Chapter 4
Angel supported the precarious Gunn through the back entrance and into the hotel they used as offices. It was growing darker outside but Angel did not yet feel safe. Cordelia helped them inside, immediately sending Wesley for the now huge first aid kit they kept always on hand. Cordelia was more used to bandaging vampire wounds but she accepted the challenge. Angel allowed Gunn to slump down onto the couch drowsily and then placed their two axes on a shelf out of the way. Cordelia quickly dealt with the cut on the back of Gunn's head without the usual fuss she made with Angel. Angel could see worry lines etched into her face. She knew Gunn would not heal as fast as Angel. Angel smiled. It would be nice if Cordelia was with someone.
Buffy was struggling to get the co-ordination of her limbs right as she made her way to Angel's apartment. Her legs refused to work together and her arms were flailing wildly every time she put a foot down on the pavement. Buffy stopped as she noticed a tramp holding a large empty tequila bottle staring in amusement at her. She finally fixed her walk enough to stroll menacingly over to him. The tramp laughed. "You jusht ash drunk as me then?" he asked. Buffy laughed. Then she snapped his neck.
Buffy approached the hotel with caution, her steps still slightly uncoordinated. She slowed as she reached the door, unsure of what to expect. If Angel detected that she was not really who she appeared to be that would be the end of the guise and she would be discovered. If Angel did not, how would it continue? Her plan was not completely formed yet; everything depended on the reactions she received. If Angel played along she would destroy him from the inside out, ripping his emotions to pieces along the way. She knew Angel was torn over Buffy, she could see into his soul, which was why she had assumed her form. Anticipation was brewing inside of her as she realised Angel could hear her faltering footsteps. She approached the door, and knocked.
Angel was wandering over to the locked front door. Cordelia watched him cautiously, she knew he could hear things she could not, and she could hear nothing. It was usually that way, he sensed the clients that came to their door, she was the bringer of visions that led to normally non-paying clientele, and those were the more frequent type they received. Not that she was bitter about it, after living in Sunnydale she knew how many people needed their specific type of help. It was the weak poor people the demon kind picked on. Like Xander. She was sad she had left him behind, but not sorry. He cramped her style.
She heard the knocking at the door as Angel reached it. Wesley managed to drag his head out of those dreaded books she so often found herself poring over week after week, and Gunn looked up expectantly. She shot him a look to tell him to lie back down; a head wound was not to be taken lightly. It occurred to her that she liked him, and was definitely worried about him. She was hardly ever worried about Angel. He knew what he was doing most of the time. Except when it came to Buffy, then he was weak at the knees. She didn't like that so much.
Angel opened the door expecting to see a scared bedraggled human in need of his help, their steps had been faltering, almost as though they couldn't walk. What was presented to him was completely different. In front of him stood a beautiful, confident Buffy, dressed in black pants and a figure hugging red top. Her hair fell about her face in soft wisps and her big blue eyes stared at him gently. A smile played on her lips. Angel took an involuntary gasp even though he didn't normally breathe. Surprised, he took a wobbly step back. Buffy's smile widened. "I take it you didn't expect to see me," she said, quietly.
Angel supported the precarious Gunn through the back entrance and into the hotel they used as offices. It was growing darker outside but Angel did not yet feel safe. Cordelia helped them inside, immediately sending Wesley for the now huge first aid kit they kept always on hand. Cordelia was more used to bandaging vampire wounds but she accepted the challenge. Angel allowed Gunn to slump down onto the couch drowsily and then placed their two axes on a shelf out of the way. Cordelia quickly dealt with the cut on the back of Gunn's head without the usual fuss she made with Angel. Angel could see worry lines etched into her face. She knew Gunn would not heal as fast as Angel. Angel smiled. It would be nice if Cordelia was with someone.
Buffy was struggling to get the co-ordination of her limbs right as she made her way to Angel's apartment. Her legs refused to work together and her arms were flailing wildly every time she put a foot down on the pavement. Buffy stopped as she noticed a tramp holding a large empty tequila bottle staring in amusement at her. She finally fixed her walk enough to stroll menacingly over to him. The tramp laughed. "You jusht ash drunk as me then?" he asked. Buffy laughed. Then she snapped his neck.
Buffy approached the hotel with caution, her steps still slightly uncoordinated. She slowed as she reached the door, unsure of what to expect. If Angel detected that she was not really who she appeared to be that would be the end of the guise and she would be discovered. If Angel did not, how would it continue? Her plan was not completely formed yet; everything depended on the reactions she received. If Angel played along she would destroy him from the inside out, ripping his emotions to pieces along the way. She knew Angel was torn over Buffy, she could see into his soul, which was why she had assumed her form. Anticipation was brewing inside of her as she realised Angel could hear her faltering footsteps. She approached the door, and knocked.
Angel was wandering over to the locked front door. Cordelia watched him cautiously, she knew he could hear things she could not, and she could hear nothing. It was usually that way, he sensed the clients that came to their door, she was the bringer of visions that led to normally non-paying clientele, and those were the more frequent type they received. Not that she was bitter about it, after living in Sunnydale she knew how many people needed their specific type of help. It was the weak poor people the demon kind picked on. Like Xander. She was sad she had left him behind, but not sorry. He cramped her style.
She heard the knocking at the door as Angel reached it. Wesley managed to drag his head out of those dreaded books she so often found herself poring over week after week, and Gunn looked up expectantly. She shot him a look to tell him to lie back down; a head wound was not to be taken lightly. It occurred to her that she liked him, and was definitely worried about him. She was hardly ever worried about Angel. He knew what he was doing most of the time. Except when it came to Buffy, then he was weak at the knees. She didn't like that so much.
Angel opened the door expecting to see a scared bedraggled human in need of his help, their steps had been faltering, almost as though they couldn't walk. What was presented to him was completely different. In front of him stood a beautiful, confident Buffy, dressed in black pants and a figure hugging red top. Her hair fell about her face in soft wisps and her big blue eyes stared at him gently. A smile played on her lips. Angel took an involuntary gasp even though he didn't normally breathe. Surprised, he took a wobbly step back. Buffy's smile widened. "I take it you didn't expect to see me," she said, quietly.