just fic


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 6 Continued...

DUSK

The bacchanal went on all day and was set to continue all night as the vamps took over. Because of it, Willow and Cordelia were under orders from a cautious Angel not to leave the mansion for any reason. An order that for once; both girls were more than happy to comply with.

The atmosphere in the house was tense and unhappy as the obvious sounds of suffering continued to intermittently rend the air from the woods surrounding the mansion. An atmosphere made impossibly worse when an impervious Spike came bounding down the stairs dressed to the nines, for him anyway.

Almost bouncing with enthusiasm he cheerfully announced he was going out to ‘frolic and enjoy himself too’. You could have heard a penny drop in the stunned silence that followed. Shocked, both Cordelia and Willow looked towards Angel. Convinced he’d put a stop to Spikes plans.

Angel tensed and dropped the brown leather bound volume he’d been pretending to read in his lap. He knew exactly what they expected him to do. But what they didn’t understand was this was something he couldn’t change. Spike was a vampire and vampires kill humans with no exception- bar him, and he was a freak.

Wanting him gone and knowing trouble was unavoidable. Angel simply shrugged his shoulders and gave his impatient grandchilde a terse instruction not to play in the backyard! Spike got the obscure, hidden message loud and clear, and grinning in anticipation of a good time; left without further ado.

Immediately after the jubilant blonde vampire had gone, Angel felt their accusing, disappointed looks and despite having expected it, felt a tide of exasperation rise up inside him. What the hell do they expect *me* to do. Raising his eyes to the ceiling he dragged in a breath and then pinned them with a dark look, hoping a dose of intimidation would convince them to them keep a lid on it.

“Don’t you two have work to do”? He snapped irritably, struggling not to let them get to him. He failed miserably as Cordelia’s dismayed expression cut into his blanketing detachment like a knife through butter. She was looking at him like he’d just dragged in a victim himself and opened a vein. Angel dropped his gaze first.

Abruptly needing some space, Angel got up of the chair and went to leave the room. Pouncing, Cordelia grabbed his arm before he’d taken more than a few steps. “Don’t play in the backyard? What’s that mean”? Burst out Cordelia now glaring at the tense figure of the vampire. “That sure doesn’t sound like play-time to me” she hotly accused, throwing an arm towards the door leading out to the courtyard beyond.

Cordelia couldn’t believe her ears and the feeling of being let down and disappointed was crushing after waking up- if not exactly in a good mood, then at least feeling better about herself and … him. He *had* to know how wrong it was to let Spike go out and…kill.

Willow still kneeling beside the fireplace with a brush in her hand, pushed back red strands off her face to hastily nod her agreement. Then, just at the worst possible moment they heard an extra loud scream followed by a deep-throated laugh they all recognised. Angel winced and felt Cordelia’s nails dig into his arm.

The next second found a sooty bush waving in front of his face as an agitated Willow joined in too. “How could you let him do that”? Asked the distraught girl with fire burning hotly in her accusing green eyes. She’d thought better of both of them and dammit..she crossed her fingers cos she never swore- she hated having to change her view of things.

“Look I can’t stop him feeding. All I can do is keep it away from the house and that’s it” Angel roughly defended himself. “Count yourselves lucky you’re not out there too and gimme a break here”. He finished harshly and shaking off Cordelia’s arm followed it up by swatting away the annoying brush. “Vampires kill. That’s what they do”.

“You’re a vampire” exclaimed Cordelia throwing up her arms and glaring right back. He could think again if he thought she was going to let him just blow them off. Angel stiffened at that, Jesus she’d said it so matter of factly. Like saying he was some kind of teddy bear for chrissake. That hit his ego square in the bullseye.

Exactly” Angel purred mockingly and gave a cold smile that remained some miles off reaching his obsidian eyes. “What did you think just cos I’ve been a good li’ll vamp, that can’t change. Guess again”.

In synchrony both girls stiffened, adopted frozen offended expressions and ..marched off together with disgust evident in every line of their bodies. Leaving Angel still standing there in the middle of living room feeling like a total bastard and hating every second of it.

Just leave them to it. They’ll get over it. Angel stood uneasy and undecided, watching them wary brown eyes as they attacked the chores they’d been doing before, only now with a lot more venom. The silence was deafening and their rigid disapproval prodded at him. Sighing heavily in resignation he wracked his brain for something conciliatory to say; but was forestalled by an icy voice.

“You might wanna go out yourself. We have stuff to do in here and you’ll just get in the way”. She didn’t stop twitching the brush over the floor or look at him. The denim skirt, matching Willows was softer than her expression.

Angel frowned blackly at the brunette, angered by the imperious tone and her obvious distaste for his company. If he had hackles they’d have been standing on end. Annoyed and feeling put out, put upon and decidedly aggrieved Angel snatched up the book he’d abandoned before and sullenly dropped back into his favourite leather armchair. He was not going to be ordered out of his own home by her, he decided sourly.

A half hour later; after having been told by an abrupt and haughty Cordelia to lift his feet while the floor was brushed, then again five minutes later for the mop; then told by a icy faced Willow to move so the cushions could be brushed- he gave up. They were needling him on purpose.

“Will you two just stop it” he finally bit out with exasperation lacing the deep timbre of his voice. The book slammed shut with a thud in his lap.

“Stop what? Were working here. That’s what we’re supposed to do isn’t it? Otherwise we might get eaten- right Willow”? Cordelia tossed the verbal ball to the red-head who picked up the thread without hesitation.

“Right, can’t have humans going to waste now can we- No!” She finished with- for her, a boatload of sarcasm. Having got his attention where they wanted it; the girls crossed their arms and eyed him mutinously with bodies almost vibrating with righteous anger.

“I’m not gonna eat you” Angel growled out, dreading where this was heading as he subconsciously slouched lower in the chair. His brow furrowed and he met her damning gaze with wary caution. Dammit he should have just left, he thought, regretting his own stubborn refusal to be pushed out from his own living room.

“But you can’t stop Spike, and its not like we can trust you to even try judging by tonight” countered Cordelia still with her arms crossed, only now joined with an arched brow.

“Hey- that’s not fair” Angel sat up straight and glared at her. Only just refraining from reminding her just whose bed she’d sought safety in earlier.

“Fair! You wanna talk about fair. You go out there and talk about fair to those poor souls”. Cordelia spat out caustically. Almost gleefully pouncing on his unwise remark.

Cornered, Angel sprang up to stand toe to toe with the sneering brunette and went on the offensive. “What the hell do you want from me? I’m nobody’s idea of a champion”. He snarled at her and his dark brown eyes glinted with rising fury. If she’d put him on some kind of stupid saviour type pedestal it was her own damned fault she was disappointed, not his.

“You got that right!” Cordelia shot back, not backing down an inch and glaring right back at him. She could hardly believe she’d slept with this asshole, practically in his arms, only that day.

She’d woken up snuggled up next to him, and been overwhelmed by such a strong feeling of being safe and protected that she’d been afraid to move in case the feeling went away. It hadn’t then! But it was fading fast now and that pissed her off too.

“Your not going to leave me alone are you”? Angel asked pointedly and stepped nearer just so he could invade her personal space that little bit more. He was tired, irritable and fed up and in no mood to pander to human sensibilities. If they had any sense they’d leave him be. If he could've he’d leave the room himself, but he guessed, rightly, that if he did they’d likely follow him, and if he left the house? God knows what he’d come back too.

“Try- never in a million years” came back the brunette, boldly sarcastic. Willow nodded once, just to be supportive.

Frustrated, Angel spun away and started to pace the stone floor, swearing under his breath. He could literally feel them track his every move, waiting for something from him. Feeling hounded, he stopping pacing and faced the pair, having come to a decision.

Pointing at the couch, he flatly ordered them to sit down. When they didn’t do it fast enough to suit him. He crossed his own arms and glowered at them. “You wanna know why I didn’t try and stop Spike- then sit *down*” he growled in a low voice. After a tense second, just to let him know they weren’t impressed by bad temper. They sat down.

“Okay fine. Let’s talk about reality for a minute shall we”. Willow and Cordelia fidgeted under Angel’s intense scrutiny. “Like it or not, Spike lives here too and unlike me. He does feed on humans. That being the case- here’s the sitch”. Willow opened her mouth to interrupt but shut it again when he narrowed his dark eyes at her and harshly told her to shut-up.

Willow gulped at the hard tone and obediently shut her mouth; suddenly filled with a troubled certainty that she wasn’t going to like what he was going to say. She was right.

“If try and force Spike to against his very nature and not feed. He’s gonna be pissed, and very soon after that… starving. Not a good thing for a vampire to be- believe me”. Angel paused then casually crouched down before the silent pair, and the ruthless look on his face had them both tensing and holding their breath.

“That being so…how long do you think it’d be before a starving Spike would be chowing down- on either or maybe both of you?” Angel raised a sardonic brow when neither spoke up. “Sure I could try and stop him but your forgetting one thing. Spike maybe a pain in the ass. But he’s a blood relative- kinda”. Angel let that sink in.

“Not a pretty picture is it?” He asked quietly, dropping it into the stunned silence. He was lying but they didn’t need to know that. He’d do or say whatever he needed to, to keep the status quo in his house. If they didn’t like his methods it was just too damn bad, he thought.

Plus there was enough truth in there to hide his lies. This was Spike’s home and obviously they didn’t appreciate just how difficult this was for the blonde vampire. Lucky for him and for them, Spike was a cut above the others with a strong sense of loyalty. Any other unsouled vampire would’ve been picking the girls flesh from between their teeth, including the animal Angel had once been himself.

“You’re just justifying yourself”. Cordelia’s accusing tone interrupted Angel’s musing. But the over-bright shine in her hazel eyes was telling. Yet again she’d overestimated how safe was ‘safe’. God, would she ever learn, she wondered despairingly.

“No I’m not. I’m telling it like it is. I can go out there right now and bring back Spike-maybe! Of course that leaves every other vamp in Sunnydale to chase down the humans who’ll die anyway- but hey what do you care; you’ll be too busy running from Spike to spare them a thought anymore”.

God- could he be any more fucking casual about people dying? At that moment she was sure she hated him. Her throat went tight but she swallowed hard and forced the feeling away. So he’d just let her get murdered under his very nose would he? Pride stiffened her spine and dried her eyes.

“Why can’t he just not … do that. Like you”? Asked Willow tentatively. With her puzzled eyes passing between a rigid Cordelia and the vampire, watching the brunette with his heavy lidded eyes shielding his thoughts.

“Spike and I are different” replied Angel abruptly sparing the red-head only a flickering glance.

“How”? Cordelia snapped out, perplexed and wanting to understand. Spike had once mentioned Angel having a soul but had been immediately silenced by the dark vampire. When she’d later pressed him on it, he’d blown her off too.

“Never mind how. He just is. So are you both finally clued up and willing to leave me in peace now”. Angel asked with a bite in his deep voice. He was already regretting this whole conversation. He didn’t need Cordelia to tell him he’d just blown away her illusions about safety. Maybe that was a good thing- it just didn’t feel that way just yet.

There was a hard glitter in her eyes and he could sense she’d thrown up a wall between them. Still squatting to stay at eye level, his fists clenched with the urge to tear it down. He forced them to relax again.

“Is that why you’re so mean and bad tempered all the time- cos your hungry”? Cordelia asked him matter of factly. The casualness was a façade, but one she was determined he wouldn’t see through. If she was going to have to watch her back from him; it was better to know it upfront. She trampled down the hurt tunnelling away inside.

“Jesus…is there any subject you consider…Oh I don’t know, off limits maybe”? Asked Angel astounded. Then still shaking his dark head in pure disbelief, he stood up to tower over her with his hands on his hips.

“What for”? Replied Cordelia bluntly and shrugged “whoever said ignorance is bliss were lying their asses off. So is it”? She persisted, boldly ignoring his obvious annoyance.

“No” Angel gave her a sardonic look. “I don’t need an excuse with you around”.

MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT

“You owe me” Cordelia announced from half way down the stairs.

Both Cordelia and Willow had retreated upstairs after the earlier confrontation and Angel had let them. Safely ensconced away from prying vamp ears, she and Willow had talked non-stop about what they’d ‘learned’. After much debate and to-ing and fro-ing they’d both reached the same conclusion.

Angel was lying his ass off, or at least mixing truth with lies. It pissed her off but that was a guy for you.

“How’d you figure that”? Angel sat up on the exercise mat and swiping up a towel wiped the sweat of his face and neck.

He watched her descend the rest of the stairs, his gaze both watchful and wary. The vampire didn’t trust this ‘re-approachment’ and if he didn’t miss his guess, she was up to something. Especially after the way things had gone earlier on, he’d been convinced it’d be days before she’d even speak to him again. He had yet to decide if that would have been preferable.

Cordelia let her eyes travel over the damp white vest that revealed every contour of his body. Seeing it, Angel shifted under her scruntising gaze, and Cordelia’s eyes widened when the thought dawned on her that when she eyed him up- he got uncomfortable. Hmm, she’d think about that later.

“If not for you. Willow and I wouldn’t be living with a vampire. I mean vampires” she hastily added before continuing. “but still…”

Angel knew he wasn’t going to like where this was going. “No you’d probably be dead already” he interjected with a frowning look up, watching her lower herself onto the couch so that she faced him.

“Whatever” the frown got lower and blacker- whoops. “Don’t get me wrong. I appreciate the food and clothes and stuff” she added with a big smile then frowning, ran out of steam. She coyly lowered her eyes and fiddled with a loose thread on her skirt. While watching him from under her lashes to see if he’d take the bait.

Angel waited for the punchline and when it was obviously not forthcoming he sighed in exasperation and gave in. “Okay. I’ll bite. What are you after now”?

“I want you to teach us how to fight” Cordelia told him in complete seriousness.

Angel’s jaw dropped. She was kidding right. What kind of a fool did she take him for? Standing up he fixed her with a look. “Forget it. No way. Not a chance and you can just…” he laughed in disbelief..”get that idea right out of that maze like head of yours now”.

“Hey- don’t be mean. My head isn’t a maze and… why the hell not” she countered and pouted at him. “Are you afraid I’ll kick your ass” she added with an evil smirk, aiming right for his ego. This time she missed.

Stifling a smile, Angel squatted down before her again and met her taunting gaze with a knowing look of his own. “Sweetheart. I’m over two centuries old. That ain’t gonna work. Do you seriously think there’s a feminine wile I haven’t come across many, many times before”. He smirked at her indrawn hiss of annoyance.

“Why not you’re male aren’t you”? she snarked. Crap- this was just typical of her luck recently. No wonder she’d been having trouble managing him like she did with other men. He was too frickin’ old that was her problem. She glowered at him.

Still smiling in genuine amusement he glanced at Willow as she came down the stairs too; obviously too curious to stay away. Angel looked back at the pouting brunette and had an idea. “I won’t teach you how to fight and that’s final Cordy. But I will teach you how to cook” he offered tongue in cheek. What they needed was a distraction. One that didn’t involve sharp pointy objects.

“Gee thanks” she replied with enough sarcasm to strip paint. “Like that’s gonna be a good defence. Here Spike have a vegetable mash- NOT!” Cordelia flopped dejectedly back on the couch and glowered at his laughing face. Too put out to get taken in by the beautiful smile and warmly laughing brown eyes. Or the way the smile stretched his cheeks and made his usually stubborn chin just a little bit pointy. Get a grip, Chase.

“You don’t need to defend yourself” he told her softly. Caught between the urge to flick a thumb over that full pouty mouth or just give in and kiss it to see if it felt as soft as it looked.

“Hah- you can say that after the whole Spike’s gonna get you speech” asked Cordelia and then promptly forgot what she was saying when she noticed how intently he was staring at her mouth. She lifted her fingers to them to see if she was still wearing any of the lipstick Spike had found for her and Willow to share.

“I’ll protect you. When it’s necessary” Angel dragged his eyes off her mouth and got caught by the purely female look in those drowning hazel eyes.

“Uh huh okay, that’s that settled” agreed Cordelia and then started to breath heavily as a new thought popped into her head. “And who’s gonna protect me from you”? She asked breathlessly.

Angel slowly leaned in until he was only inches away. “No one” he admitted softly, but it was more of a warning. Only for some reason it didn’t frighten her- just made a hot flush rise up to colour her cheeks as a an answering heat pooled between her thighs. “Right- I knew that”.

TWO HOURS LATER

After a few hours Angel was holding his head in his hands and seriously trying not to hyperventilate at the mess. The volcanic eruption of a mess, featuring eggs, milk, and flour and ..Jesus everything else in creation.

“Cordelia, It’s just scrambled eggs and biscuits” He was shaking his head, still cupped in his hands when he said it and missed seeing the frustrated look cross the annoyed face of the cook from hell.

“Yeah well- that’s easy for you to say. Me I’m new to this. We had a cook at home ya know” she blew out a breath to get rid of the stray strands of dark hair that had broken free from her hasty braid.

“No wonder or you’d be dead from food poisoning” he muttered under his breath. She heard him anyway and pointed a finger at the happily stirring Willow. “You make me nervous with your…constant sniping and yet you just give Willow big shit eating…”

“Hey watch your language” Angel whipped his head up and glared at her flushed face and slitted eyes. Then rolled his eyes when he noticed she was actually tapping her foot.

“It’s really easy when you get the hang of it Cor” offered Willow with a happy smile.

“Hah- says pizza girl” snarked Cordelia, earning herself another warning glare from those dark eyes. “What- I like pizza” she defended herself and then grumbling picked up a cloth to try and restore order to the less than immaculate counter.

Willow took the lightly steaming pan off the stove and carefully set it aside to cool. Then grinning triumphantly couldn’t resist a little jig. “Yay I cooked a mean and it didn’t come out of a packet. Well other than the eggs, does that count”? She asked Angel.

Angel smiled at her earnest enjoyment and satisfaction, unknowingly earning himself another dark glower from Cordelia. “Sure it counts, Willow. You did good” he offered lightly.

Silently simmering, Cordelia roughly wiped up the mess of flour and crap with wide sweeping motions. Too angry to care too much what she was doing, she missed seeing how close she was getting to the bread knife until it was swiftly removed form her path.

“Watch it” snapped Angel. The words were hardly out of his mouth before the agitated brunette knocked her head against a low hanging pan on a hook. “Oww” Cordelia half yelped and half snarled then irrationally smacked the pan that’d hurt her- like *it* was to blame.

It came of the hook and would have landed on her already abused head if it hadn’t been knocked away by a thoroughly flustered vampire. “Cordelia just… stand there and do*not*move- okay” he almost pleaded bracing himself for another possible catastrophe and hastily coming to the conclusion that for her own safety he had to make sure she never even attempted cooking ever again.

“Okayyy. Geeze, you don’t have to yell at me. I’m not deaf” she told him huffily, still rubbing at the sore spot on her scalp. “So am I banned from the kitchen yet or what” she said after a moment and added a sly look. Then laughed when predictably; both Angel and Willow gave her identically suspicious looks. “Kidding” she said jokingly and smiled ruefully. “I have to try and save my pride here ya know”.

Their first real, honest to goodness light-hearted moment was interrupted by the kitchen door crashing open as a grinning, still in full vamp face Spike made his entrance. “What’s this then a coffee morning. Why did no one tell me I’d a put it in me diary”.

Then not waiting for a reply and too impatient to give out some prezzies. “Look what I got” he held up a fist full of knick knacks and women’s jewellery. “Don’t all thank me at once” he grouched when Cordelia and Willow just started at him in horror.

“What’s up with you lot- been on the loopy juice again”? He checked himself out and absently knocked off some stray bit of hair and leaves and twigs from his clothes.

Willow came out of trance to point at the shiny baubles Spike was still holding up like trophies. “Is that..did that..”?

“Spit it out love. For God’s sake” Spike encouraged and looked at her with feral yellow eyes. Green eyes narrowed as a red mist formed before Willows eyes. “Did those come of dead people”? Asked Cordelia in strangled voice.

“Yeah- but it’s not like their gonna miss ‘em now is it, Pet”?

“Oh you…” was all the enraged red-head could manage before she picked up the still steaming pan of scrambled eggs and dumped the whole lot over his blonde head. “Wha..ow..shit that. Hey that bloody well hurts” spluttered Spike with bits of egg running down his startled and less than happy face. “See if I bring you presents back next time” he exclaimed.

“Good” snarled Willow “..and just so you don’t forget again. Here have the pan too” and she smacked it down on his head so that it sat like a grey metallic hat. Finished she stormed off.

“What the sodding ‘ell’s got into ‘er then”? Asked Spike, shaking his head to dislodge the pan and the rest of the eggs.

“What do you think, Dumbass” snarled Cordelia.

Thoroughly fed up Spike growled long and low, making Cordelia do the smart thing and shuffle sideways until Angel was between her and Spike. “Don’t growl at me you, Asshole. One vamp I can take. Two- not on your life”.

“Angel” warned Spike, “Put a leash on her will you. I’ve only just come ‘ome and I feel like murdering someone already” he said with careful emphasise.

“Can it Spike, and no I won’t put a leash on her”. Angel then scared the hell out of his grandchilde by giving him a huge ear to ear grin. “I’m too busy revelling in not being the bad guy around here for the first time since..whenever”.

Angel heard Cordelia snigger behind his back.


Part 7

“Hmmm I can’t believe how much I missed this” Cordelia said, squinting into the dazzling orb of the sun. Even this late in the day the sun was bright and warm on her face. Almost too bright, despite the pair of sunshades too big for her face that she’d managed to wheedle out of Spike.

Angel continued to methodically leaf through the book propped on his thighs and stayed silent. Since she said that every time she came out here, the vampire sprawled watchfully in the shadows didn’t feel a reply was necessary.

She was comfortably lounging on her back on top of an old mattress covered in big pale blue towels. Her lithe body stretched out in his silk boxer shorts and a seriously snipped t-shirt to catch every ray of sun she could, while one slim finger slowly fingered through a magazine propped on her lightly golden tummy.

“These magazines are like a year old” She complained with a pout and a sigh but carried on negligently flicking; only stopping every now and then to critically scrutinise something or other that caught her attention.

“You wanted the vampire gazette?” Angel muttered under his breath but didn’t look up from the book. He was sitting on one kitchen chair with his booted feet up on another with all of him carefully positioned in the shade of the mansion.

Cordelia didn’t hear him. “You okay over there? Your awful quiet” she called out, forcing him to look up to catch her wide smile. He’d been trying not to. Look at her that is. It was a last ditch attempt to limit and control the increasing temptation she posed. Now simple good manners made it impossible.

The golden wash of the late afternoon soon caressed the bare skin of her shapely legs, slim arms and taut belly, dazzling him with an expanse of golden flesh that begged to nibbled on. The heavy weight of her glossy hair was burnished chestnut where the sun struck it, even tied up as it was in a high ponytail that exposed her neck and highlighted the exotic beauty of her face. Angel tensed as a too familiar feeling tightened every muscle in his body.

“Angel, Hello, is anybody in there? The lights on but nobody’s home” she lightly mocked in a singsong voice, bringing him thankfully back down to earth.

“I’m fine”. It came out hoarse and he cleared his throat and bent down to pick up a glass of blood to take a hungry gulp. Trying to distract himself, he scanned the upper walls of the courtyard, half of which was bathed in sunlight.

Cordelia grinned and turned onto her belly so she could comfortably watch him try to ignore her. She didn’t mind so much now, especially since he had to put so much effort into it. She was getting to him and she damn well knew it. His dark eyes carefully tracked the edges of the courtyard. Seeing it, Cordelia’s grin got wider.

Does he seriously think I don’t know he doesn’t need to do that, Cordelia wondered amused, and rolled her eyes in mild disgust at his obtuseness. She knew damn well he’d sense an approaching demon before it even got that close, and would have her safely back in the house where he could protect her in a flash. Her belly did a little flip flop at the thought and his eyes flickered under her watching gaze.

“What are you looking at”? Angel asked, finally made so uncomfortable under that continuous stare that he’d had no choice but to point it out.

After that, most people would blush, lower their eyes, and then rush to apologise saying they were thinking about something and didn’t realise yada yada yada. Simple, effective and that would be that. But not Cordelia Chase.

“You” she replied breezily and before his ego could get too inflated waggled the magazine. “You’re better looking than Justin Timberlake- just”.

Gee thanks, who the hell’s Justin Timberlake? The vampire wondered with a perplexed frown that brought little creases between his eyes and turned up his eyebrows up a teeny bit. Cordelia felt a warm burst of satisfaction bloom inside. She was finally getting him pegged, and loved that expression of his; kinda made him look vulnerable and… approachable.

“Of course, he has better hair than you”. What- she told her scolding inner voice. I couldn’t resist. Besides he’d been turning back to that musty old medievally crap he calls a novel.

He gave her a severe look. “What’s wrong with my hair”? This wasn’t the first time she’d taken a dig at his hairstyle and his lips twitched on spotting the knowing gleam in her sparkling hazel eyes. In fact, she teased him about it so often they practically had a routine for it.

“Oh nothing that a few less spikes and a gallon or two of gel-be gone couldn’t cure” she deadpanned. “I keep telling you I can do great things with your hair”. Cordelia made her standard offer with a sunny smile and a flutter of dark lashes; while imagining running her fingers through those thick dark brown locks, all wet and free flowing.

“And I told you, you’re not getting anywhere near my hair. So drop it”.

Angel got distracted midway through their bantering by the lazy kick of her legs as she swung them lightly over her silk covered ass. That and the thought of her hands running over any part of his body had his cock stirring. Embarrassed, Angel swore under his breath and dragged his eyes off the tempting flash of long legs before he did something dumb, like drool.

The light teasing stopped and they fell silent, as with heads cocked they listened to the sounds of raised voices followed by the tingling crash of broken pottery coming from inside the mansion. “Oops, sounds like Willow had an accident with Spike’s favourite mug. Or more accurately ex mug” said Cordelia with a wince.

“Hmm” was the absent reply. Angel turned his head, hearing the rapid patter of footsteps coming to the glass doors leading to the courtyard they were occupying. Soon enough, Willow burst outside with a flash of sizzling red hair and bunched fists.

“I hate him” she raged and then spotted Angel in the shade. “Oh Hi, Angel” she offered lamely, humiliated and forced the temper to simmer down. Angel was about to ask what all the commotion was about when Spike himself appeared at the doors.

“Get your arse back in here. I’m not finished with you”. Forced to halt his headlong pursuit, Spike glowered at her, not even noticing they had witnesses. He was shirtless and coffee dripped down his chain to dribble down the centre of his chest. Angrily he swiped it away.

Willow spun on her heel to face him, planted her hands on her hips and just backed away further into the sunlight with a rebellious expression on her face. “Well I am with you. So you can just…. go… and...” Angel gave a deliberate cough, and made aware of their audience, she sputtered to an embarrassed stop then flopped beside an unabashedly interested Cordelia. “You deserved it” Willow defended with her chin raised in haughty conviction.

“I sodding well didn’t. You’re bloody lucky I ducked, I’ll tell you that”. Spike paced back and forth in the tiny space the shadows gave him, accidentally knocking over Angel’s glass of blood.

Angel rubbed two fingers over his lips to hide the smile that threatened to curve them, trying desperately not to add more fuel to the fire. They’d been like this for weeks, ever since the bacchanal in fact, and so far Spike wasn’t doing any better with Willow than he’d been doing with an indignant Cordelia. The fact that the boot was now on the other foot had him sympathising with the blonde vampire, and trying not to laugh his ass off.

“Okay, reality check. Like anyone ever needs an excuse to throw something at your head”. Cordelia flicked her eyes over him and gave an exaggerated eye roll to top it off. Then smiled evilly when he hissed in a breath.

“Stay out of this- this is between me and ‘er” Spike snarled back viciously and jutted his chin out aggressively. Cordelia’s eyed narrowed into slits at the tone.

“Hey” interjected Angel sharply, causing the agitated blonde to round on him.

“Don’t you sit there all fucking happy as Larry and stick your nose in where it don’t belong. Keep out of it. Or I’m gonna smash my bleedin’ fist in your face” Spike thrust out an arm and pointed at the girls. “This is your all your stupid effing fault anyway, you Wanker. Bringing them ‘ere. I’m not a fucking Saint am I? Soulboy”! Rage exploded in Spike, as with each gritted out word the level of his temper rose until it couldn’t be contained for a second longer.

Weeks of frustration and mounting tension boiled over and he lashed out. Kicking the chair out from under Angel’s feet he sent it crashing into the far wall. It was an arrested group that watched as it sailed through the air, hit the wall and splinter into kindling.

Willow covered her mouth with a hand and wished she could cover her eyes too, dammit, she’d caused this, she realised feeling miserably guilty. Cordelia simply stiffened and watched the events unfold from her comfortable- not to mention, sunny mattress.

Angel’s boots fell to the floor, stopping an inch before hitting the deck. He tossed the book aside and stared at the other vampire with an inscrutable look on his face. “Calm down” Angel enunciated carefully, his body as still as only a predator could be. “What the hell’s gotten into you anyway”?

Spike reared back and his face shimmered with the change, then whirling on his heel he stormed back into the house, tossing over his shoulder. “Forget it- just fucking forget it”.

In silence Cordy and Willow watched a blurred Angel go after Spike. ”Wow, that was fast” allowed Cordy with raised thoughtful brows. She gracefully sat up and crossing her long legs aimed a pointed look at Willow. “Care to share?” she asked not unkindly; but with an edge of determination.

“Shusssh” desperate not to overheard Willow shot a flickering glance at the doors through which they could both see Angel and Spike carrying on their ‘conversation’.

“Oh, they’re too busy to be bothered to listen in” Cordelia waved a hand dismissively then refusing to be put off, gave the flustered redhead a look filled with resolve. “Willow, you know I’ll prise it out of you eventually so save us both some time, Okay. Just spill already”.

Angel caught Spike before he’d gone two steps and pushed him against the wall with one stretched out arm, the hand pressing into the other vampires shoulder. After quickly checking he could still see the two girls he pinned Spike with a hard look.

“Tell me what’s going on, dammit. Something’s set this off and it wasn’t coffee,” then Angel raised a ‘cut the crap’ brow just in case.

Spike glared but simmered down at the understanding light in the dark eyes of his grandsire. Sighing gustily he threw off the lightly restraining hand to pace back and forth like a caged animal. Angel let him go without resistance. He didn’t need to be psychic to see that Spike was running on empty when it came to patience, and that this situation was much closer to blowing up in their faces than he’d guessed.

“She’s a prick teaser,” snarled Spike, his shoulders hunched and face sullen.

Angel’s jaw dropped in shock. “That’s not …what? Are we even talking about the same girl here cos... that doesn’t sound like Willow”. Angel shoved his hands in his pants pockets and frowned in bemusement.

“Yeah, well; you don’t see ‘er when we’re alone do you” shot back Spike with a venomous look for the obvious disbelief.

He couldn’t argue with that one, agreed Angel silently, then still trying to understand, looked quizzically at the still pacing blonde. He didn’t even need to ask. Spike was happy- no, dying to unload.

“She prances round half dressed then acts all shocked when I come in” he pantomimed shock with an exaggerated gusto only he could manage. “Leaves her bleedin’ unmentionables all over the place like I’m blind or stupid and don’t know what they are”. Angel’s eyes almost crossed hearing the word ‘unmentionables’ coming out of Spike’s usually earthy mouth.

“That could all be nothing more than co-incidence, Spike” Angel said quietly darting a look at the redhead currently trying to be distracted by a supportive Cordy. He looked back to see Spike glowering at him with a sideways look from his bright head.

“And is it co-incidence that she brushes against me all the time, gets close and then when I try and give er’ …a hug or... or something, she acts like I was trying to rip her godamn throat out or something”. Spike shut his eyes and wanted to smack his palm on his forehead. Shit I didn’t just say that.

Angel couldn’t answer for a second. Too busy being struck dumb by the image of William the Bloody- otherwise known as Spike, giving a human girl a ...cuddle. He shook his head to clear it and then sat down with a heavy sigh. “I don’t know what to say” he admitted and spread his hands helplessly.

“There’s nothing you can say” agreed Spike with a wry twist of lips, slumping down into a second chair to inspect his own outstretched boots morosely. “Sorry ‘bout the chair and all that- lost me temper”. Spike offered grudgingly.

“Forget it” Tiredly Angel got back to his feet to go outside on guard duty again. He stopped at the door and looked back towards the brooding vampire. “Try and stay away from her”? He asked, without much hope of being listened too.

Angel had barely stepped through the door before he overheard the hushed tones of both Cordelia and Willow. “He kissed you. Was it… horrible”? Morbid curiosity filled every syllable and Angel froze in his tracks.

“NO! I mean yes, of course it was…oh I don’t know” Willow sounded as confused and unhappy as Spike to him – great; more complications!

“But did you like it?” asked Cordy bluntly and with a great deal of persistence. She was leaning forward so far she was in danger of falling off the mattress. All for the sake of not missing a single nuance crossing Willow’s gamine face.

“I don’t know” wailed Willow… ...then there were a few murmurs Angel couldn’t quite make out. “I want him to notice me and…then I don’t. He touched my breasts” a red faced Willow blurted out making Angel wish he didn’t have such super sensitive hearing. Cordelia gaped at her friend. Still neither girl noticed him yet.

“It felt nice and weird at the same time and then ...well I just pushed him away and he got mad and then… Well you know the rest” finished Willow with her cheeks still fiery red.

Angel cleared his throat making both girls gasp and look up with identically guilty looks chasing across their expressive faces.

Continue on...