[Disclaimer] I wish
[Summary] A very short story--Angel explains longing to Cordelia in the dark of the night. (C/A, of course!)
"And here you are." Angel said unsurprised as his black car pulled to a stop beside him. Cordelia got out and hurried to him.
"Angel?" She said, confused and not the least bit amused, "What are you doing here? C'mon, let's go home." She received no answer from the vampire with a soul. She looked to the sky. Couldn't see the stars. Couldn't see the moon. Dark clouds loomed overhead and the cold air was sending chills up and down her spine. The pounding rain wasn't helping much either. February wind snapped at her skin, and whipped her hair out of place. She sent a look to Angel. His brown hair was plastered to his head and his clothes clung to his body. He had been standing out here for some time, it seemed. "Angel?" She questioned, again. A shiver ran through her body, and she hugged herself to keep warm. "Angel, why are you here?"
Angel said nothing, but removed his long coat and handed it to Cordelia. She gratefully took it, and wrapped herself in it's warmth before leaning against the large metallic sign.
Welcome to Sunnydale
"Angel." She said again, "What are you doing here?"
Angel met her hazel eyes for a moment before turning his attention to the dark sky, bare without the bright moon. "We've been working together for three years, Cordy." He said, finally.
"Yeah."
"And we've been through a lot."
"Well, of course."
"...sometimes I look at you and kick myself for not seeing it sooner. For not saying it sooner. Sometimes when my eyes meet yours, I feel warm, and human, and I swear that sometimes, I hear my heartbeat, if only for a second."
"Angel?"
"It drove me insane. Watching you and working with you. Wanting you but never being able to have you. I tried to avoid you. Tried to get away. Hide from these feelings of mine. Then came the ballet. As much as I tried to say it was the spirits, I knew I felt the same way too. But, I knew you didn't. I tried to work up my courage. Tried to tell you. But the Groosalugg came. And I knew I had waited too long. Hesitated. I had lost my chance, and now a real champion had come to take my place. And it was my own fault. I decided, that maybe if I pretended I didn't feel that way, then I would stop hurting. That if I stopped smelling your perfume or looking into your eyes, I would stop craving your presence. But, I would turn a corner, and you'd be standing there, a smile on your face. I would go into the kitchen, and there you'd be. With a warm glass of blood for me, and hot chocolate for yourself. I would try to go to sleep and you would be in my room. Sleeping or watching Connor. I'd go into Wes' office and you would be on the computer. So I sent you on vacation. Those weeks you were gone were so hard. I missed you so much. And when you came back, I was so happy. But I kicked myself. I knew I wasn't supposed to be happy. I was supposed to step away, get over you."
Cordelia watched him in a surprised awe for a moment before he continued.
"So I came to Sunnydale." He chuckled a bit, in spite of the situation. "You hate this place. But yet..." He gave Cordelia a pained, longing look as he raised his hand in her direction. "Here you are."
