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Angel was still awake, holding a sleeping Cordelia, as he heard a knock on the office door. Leaving Cordelia in the bed, he headed upstairs and unlocked the front door, as a demon with small horns and ruddy complexion entered, looking worn out
"Hi, can I help you?" Angel asked
"You're Angel, right. You help the helpless, right? The vampire with a soul?"
"I"
"I need your help. The name's Barney"
"Come this way"
Angel led Barney into his office, just as Cordelia came upstairs
"Uh, wait here a second, Barney"
Cordelia whirled around when Angel exited his office
"Who's here?" she asked
"A client. You okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. I'm gonna head out. I'll be back before the sun goes down"
"Okay. Be careful"
Cordelia grabbed her things and left, as Angel went back to his office and sat down
"Okay, first off, before there are any misunderstandings," Barney said, "I'm a demon"
Angel raised an eyebrow, but didn't say anything
"Secondly, I've just noticed it's 3:45 in the afternoon. If you're a vampire, why aren't you in your coffin?"
"Coffin," Angel muttered, "I hate that stereotype. You're a demon and you don't know anything about vampires?"
"Only what I learned from TV," Barney replied matter-of-factly
"Vampires don't sleep in coffins. It's a misconception made popular by hack writers and ignorant media," Angel said, before standing, "In fact, you know, we can and do move around during the day, as long as we avoid direct sunlight. Got it?!"
"Gotten. Sorry. Didn't want to push any sore spots"
"Right then, what can I help you with?"
"Someone is chasing me. He wishes to do me harm, possibly even kill me. The guy is relentless. He never stops. Been chasing me ever since Phoenix"
"Really? Now that would make me think that the pursuer would have a strong grievance against the pursued. Any reason why?"
"No reason at all," Barney said, "I'm evil, but I'm not evil. I'm an empath demon. And right now, I'm getting waves of grief from you"
"Don't read my emotions," Angel growled, "Or I might help your pursuer out"
"Okay, okay, sorry about that. So, will you help me?"
Angel sat back down at his desk, folded his hands and stared at Barney
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Cordelia was enjoying herself. This is just what she needed right now following Doyle's death. Bright sunshine, clear blue sky and a peaceful tranquillity as she took a walk through the nearby park, watching the children laugh and play. One day, she hoped to have children herself. Not just yet, but one day. Deciding to have herself an ice cream, Cordelia headed to the nearest stall and waited in line
"What can I get you?" asked the vendor
"Can I get – ARGH!"
Cordelia cried out in pain, clutching her head, as a vision flashed through her mind
"Miss, you okay?" asked the vendor
"Choc…o…argh! Chocolate," Cordelia cried, the vision over
"You sure you're okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. Can I get chocolate thanks?"
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Angel looked up when Cordelia came back. She put her bag down and walked over to him without saying a word, before kissing him deeply. Angel raised an eyebrow, unsure on whether he could continue, when Cordelia broke away
"Uh, wow. That was…that was a nice kiss"
"I didn't feel anything," Cordelia said
"You didn't?" Angel cried, a little hurt, "Cause that was above normal, that kiss"
"Oh, it was a great kiss. But that means I still have it"
"Have what?"
"Damn you, Doyle," Cordelia said, sitting down, "You had to do this to me! Why? I have nothing to atone for. Nothing! The PTB better stay out of my head if they know what's good for them"
"PTB? Powers That Be? You had a vision?" Angel asked
"Boy, howdy! You know how they look bad? They feel a whole lot worse"
"Another door opens," Angel repeated the Oracles, "You're my link now"
"I am nobody's link. Sure I love you and all, but I'm not your link to the PTB. And if kissing gets rid of it, then I will kiss every damn frog in the kingdom"
Barney entered the room, having just used the bathroom. Cordelia saw him and headed over, kissing him on the lips as Angel watched in surprise, a bubble of anger rising up in him as he watched Barney's surprised and joyful reaction
"Gotta say, like the way you treat your clients," Barney grinned
"Maybe not every frog," Cordelia said, rubbing her mouth
Barney headed into Angel's office, as he rounded on Cordelia
"Why the hell did you kiss him for?"
"I don't want the damn visions," Cordelia replied angrily, "Why did I have to get them? Why couldn't Doyle have given me mono or herpes?"
"I'm about to head out. What was the vision?"
"Some grey, ugly, blobby thing. Where are you going?"
"Barney's place. Whatever is chasing him, he thinks it'll be there. In the meantime, keep him occupied downstairs and draw the ugly, grey, blobby thing for me"
Cordelia rolled his eyes as Angel grabbed his coat and headed for the door
"Oh and when I say occupied, I don't mean necking on the couch"
Cordelia glared at him, as he left the office, before she headed downstairs, grabbing a pad and pencil on the way
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Angel arrived at Barney's apartment, thinking about Cordelia. It made sense to him now. When Doyle kissed Cordelia before his suicidal jump, he had passed his visions on to her, ensuring that they lasted, even if he didn't. Now she was his link to the Powers That Be. Now he was able to continue his mission with Cordelia by his side
Taking his small axe out of his coat, Angel slowly entered the dark apartment, just as someone shoved him into the room. Angel whirled around, raising his axe, as the person walked into the room, holding a crossbow at his chest
"Wesley?" Angel said in surprise
"Hello, Angel," the leather-clad Watcher replied coolly, "I'd wager you never see me again"
"Actually, I didn't give it much thought. What are-"
"Ah, ah. I'm asking the questions here," Wesley said, "And let me warn you, any sudden movement and I'll be forced to-"
Angel casually smacked the crossbow out of his hand and placed his hands on his hips, raising his eyebrow, as Wesley nervously looked at the floor
"Right, you had a question?"
"What are you doing here?" Angel asked, "And what's with the leather?"
"I'm here, tracking down a fierce demon. I'm a rogue demon hunter now, having left the Watcher's Council following the Ascension"
"This demon you're hunting, he's not short and ruddy looking, is he?"
"Short? No, rather large and powerful. Been leaving behind a yellow liquid"
Angel walked over to Wesley, peering at his shoulder where yellow liquid had just dripped down upon
"Like that?"
The pair looked up, just as a massive demon lunged down at them
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"You've just lost someone, haven't you?" Barney asked
Cordelia looked up from her pad at him, as he smiled and sat down before her
"Someone close to you has just recently passed"
"How the hell do you know?"
"I'm an empath demon. I read emotions. And you're covered in grief. And love"
"Yeah, well, don't read my emotions unless you want a pencil in your eye"
"Okay then. So, what are you drawing?"
"Something from my vision. It's what my recently deceased friend passed onto me"
"Visions huh?"
"Yeah, visions. Vague images that can help people"
Cordelia sighed and got up from the couch, heading into the kitchen. While she was busy making up tea, Barney pulled out his mobile phone and dialled a number
"Hank, you'll never believe what I've just found," he grinned, watching Cordelia, "Something even better than the Kungai's Tak horn that I've got"
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