"All The Young People"
By Rachel
Part 1
"Angel!!!" Cordelia screamed from the open doorway where everyone stood waiting in their summer coats. "Angel!!! Come on! Get your ass down here! We're waiting!"
"Coming!" He shouted back from upstairs.
"Are we really going to eat tacos?" The new skittish member of the group asked anxiously.
"Yeah, Fred!" Cordelia said cheerfully, and then started the annoying fidgeting of tapping her nails impatiently against the wooden doorframe. "All the tacos you want…that is if Angel ever gets his ass down here, ANGEL!!!"
Angel stood staring at an empty reflection in his mirror, wondering if he looked right.
It been over a month since he'd seen his reflection in Pylea, and truth be told, every day since, he'd wondered about his hair. Cordelia said it looked good; every time he asked her she said it looked good, that "he" looked good. But still…when Angel visited his midnight barber a few days back, a demon-friendly old coot called, get this, Floyd, he got the notion to ask for something different. But Floyd still did the same cut, just a little shorter on top, so explained Cordelia…and Wesley…and Gunn…and Fred…and even Lorne when Angel had hounded all five of them, asking repeatedly, "what does it look like?"
Angel believed them, he guessed…especially Cordy, seeing as she had the best taste and all. But still…something prompted him to stop and stand in front of the mirror every night before going out…even though he couldn't see a damn thing…and fiddle with his spiky, gelled, windblown do; rearranging it this way and that, staring into the empty reflection, and having only his hands to feel if he'd be going out looking like a total idiot or not.
Back in his reflecting days, the style was quite different…you couldn't blame Angel for worrying about his hair now. Some days he wished he'd never had the ability to catch a glimpse of his sorry haired self on their trip to the other dimension…but he always quickly got over that notion. Angel appreciated what little time he'd had in Pylea; seeing himself and being able to step out into the sunshine…even if there were two suns. And even though he had nearly gotten killed/killed his friends/killed Cordy's groo-soo-loo whatever boyfriend, and saw his evil counterpart in pure animal form...green spiky horns and all; he was glad that it had happened. It gave him a glimpse at his humanity; something he desperately had needed. It gave him a whole new perspective on life. It gave him something to feel energized about; something to remind him of what he was working towards: reclaimed humanity.
Yes. Angel appreciated every chance he had at feeling human. Angel appreciated a lot of things now; good hair being one of them.
When Cordelia's shrill impatience reached his ears a third time, Angel closed his closet door, sealing his floor length mirror within (really…a floor length mirror for a vampire. How redundant is that?) and booked it down the stairs.
"Finally, geez!" Cordy huffed, eyes ablaze with impatience even as she smiled.
"Sorry," Angel said shyly. Accepting his coat from Wesley, he tugged it on and adjusted the collar.
"Were you staring at your non-reflection in the mirror again?" She continued as the group turned to head out the door to the parking garage where Angel's classic Plymouth waited.
"Yeah," He admitted, his hand automatically going up to his hair.
"Angel, don't!" Cordy snapped, slapping his fingers away. "It looks fine! Don't touch it!"
"I've never seen a Vampire so obsessed with his appearance," Wesley grumbled good-naturedly.
"I have," Cordy sparked. "Angelus and those leather pants, remember?"
"Ah! Yes!"
The ex-May Queen and the ex-Watcher had a good laugh at Angel's deadly counterpart's expense.
"You wore leather pants?" Fred asked in her quirky giggle.
"Uh, yeah," Angel said bashfully. He'd be blushing if he had blood in his veins. But at the moment, he hadn't fed today.
"You sure you don't want to go change, man?" Gunn teased, halting in his step. "Cause we can go back in,"
"Why?" Angel asked dumbly, rubbing his hands down the front of his outfit. "Do I look like I need to change?" He looked from one face to another.
"Nooo," Cordy groaned, swatting his shoulder. "You look great! Gunn was just making a jab in regards to the leather…"
"Oh."
Gunn shook his head and moved ahead of the group with Wesley and Fred at his side. Fred was anxious to get to the car. The faster they got to the car, the faster they got to Pepe's, and the faster they got to Pepe's Mexican restaurant, the faster she got to eat tacos.
"I really like this shirt," Cordelia said as she and Angel walked again. She reached over past the leather lapel of his usual duster, and brushed a piece of invisible lint from the fabric. She ran her hand over it a couple of quick times, inspecting it thoroughly, the grain of the cloth against her fingertips.
"Thanks,"
"Great color…this slate blue looks great on you."
"Thanks." He said a little brighter. She smiled and started walking faster as the others reached the car ahead of them. Angel looked after her, a definite smile forming on his lips.
Angel had dressed in his new cotton blend slate blue shirt; the first few buttons left casually undone to reveal the white tank underneath (and a peek of his broad chest), and black casual dress pants with the standard accessories (leather belt, watch, Claddaugh ring, which he'd started wearing again in recent days, etc.). He'd been dressing lighter. Hell, he'd been feeling lighter, the last few months. No more black on black on black.
The last few months had had a good effect on Angel; despite the obvious tragedy he'd stumbled upon coming home from the other dimension. It's been a blow, the news tragic, but he'd grieved and moved on; holding only the best memories in his undead heart, and accepting that sometimes, things worked out for the worst, so that they could work out for the better later on.
And he felt no guilt about that. Angel would not feel guilty for things that he couldn't control. Not anymore. After all, his life was now, and he couldn't allow tragedy in the past to affect him. At least not any longer than what was considered healthy.
And his life now was healthy…well, as healthy as could be for a vampire…and he was enjoying it for once. Really enjoying it.
Angel slipped his key into the lock in the car door, and let his friends in. They lowered the top, and drove out into the warm L.A. night with the breeze through their hair. When they got to the restaurant, Angel was sure to feel his to make sure it was all back in place.
At the restaurant…
"Oh my!" Fred giggled, covering her mouth with her hand as she burped. The others laughed slightly, Cordelia taking another sip of her strawberry margarita, and Angel and Gunn drinking their beers.
The table was littered with dishes and glasses. The party of five had certainly eaten their fill. Even Angel had divulged in a plate of lime seasoned Carne Asada. Fred had ordered that, plus two enchiladas; one chicken, one beef; a side of taquitos, a cheese burrito, three shredded beef tacos (of course), and an appetizer of nachos to eat with the meal. Plus there had been a lot of salsa.
Of course, a little thing like her could only eat half of it. Wesley and Gunn helped her eat the rest, and along with their identical orders of 2 #2 combination plates, both men were stuffed to the gills. Cordy had had a simple plate: grilled shrimp fajitas splashed with Tequila and set on fire upon serving.
"Ahhh, Pepe's is the best!" She sighed.
"I think I'm going to take this home," Fred said happily of the last plate standing: four stray taquitos and a side of rice and beans.
"I think I'm going to be sick," Gunn said clutching his stomach.
"I think I'm going to the restroom," Wesley excused himself.
Gunn got up to let him out of the circular booth, and upon resitting, decided he'd better make a trip to the restroom also. Fred and Cordelia watched them go, and Angel finished his Tecaté.
"This was so much fun," Fred gushed, pushing her new glasses up the ridge of her delicate nose. After five years with the same pair, Wesley had thought it time she go for a new prescription. Fred really liked the new ones…they were the same ones that Christie Brinkley had worn; at least that's what the tag had said. Cordy had tried to explain that that was just the label a designer used with Brinkley's permission, but Fred was having so much fun picking them out, she gave up.
"I'm glad you enjoyed it," Angel said, tentatively fingering his now empty beer bottle. The food was good, the beer was good, but he had to stave off the craving for his real meal, which he would have later on alone in his room. Angel still couldn't bring himself to drink often in front of Fred.
"Yes, I did! Thank you so very much!" She squeaked.
"I had fun too." Cordy announced, twisting her straw around her pink, frothy alcoholic beverage with a smile. "But you know what would be even more fun???" She arched a perfectly waxed brow and stared at him mischievously. He wondered.
"What?"
"Going out dancing."
"Cordy, I don't think so," Angel looked away uneasily, scanning the room for their waiter so he could signal for the check.
"Aww! Come on, Angel!" Cordy pouted, her brow knitting together in a frown. "It's been ages since I've been dancing! I bet even longer since Fred here has!" She gestured at the smaller woman whom watched across the table with quiet, curious regard as she sucked down the rest of her 7-Up through a straw. She swallowed, and looked quietly at Angel waiting to see what he would do.
"COME ON, Angel!" Cordy bellowed. "It would be fun! I swear! Plus, then you'd get to show off your snazzy new duds!" She reached out and tugged on the collar of his shirt. His eyes glanced down uneasily at her polished fingernails, and smacking her hand away, shook his head 'No'. "Uh! Angel! Come on! Hey, don't you want to go dancing, Fred?" Cordy looked expectantly at Fred, who, for a moment, looked confused. For a moment Angel thought he was saved, but then Fred's eyes lit up, and she gushed,
"Well, okay! I guess so! It has been a long time. Back in Pylea, I used to get this feeling, and I just start jumping around and bellowing at the top of my lungs! It was sorta like dancing, and singing too, I think. If I remember—"
"SEE!" Cordy beamed triumphantly, cutting off the girl's habituated, and zany, outburst. She swiped a salt crystal from the rim of her glass to lick it from her fingertip. Angel stared over at her with dread. "See, Fred wants to go! Look at this face… You couldn't say no to this face, could you???" Cordy now had Fred's chin in her hand, wiggling it around, and schmoozing it, as Gunn would call it.
Ah. Damn. She was playing the Fred card again. In the last few weeks Cordy had learnt a new trick; that was to innocently use Fred in a demonic but friendly manipulation of her best friend/co-worker.
Angel sighed in defeat as the guys came back to the table and sat down, evident relief on their faces as they lounged now more comfortably. Fred continued to slurp, eyes wide, on her near empty 7-Up.
"Did your business?" Cordelia asked palpably.
"Yep!" Gunn grinned, sighing in satisfaction.
Wesley and Angel wrinkled their noses.
"Not at the dinner table, please!"
"Yeah, that's gross, guys."
Gunn and Cordy laughed, and Cordy finished off her Margarita.
"Well, good, cause we're going dancing," She said.
"Hey! I'm down with that!" Gunn smiled and started bopping around in his seat.
Wesley looked at him in disbelief.
"My god, man! Are you serious?" He adjusted his glasses and scowled in disgust. "After all you ate? I can't believe you could! I feel like I'm going to burst at the seams,"
"Well, I didn't want to go," Angel quickly clarified, looking hopeful.
"But let me guess," Wesley finished for him. "Cordy and Fred voted you out," He smiled at Fred, and then looked past her, menacingly at Cordelia as he said it. Cordelia smiled back, her eyes flickering with impish triumph.
"Yeah, pretty much." Angel said helplessly.
He reached out and caught the waiter just as the man was about to pass.
"Check please?" Angel asked. The waiter nodded and reached into the front of his black apron.
Everyone started going for their wallets, except for Fred who played with the ice in her glass. She didn't have any real money yet. Angel had been taking care of her and she wouldn't accept a paycheck from him for the little work she did researching. She didn't feel it was right. She felt the free boarding and food and clothing and company he gave her was plenty enough for what little work she did for them all. No, she couldn't accept money yet, that is, unless Cordelia had anything to do with it.
Cordy ripped a twenty from her purse first, and then Wesley and Gunn handed over their cash. Angel shunned it, pushing it away and shook his head.
"No. I got it, it's my treat."
"You sure, man?" Gunn asked, slightly uncertain.
"Wow! Thanks, Angel!" Cordelia grinned, shoving her money back into her wallet.
"I'll pay the tip," Wesley insisted, laying out four five-dollar bills.
"Fair enough," Angel said as he pulled out three twenties and a ten, handing them to the waiter and waiting for his change to be brought back. Angel had already calculated it in his head; he should be getting back 2.72.
Hey…every little bit counts.
"Then I got the first round of drinks at the club," Gunn spoke up.
"Fair enough." Angel said again.
The three men looked slightly in Cordelia's direction. Still smiling, she said nothing. When they looked away looking slightly perturbed, she groaned.
"OH! Okay! I'll pick up the second round! Geez! I'm an out of work actress moonlighting as a seer, not exactly bursting at the seams with the cash flow, know what I mean? Things have been tough since Angel stopped making out the paychecks!"
"Hmn," Wesley and Gunn both garbled in thought.
Angel smiled, finally a leg up on Cordy.
"That's what happens when we become equal partners…"
The waiter brought back Angel's change and the five of them rose and left.
At the club…
"Isn't this fun!" Cordy shrieked over the noise of the DJ as she came back to the bar for a breather.
"Yeah…big fun," Angel tried.
"Oh, shut up! Stop lying!" She grinned, grabbing her drink, a simple Cosmopolitan, and then took a long, relaxing sip. Angel shrugged apologetically.
The two of them turned and watched the dance floor.
Gunn, Wesley, and Fred had ventured off as a group to dance, while Cordy made her rounds with available guys, and while Angel, as usual, sat perched on a stool at the bar keeping an eye on everyone.
The watchful dad with two left feet.
"HAHA! Look at Fred!" Cordy shrieked. "She's so damn adorable! Wait…what the hell is she doing?"
Angel, smiling, shrugged.
"Oh my…oh my god?" Cordy's eyes went wide with engrossed fascination. "I think she's doing the Running Man!"
"She has been in another danceless dimension for the past five years,"
"Oh my god…STILL! No. This is not right," She shook her head and started into the crowd. Turning back to give him a grin, she called, "I'M GOING TO FIX THIS!"
Angel nodded his head in amusement, laughing, and watched as Cordelia Chase shot off into the crowd; the people parting for her as if she were a princess (and she was once, in Pylea). She reached the group of friends and joined them, getting Fred to mimic her movements, and then all was well. The four of them dancing were having a really good time.
Angel turned back to the bar and ordered another scotch. He'd had five so far, nothing for his vampiric tolerance, and at ordering the sixth, the bartender looked at him strangely,
"Buddy, you sure you can handle it?"
Angel's eyes shot up nervously, and tilting his head, he nodded encouragingly.
"Yeah, yeah, just get me another," He laid out seven dollars.
"I'm surprised you haven't fallen flat on your face," The bartender mused. Not only was this Angel's sixth Scotch, but he'd had several beers in between.
What else was he supposed to do at a club? Dance? No. And, he had to keep busy somehow.
"It must be watered down," Angel reasoned. This brought a hint of darkness to the bartender's eyes and pausing momentarily to stare hostily at the vamp, he gritted his teeth, and grunted,
"Sure, whatever."
Oops, Angel thought. Hadn't meant to piss off the bartender. Oh well. He was thrust his drink and then the bartender headed off, towards the other end of the bar to deal with his less insulting patrons. Angel didn't care, not really. He turned back to watch the guys, sipping his drink and, his stomach imaginarily growling, wishing it were a nice, tall glass of chilled B negative.
All singing aside, damn, he wished they were at Caritas.
When he got home, a mug full of micro'd pigs blood would have to do, 'cause he was getting seriously hungry.
Fred came flouncing up, sweat sprinkling her brow, and cheeks rosy from activity.
"Hiya!" She squeaked.
"Hi." Angel smiled.
"It's just so hot out there!" She exclaimed, waving a hand flippantly to air her face.
"You want a drink?" Angel asked, reaching into his pocket for more money.
"Sure!" She grinned, and grabbed his drink from his hand and took a long gulp. "Oh my! Her eyes went wide as she swallowed. "Oh my!" she giggled. "That's hot!"
"Yeah," Angel said, quickly grabbing back his now half empty glass from her. He eyed it, and then her suspiciously. She was still as it hit her stomach, her eyes getting even wider. Fred gasped, and covered her mouth.
"Um, why don't I get you a club soda or something,"
"Oh, hehe, no, I'm okay," She started to sway.
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah, ooers, I'm gooood," She blinked, raising her fingers to her hair, and then suddenly her knees collapsed.
Angel was already holding her up, hands locked around her waist, as he gently pulled her back up to a standing position. She looked up at him through huge eyes, glancing about in confusion and then giggled that nervous giggle of hers.
"I'm sorry, I don't know what happened!"
"That's okay," Angel said, helping her to a stool. "I think the scotch maybe…"
"Oh. Oh. Yeah. I haven't had any alcohol in so long,"
"Maybe you should just rest here."
"Yeah, maybe I should…"
Fred gripped the bar with one hand, steadying herself as she sat on the stool. Angel signaled back to the bartender (who regarded him darkly) and pointing at Fred, ordered,
"Water,"
A glass of ice water was thrust into his hands and then Angel turned and handed it to Fred.
"Oh, thank you, Angel," Fred said nervously, taking a long sip. She drank a third of the glass, and then wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. Angel watched her observantly.
"Are you sure you're okay?"
"Yeah, ooh yeah! I'm just dandy, I think,"
"I think we should go,"
"Oh, no!" She whined, sounding suspiciously like Cordelia. "No, no, no! I don't want to leave! Besides they're having so much fun! I'd hate to be the reason they have to stop,"
Angel regarded his friends out on the floor. Cordy and Gunn were dancing in full swing, and Wesley apparently had picked up a stray collection of his own dance partners. Several girls were surrounding the ex-Watcher. He looked content, to say the least.
"Okay, Fred. We'll stay for a while."
"Okay, goodie," She smiled. Angel slid back onto his stool and they both turned to lean their elbows against the bar. "Why don't you dance?" She asked curiously, wiggling her thin fingers down into her glass and plucking out an ice cube which she slipped into her mouth and started to chew.
"Me??" Angel gasped. "Oh, no. No, not me."
"Why not? Are you embarrassed?"
He chuckled.
"To say the least,"
"Well, why don't you let Cordelia teach you?" She asked seriously. "She taught me, she's a really good dancer," Again; the nervous giggle.
Angel regarded her thoughtfully.
"Yeah, I saw her teaching you, she did a good job."
Fred smiled.
"But me?" Angel went on, shaking his head. "Oh, no. I don't think that would work out,"
"Well why not?" She leaned forward and through her glasses peered into his big brown eyes. Ah, she could get lost in those eyes… Again; nervous giggle.
"Because!" Angel said, smirking to himself. "Um…just because."
"Oh, I bet you'd do good!" Fred said suddenly, excitedly pushing her glasses up her nose and staring at him earnestly. "I bet you could! You know, you're so fit and all,"
Angel started to protest, but then smiled.
"I'm fit?"
"Ooers, yep!" She squeaked, picking another cube from her glass.
"Really?" He asked interestedly.
"Aw, yep,"
He stared at her for a moment, his smile growing broader. She burst into unbridled giggles and spun away to face the dance floor again.
"So, like, how fit?" He asked.
"Uh, Angel…?" She said, suddenly anxious, her voice dripping with dread. Her hand clamped down on his arm, and he spun around to see what she was staring at.
The dance floor patrons had parted in a circle, and Cordy was clutching her head, Gunn and Wesley at her side trying to keep her standing.
In a flash Angel was there, helping her away from the crowd and gently coaxing her to tell him what she saw.
"Bad, ugly," She foretold less then enthusiastically. By now they were all at the side door. Fred had brought everyone's jackets and silently handed them out. Gunn took Cordy's and waited until she could stand on her own to give it to her. Fred hung on to Angel's until he was ready to put it on. Cordelia sagged against the wall, the vision finally over, taking huge breaths of air, and clutching her stomach.
"You okay?" Angel asked; voice racked with concern. His hand rubbed her bare shoulder comfortingly, and placing her own hand over his, she nodded, 'Yes'.
"It's in Thai Town," Cordy sighed. "At an all night liquor store. A couple of vamps roughing up the owner…no one's dead. Yet."
"Good work," Angel whispered, wiping her sweat dampened hair from her forehead. She nodded and the five of them left the stuffy club, bursting out into the cool of the night air.
Near the store…
"Cordy, you stay with Fred in the car, we'll be back in a few minutes,"
"No way, Angel! I want to go!"
"Cordy!"
"No!"
Angel sighed in frustration as he attempted to stare down Cordelia. She'd started to get out of the car. He'd stopped her. Gunn and Wesley were already starting around the block towards the store, glancing back anxiously at Angel.
"Come on, Angel man! You're gonna miss all the action!"
He held out his hand at the two men, signaling them to wait. They slowed, watching him impatiently, restlessly; stakes and battle axes heavy in hand.
"Angel, I'm coming too!" Cordelia persisted, again trying to rise up out of the car. He reached a hand out to push her back, but she sideswiped him, knocking his hand to the side, and jumped out past him and out of reach. "AH HA!" She grinned at his surprise. "See! I'm getting faster!"
"Cordy, just wait here!"
"No! It's MY vision! I want to go! It's just a couple of vampires, big deal!"
"Cordy—"
"Angel! Give me one good reason!"
"Fred will be alone!"
"Fred can come!"
"Fred can't come!"
"Yes she can!"
Cordelia raised a brow. Angel looked back at the fragile girl sitting silently in the backseat of the Plymouth, chewing a piece of her hair as she watched them with major interest.
"No, Cordy—"
"Fred! You want to come, don't you???"
Fred rose up on her knees in the seat, dropping the hair from her mouth, and nodded at them with extreme enthusiasm.
"SEE?" Cordy grinned, slapping Angel in the chest.
He regarded the tall brunette for a moment with dark, ominous eyes. Cordy didn't back down an inch, and he contemplated this.
"You brat." He finally whispered in a half smile. Cordy cocked her brow, winning yet again. Angel looked over at Fred and with a wave of his hand, permitted her exit from the car. "Fine. Come on. But Cordy, you're in charge of her. Make sure she stays out of harms way. And Fred, you stick to Cordy like glue, you hear?"
"Yes, Angel!" Fred agreed excitedly.
"Angel! Yo, come on!" Gunn called out.
"Yeah, Angel! Come on!" Cordy beamed. She'd already started ahead towards the guys. The three of them took off around the corner, and Angel hurried his pace to catch up. Fred scurried along side of him.
"I mean it," He said, giving her one last quick warning as they approached the storefront and heard the brawling inside. "You stick by Cordy,"
"I will!" She swore skittishly.