Title: A Helping Hand
Author: Mrs O-Town
Posted: 09-27-2003
Email:
Rating: PG-13
Category: Humour, AU, angst
Content: C/A friendship, minor B/A, W/O and a bit of good old fashioned C/X
Summary: After the events of ‘Lover’s Walk’, Angel visits Cordelia and they spark up a friendship.
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 set straight after Lover’s Walk and has spoilers up until City Of. It does go slightly AU, but most of it’s following the series. Also, no Wesley as of yet. I’m still debating whether to put him in.
Feedback: is appreciated.
Thanks/Dedication:Part 1: Friendship
“Xander?” she spoke, her voice hoarse from the crying and the silence she’d been in. Her ex-boyfriend was the first person who’d visited her, apart from the various doctors and nurses. It was also the first time she’d spoken since she had the accident.
“Yeah?” he replied, his voice hopeful. She looked at him, anger seeping through her and her eyes misted over with the tears threatening to fall. She wouldn’t let him see her cry. She wouldn’t allow it.
“Stay away from me” she bit the words out as if it took all her energy. She watched as the small smile on his face faded and he realised what she had said. She began to look away, not wanting to see the hurt in his eyes. She heard the chair scrape back and his shadow cast on the wall she was facing and watched as he backed away and the shadow disappeared.
She was alone again.
A tear began to work its way down the contours of her face and fall onto her hair. Before she could stop herself, more tears were falling and she was crying over Xander Harris. She’d never done that before. She always promised herself she wouldn’t cry over a guy that broke her heart. But here she was, in a dank hospital room, letting herself do something Chases were not supposed to do.
The tears began to gradually stop as she contemplated her life. Things had been going smoothly with Xander, albeit his constant worrying over Buffy or Willow. She realised now why he wanted the double date at the bowling alley. So he could date both of them. She closed her eyes as the memory of seeing Xander with Willow crossed her mind. She didn’t remember much else. Only hearing Xander’s voice in the distance and then waking up in hospital.
She looked at the wall again and jumped as another shadow was cast on it. She sighed as the shadow’s owner edged in the room.
“I thought I told you to stay away,” she said not looking at the figure. “It’s over, Xander,” she said in a strong voice. Still, the shadow did not go, it only came closer. She sighed loudly as she turned around. “Xa-” she stopped as she realised who was in the room.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “I’ll leave… I just wanted to give you these,” he showed her the flowers he held in his hands.
“Angel?” she squinted slightly wondering if it was the painkillers. He nodded as he put the flowers down next to Xander’s and began to leave. “No! Stay!” she almost cried. “What…” she adjusted herself so she could talk to him. “What are you doing here?”
Angel motioned to the flowers “Buffy told me what happened. I thought that… well, I wanted to check to see that you were okay,” a small smile crept onto the cheerleader’s lips, but confused by the vampire’s presence and the mention of the Slayer, she momentarily slipped into Queen C mode.
“Because the last time I met you, you didn’t try to kill me or anything.”
That threw the vampire and he hastily tried to make excuses “Uh…well, I…” she grinned a little. “I’m sorry. I thought you might need a friend,”
“And you’re the best candidate?” she said, “Or did Buffy send you to spy on me for Xander?” she asked indignantly.
“Buffy and I broke up” he sat in the seat Xander had vacated twenty minutes earlier. Angel bowed down his head, Buffy’s words resounded in his mind. ‘Tell me you don’t love me’.
“Oh well, guess that means the world’s not going to end (!)” She said sarcastically. He remained stoic, although she could have sworn the glimmer of a smirk crossed his face.
“Look, I’m sorry for what Xander did to you. I know how it feels to be alone and not have anyone to care about you,” he said gently. She glared at him, her jaw tightening.
“And what makes you think I’m alone?” she demanded. He looked around at the almost bare room, before allowing his gaze to land on her again, raising an eyebrow, but saying nothing. “I’m sorry,” she apologised, which was something Angel had never heard her do. “Things have just been…”
“Yeah. I understand,” she arched an eyebrow at his comment.
“Have *you* ever had a rebar through your stomach?”
“No, but I got a sword through my chest and was sent to hell” he countered.
“Oooh, bitter about *that*, are we?” she said wryly before frowning. “That doesn’t count,”
“Oh no?”
“No! That was to save the world. *You* didn’t catch your boyfriend making out with his best friend and *you* don’t have to face the wrath of Sunnydale High,” she thought about what would happen when she went back and her eyes misted up again. “Dating Xander Harris was the biggest mistake of my life,” she said quietly.
“Don’t cry,” Angel said passing her a tissue. Instead of being grateful like he expected her to be, she sent him a death glare.
"Cordelia Chase," She hissed, between clenched teeth, "Does *NOT*," She moved forward, wincing at the pain the movement brought, "*CRY* over *XANDER HARRIS*." Angel paused for a moment. He considered pointing out the obvious but decided that it was best if he didn't anger the brunette further.
She'd been through a rather rough patch. Maybe it was best if he just gave her the flowers and left.
He nodded at her, and moved to make his exit, hesitating to give her a brief explanation. "You need to rest." He said, rising to his feet. She sniffed in reply as he made his way out of her room.
He glanced back and met her eyes. “Thank you,” she said offering him small smile “For the flowers.”
Surprised, Angel just nodded and left. After watching his figure retreat down the hallway, Cordelia turned her back to the doorway, and allowed a tear to trickle down her face.
***
During the next three days, Angel didn’t visit again. Buffy sent some flowers from her and her mom, but Cordelia had been asleep and missed her visit. Giles had also visited with flowers… and homework. The room was brighter; there were more flowers and even some cards.
Oz came for a while and they had had a little chat, but seeing as Oz wasn’t the most talkative person on the planet, it was mainly filled with silence. Flowers and cards from Xander kept coming but they were all dismissed to the trash or other patients.
Cordelia still hadn’t received anything from her parents.
Flinching slightly as she packed the last of her things into her bag, the cheerleader pulled herself back into a standing position. She took another look around the room, making note to grab the cards and odd bunch of flowers before she left. There was a knock at the door. Turning, she placed an overly false smile on her face as the nurse entered her room, for her final observation and checkout.
“Feeling better?” the nurse asked. Cordelia forced her smile to widen and nodded.
"Yep. One hundred and ten percent." The nurse beamed at her, and made a few notes on the bland, brown clipboard. “I am ready to go home,” Cordelia said relieved. She hated hospitals. The blankets were itchy, the pillows were flat and the food…urgh!
Again, the nurse grinned and nodded, "I'll bet you are....Just have to take your blood pressure and a few other vitals, and you'll be right to have a friend come by and take you-"
Cordy's smile faltered. "What?"
“You are in no condition to drive, Miss Chase. I’m sure the doctor made it clear. We’re going to call your parents or your boyfriend, Mr Har-“
"He is NOT my boyfriend! And my parents are in Morocco or somewhere. I'm fine to drive myself. My car-"
"Was taken back to your house by that nice English fellow." Cordelia's blood was boiling. GILES had DRIVEN *HER* car? Oh, one dead librarian coming up.
“Please be kidding me!” she sighed as the nurse shook her head.
“Alternatively, we could call a cab…”
“Cordelia Chase does not travel in a cab!”
The nurse, whose flat mousey hair was beginning to irritate Cordelia to no end, smiled almost maliciously. "Well, Cordelia Chase will have to arrange some form of transport-"
“I'll take her," a voice said as a figure clad in black stepped forward. The women both turned and looked at Angel, who'd been watching Cordelia from the shadows.
“And you are?” the nurse asked, wondering who he was and making sure Cordelia knew him before she let her go with him.
“A friend,” he replied coming up to Cordelia. Cordelia felt a wave or relief wash over her. Then she scowled. Wait. Did Angel actually HAVE a car? And what was he doing here?
“Is that right?” the nurse asked the girl in front of her. The nurse appeared to swoon for a moment while Cordelia glared.
“Yeah, he’s a friend,” she looked at him, “who appears to be stalking me…” she added under her breath. The brunette turned back to the nurse and nodded, smiling tightly, still angered over the fact that GILES had driven her car. "Can I leave now?"
"Just a couple of other things,"
Cordelia groaned.
The nurse ignored her. "You can't go back to school immediately. Maybe take a couple of extra days off,"
"No problem," she said.
"I also want to make sure you aren't alone in the house. Just in case something happens..." the nurse glanced at Angel. Cordelia's eyes widened as Angel opened his mouth to say something.
"Oh no! You are not staying with me!" she said before Angel could say anything.
"Then we can call Mr Harris." He responded, sounding almost Angelus-like. She scowled again.
"Hey, Angel, you been *happy* with your girlfriend lately?" He smothered a smirk, remaining impassive, choosing to ignore her jab.
"Or what about Mr Giles…He might still have your car…" Her eyes widened in a mixture of horror and shock. Was Angel actually teasing her? Did that mean the broody one HAD a sense of humour? And WHAT were they thinking letting the man in TWEED drive her car?
Defeated, Cordelia relented. She wanted to get out of the hospital and if Angel insisted on staying with her, she could always give him the room with the most sunlight. She smirked wickedly, but then shook the thoughts out of her head when she thought of what Buffy would do to her.
She froze, sickened by her thoughts. What *Buffy* could do to *her*? Oh God. She HAD to get out of the hospital. It was driving her crazy. The blonde twit wouldn't get anywhere near her. She was Queen C. SHE had the power.
“Just sign here," The nurse gave her the clipboard and pulled Cordelia out of her thoughts. Cordelia signed her name and then the clipboard was passed to Angel. "You also need to sign," Angel hesitated. Cordelia sighed in annoyance.
"Can you just sign so we can get out of here?" He complied and soon enough they were exiting the hospital, both silent.
Naturally, it was Cordelia who broke the silence.
“Let’s get one thing clear. You stay at my house two nights tops. You don’t tell anyone you’re staying with me, god forbid Little Miss Slays-A-Lot finds out,” Cordelia said. “And, you get my car back from Giles… because tweed is bad for the interior,”
Angel nodded, "Your car is nestled safely in your parent's garage."
“Huh?!” she cried. “I thought Giles took it!”
"He did." The vampire replied, "All the way to your house." She groaned.
“Why does nobody tell me these things?” she asked no one in particular. “You would have thought they’d be a *bit* more considerate.”
He moved forward and opened the passenger door to a car parked on the street. She just glowered at him. When he made no effort to explain, she folded her arms obstinately. "Well?"
“Oh, sorry. I thought that was rhetoric. Uh, I don’t know…” he replied, getting in.
“Is this your car?” she asked. He shrugged.
“It is now,” Her eyes widened even further, and she could have SWORN he smirked. "It was a joke, Cordelia."
"No." She snapped, "A joke, brood-boy, is something like 'two elephants and a cymbal walk off a cliff…boom boom ching.' NOT...." She waved her hand between them and the car. "Something vague and stupid like that."
“Will you get in? I have an un-life, you know!” he replied.
“Gee, I’m sorry. Wouldn’t want to stop you from your brooding sessions (!)” she climbed into the car, wincing as she got in.
He frowned lightly at her, and she pulled her powder out from her purse, "Besides," She began, glancing in the little mirror, "If it was remotely true, you wouldn't be Cordy-sitting. You'd be off releasing Angelus...among other things… with the next pretty blonde tramp that walked into your un-life” She gave him a false smile, "I hear Harm's looking for a lapdog now."
“Who?” He asked, having no idea who Cordelia was referring to.
"Harmony. Big with the pretty. Lack of brains. Like your latest ex." She replied flippantly, powdering her nose gently. He opened his mouth then clamped it shut, deciding to start the engine instead. She laughed, "Come on, Angel....it was a *joke*." He tossed her a frown.
"I get it. I'll refrain from using humor around you." He said.
"Be normal-Angel then. Good. I thought that maybe all those jokes were making you crazy,"
"No, Cordelia. *You* make me crazy!" he said before realizing what he’d said.
She took a sharp intake of breath. "WHAT?" She snapped. He kept his eyes on the road, and she glared. "What did you mean? Cos if this is such a chore-"
"Look, Cordelia. I just want to be *friends* with you. Is that so hard for you to understand? I thought I’d do something nice for you especially since you were hurt,"
"And I drive you crazy. GREAT definition of friendship oh-ancient one."
"I'm not ancient!" Angel replied. "I'm only 245..." She snorted, before blushing at the completely unladylike motion.
"I'm sorry. You don't look a day over 150," she grinned. "Anyway, we don't want to turn into Mr and Mrs Bickerson so I guess we'll just lay off each other"
He gave her a small smile, “Good idea,”
Within fifteen minutes, they were at her front gates. "Wait, how did you know where I lived?"
"I followed Giles when he took your car." She arched an eyebrow at him, he rolled his eyes. "I thought you might like to know that it was safe...." Yes, he realised it was a lame explanation…
“Ok. One other rule. No stalking! Seriously, it’s *not* funny!” she laughed uncomfortably.
"I do not stalk."
"Gee, I guess the black on black clothes and the *following* made me think otherwise. What was I thinking (?)" she said sarcastically.
He feigned offence. "I happen to like black." He informed her, grabbing her bags from the back, "And I wasn't following, per se.... just...you know... following."
She shot him a look. "We're here. I just want to have a nice hot bath and go to sleep. And maybe eat some food,"
"Is the food before or after the sleeping?" Angel questioned.
She rolled her eyes, "Does it matter?"
"Well...no, I just...I was curious."
She tilted her head to the side, keeping her arms folded. "Uh-huh...." She responded skeptically.
She opened the passenger door and gingerly got out, taking in deep breaths to steady herself. Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through her and she lost her balance. She was heading for the floor until someone grabbed her and held her.
"You ok?" He asked, swooping her into his arms without a second thought.
She nodded slightly. "Yeah, just...ow," she touched her stomach, wincing as she did. Angel helped her lean against the car and she rolled up her t-shirt and checked her wound. The stitches were still in place.
He looked at her, and extended his arm, without speaking. She took it graciously and he led her to her front door, which she opened and entered the house. She glanced at Angel, who was still outside. “Angel?” she questioned, wondering what was keeping him out.
He shifted his feet, hating this part the most. "Vampire, Cordelia." It was always there. The reminder that he wasn't, and could never be, normal.
“Oh right. I forgot,” Cordelia said taking Angel by surprise. “I invite you in,” He gave her a small pained smiled and thanked her as he entered.
“My bedroom is up those stairs and on the left. Just drop my bags in there,”
”What are you doing?” Angel asked,
“I’m going to get some ice-cream. And order some take out,” she called disappearing into the kitchen.
Angel shrugged and walked up the stairs, which was lined with rich beige coloured carpet. He took a left and opened the door, with ‘Cordelia’ written across it. “Guess this is it,” he mumbled as he looked around.
The room was generously sized, with a queen sized bed in the middle. It was tastefully decorated, unlike Buffy's room, which was neutral and didn't match, Cordelia's looked like one of the rooms you’d see in an interior designing magazine.
But had a touch of personality to it.
He took the opportunity to look around further. There was a big en-suite bathroom and make-up and pictures adorned the dressing table. He took a moment to look at them. A lot of them were of Xander, which Angel knew would soon change. She had a few with whom he expected to be Harmony and one of a dog. He inspected that one closer.
"Her name was Bitsy." Cordelia told him. "Used to bite...a lot," she frowned at the memory. Angel turned to the doorway, putting down the picture.
"Cordelia…I...I didn't mean t-"
"Forget it," she said. He looked at her.
"Did you walk up the stairs by yourself?"
"Yes, something I've been able to do since I was two(!)" she said.
He frowned, "That's not what I meant..."
"I know what you meant," her voice softened. "I can't rely on help all the time. I have to do things by myself otherwise I'll never get better. Besides, what am I supposed to do at school? Wait for someone to take me up the stairs?" She had a point.
"Just don't be afraid to ask for help." Angel said seriously. She nodded.
"Come on, let me show you your room," she said, leading him out of her room and across the hall.
He, if he could breath, gasped at the size of the room. It was big. The furnishings were immaculate and it looked amazing. "Cordelia, I can't. I can take the couch..." he began. She scoffed.
"Pfft!" she crossed her arms across her chest "You're sleeping here. It has it's own bathroom and..." she motioned towards to curtains, "Huge, thick curtains to keep the sun out so you don’t turn into a crispy critter… or leave dust all over the carpet."
"I don't have any clothes." Angel remembered that he only had what he was currently wearing. She grinned and raised her eyebrows before opening the big wardrobe. "Never fear, it's all catered for." he shot her a questioning look as he looked through the suits, shirts, shoes and trousers in the wardrobe. "Daddy sometimes works overtime with his partners. They sometimes stay over," she explained.
He smothered a smirk, thinking 'Daddy?'. “So, are your parents really in Morocco?” he asked. Cordelia shrugged.
"I think so. They went there last week," Her mood had gone down. She seemed a bit upset at the mention of her parents' whereabouts.
"Oh…" He looked around for something to change the topic. "Why the heavy curtains?" Well, he wasn't exactly a conversationalist by nature. In fact, this was all new to him.
With Buffy he could stay silent while she rambled on and on about her issues for hours. It was bitter sweet. On the one hand, he never had to press her for deep thoughts. On the other.....he had to wonder whether she ever really gave a thought to anyone else.
“When you’ve been drinking all night, the last thing you want is sunlight bursting through the windows in the morning. Daddy and his partners drink a lot when they work here. Especially recently. Some problems with finance at work,”
“Ah...." He nodded, "Understandable...hangovers and sunlight were never really fun, from what I can remember...."
"Did you drink a lot?" she asked sitting down on the bed delicately so she wouldn’t pull any stitches out. Angel sat down beside her.
He offered her a rare, boyish grin. "I was a young, Irish rebel. What does that tell you?" she returned the grin. “Alcohol, fights and girls were the order of the day.”
“What was it like?” she asked. He gave her a look. “I mean…living, back in the Iron Age,”
"It was the 17th Century, and it was...different," Angel pondered on some of the *good* memories.
"No kidding" She replied, with a hint of playful sarcasm.
"For one, baths were not so frequent. And shampoo wasn't invented...neither was mousse or gel, for that matter,"
She looked at his hair, "Angel without gel? That's unspeakable...." He immediately touched his hair, which made Cordelia laugh
He chuckled lightly, "Have you been speaking to Spike?" Suddenly the atmosphere grew tense.
"Sorry," he apologised. He wanted to stake himself. Impale himself on the rich mahogany hand-railings of her stairs.
"It wasn't Spike’s fault...ok, it *was*, but he didn't exactly force them to...you know…do what they did" Angel blinked at her with tortured brown puppy-dog eyes.
"I'm sorry, Cordelia...I shouldn't have-"
Don't worry," she said. "I guess I have to get used to it," The doorbell rang and she stood up quickly, before recoiling and shouting out in pain. She held her stomach and slowly sat back down.
Angel helped her down and stood up. "I'll get the door. You…stay here.... don’t stress your wound."
"Money is on the table next to the door," she called as he left the room and headed down the stairs. She leant back against the pillows tentatively, closing her eyes.
Angel hastily paid the delivery guy and took the steaming food into the kitchen. Without looking at what she’d ordered, he turned tail and made his way back up the stairs to check on her.
He opened the door quickly and then stopped in his tracks. She didn’t move for she was in a peaceful slumber. Angel gathered that even though she had spent the last four days in hospital, she didn’t get as much sleep as expected. He went over to her to make sure she looked comfortable and found himself looking at her injury. He lifted her top up slightly, to make sure no stitches were pulled. His forehead creased in shock and anger. Xander Harris had done *this* to her? Buffy hadn’t told him a whole lot. Just that she fell on a rebar. He had no idea it had been that bad. He pulled her top down and put a blanket over her body. When he got his hands on that boy, he was going to throttle him.
"Night Cordelia," he whispered, shutting off the light and slowly going down the stairs. He decided to put the food in the fridge in case she got hungry later. As he unpacked the Chinese food out of the bags, he came across a strange packet.
He picked it out and looked at the label. It was pig's blood. After pondering the ‘Only on the Hellmouth’ qualities of being able to order blood with your Chinese take-out, he looked around the kitchen; a post-it with his name written on it was stuck on a mug.
'Angel', it read, 'I got some blood for you. You can pour it out in this and do whatever you do with it. Just wash it out afterwards'
He smiled slightly. "Thanks, Cordelia" he thought as he snipped the top of the packet and poured the blood into the mug. *His* mug.
Part 2: Shopping
The sun shone down on chestnut hair, and she smiled, snuggled against the man's chest. He too was smiling, clearly enjoying the moment. Cordelia scowled at the image she held in her hands. One of those photos of her and Xander that had adorned her wall. There were others like it still on display, taunting her with their dark eyes and lifeless smiles. She wanted to scream when she saw them. Wanted to yell at the images, as if they were the reason for her torment.
Cordelia gritted her teeth to stop from yelling in rage and waking Angel up as she furiously gathered the photo frames and pictures she’d stuck to her mirror. She threw them onto her bed and returned for some more. The blue tack stains were the only thing covering a section of her wall and crumpled up photos were scattered on the floor.
As she pulled the last one down, she smiled slightly. She knew exactly what she was going to do. She glanced at the array of pictures on her bed as her eyes glinted evilly as she picked up a pair of scissors and began to cut.
***
Angel stirred in his sleep. He frowned slightly as a familiar stench filled his nostrils. It took a few moments for him to fully come to his senses as he opened his eyes slightly. He glimpsed at the time; it was mid-afternoon. Making sure the curtains were fully drawn so he wouldn’t fry, he got up and sniffed the air. His eyes widened as he recognised the aroma and realised where it was coming from. Angel ran from his room and knocked rapidly on Cordelia’s door.
“Cordelia!” he yelled as he pushed open her door. The curtains were drawn and the only light was coming from where she was on her bed. Smoke rose up into the air and beeps from the answering machine caught Angel’s attention. Xander’s voice filled the air as he began his apologies. After each beep, they began again. Angel walked slowly to Cordelia’s bed and looked at what she was doing. Flames licked the grinning pictures of Xander and devoured it until they were scorched black.
Cordelia just stared, mesmerized by the orangey-red flames that removed all the signs of her ex-beau. Sitting down next to her, Angel realised just how haggard and tired Cordelia was. There were bags underneath her eyes and her hair was a mess. She looked completely the opposite to the previous night.
“Cordelia?” he began gently. She remained silent, as if unaware of his presence, still gazing into the flame, which was busy destroying the last nine months of her life. Angel frowned, "Cordelia?" He tried again, his tone more forceful this time.
She looked at him, her eyes wide and glistening with tears. Her face crumpled as she buried her head into his chest and wept. He was taken by surprise at first, unsure of how to react, but soon he enveloped her in his arms, holding her as she cried. Angel stroked her hair and looked around the room. It had been immaculate the night before, and now it was a mess. The only reminders of Xander were the burnt pictures and his static voice that came out of the answering machine.
“Cordelia, it’s me…again. I’m here…if you want to-“ Angel reached over and pressed a button. “All messages erased” came a mechanical voice. The room became silent and Cordelia turned her head as the two watched the flame die down.
***
Angel emptied the ashes away into her wastebasket and silently returned to his spot on her bed. She leant against his chest and sighed. “Are you hungry?” She shook her head. “You have to eat. What about all the Chinese you ordered? It’s still in the fridge.” She scrunched up her nose, clearly not impressed.
“I took some out to eat earlier.”
”That’s good…” he began
“I threw it away. I wasn’t hungry.” She told him. Her voice was weak and still emotional.
“I can make so-“
“No,” she replied. “I just want to…stay here.” He complied and the two sat in silence for a while.
“You gave me a fright,” Angel told her, “I thought something was happening to you.” She shrugged.
She chuckled lightly. "Always trying to be the hero, huh?"
"You know me. Rescuer of damsels in distress,"
"You didn't rescue me from Xander,"
He sobered immediately. "Cordelia, I-"
"It's not your fault. It's mine. I shouldn't have gone out with him in the first place. I don’t know why I lowered myself to his status. It was just some...momentary lapse on my part,"
“You can’t blame yourself for what happened.”
“I’m not. I’m blaming him,” she lifted herself out of his arms. “I was brainwashed. Blackmailed. It was an evil clone… take your pick.” She said indignantly. Angel was lost for words. “This is the Hellmouth, you know, it could have happened.” She slipped off the bed and took a look at herself in the mirror. “Urgh!” she exclaimed looking at her hair. “I’m a wreck. I’d better go have shower.” Cordelia disappeared into the bathroom, leaving Angel unsure of what had happened.
Cordelia was blowing hot and cold. One minute she was crying over Xander and the next, acting as if it never happened. Angel shook his head and got off the bed, smoothing the creases out of his trousers. He checked the time, it was still daylight out. A few more hours and then he could go out… maybe take Cordelia somewhere to cheer her up.
“Cordelia,” he called through the bathroom door. It took a few minutes for her to reply. “Do you have any plans for tonight?” he asked. There was a pause.
“I don’t know. Why?” she asked.
“It’s just… if you want to go anywhere, just ask and I’ll be glad to take you” Angel prayed she wouldn’t choose the Bronze. It really wasn’t his scene and he only went there if he knew Buffy was going to be there. Nothing could be worse than the Bronze.
“Uh…I’m going to school on Monday so I was thinking of going shopping” Angel froze. Shopping? As in the huge mall with hundreds of clothes stores and bright lights? Suddenly, the prospect of going to the Bronze looked appealing. At least it was dimly lit. “Would you mind coming along?”
“Of course not” Angel said. “Are you sure you want to go tonight?”
“I’d prefer to go in the morning, while people were at school, but sunlight doesn’t do much for you. Plus, I figured you could get a new wardrobe while we were at it.” Angel looked down at his clothes, they weren’t *that* bad. “How about it?” Cordelia asked. Angel sighed.
“Sure. I can’t wait.” He said, retreating into the sanctuary of his room.
***
At least the mall wasn’t too bad. The stores were filled with Christmas decorations and sales for the upcoming holiday. Angel hadn’t realised that it was that time of year again. He wanted to browse around for a present for Buffy… maybe a peace offering, proving that they could still be friends. However, Cordelia had other plans as she dragged him from store to store and tried to convince him that red really was the new black this season.
“Cordelia, I appreciate what you’re trying to do…really…” Angel tried to get her attention away from the shirts she was glancing through. She pulled out a dark red silk shirt and held it against his chest.
“Hmm… maybe too Angelus-y. We don’t want the Slayer to get the wrong idea and stake your ass. What do you think?” she said to him. Without waiting for his reply, she dumped it into his hands and returned to the shirts.
“Cordelia…” he tried again. “I really don’t need any new sh- is this Indian silk?” he asked, feeling the shirt. She nodded and it took him a moment before he remembered what he had been saying. “Anyway…Cordelia…I don’t want shirts” She looked at him.
“You want pants?” he shook his head, “Shoes? Vests? Underpants?” she raised an eyebrow.
“NO!” Angel almost yelled. “I want… it’s late. We should be heading back. The stores will be shutting soon” he said, hoping he was right. She grinned.
“That’s the beauty of late night shopping, the mall’s open until midnight. We still have four hours to kill.”
‘Oh please,’ Angel thought, ‘Kill me now!’ he followed her like a puppy as she flounced to the pay desk, with Angel and his Indian silk shirt in tow. It wasn’t as if he wasn’t used to the lapdog behaviour. God knows he did it enough with Buffy. It was just that… it was *shopping*.
Cordelia handed over her credit card and looked at Angel’s pitiful expression. She laughed. “Relax, Angel. I’m not planning on stay for the whole four hours. I just need to get a few outfits and I’m done” he looked at the four huge bags in her hand.
“And what are all those clothes for?” he asked. She glanced down.
“Oh, that is just for my winter vacation. Daddy says we’re going skiing this year. I need to get a couple of things for school. Something that’ll show people that the Xander thing was just a… phase” she said while signing the receipt, her grin grew wider as the store clerk handed her the bag. “Come on, Angel. We still have another two floors to cover…” Angel groaned as she led him out of the store.
As they made their way to a shoe store, Cordelia gasped and hid behind Angel. Angel looked at where she was hiding. “Cordelia?” he asked.
“Shhh…don’t look at me.” She hissed.
“May I ask why?” he said looking straight ahead of him, to see what she was hiding from. Or rather…who.
“Just people from school. I can’t let them see me.”
“Why not? You look gorgeous”
“Duh. But the whole Xander…ooh, they’re coming” she manuovered Angel so she was even more hidden.
“I know this is important to you but…people are staring.” He told her, glancing at some of the other shoppers who gave the pair bemused looks. Cordelia waited until the students had passed before getting up.
“No, Angel. I can’t see a stain!” she cried in an attempt to explain herself. Angel shot her a look, thankful that vampires couldn’t blush. She offered him an apologetic smile and pulled him away.
“You couldn’t have thought of a *different* excuse?” he asked incredulously. She shrugged.
“Please. Like you’ll see these people again. Let’s try that store over there! That dress is gorgeous” Cordelia said taking Angel into a store he’d sworn they’d been in before.
Angel waited in the corner while Cordelia took a handful of clothes, including a dark red ensemble, into the changing room. Angel looked around the store, watching the other shoppers browse through clothes, look at the price tags and move on. Angel wondered how nice it must be for Cordelia to get all the clothes she wanted, when she wanted.
He watched a particular girl as she perused through the rack Cordelia had chosen her outfit from. He recognised her from somewhere. He observed as she looked at the price tag and then whispered a few words. Suddenly, a SALE tag appeared on the clothing. The girl turned around and approached the changing rooms and Angel recognised her.
“How abou- Amy!” Cordelia said she emerged from the changing booth she’d been in. Amy stood in front of her, looking Cordelia over as she wore the red outfit. Cordelia certainly looked different. Vampish even.
“Cordelia” Amy said, hiding the tag she’d magically manifested moments ago. “You’re out of hospital” Cordelia’s chipper mood immediately vanished. She nodded. “I heard about…well, I’m sorry.” Cordelia gulped hard. She was being pitied on by a witch. A witch who was friends with that boyfriend-stealing Willow.
“Don’t be. I’m not. Best thing that ever happened.” Cordelia crossed her arms across her chest, forcing herself not to cry out in pain as she pulled on the stitches in her stomach. Amy just gave a small smile.
“Nice outfit. Are you coming to school?”
“Monday. Missed anything in Mr Simmons’ class?” Cordelia asked, tight lipped. Amy shook her head.
“Nothing you can’t catch up on.”
“Ok. I’ve got to go.”
”Sure. Yeah. Bye.”
“Bye.” Cordelia said as she disappeared in the changing rooms to take her outfit off. Amy sighed and put the outfit away, magically removing the SALE tag as she did. She walked past Angel, not realising he was there, and left the store.
“Boy, that was awkward” Cordelia said approaching Angel when she came out of the dressing rooms in her original clothes. “Did she see you?” she asked. Angel shook his head. She heaved a sigh of relief, "Good."
“What are we doing now? Going home just in case any one else sees you…or us…” Angel asked hopefully. Cordelia thought for a moment before shaking her head.
“Nope. I’m going to face everyone. Show them I’m totally over Xander and I’m going to start by buying this outfit,” she said. She bit the bottom of her lip. Sunnydale High were going to forget everything that had just happened. Because, ladies and gentlemen… Cordelia Chase, bitch extraordinaire, was back.
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