbelief, the whispered words having caught his attention quicker than a blood bath. Angel licked dry lips and a smirk tugged up one corner of his lips, a painful gesture in their current condition but darkly satisfying.
“Ask her … about last time. Desperate- gagging for it”. Talking wasn’t easy but he didn’t need to get poetic. The message got through loud and clear- to everyone in the room. Including the one he knew was listening just out of sight.
The howl rose up out of the Master. Snarling and bubbling, rising manically in sound and depth to echo around the small dank space. As if losing motor control he jerkily reached up to squeeze shut the throat and stop any more words coming from those bruised and swollen lips.
He held out his other hand palm up while his glowing red eyes never left the face above his. Convulsively his hand clenched around the stake slapped into it. He raised his hand and waited a beat to enjoy the moment before plunging the stake into the wide chest of his tormentor.
Just outside, Darla squeezed her eyes shut and dragged her hands into her hair to viciously pull at the blonde strands until finally the pressure built too high and before she fully realised the intention to move she was inside the cell again. “Stop”, everybody froze.
“Get out of here” screamed the Master finally losing control at having her trying and stop him again. “Get out, get out do you hear me” he was almost gibbering with rage and just then if he could have got hold of her without loosing his hold on Angel he would have wrung her neck purely for the pleasure of it.
“Get out all of you” snapped Darla to the others who all moved to jerkily obey once it was clear the Master was not going to demand they stay.
It was a tense threesome left in the cell with the stake was still poised in a dangerously clenched fist. “Think, My Love. It was me that brought this to you- remember” said Darla with a desperate edge thickening the soft voice.
Her hands were wet with sweat as she walked closer knowing she was walking a knife-edge and perhaps risking her own destruction but as much as she wished otherwise she couldn’t let this happen. Why do I let him live- why can’t I just see him ended and forget the past? It was a cry she made every night to whatever dark deity might listen. They never answered her and the burning inside her for this lover still engulfed her at the lowest levels of consciousness.
“Exactly and I will deal with him as I see fit”. The enraged vampire hissed at her. “Do not think to interfere again. My patience with you is at an end”. The grey skin around his lips drew back into a frightening image of gargoyle like madness as another thought struck him. “Don’t think I don’t know why you brought his to my attention- where you jealous my dear? Are they pretty hmm… is that it”?
“You’re mistaken” snapped Darla stiffly then recalling what she was doing she gave him a winning smile and daringly curled her body around the Masters stiff back, one hand trailing around his arm and up to the hand holding the stake raised high.
“Master you know I would never disagree with you but I sired him and when I’m ready to send him to hell – I’ll do it myself and let you watch”. The softly whispered words in his ear made the Master shiver with want. Darla knew it was a fantasy of his to watch while she staked Angel and like any intelligent woman she knew how to play on his fantasies.
“I cannot condone his insolence- I will not” the Master informed her harshly but his arm was relaxing almost against his will while his red gaze devoured her artless face. Darla, sensing he was weakening dared to push harder.
“He’s already been punished for that- look at him”. She threw a negligent hand at the battered figure watching them and with her eyes on Angel’s she nuzzled her face into the crook of the Masters thick skinned grey neck.
“Please, it’s you I want and adore. How can you doubt it after all I’ve done for you- for us”? She turned his face with gentle hands and gazed adoringly into the Masters face then softly attached her lips to his.
“What are you asking of me Darla”? He kissed her back, enjoying the fact that Angel could only watch not knowing that Darla had long had a fetish for an audience and it bothered the dark haired vampire even less now than it did then; which was not at all- always to her fury.
“Release him” she said and narrowing her eyes sneered up at the battered face. “Then kick him back to that gloomy old mansion he loves to hide in”.
“And the humans what about them”? Enquired the Master already enthralled by her.
Darla risked a darting glance at Angel and caught the hardened pitch black of his gaze accompanied by the firm shake of his head. Stubborn fool!. Helpless to do anything else she wracked her brains to find a solution that wouldn’t tumble them back to the fury of only a few minutes ago.
“Let him keep them” she replied and then hurried on when the red eyes narrowed to furious slits. “Think about it. Soul-boy will learn to love them and after a year has passed- he has to give them up to us or watch them die- horribly”. She waited for implications to sink into the Masters fertile mind and it was then she remembered why she loved the Master so much.
“That is deliciously evil my sweet and tempting but really it would cause so much trouble and unrest..”.
“You are the Master. No one would dare defy you and besides he doesn’t want them for food”. The blonde unwrapped her arms from the Master now the danger was past and grimaced in distaste. “Although I shudder to think what he does want them for”? The Master and Darla both looked at Angel.
“Slaves” He managed to croak and both their eyes widened in surprise. The Master laughed and released his death grip. Darla thought about it for a minute and then shot him a suspicious look.
THE CELLAR
“How long do we have to stay stuck down here in this…. musty, horrible old cellar”? Stormed Cordelia for the hundredth time, thoroughly bored with pacing, and crossing her arms over her chest, glared at Spike; her hazel eyes hot enough and direct enough to pierce armour.
“I’m bored and ..hungry” she admitted and pressed a hand to her vocal stomach.
Spike currently leaning with his bright head back against the brick wall opened his eyes and sighed heavily. “As long as it takes. So just park your arse and…please. just. stop. yapping”. Finished biting her head off, verbally if not literally he closed his eyes again, heaved another irritable sigh and went back to being all motionless guy.
So not appeased with that one, Cordelia persisted. “I want answers and that is not an answer buddy- how long is long? I mean what’s he doing anyway”? She demanded argumentatively and went back to pacing.
Like there was anything else to do down here she thought resentfully. You just wait till you get back here, Angel. You are so gonna get it! Plagued by the worry that new line of thinking gave her, she started to gnaw on a fingernail. He’d better get back!
“Ya know what. I think there’s a vamp a mile away that hasn’t heard your incessant bloody complaining yet? I told you- as long as it takes. Got it”? Snarled the aggravated Vampire who then pushed himself away from the wall to tower over her- or at least try to. She wasn’t exactly short for a woman. Coming up short against the unmoving and unimpressed brunette he glared into her face, curling his lip and bored ice blue eyes into hardened hazel.
Cordelia gave a particularly unladylike snort and pushed him back. “Yeah- like I’m gonna let you intimidate me. Get real. I get enough of that from the broodmeister” she snapped with a toss of her head. “Fine– okay then what happens if he doesn’t come back”? She heard the quaver in her voice and frowned. She really didn’t like having said that out-loud.
“I get to eat you and get some bleedin’ peace is what. Now.. will.. you ..shut UP”! He yelled hoarsely. “Owwe, fuck me. Now I’ve got a splitting headache” he moaned and pressed the heel of one hand between his eyes. This woman is enough to a drive a saint to drink. Oh yeah now that’s a right good plan- except you left it upstairs, you Arsehole. If he could’ve he’d have kicked his own arse just then.
“Don’t look at me for sympathy. I’m just dinner and anyway you started it..”
“Will you two just… shut up” Willow raised her voice and had both Cordy and Spike turning to face her with identical shocked expressions. “I mean.. that is..please stop fighting” she finished lamely. “I’m sure Angel will be right along as soon as he’s finished doing.. whatever it is he’s doing”. She nodded sagely and settled herself back down, unclenching her fists as she did so.
“Knew you had a temper in there somewhere, Pet. Can’t have a red head like that and be all milk and water can you”? Smirked Spike amused more than annoyed. Then intrigued he gave her a thorough look over. “I like a girl with spirit” he said mock thoughtfully and then winked when she blushed and looked away.
THE BRONZE
It was a few hours later before Darla returned with a burly vampire who silently removed the manacles from his wrists. Still badly wounded, aching and disoriented, Angel fell to the ground and landed in a sprawl with his back leaning against the cell wall. Hardly sparing the guard a glance Darla sent him away.
“This is the deal and don’t even think about arguing with me Angel. You get to keep your little slaves for a year and then.... like I said... you hand them over”. Darla was crouching down next to his legs and the two chips of ice that were her eyes didn’t even blink while she stared down at him.
“And if I don’t” Angel croaked out between dry lips, too sore to try and sit up never-mind get into a debate with her.
“Then you get to watch them die and then get dusted yourself”. She said harshly, then expelling a heavy sigh she stood up.
“Don’t kid yourself, Beloved”. Almost by rote she made the endearment an insult. “This will happen the way I’ve said it will”. It was a warning and one she wasn’t finished with yet. “I’ve put myself on the line for you for the last time, Angelus. So be a good boy”.
“I don’t even pretend to understand what maggoty idea you have in that tiny excuse of brain you have. But let me guess, something about them has given you all warm tingly ideas about saving them- forget it. It won’t happen and do you know why….” She knelt over his legs this time and deliberately allowed her skirt to rise to show pale shapely thighs. “I won’t let it- that’s why. When this year is over I’m going to take them off you myself- lover”
“If I even get a hint that you love one of them before then- I’ll make her pay. She’ll suffer every single hell I can think of visiting on her and there won’t be a damn thing you can do about it”. Their eyes clashed and this time it was a struggle for Angel to keep his face clear of expression while looking at that gloating malevolence.
Whatever he felt about it, he didn’t doubt that she meant every word.
THE MANSION
Spike and Cordy were fighting again. This time over his ‘disgusting’ cigarettes.
“It’s bad enough with normal cigarettes. But eww …those things are even worse and the smell. Dammit my clothes are gonna stink like…urgh and never mind about our lungs. It’s Okay for you being all immortal and everything but think of me and Willow. We only get the one life ya know”.
“I can’t buy normal bleedin’ cigs can I. Do ya think I’d be smoking this shit if I could get hold of any good’uns. There’s a bloody drought isn’t there. So gimme a fucking break”. He groused back and then deliberately dragged harder on the cigarette until the end was lit like a firecracker and glared at her out of a slitted eye through the grey/brown curling smoke.
“Can I suggest you ..Oh I dunno…not smoke” replied Cordelia acidly.
Spike wasn’t listening or if he was it wasn’t to her. His blonde head was cocked and an intent expression was freezing his face into utter stillness. Cordelia moved sharply and her breath huffed out in vexation. Damn that was just getting interesting she thought.
“Shusshh will you” snapped Spike and throwing his cigarette away, approached the closed door that led to the corridor and steps up. “There’s someone up there again” he said absently. Both Cordelia and Willow felt he blood slow in their veins as their hearts became heavy with dread.
“Do you know who”? Hissed Cordelia, rubbing her chilled body as if friction alone would help ease the tension and coldness that invaded every pore.
“Do I look like I’m bleeding psychic or something? Can I see through sodding solid walls”? Snapped Spike bad temperedly and with enough sarcasm to prick Cordelia’s pride and nudge her competitive streak.
“Okkaayyy- Geeze”
The next instant Spike threw open the door and bounded up the stairs with a “He’s back” thrown over his shoulder. Cordelia felt as if she’d been electrocuted and before she knew she was bounding up the stairs after the blonde, taking the steep concrete steps two at a time. Leaving Willow to follow more sedately.
Cordelia reached the top just in time to hear Spike’s reaction on seeing the other vampire.
“Fuck! What the fucking hell happened to you. No don’t tell me I can guess you fucking idiot. I warned you don’t say I didn’t. Fuck”.
“Do you even know anything other than the F-word. Go read a dictionary or something will you…ah” she stopped and gasped while her face drained of all colour. The anxious tirade aimed at Spike, forgotten as a new one took its place.
“It’s Okay, Spike” said a tottering, bedraggled, bleeding and battered Angel. The black duster hid the worst of it for which right then he was damned grateful.
“Okay- that..” Cordelia pointed a shaking finger at him. Her sharp eyes not missing his constant winces and was that burning she could smell. “…doesn’t even remotely resemble Okay”. Her voice cracked a little and that annoyed her.
“Take your coat off, Buddy” she ordered with her hands firmly on her hips- she meant business.
Angel flinched at the no-nonsense tone and then remembering who was supposed to be ordering who around here met her determined stare with a brief, thunderous glower that was supposed to get her off his case.
“Later” he replied flatly and then ruined the effect by having to slowly lower his stiff and aching body onto the nearest chair, which happened to be the couch. He laid his head back, closed his eyes and started to unclench his gritted his teeth by slow degrees.
“Hah I’ve seen enough tortured people in the last few months to be able to recognise when someone got his ass kicked. So don’t try and fob me off- take.off.the.coat”. All she needed was to tap her fingers to stretch the tension that little bit tighter.
Cordelia started to tug at one sleeve and pain shot though his arm and shoulder. His head whipped up and he snarled at her, while hugging his arm closer to his body as if protecting it from her. “That hurt”. He growled and wanting to get rid of her, let the demon out enough to tinge his eyes from chocolate brown to topaz.
Cordelia rolled her eyes and placing her hands on either side of him leaned in close to state very firmly. “Then co-operate and … stop whining if you can’t take the heat don’t go in the kitchen”. It was all she could think of what with being so close to him making her thought processes go into overdrive- which strangely didn’t help her efforts at speech at all.
Startled by her complete lack of reaction, bruised dark brown met blazing hazel and after a tense moment or two he sighed thickly and then..just gave up. Angel lifted his arm out so that she could pull the leather off the limb and tried not to ‘whine’ when it hurt like the devil.
Pleased, Cordelia rewarded him with a big smile and tossing an expressive look at Spike and a horrified Willow nodded her head at the doorway to the kitchen. “We need bandages and water oh and…. lotions if you have them”.
Spike looked at the floor and then the door to the kitchen, obviously debating whether to do as he was told. Then rolling his own eyes he gave up too and after shooting her a dark look and muttering “bossy boots” under his breath, conceded and walked through the door after nearly sending it crashing into the wall. Can’t have it look like he wanted to do it can he?
While her head was turned Angel gazed at her face, transfixed by the curve of her cheek and lips and the arch of her brows and sweep of her lashes. Stop it he jerked his eyes away and cursed the urge to look back and see if he hadn’t been imagining the sweetness of her face. He sighed heavily again bringing her eyes back to his face. He knew he hadn’t been imaging it, but it made no difference he couldn’t let it make a difference- for her own good.
“If your done ordering everyone around..” he growled low bracing himself to sit up with the coat still half on.
“I haven’t so don’t get any ideas, Buster” she made use of his move to sit up; to quickly yank the coat off the rest of the way. Wincing at the harsh intake of hissing breath he gave she looked at him out of one eye and shrugged uncomfortably. “Take it from me unlike what Mom said. Taking the band-aid off slow only prolongs the pain”. She advised him in a sheepish voice.
The voice and accompanying expression were almost irresistibly cute and Cordelia was well aware of it. “Fuck- this is a bit different than a godamned graze” he yelled his back still arched in pain. So much for irresistible, she thought chagrined. But seeing his chest, now exposed by the ripped shirt she decided to give him the benefit of the doubt.
Spike stalked back in, looking less than pleased to be carrying a plastic container of warm water with towels draped over his arm. “Did it work then? Was it worth this”?
“Oh yeah- it worked a treat” replied Angel snidely trying to hide his reddened chest and weeping sores from prying eyes. Not to mention nimble fingers now plucking at the remains of his shirt. “Will you quit it” he snapped and swatted at her hands only to have his own slapped away.
“You quit it and stop being such a baby” she spotted some scissors in Willows hand when she came over with the rest of the supplies and snagging them, started snipping away at the fabric. “Hey I may not be Ms First Aider 1998 but still I’m all you’ve got” she ignored the presence of Willow since it didn’t suit her mood to simply hand him over. She was going to see to him and that was final.
Half an hour and several groans, yelps. curses and one very irritated vampire later she sat back to survey her handiwork. Spike and Willow were sat watching with a look of fascinated amazement on their absorbed faces. “There your all done” she ignored his thunderously unhappy face and gave him another wide smile, full of self congratulation.
“You are now officially me first patient” she told him with her head cocked to one side and a sparkle in her hazel depths.
Angel just looked at her struck dumb by the whole, unreal situation. There she was sitting back on her heels waiting for him to say thanks for the second round of torture and all he could think of was she smelled like heaven on earth. Not my heaven and not my earth- hell more like it
“That’s just great” he said deadpan and then startled them all when he shot to his feet and ignoring the pain in every inch of his body exited the room and slammed his bedroom door shut hard enough to crack the frame.
“Whats gotten into him”? Asked Cordelia, looking at Spike with a hurt look flashing over her too expressive face.
“You have I reckon, Pet. Who else does these days”?
Continue on...