STORY NAME: A Secret Soul
AUTHOR'S NAME: Soo W
DISCLAIMER: These characters belong to WB/Joss/Fox etc, but certainly not to me. I'm only writing this for fun and therapy, and because I miss Kate already.
PAIRING: A/Kate
SPOILERS: Take most of A s2 / BTVS s5 as read - Buffy is gone but Pylea and s3 have not happened
SHORT SUMMARY: A sequel to Descent (see below). What with the curse and neither of them being the best communicator in the world, Angel's tentative relationship with Kate seems to be stalling. Then events take a sudden turn for the worse and change their lives forever.
DISTRIBUTION: You want it? You got it. Just let me know.
FEEBACK: Pleasepleaseplease... it's the only way I know if it's good or bad!
COMMENTS: For everyone out there who thought that Descent should have ended with some Angel/Kate goodness. :-) You might want to read Descent first, but it's not totally necessary as this will stand on its own if you take it on trust that Kate and Angel are an item and Angel has some long, lost relatives. If you want to read it, Descent is on my web site at http://www.icedplum.com/ with the rest of my scribbles.
A Secret Soul 1/?"And he thought she knew his secret soul,
and would have stretched out his arms to her in longing,
for she made him see in his mind's eye
a closed casement in a high turret,
a private curtained bed where he would be most himself."
[From Possession, by A S Byatt]
"You don't need to spill. Not beans anyway." Lorne grimaced, "And spare me the singing. I could sense you coming a mile away."
Angel's jaw dropped, and wavered slightly as he tried to think of a rejoinder. Then he slumped, defeated, into a chrome and black leather chair. He rested his arms on the table and stared morosely at its blank, shining surface.
"He's still not budging, huh?" Cordy asked.
Kate shook her head and slowly stirred her cappuccin. She watched Cordelia thoughtfully.
She was grateful for the lunch invite - anything that built closer ties with Angel's team was welcome. And she and Cordy seemed to be edging tentatively towards real friendship lately. But now she was getting the distinct impression that the purpose behind the outing was to pump her for information. Ordinarily, she would have refused to disclose any details, but then, she did need to unburden to someone.
Why not a mutual friend? Why not Cordelia?
"I'm going crazy." Angel confided to the sympathetic green face across the table. Lorne waved over his shoulder and a large bourbon appeared in front of his companion. Angel hesitated for a moment, before apologising.
"I'm sorry. That stuff doesn't work on me."
But Lorne pushed the glass a little closer, and he sighed and took a large gulp before continuing. "I want her so badly, and yet every time we're alone together ..."
"You get cold feet. More cold than normal, even?" Lorne nodded. "Well, it's only to be expected, sweetie."
"Has he said anything?" Kate looked at Cordy, silently imploring her to tell the truth.
"Well..." Cordy dabbed her mouth with a tissue and pressed her lips together before answering. "He hasn't said anything, as such. But this morning he was moody enough for six souled vampires, so we kind of thought ... he probably wasn't getting any. If you'll excuse the expression." Cordy gave Kate a rueful smile. "How long has it been now?"
Kate grimaced. "It's three months since we planted that evidence and the police stopped looking for Angel in connection with the murders."
"Three months!" Cordy whistled. "Time flies ... except, it probably hasn't, from your perspective."
Kate smiled ruefully. "You can say that again."
"You walk a thin line," Lorne seemed to be warming to his task as he ordered Angel's fifth drink. "If it all goes non-linear, you could end up eating the lovely girl."
Seeing his companion's tortured face reminded Lorne of a man tied to a rack, being given a last agonising turn. He continued hastily, "Maybe that wasn't the right expression to use. What I meant to say was, you're worried about plunging in and what might come of it."
Angel's head fell forward onto his folded arms. "I thought communication was supposed to be your strong point."
"I'm trying, hon." Lorne tweaked one of his red horns nervously. "Really I am. But you're a bit overwhelming today. I think you're putting me off my ... stroke."
Angel took another glass from the waiter's hand and downed the drink in one.
"It's not like we don't ... do stuff." Kate groaned inwardly. She sounded like a schoolgirl, but really, she'd never discussed the intimate details of a relationship with anyone else like this before. She was woefully lacking in the right vocabulary.
Cordy leaned forward eagerly. "What stuff?"
"You wanna know the bottom line?" Lorne said in a low tone.
"Yes ... please." Angel's voice came, muffled, from within the circle of his arms. "Unless it involves discussion of actual bottoms. Because that's another problem area."
"Well," Kate gulped. "For instance, last night, he stayed over at my place. Nothing happened, we just watched Fox until we both fell asleep. But this morning ..."
Cordy's face opened up in anticipation.
"We ... well, we ..." Kate glanced over her shoulder and leaned towards Cordelia, lowering her voice. "We used the bathroom at the same time."
Lorne continued in a conspiratorial whisper. "I don't see any imminent evil badness here." He cocked his head to one side. "In fact, I'm not sure what I see. But it's not evil. A little ... irresponsible. Maybe a touch ... caddish. I see you singing a lot of Tom Jones numbers very shortly. But I don't get black leather and mass murder."
As Angel raised his head slightly and peered up at him, Lorne beamed. "You have my blessing sugar-puff. Now, in the name of all things spherical and glittery, get your sad face out of my club. You're frightening the other customers."
Cordy's shoulders slumped. "That's it? You shared a toothbrush?"
"We shared ..." Kate took a deep breath, "... the shower."
"You took a shower together?" Cordy gaped.
"Yeah," Kate went pink under Cordy's scrutiny. "You see, I was ... then he ... we ..." Kate closed her eyes and tried not to relive the sensation of Angel's soapy palms sliding over her back, his soft kisses on her face, the sight of his naked form sprinkled with droplets of water and the feel of his arousal bumping against her hip bone. She grabbed the edge of her chair with both hands as the remembrance of those few, brief moments caused her skin to flush again.
"And don't come back 'til you hit first base!" Lorne called cheerfully after Angel. The vampire stumbled out of Caritas, knocking over a large plant on the way.
"Andre! A Sea Breeze if you will my precious. Now the dark cloud has departed, let's liven this place up a little!" Lorne sauntered to the stage, smoothing his metallic sea-green suit. He gave the door a last glance as Angel tripped up the steps, and shook his head.
"Shame about the leather pants, though."
"And nothing happened?" Cordy was incredulous. "Nothing?"
"No." Kate wriggled in her chair. Then took a large swig of coffee and burnt her mouth.
Finally, she looked Cordy in the eye and said, "I thought we were finally on our way, you know, and then ... his bleeper went off and he split. Wrapped in one of my best towels."
"Shoot!" Cordy threw her head back and laughed. "No wonder he's in such a state."
TO BE CONTINUED ...