Chapter 18 - Dancing Closer to the Truth
Upstairs at the Bronze Angel leaned over the railing, watching the teenagers sway and brush up against each other as the music pulsed and throbbed throughout the room. His brown eyes were thoughtful as they roamed the crowd, idly searching for something or someone. Not for the first time, the vampire brooded on just how Xander had managed to convince him to come out in the first place.
His lips quirked in a slight smile as he recalled how nervous the teenager had been as he had entered the vampire's home. Fidgeting from one foot to the other, it had taken the dark-haired youth at least ten minutes before he spoke up about why he was there.specifically, to talk about Kat. The woman who had haunted Angel's thoughts, day and night, ever since the terrible fight in the graveyard. The smile that touched the pale man's lips faded as Xander's words echoed in his head, solemn as that sugar- driven teenager could ever be..
'Look Dea.Angel. I know what Kat did the other night rivaled me for pure dumb luck, and something bad would've happened if you weren't there to pull her butt out of the fire, but you were way out of line with some of the stuff you said. You compared her to Buffy for crying out loud! The things you said were complete bullshit you know; Buffy never fought with a clear head, she was always emotional and took it out on the vamps. Somehow I think that, if Kat had been in Buffy's place when you had turned up, you wouldn't have had a chance to explain about your soul before you turned into a pile of ash..'
Xander's words still bothered Angel, partly because he was right.Buffy had been no saint when it came to fighting. There had been times when the vampire himself had believed that, had it not been for the Scoobies, she would not have survived as long as she had. But Xander had not been satisfied by pointing out the flaw in the vampire's way of thinking. Oh no, that moronic teenager had to up the stakes by making Angel feel guilty as well.
Kat's no Slayer man. She doesn't have a destiny to slay vamps, she wasn't chosen for this. She does it because she thinks it needs doing, just like Wills and Cordy and me. You really hurt her that night Dead boy. She doesn't have a lot of friends, I can tell that from the way she lets Wills push her around. But we're more than friends to her, we're family, and I can tell you this from experience. Nothing hurts more than when your family puts you down. Kat's been brooding as bad as you since that night, she walks around like a kicked puppy and none of us can bring her out of it. Think about that Angel, and talk to her, instead of sitting around feeling guilty about it.'
Being berated by Xander, of all people, didn't sit well with the dark- haired vampire. Especially when the goofy kid had a point. And so here he was, stuck at the Bronze, waiting for Willow and Kat to show up so he could talk to the tiny brunette. Why he had to come to the Bronze was beyond the already perplexed vampire, but Xander had no easy answer for him. The teenager had just shrugged and said it wasn't his decision, but Cordy and Willow's. Angel didn't even want to think about what was going on inside their devious female minds.he had never been able to understand woman either, and he had two hundred years to study them.
The vampire continued to muse silently to himself, his eyes roaming over the crowd below, until he felt a slight hand touch his shoulder. Startled, the vampire swung around, barely able to hide the disappoint that flicked across his features as he looked down at the grinning face of Willow, and not the petite kitten he had been hoping for.
"Willow," Angel said, his lips twitching sadly as he looked down at his friend, "how have you been? Where's the rest of the group?" His head rose as he spoke, eyes scanning behind the redhead, flicking from face to face as they sought the familiar features of a certain dark-haired, pouty-lipped beauty. So intent was he in his search that he almost missed the chuckle that escaped from the pixie in front of him. "Something amusing Little One?" he asked, raising an eyebrow curiously.
"Nothing," Willow replied, shaking her head as she watched the tall vampire, her eyes twinkling in bemusement. "Cordy went looking for Xander, leaving me and Kat stranded near the dance floor. I told her I would go find you, so I think she's still there." Moving up beside the vampire, Willow peered down at the dancing body of the Bronze, seeking her friend. A minute later she gestured with one dainty arm, smiling. "There she is!" Curious green eyes slid sideways, gauging the vampire's reaction to her friend as he looked where she was pointing. She was not disappointed.
Completely forgetting the fact that he didn't need to breathe, Angel sucked in air slowly, his eyes widening at the angelic sight before his eyes. Kat floated through the crowd below, a vision clad entirely in red. Her dress ended at the knees, and was made of such a silky material that it seemed to caress her curvaceous body. The spaghetti-strapped number flared out at the skirt, enhancing her already graceful movements to a point that had the souled vampire sighing, his undead heart nearly beating once or twice.
The kitten paused at the edge of the dance floor and glanced around, in search of her wayward friends no doubt. Her mane of auburn hair was teased into waves, swept back at the sides and giving her a hint of elegance. Angel's dark, brooding eyes watched her as the delectable young woman nibbled on her lower lip, a vulnerable gesture that seemed so like, and yet un-like the usually self-assured woman that it nearly floored him. Tonight Kat seemed more feminine, more desirable.and more open than the vampire had ever seen before. Emotions he had been fighting ever since he first spied the fiery kitten surged to the surface, etching the brooding vampire's face in a mixture of longing and tenderness.
So intent was the vampire in watching the werecat below that he completely missed hearing an annoying voice call out, signaling the arrival of Xander and his girlfriend Cordy. "Yo Dead Boy, Wills! Finally found you two!" Slowly the brunette couple made their way over to Angel and Willow, Xander grinning at his childhood friend. "Do I deliver or what?" the young man quipped, jerking his thumb in Angel's direction, making good use of the vampire's distracted air. "Just call me the Dominoes of Vamp Delivery.I'll get the undead there in 30 minutes, or your money back."
Groaning, Willow shook her head at her friend, her wild hair hiding the smile that graced her dainty lips. Fighting back the urge to laugh, the redhead admitted to herself that, despite all her worries, Xander really had come through for them. Her initial fear and anxiety over getting Kat and Angel to agree to come to the Bronze was melting away, replaced with an almost giddy sensation. Glancing back over to Angel, whose eyes were still locked on their friend, she wondered not for the first time just what Xander had to say in order to get the reluctant vampire to agree to come out, let alone show up at the Bronze.
A detail that had previously escaped the pixie-like woman before now suddenly stood out clearly. Raising an eyebrow, Willow turned back to Xander, her eyes questioning. "I'm impressed Xan," she said, her lips twitching in amusement, "not only did you manage to bring Angel here, but you also talked him into wearing the shirt Cordy gave him."
"Yea well," the young man replied, puffing his chest out in an exaggerated show of manliness, "my powers of persuasion astound even me." He broke into a fit of coughing as Cordy pounded his back none to softly. "Ok ok," he added between gasps for breath, "I told him Cordy would make him go shopping with her next time if he didn't wear the shirt at least once. I think the idea of spending hours watching her try on the same outfit in more colors than God even thought of finally did it." A chuckle escaped the brunette's lips, turning into another bout of coughing as his girlfriend hit him once again, this time with more force behind her swing.
Willow bit the inside of her cheek as the couple began to argue, their eyes lighting up even as they traded insults. Her cheery mood faded as her dainty ears picked up on a faint rumbling sound to her right. Turning her head, the redhead noted with surprise the change that had come over Angel. Whereas before he had been almost serene in his perusal of Kat, now his body radiated tension. His hands gripped the railing tightly, his knuckles turning white and his arms trembling as he struggled with his emotions. Concerned, Willow took a step closer, touching the vampire's shoulder lightly as she spoke. "Angel? What is it?"
Gritting his teeth, eyes blazing with a hint of gold, Angel barely managed to ground out a question to the redhead, "Who is that Little One?" His voice, though calm, had an odd emotional note to it, one that had Willow a little worried. Moving closer, the redhead peered over the railing, to where Angel had been watching Kat. and saw just what had made the vampire so angry.
Biting her lip in an effort to quell the urge to smile, Willow snuck a peek at Angel's face to verify her guess. Inwardly she jumped and wiggled with excitement as she noted the look of jealousy that flitted over the normally stoic vampire's features. 'Oooh, this is perfect!' she thought to herself gleefully, not even questioning her enjoyment over her friend's discomfort. "Who, Percy? He's a football player from our high school, I tutor him every now and then in history." She didn't have to hide the look of distaste that came at the thought of tutoring the jock, a privilege bestowed upon her by Principal Snyder.
"Kat's talking to Percy?" Xander moved closer, looking down at the situation for himself. Grinning like a fool, the young man brought his hands up, rubbing them together in vicious glee. "Excellent! Poetic justice and I'm here to see it!" Noting the odd looks thrown at him by his childhood friend and his girlfriend, Xander shrugged, then added, "It's one of those male grunting thing.you female types wouldn't understand the desperate need every guy who has ever been shot down by a girl has. To one day see the stud, the football star, the dream guy, get the same treatment. And now, my life's ambition will be fulfilled.just as soon as Kat tells him to take a hike!"
"It's not Kat telling him off I'm worried about," Cordelia responded, causing Xander to look at his friend in confusion. "Percy.well, let's just say that he's not the type to keep his hands to himself while dancing, if you know what I mean."
Willow groaned, imagining the look on Percy and the entire Bronze's face when Kat broke his arm for grabbing part of her body. "Maybe I should go down there. I don't think it would look good if she hospitalized our quarterback."
Opening his mouth to ask Willow why not, Xander's eyes suddenly slid out of focus, staring at a point just behind the redhead. Confusion knitting his dark brows together, Xander turned his head, glancing around at the people near them. Clearing his throat, the teenager asked, "Uhh, guys..where's Angel?"
* * * * * * * * * *
Gnashing her teeth silently, Kat glared at the guy standing next to her, who seemed oblivious to her desire to break his arms as he grinned, giving her some awful line about not seeing her here before. For the millionth time in the past ten minutes, the tiny werecat wished she were anywhere but here, at the Bronze, in a dress. Already her skin crawled as she felt the eyes of the male patrons glued to her body.
A small part of her mind tried to point out that it wasn't a stupid dress that made her want to leave so badly, but a certain pig-headed soulful vampire. While uncertain about her red-headed friend's intentions, the tiny brunette was sure of one thing: Willow would do any she could to make peace between her two friends. Kat had felt Angel nearby the moment she stepped into the Bronze, the back of her neck prickling in warning. She was not about to confront him just yet, not with all his callous words still fresh in her mind.
As Kat's skin began to tingle strangely, the dark-haired werecat glanced around, seeking the source of her discomfort. She almost missed Percy's attempt to ask her to dance, so caught up was she in her own musings. Stirring out of her thoughts, Kat heard Percy conclude his long-winded speech with a "would you like to dance?" Her frown didn't seem to deter him, as the jock reached out, one hand brushing up her arm a little too familiarly, causing a low rumble to issue in the back of Kat's throat. Before she could give him a scathing turndown, however, her instincts flared up, barely giving her enough warning before a voice as cold as the artic wind spoke up.
"The lady is busy." Eyes widening, Kat turned slowly, pleading silently that her worst fears wouldn't be confirmed. Wide blue-green eyes locked onto cold brown ones, and the young woman sucked in her breath quickly. Angel stood directly behind her, terrible in all his dark glory. His entire body was rigid, his fists clenched at his sides. Gold flickered in his chocolaty orbs, swirling with some dark emotion that made her quiver in front of him. Percy and the rest of the Bronze faded from into the background, Kat's mind latching onto one thought: I'm in trouble.
Angel tried to keep his mind on the task at hand: that being to get Kat away from this lecherous young pup before she went off with him. His demon fought and clawed under the surface, wanting nothing more than the rip the face off this whelp that dared talk to his angelic beauty. It didn't help that the stubborn jock still had his hand wrapped around Kat's upper arm, or that Kat seemed frozen to the spot, making no effort to disengage him.
Percy, briefly glancing back and forth between the other two, noting Kat's look of barely disguised astonishment at Angel's appearance, decided to plunge on. Drawing himself up straight, the quarterback narrowed his eyes at the man in front of him, all the while tightening his hold on Kat's arm and drawing her back a step. "Who asked you, huh?"
A malicious smile spread over the vampire's lips at the foolish young man's attempt to sound brave. Something of his dark demeanor must have translated into his face, for as he leaned forward the jock paled suddenly. His arm flashing out before the young man could recover from his shock, Angel grabbed Percy's arm and tightened his hold.painfully. Stepping closer, he brought his face up near the jock's and, while managing to keep his face from vamping out, laced his voice with as much of Angelus as he could muster. "Maybe you didn't hear me before.Get. Lost."
As Angel released the jock's arm he watched with no little amusement as Percy stumbled backwards in his haste to depart, dropping Kat's arm as if he were scalded. Mumbling something about having to be somewhere else, he turned and disappeared into the crowd of the Bronze, not pausing to glance over his shoulder in his hasty retreat. Pleased with his efforts, Angel turned back to Kat, only to find the tiny werecat glaring at him in barely repressed outrage.
The abrupt manner of Percy's departure, coupled with Angel's rather heavy- handed manner, had the effect of a cold bucket of water on the tiny brunette. Snapping out of the previous stupor she had been in since he had appeared, she crossed her arms over her chest as she scowled up at the vampire. "What in the hell do you think you are doing?"
Blinking, Angel stared down at the irate werecat, surprise taking the edge off of his jealousy-induced rage. "Excuse me kitten?" One eyebrow arched up as he cocked his head to the side, waiting for her to tell him what had the petite young woman so riled.
"Do I have 'Helpless Damsel in Distress' written somewhere on my forehead?" Kat exploded, her arms flailing out to her sides. "What part of me just screams out that I have to be saved from every unpleasant situation just because I'm female? Feminist movement, look it up sometime Angel!"
"Oh?" Angel's eyes narrowed slightly as he leaned forward, his own arms coming up to cross over his chest. "I wasn't aware that the women of this century actually liked being pawed over by under-sexed, hormone-driven teenage boys," he replied, stressing the word boy to describe the quarterback who had just vacated the area.
"I could have handled it," Kat snapped, waving her hands in the air wildly at the vampire's pompous attitude. "What are you going to do next, hmm Angel? Would you like me to run any guy I happen to meet by you, just so he meets your archaic standard of approval before I even TALK to him?" Ignoring the way his expression darkened with every word she uttered, Kat continued, stepping forward to jab her dainty finger into his cold chest. "Listen up buddy, cause I'm only going to say this once! I will NOT let you act like some protective father figure. If I want to talk to a guy, I will. Hell, I'll DANCE with whomever I want, and don't you dare try to tell me otherwise, or so help me I'll stake you with a dull pencil."
Satisfied she had at least partly gotten through to the stubborn vampire, Kat took a step back. Suddenly Angel's hand snaked out, clamping down on her wrist and holding the tiny brunette prisoner. Raising her head, the werecat's eyes widened in surprise as Angel's eyes glinted with malicious intent. Leaning forward so his head was closer to hers, a trace of his Irish accent lacing his already tense and rage-filled voice as he spoke. "So kitten, you want to dance hmm?" His smile grew colder as he continued, his voice soft, yet menacing. "If you be wanting someone to brush up against you on the dance floor, I'd be happy to oblige kitten." His smile widened smugly as he watched her pale slightly, feeling her wrist tremble slightly in his grasp
Frozen in place, Kat stared up at Angel with wide blue eyes, her mouth parted slightly in surprise. His accent teased her ears, making her tingle from head to toe. Her mind was a whirlwind of images and emotions evoked by the idea of being that close to the cryptic and now murderous-looking vampire. Only the predatory nature of his smile, and the cold way he looked at her, saved the dark-haired young woman from saying yes. Taking a deep breath, she drew herself up as much as she could, fixing a cool look of dispassion on her face.
"I don't think so," she replied softly, looking Angel in the eye with as much dignity as she could muster. "I'd rather not dance with someone I can't trust not to hurt me." With as much grace as she could muster, she pulled her wrist out of his hand, only mildly surprised at how easily he let her go. Turning away, she took a step away, determined not to look at his face, for fear that she would cave and accept his invitation, no matter how cold and empty it had sounded to her ears. Only the reminder of his actions back in the cemetery a few nights ago kept her moving away from him, her lips pressed firmly together in order not to say anything she feared she would regret later.
Angel stared dejectedly after the tiny brunette as she distanced herself from him, his hand still suspended in the air in shock. Feeling the effects of a mental slap from Kat, the vampire reeled at her chosen words for refusal. In his mind's eye, he could see a hint of the fear and vulnerability he had caused the werecat reflected back to him in her green- blue orbs, and it make his undead heart ache with misery.
"I never meant to hurt you kitten," he whispered sadly, his rage spent in the face of her rejection. Turning his back on the way she had gone, Angel was intent upon giving up for the night, when he made the mistake of glancing over his shoulder at her. Leaning up against a beam, her eyes closed as she listened to the swell of the music in the Bronze, Kat seemed innocent and vulnerable as she stood a few feet away from him. A soft, sad smile graced the young woman's pouty lips, causing the vampire to swallow involuntarily.
Something welled up inside the vampire, compelling him to move in her direction like a moth drawn to a flame. He was only dimly aware of the music changing, shifting from the throbbing tempo of the Bronze to something softer, more soothing. The beauty clad in crimson robbed him of any thought but reaching her side.
* * * * * * * * * *
Trying to get her emotions under control, Kat listened to the music change as she leaned up against a beam in the dimly lit club. Her eyes shutting out the rest of the world, she took a deep breath as the strains of a guitar filled the air, soothing some of the ache she felt in her heart. Her breath hitched a little as her mind stumbled in its attempts to forget a certain vampire, or his rather confusing effect on her.
Her mind and senses preoccupied, Kat started when she felt her hand being lifted gently, long cool fingers caressing the back as it was pulled away from her body. Her eyes flew open as cool lips brushed against her warm skin, causing her to tremble slightly. Chocolate eyes, now warm and tender, smiled up at her over the back of her hand. For a moment she could hardly breathe, as she watched Angel bow over her hand in an old-fashioned manner that left her speechless. She watched, helpless to act, as the gentle vampire leaned closer, whispering with a trace of his earlier accent in his voice, "Forgive my harsh words lady." Straightening, he continued to hold her hand as he tilted his head in the direction of the dance floor. "Permit me the honor of this dance?"
'Ohhh, that is not fair,' Kat's mind moaned silently. 'Handsome men should never be allowed to have such delicious accents.' Her mind bid a tearful farewell to logic, her heart cautioning the werecat to tread softly, but it was her body that responded, her skin tingling in acceptance. Not trusting herself to speak, the werecat simply nodded once, fearing the consequences of her decision, but wanting it too much to say no a second time.
Silently Angel moved a step backwards, onto the dance floor. Her eyes never leaving his, Kat followed, letting the vampire guide her. Starting slightly as his cool hands trailed up her warm arms, she let him pull her closer as his hands moved over her shoulders, gliding gently down the curvature of her sides and coming to rest lightly on her hips. Slowly he guided her into the rhythm of the song caressing them both, dimly aware of a woman's sultry voice as it ebbed out over the dance floor.
I'm telling you it's over
Now there's an angel
Holding me
My way's easy
Even if you're fallen
Oh you're struggling
There's still beauty
In what we do
Closing her eyes, Kat warred internally with her emotions. She longed to surrender into him, to the security and warm that Angel radiated, but the recent hurt he had caused her, both now and a few days ago, made her tense and uncertain. Her movements in his arms were bereft their normal grace, her posture somewhat stiff as she danced with the handsome vampire. By the way his hands tightened slightly on her hips, Kat was certain that Angel knew she was a little uncomfortable.
Watching the tense little brunette in his arms, Angel missed the fiery, passionate brunette he had known a few days ago. He missed the light in her eyes as she kept him on his toes, either with a snappy word or a secretive smile. The quiet little woman in his arms was not his kitten. As he pondered how to bring her back out of hiding, the song picked up in tempo, an almost light-heartedness quality that soothed the spirits. An idea began to form in the vampire's head. Lips quirking softly, he raised one hand off Kat's hips, gliding up to take one of her delicate hands. As her eyes flew open questioningly, he winked briefly at the confused look on her face.
"Hold on," he whispered before suddenly, without warning, spinning her away from his body.
'Oh. My..' Even Kat's mind couldn't force out the words as she suddenly felt herself propelled out into space. Just when she felt like she would fall on her face, a tug on her arm sent her spinning back into Angel's arms. Trying to catch her breath, Kat only had a brief pause before Angel twirled her again, keeping the tiny werecat from thinking too hard as he kept her dancing in and out of his arms to the beat of the song.
I say come back
Come in from the cold
Into the warm
I feel like fire
Guiding you back home
As darkness falls
Finally, out of mercy she thought, Angel finally brought her back into his arms to stay, ending his little demonstration with a tiny dip of the werecat. For a moment she sputtered, at a loss for words. However, the twinkle in his chocolate brown eyes, and the warm smile on his face, swept over the helpless brunette. An almost giddy sensation overcame Kat, and she burst out laughing, her shoulders shaking as she let all the tension ebb out of her body.
Satisfied at hearing the sultry tones of the tiny woman's laughter, Angel drew her back up slowly, once again guiding her against him in the gentle dance. This time he felt the change in her demeanor, his undead heart almost leaping for joy at the spark of life he saw returning to her eyes. His smile turned somewhat rueful as his hand reached up to brush a strand of hair out of her eyes. "I've missed that laugh kitten," he spoke softly. "It's been rather.empty.being at the mansion all day long."
Inwardly the vampire cursed his impulsive words, as the light he worked so hard to return to Kat's eyes dimmed sadly. Lowering her eyes, Kat didn't look at Angel as she replied, "You left m..us Angel, not the other way around." Barely covering up her near mistake, Kat sighed as she felt the hurt she had almost forgotten returning full force. "Maybe this isn't such a good ide." she began, moving to step out of the vampire's arms. Her heart thundered in her chest, nearly drowning out the words of the song hanging over her head.
And then you find it's over
Still it tears your heart
To slip away
From the crowd
Hand firmly grasping her wrist, Angel tugged the werecat back into his arms, bringing a finger up to her lips to silence any protests. Still dancing with her slowly to the beat of the song, he remained silent for a few minutes, the expression on his face grave as he struggled to speak. Unable to break away, Kat swayed in his arms helplessly, waiting for the vampire to say something.anything.that could erase the hurt of the past few days.
"I'm sorry, kitten, for abandoning all of you," Angel finally whispered, his voice soft but strong as it carried to Kat's delicate ears. "I just.I guess I felt you wouldn't want me around.after." He hesitated, unable to speak directly of the incident that had led them to this.
For her part, Kat didn't speak of the horrible night either, her head bowing as she struggled with the painful emotions she was feeling. Dimly aware they were still dancing, she raised her head finally, her eyes betraying some of her hurt as she looked up at the dark-haired vampire in front of her. "Why did you come back?" Her voice, soft as Angel's, was laden with guarded suspicion.
Lips quirking self-mockingly, Angel chuckled sadly. "Someone came by, beat some sense into me, made me realize just how stupid I was being." Seeing the questioning look on Kat's face, he continued. "Xander stopped by and gave me a little wake up call. It wasn't quite as.demonstrative.as yours was," that remark earning him a small ghost of a smile, "but it was nevertheless effective."
So everyone stands in line
Cos they wanna stay alive
To wait alone
No dog no bone
Moving his hands to take her delicate ones, Angel brushed his thumbs over the satiny backs, taking a deep, unneeded breath. His eyes on her hands instead of her face, Angel whispered just loud enough for her ears alone. "I wanted to apologize. For that night. The things I said.I had no right to say them, or to judge you like that." Cautiously his eyes strayed up to her face, gauging her reaction to his words.
Aware that they had sometime, in the middle of their talk, stopped dancing, Kat pondered Angel's apology silently. Her heart twisted painfully as it remembered all the hurtful things he had thrown at her that night, the accusations and taunts that had haunted her for the past few days. Fighting to keep her voice even, the tiny werecat responded huskily, "I'm not the Slayer Angel."
Angel nodded his understanding. "No, you're not, and I realize that. I can't defend my choice of words, except to say that I was afraid. I don't have many friends, and the last thing I want to do is see them die before my eyes." Even as he tried to say these words calmly, the vampire's undead heart nearly jumped with the mere thought that his kitten, the fiery hellcat, might run out of luck one day and end up at the wrong end of the stake.
But if you have
What it takes
To return to where
All the world
Knows your name
Kat understood what drove the vampire to say this; every time the Scoobies went out on patrol Kat was afraid that one of her new friends would not make it back that night. It was why she fought, and she suspected why Angel fought as well.to protect their friends at all costs. "I know," she answered softly, "But Angel, I have to keep fighting. I can't just sit on the sidelines, not when I know the dangers out there."
"I know," the vampire echoed Kat's words, sighing softly. How well he knew her fighting spirit. His lips curved into another smile, soft though teasing. "I guess I'll just have to make sure I'm always around, to make sure you don't get into too much trouble."
Smiling in spite of herself, Kat shook her head softly, cocking her head to the side. "Angel, Angel.are you trying to become my personal knight or something?"
"Or something," Angel replied before the silence stretched out between them once more. He continued to rub her hands with his thumbs, more for the feel of her silky, soothing skin than from any conscious effort. Glancing down at her hands, he took an unneeded breath, asking the question of which he most feared her response. "Forgive me?" His eyes rose as the words left his lips, fixing on the tiny brunette before him as he waited for her to answer.
"Angel, I don't think.," Kat began, only to be interrupted as Angel repeated his solemn request. Squirming under the intensity of the vampire's beautiful gaze, Kat pondered his words seriously. He really means it, she thought. Forgiveness is everything to him. But, I guess I can't be surprised, given his background and all. Stretching to her toes, Kat reached up with one hand, brushing the strand away. Trailing down his face, her hand touched his nose in a small tap, her lips curving into a smile as she answered, "Forgiven."
Angel closed his eyes briefly, relief washing over him in a wave as her forgiveness rang in his ears. Leaning his head down to touch hers, he opened his eyes to stare into her liquid blue orbs. "Thank you," he whispered, his breath warm and ticklish against her lush lips. They stood still for a moment, neither moving an inch, sharing a moment of warmth and contentment.
So que sera
Let's go sailing on
There's a wise man
In every fool
I say come back
Come in from the cold
Into the warm
I feel like fire
Guiding you back home
As darkness falls
Slowly the knowledge of their proximity stole over both Kat and Angel, igniting the air with confused tension. Angel's smile slipped a notch, his eyes clouding over with a serious emotion Kat couldn't place. Her heart began to pound as his head began to tilt slightly, his lips dangerously close to her own.
Oh God oh God oh God, Kat's mind babbled in Willow-like behavior, her eyes widening as she realized what he was about to do. Her pulse began to race, the blood roaring in her ears drowning out all other sounds in the Bronze. Fear and uncertainty welling up inside of her, she backed up suddenly, pulling her hands away from Angel before he could tighten his grip on them. "I'm so..I'm sorry," she stammered, her knees wobbling and making it difficult for the werecat to make an elegant exit as she continued to back away from the confused vampire. "I've got to go. Thanks for the dance." Whirling around, Kat rushed off into the throng of people, eager to put as much distance between herself and the vampire who confused all of her senses.
"Kat!" Angel called out, but it was too late as he watched, bewildered, as the kitten made a hasty retreat. His arm, which had been raised to call her back, fell listlessly to his side as he watched her dainty backside run away from him. Stuffing both hands into his pockets, he contemplated what he had been about to do before she had spooked. He wasn't sure what has possessed him to try and kiss her.all he had been able to think about was how soft and velvety her lips looked, and he had wondered how they might taste.
Raising his head, Angel once again looked in the direction Kat had run, but the kitten had already left the Bronze. His undead heart heavy with emotion, the vampire turned on his heel, exiting in the opposite direction. So lost in his own thoughts and feelings was the dark-haired undead man that he didn't hear the last strain of the song as he melded into the darkness surrounding him.
I say come home
Leave it all behind
And settle down
I feel my love
Can give me what I want
For all time
For all time
I feel like fire.
Upstairs at the Bronze Angel leaned over the railing, watching the teenagers sway and brush up against each other as the music pulsed and throbbed throughout the room. His brown eyes were thoughtful as they roamed the crowd, idly searching for something or someone. Not for the first time, the vampire brooded on just how Xander had managed to convince him to come out in the first place.
His lips quirked in a slight smile as he recalled how nervous the teenager had been as he had entered the vampire's home. Fidgeting from one foot to the other, it had taken the dark-haired youth at least ten minutes before he spoke up about why he was there.specifically, to talk about Kat. The woman who had haunted Angel's thoughts, day and night, ever since the terrible fight in the graveyard. The smile that touched the pale man's lips faded as Xander's words echoed in his head, solemn as that sugar- driven teenager could ever be..
'Look Dea.Angel. I know what Kat did the other night rivaled me for pure dumb luck, and something bad would've happened if you weren't there to pull her butt out of the fire, but you were way out of line with some of the stuff you said. You compared her to Buffy for crying out loud! The things you said were complete bullshit you know; Buffy never fought with a clear head, she was always emotional and took it out on the vamps. Somehow I think that, if Kat had been in Buffy's place when you had turned up, you wouldn't have had a chance to explain about your soul before you turned into a pile of ash..'
Xander's words still bothered Angel, partly because he was right.Buffy had been no saint when it came to fighting. There had been times when the vampire himself had believed that, had it not been for the Scoobies, she would not have survived as long as she had. But Xander had not been satisfied by pointing out the flaw in the vampire's way of thinking. Oh no, that moronic teenager had to up the stakes by making Angel feel guilty as well.
Kat's no Slayer man. She doesn't have a destiny to slay vamps, she wasn't chosen for this. She does it because she thinks it needs doing, just like Wills and Cordy and me. You really hurt her that night Dead boy. She doesn't have a lot of friends, I can tell that from the way she lets Wills push her around. But we're more than friends to her, we're family, and I can tell you this from experience. Nothing hurts more than when your family puts you down. Kat's been brooding as bad as you since that night, she walks around like a kicked puppy and none of us can bring her out of it. Think about that Angel, and talk to her, instead of sitting around feeling guilty about it.'
Being berated by Xander, of all people, didn't sit well with the dark- haired vampire. Especially when the goofy kid had a point. And so here he was, stuck at the Bronze, waiting for Willow and Kat to show up so he could talk to the tiny brunette. Why he had to come to the Bronze was beyond the already perplexed vampire, but Xander had no easy answer for him. The teenager had just shrugged and said it wasn't his decision, but Cordy and Willow's. Angel didn't even want to think about what was going on inside their devious female minds.he had never been able to understand woman either, and he had two hundred years to study them.
The vampire continued to muse silently to himself, his eyes roaming over the crowd below, until he felt a slight hand touch his shoulder. Startled, the vampire swung around, barely able to hide the disappoint that flicked across his features as he looked down at the grinning face of Willow, and not the petite kitten he had been hoping for.
"Willow," Angel said, his lips twitching sadly as he looked down at his friend, "how have you been? Where's the rest of the group?" His head rose as he spoke, eyes scanning behind the redhead, flicking from face to face as they sought the familiar features of a certain dark-haired, pouty-lipped beauty. So intent was he in his search that he almost missed the chuckle that escaped from the pixie in front of him. "Something amusing Little One?" he asked, raising an eyebrow curiously.
"Nothing," Willow replied, shaking her head as she watched the tall vampire, her eyes twinkling in bemusement. "Cordy went looking for Xander, leaving me and Kat stranded near the dance floor. I told her I would go find you, so I think she's still there." Moving up beside the vampire, Willow peered down at the dancing body of the Bronze, seeking her friend. A minute later she gestured with one dainty arm, smiling. "There she is!" Curious green eyes slid sideways, gauging the vampire's reaction to her friend as he looked where she was pointing. She was not disappointed.
Completely forgetting the fact that he didn't need to breathe, Angel sucked in air slowly, his eyes widening at the angelic sight before his eyes. Kat floated through the crowd below, a vision clad entirely in red. Her dress ended at the knees, and was made of such a silky material that it seemed to caress her curvaceous body. The spaghetti-strapped number flared out at the skirt, enhancing her already graceful movements to a point that had the souled vampire sighing, his undead heart nearly beating once or twice.
The kitten paused at the edge of the dance floor and glanced around, in search of her wayward friends no doubt. Her mane of auburn hair was teased into waves, swept back at the sides and giving her a hint of elegance. Angel's dark, brooding eyes watched her as the delectable young woman nibbled on her lower lip, a vulnerable gesture that seemed so like, and yet un-like the usually self-assured woman that it nearly floored him. Tonight Kat seemed more feminine, more desirable.and more open than the vampire had ever seen before. Emotions he had been fighting ever since he first spied the fiery kitten surged to the surface, etching the brooding vampire's face in a mixture of longing and tenderness.
So intent was the vampire in watching the werecat below that he completely missed hearing an annoying voice call out, signaling the arrival of Xander and his girlfriend Cordy. "Yo Dead Boy, Wills! Finally found you two!" Slowly the brunette couple made their way over to Angel and Willow, Xander grinning at his childhood friend. "Do I deliver or what?" the young man quipped, jerking his thumb in Angel's direction, making good use of the vampire's distracted air. "Just call me the Dominoes of Vamp Delivery.I'll get the undead there in 30 minutes, or your money back."
Groaning, Willow shook her head at her friend, her wild hair hiding the smile that graced her dainty lips. Fighting back the urge to laugh, the redhead admitted to herself that, despite all her worries, Xander really had come through for them. Her initial fear and anxiety over getting Kat and Angel to agree to come to the Bronze was melting away, replaced with an almost giddy sensation. Glancing back over to Angel, whose eyes were still locked on their friend, she wondered not for the first time just what Xander had to say in order to get the reluctant vampire to agree to come out, let alone show up at the Bronze.
A detail that had previously escaped the pixie-like woman before now suddenly stood out clearly. Raising an eyebrow, Willow turned back to Xander, her eyes questioning. "I'm impressed Xan," she said, her lips twitching in amusement, "not only did you manage to bring Angel here, but you also talked him into wearing the shirt Cordy gave him."
"Yea well," the young man replied, puffing his chest out in an exaggerated show of manliness, "my powers of persuasion astound even me." He broke into a fit of coughing as Cordy pounded his back none to softly. "Ok ok," he added between gasps for breath, "I told him Cordy would make him go shopping with her next time if he didn't wear the shirt at least once. I think the idea of spending hours watching her try on the same outfit in more colors than God even thought of finally did it." A chuckle escaped the brunette's lips, turning into another bout of coughing as his girlfriend hit him once again, this time with more force behind her swing.
Willow bit the inside of her cheek as the couple began to argue, their eyes lighting up even as they traded insults. Her cheery mood faded as her dainty ears picked up on a faint rumbling sound to her right. Turning her head, the redhead noted with surprise the change that had come over Angel. Whereas before he had been almost serene in his perusal of Kat, now his body radiated tension. His hands gripped the railing tightly, his knuckles turning white and his arms trembling as he struggled with his emotions. Concerned, Willow took a step closer, touching the vampire's shoulder lightly as she spoke. "Angel? What is it?"
Gritting his teeth, eyes blazing with a hint of gold, Angel barely managed to ground out a question to the redhead, "Who is that Little One?" His voice, though calm, had an odd emotional note to it, one that had Willow a little worried. Moving closer, the redhead peered over the railing, to where Angel had been watching Kat. and saw just what had made the vampire so angry.
Biting her lip in an effort to quell the urge to smile, Willow snuck a peek at Angel's face to verify her guess. Inwardly she jumped and wiggled with excitement as she noted the look of jealousy that flitted over the normally stoic vampire's features. 'Oooh, this is perfect!' she thought to herself gleefully, not even questioning her enjoyment over her friend's discomfort. "Who, Percy? He's a football player from our high school, I tutor him every now and then in history." She didn't have to hide the look of distaste that came at the thought of tutoring the jock, a privilege bestowed upon her by Principal Snyder.
"Kat's talking to Percy?" Xander moved closer, looking down at the situation for himself. Grinning like a fool, the young man brought his hands up, rubbing them together in vicious glee. "Excellent! Poetic justice and I'm here to see it!" Noting the odd looks thrown at him by his childhood friend and his girlfriend, Xander shrugged, then added, "It's one of those male grunting thing.you female types wouldn't understand the desperate need every guy who has ever been shot down by a girl has. To one day see the stud, the football star, the dream guy, get the same treatment. And now, my life's ambition will be fulfilled.just as soon as Kat tells him to take a hike!"
"It's not Kat telling him off I'm worried about," Cordelia responded, causing Xander to look at his friend in confusion. "Percy.well, let's just say that he's not the type to keep his hands to himself while dancing, if you know what I mean."
Willow groaned, imagining the look on Percy and the entire Bronze's face when Kat broke his arm for grabbing part of her body. "Maybe I should go down there. I don't think it would look good if she hospitalized our quarterback."
Opening his mouth to ask Willow why not, Xander's eyes suddenly slid out of focus, staring at a point just behind the redhead. Confusion knitting his dark brows together, Xander turned his head, glancing around at the people near them. Clearing his throat, the teenager asked, "Uhh, guys..where's Angel?"
* * * * * * * * * *
Gnashing her teeth silently, Kat glared at the guy standing next to her, who seemed oblivious to her desire to break his arms as he grinned, giving her some awful line about not seeing her here before. For the millionth time in the past ten minutes, the tiny werecat wished she were anywhere but here, at the Bronze, in a dress. Already her skin crawled as she felt the eyes of the male patrons glued to her body.
A small part of her mind tried to point out that it wasn't a stupid dress that made her want to leave so badly, but a certain pig-headed soulful vampire. While uncertain about her red-headed friend's intentions, the tiny brunette was sure of one thing: Willow would do any she could to make peace between her two friends. Kat had felt Angel nearby the moment she stepped into the Bronze, the back of her neck prickling in warning. She was not about to confront him just yet, not with all his callous words still fresh in her mind.
As Kat's skin began to tingle strangely, the dark-haired werecat glanced around, seeking the source of her discomfort. She almost missed Percy's attempt to ask her to dance, so caught up was she in her own musings. Stirring out of her thoughts, Kat heard Percy conclude his long-winded speech with a "would you like to dance?" Her frown didn't seem to deter him, as the jock reached out, one hand brushing up her arm a little too familiarly, causing a low rumble to issue in the back of Kat's throat. Before she could give him a scathing turndown, however, her instincts flared up, barely giving her enough warning before a voice as cold as the artic wind spoke up.
"The lady is busy." Eyes widening, Kat turned slowly, pleading silently that her worst fears wouldn't be confirmed. Wide blue-green eyes locked onto cold brown ones, and the young woman sucked in her breath quickly. Angel stood directly behind her, terrible in all his dark glory. His entire body was rigid, his fists clenched at his sides. Gold flickered in his chocolaty orbs, swirling with some dark emotion that made her quiver in front of him. Percy and the rest of the Bronze faded from into the background, Kat's mind latching onto one thought: I'm in trouble.
Angel tried to keep his mind on the task at hand: that being to get Kat away from this lecherous young pup before she went off with him. His demon fought and clawed under the surface, wanting nothing more than the rip the face off this whelp that dared talk to his angelic beauty. It didn't help that the stubborn jock still had his hand wrapped around Kat's upper arm, or that Kat seemed frozen to the spot, making no effort to disengage him.
Percy, briefly glancing back and forth between the other two, noting Kat's look of barely disguised astonishment at Angel's appearance, decided to plunge on. Drawing himself up straight, the quarterback narrowed his eyes at the man in front of him, all the while tightening his hold on Kat's arm and drawing her back a step. "Who asked you, huh?"
A malicious smile spread over the vampire's lips at the foolish young man's attempt to sound brave. Something of his dark demeanor must have translated into his face, for as he leaned forward the jock paled suddenly. His arm flashing out before the young man could recover from his shock, Angel grabbed Percy's arm and tightened his hold.painfully. Stepping closer, he brought his face up near the jock's and, while managing to keep his face from vamping out, laced his voice with as much of Angelus as he could muster. "Maybe you didn't hear me before.Get. Lost."
As Angel released the jock's arm he watched with no little amusement as Percy stumbled backwards in his haste to depart, dropping Kat's arm as if he were scalded. Mumbling something about having to be somewhere else, he turned and disappeared into the crowd of the Bronze, not pausing to glance over his shoulder in his hasty retreat. Pleased with his efforts, Angel turned back to Kat, only to find the tiny werecat glaring at him in barely repressed outrage.
The abrupt manner of Percy's departure, coupled with Angel's rather heavy- handed manner, had the effect of a cold bucket of water on the tiny brunette. Snapping out of the previous stupor she had been in since he had appeared, she crossed her arms over her chest as she scowled up at the vampire. "What in the hell do you think you are doing?"
Blinking, Angel stared down at the irate werecat, surprise taking the edge off of his jealousy-induced rage. "Excuse me kitten?" One eyebrow arched up as he cocked his head to the side, waiting for her to tell him what had the petite young woman so riled.
"Do I have 'Helpless Damsel in Distress' written somewhere on my forehead?" Kat exploded, her arms flailing out to her sides. "What part of me just screams out that I have to be saved from every unpleasant situation just because I'm female? Feminist movement, look it up sometime Angel!"
"Oh?" Angel's eyes narrowed slightly as he leaned forward, his own arms coming up to cross over his chest. "I wasn't aware that the women of this century actually liked being pawed over by under-sexed, hormone-driven teenage boys," he replied, stressing the word boy to describe the quarterback who had just vacated the area.
"I could have handled it," Kat snapped, waving her hands in the air wildly at the vampire's pompous attitude. "What are you going to do next, hmm Angel? Would you like me to run any guy I happen to meet by you, just so he meets your archaic standard of approval before I even TALK to him?" Ignoring the way his expression darkened with every word she uttered, Kat continued, stepping forward to jab her dainty finger into his cold chest. "Listen up buddy, cause I'm only going to say this once! I will NOT let you act like some protective father figure. If I want to talk to a guy, I will. Hell, I'll DANCE with whomever I want, and don't you dare try to tell me otherwise, or so help me I'll stake you with a dull pencil."
Satisfied she had at least partly gotten through to the stubborn vampire, Kat took a step back. Suddenly Angel's hand snaked out, clamping down on her wrist and holding the tiny brunette prisoner. Raising her head, the werecat's eyes widened in surprise as Angel's eyes glinted with malicious intent. Leaning forward so his head was closer to hers, a trace of his Irish accent lacing his already tense and rage-filled voice as he spoke. "So kitten, you want to dance hmm?" His smile grew colder as he continued, his voice soft, yet menacing. "If you be wanting someone to brush up against you on the dance floor, I'd be happy to oblige kitten." His smile widened smugly as he watched her pale slightly, feeling her wrist tremble slightly in his grasp
Frozen in place, Kat stared up at Angel with wide blue eyes, her mouth parted slightly in surprise. His accent teased her ears, making her tingle from head to toe. Her mind was a whirlwind of images and emotions evoked by the idea of being that close to the cryptic and now murderous-looking vampire. Only the predatory nature of his smile, and the cold way he looked at her, saved the dark-haired young woman from saying yes. Taking a deep breath, she drew herself up as much as she could, fixing a cool look of dispassion on her face.
"I don't think so," she replied softly, looking Angel in the eye with as much dignity as she could muster. "I'd rather not dance with someone I can't trust not to hurt me." With as much grace as she could muster, she pulled her wrist out of his hand, only mildly surprised at how easily he let her go. Turning away, she took a step away, determined not to look at his face, for fear that she would cave and accept his invitation, no matter how cold and empty it had sounded to her ears. Only the reminder of his actions back in the cemetery a few nights ago kept her moving away from him, her lips pressed firmly together in order not to say anything she feared she would regret later.
Angel stared dejectedly after the tiny brunette as she distanced herself from him, his hand still suspended in the air in shock. Feeling the effects of a mental slap from Kat, the vampire reeled at her chosen words for refusal. In his mind's eye, he could see a hint of the fear and vulnerability he had caused the werecat reflected back to him in her green- blue orbs, and it make his undead heart ache with misery.
"I never meant to hurt you kitten," he whispered sadly, his rage spent in the face of her rejection. Turning his back on the way she had gone, Angel was intent upon giving up for the night, when he made the mistake of glancing over his shoulder at her. Leaning up against a beam, her eyes closed as she listened to the swell of the music in the Bronze, Kat seemed innocent and vulnerable as she stood a few feet away from him. A soft, sad smile graced the young woman's pouty lips, causing the vampire to swallow involuntarily.
Something welled up inside the vampire, compelling him to move in her direction like a moth drawn to a flame. He was only dimly aware of the music changing, shifting from the throbbing tempo of the Bronze to something softer, more soothing. The beauty clad in crimson robbed him of any thought but reaching her side.
* * * * * * * * * *
Trying to get her emotions under control, Kat listened to the music change as she leaned up against a beam in the dimly lit club. Her eyes shutting out the rest of the world, she took a deep breath as the strains of a guitar filled the air, soothing some of the ache she felt in her heart. Her breath hitched a little as her mind stumbled in its attempts to forget a certain vampire, or his rather confusing effect on her.
Her mind and senses preoccupied, Kat started when she felt her hand being lifted gently, long cool fingers caressing the back as it was pulled away from her body. Her eyes flew open as cool lips brushed against her warm skin, causing her to tremble slightly. Chocolate eyes, now warm and tender, smiled up at her over the back of her hand. For a moment she could hardly breathe, as she watched Angel bow over her hand in an old-fashioned manner that left her speechless. She watched, helpless to act, as the gentle vampire leaned closer, whispering with a trace of his earlier accent in his voice, "Forgive my harsh words lady." Straightening, he continued to hold her hand as he tilted his head in the direction of the dance floor. "Permit me the honor of this dance?"
'Ohhh, that is not fair,' Kat's mind moaned silently. 'Handsome men should never be allowed to have such delicious accents.' Her mind bid a tearful farewell to logic, her heart cautioning the werecat to tread softly, but it was her body that responded, her skin tingling in acceptance. Not trusting herself to speak, the werecat simply nodded once, fearing the consequences of her decision, but wanting it too much to say no a second time.
Silently Angel moved a step backwards, onto the dance floor. Her eyes never leaving his, Kat followed, letting the vampire guide her. Starting slightly as his cool hands trailed up her warm arms, she let him pull her closer as his hands moved over her shoulders, gliding gently down the curvature of her sides and coming to rest lightly on her hips. Slowly he guided her into the rhythm of the song caressing them both, dimly aware of a woman's sultry voice as it ebbed out over the dance floor.
I'm telling you it's over
Now there's an angel
Holding me
My way's easy
Even if you're fallen
Oh you're struggling
There's still beauty
In what we do
Closing her eyes, Kat warred internally with her emotions. She longed to surrender into him, to the security and warm that Angel radiated, but the recent hurt he had caused her, both now and a few days ago, made her tense and uncertain. Her movements in his arms were bereft their normal grace, her posture somewhat stiff as she danced with the handsome vampire. By the way his hands tightened slightly on her hips, Kat was certain that Angel knew she was a little uncomfortable.
Watching the tense little brunette in his arms, Angel missed the fiery, passionate brunette he had known a few days ago. He missed the light in her eyes as she kept him on his toes, either with a snappy word or a secretive smile. The quiet little woman in his arms was not his kitten. As he pondered how to bring her back out of hiding, the song picked up in tempo, an almost light-heartedness quality that soothed the spirits. An idea began to form in the vampire's head. Lips quirking softly, he raised one hand off Kat's hips, gliding up to take one of her delicate hands. As her eyes flew open questioningly, he winked briefly at the confused look on her face.
"Hold on," he whispered before suddenly, without warning, spinning her away from his body.
'Oh. My..' Even Kat's mind couldn't force out the words as she suddenly felt herself propelled out into space. Just when she felt like she would fall on her face, a tug on her arm sent her spinning back into Angel's arms. Trying to catch her breath, Kat only had a brief pause before Angel twirled her again, keeping the tiny werecat from thinking too hard as he kept her dancing in and out of his arms to the beat of the song.
I say come back
Come in from the cold
Into the warm
I feel like fire
Guiding you back home
As darkness falls
Finally, out of mercy she thought, Angel finally brought her back into his arms to stay, ending his little demonstration with a tiny dip of the werecat. For a moment she sputtered, at a loss for words. However, the twinkle in his chocolate brown eyes, and the warm smile on his face, swept over the helpless brunette. An almost giddy sensation overcame Kat, and she burst out laughing, her shoulders shaking as she let all the tension ebb out of her body.
Satisfied at hearing the sultry tones of the tiny woman's laughter, Angel drew her back up slowly, once again guiding her against him in the gentle dance. This time he felt the change in her demeanor, his undead heart almost leaping for joy at the spark of life he saw returning to her eyes. His smile turned somewhat rueful as his hand reached up to brush a strand of hair out of her eyes. "I've missed that laugh kitten," he spoke softly. "It's been rather.empty.being at the mansion all day long."
Inwardly the vampire cursed his impulsive words, as the light he worked so hard to return to Kat's eyes dimmed sadly. Lowering her eyes, Kat didn't look at Angel as she replied, "You left m..us Angel, not the other way around." Barely covering up her near mistake, Kat sighed as she felt the hurt she had almost forgotten returning full force. "Maybe this isn't such a good ide." she began, moving to step out of the vampire's arms. Her heart thundered in her chest, nearly drowning out the words of the song hanging over her head.
And then you find it's over
Still it tears your heart
To slip away
From the crowd
Hand firmly grasping her wrist, Angel tugged the werecat back into his arms, bringing a finger up to her lips to silence any protests. Still dancing with her slowly to the beat of the song, he remained silent for a few minutes, the expression on his face grave as he struggled to speak. Unable to break away, Kat swayed in his arms helplessly, waiting for the vampire to say something.anything.that could erase the hurt of the past few days.
"I'm sorry, kitten, for abandoning all of you," Angel finally whispered, his voice soft but strong as it carried to Kat's delicate ears. "I just.I guess I felt you wouldn't want me around.after." He hesitated, unable to speak directly of the incident that had led them to this.
For her part, Kat didn't speak of the horrible night either, her head bowing as she struggled with the painful emotions she was feeling. Dimly aware they were still dancing, she raised her head finally, her eyes betraying some of her hurt as she looked up at the dark-haired vampire in front of her. "Why did you come back?" Her voice, soft as Angel's, was laden with guarded suspicion.
Lips quirking self-mockingly, Angel chuckled sadly. "Someone came by, beat some sense into me, made me realize just how stupid I was being." Seeing the questioning look on Kat's face, he continued. "Xander stopped by and gave me a little wake up call. It wasn't quite as.demonstrative.as yours was," that remark earning him a small ghost of a smile, "but it was nevertheless effective."
So everyone stands in line
Cos they wanna stay alive
To wait alone
No dog no bone
Moving his hands to take her delicate ones, Angel brushed his thumbs over the satiny backs, taking a deep, unneeded breath. His eyes on her hands instead of her face, Angel whispered just loud enough for her ears alone. "I wanted to apologize. For that night. The things I said.I had no right to say them, or to judge you like that." Cautiously his eyes strayed up to her face, gauging her reaction to his words.
Aware that they had sometime, in the middle of their talk, stopped dancing, Kat pondered Angel's apology silently. Her heart twisted painfully as it remembered all the hurtful things he had thrown at her that night, the accusations and taunts that had haunted her for the past few days. Fighting to keep her voice even, the tiny werecat responded huskily, "I'm not the Slayer Angel."
Angel nodded his understanding. "No, you're not, and I realize that. I can't defend my choice of words, except to say that I was afraid. I don't have many friends, and the last thing I want to do is see them die before my eyes." Even as he tried to say these words calmly, the vampire's undead heart nearly jumped with the mere thought that his kitten, the fiery hellcat, might run out of luck one day and end up at the wrong end of the stake.
But if you have
What it takes
To return to where
All the world
Knows your name
Kat understood what drove the vampire to say this; every time the Scoobies went out on patrol Kat was afraid that one of her new friends would not make it back that night. It was why she fought, and she suspected why Angel fought as well.to protect their friends at all costs. "I know," she answered softly, "But Angel, I have to keep fighting. I can't just sit on the sidelines, not when I know the dangers out there."
"I know," the vampire echoed Kat's words, sighing softly. How well he knew her fighting spirit. His lips curved into another smile, soft though teasing. "I guess I'll just have to make sure I'm always around, to make sure you don't get into too much trouble."
Smiling in spite of herself, Kat shook her head softly, cocking her head to the side. "Angel, Angel.are you trying to become my personal knight or something?"
"Or something," Angel replied before the silence stretched out between them once more. He continued to rub her hands with his thumbs, more for the feel of her silky, soothing skin than from any conscious effort. Glancing down at her hands, he took an unneeded breath, asking the question of which he most feared her response. "Forgive me?" His eyes rose as the words left his lips, fixing on the tiny brunette before him as he waited for her to answer.
"Angel, I don't think.," Kat began, only to be interrupted as Angel repeated his solemn request. Squirming under the intensity of the vampire's beautiful gaze, Kat pondered his words seriously. He really means it, she thought. Forgiveness is everything to him. But, I guess I can't be surprised, given his background and all. Stretching to her toes, Kat reached up with one hand, brushing the strand away. Trailing down his face, her hand touched his nose in a small tap, her lips curving into a smile as she answered, "Forgiven."
Angel closed his eyes briefly, relief washing over him in a wave as her forgiveness rang in his ears. Leaning his head down to touch hers, he opened his eyes to stare into her liquid blue orbs. "Thank you," he whispered, his breath warm and ticklish against her lush lips. They stood still for a moment, neither moving an inch, sharing a moment of warmth and contentment.
So que sera
Let's go sailing on
There's a wise man
In every fool
I say come back
Come in from the cold
Into the warm
I feel like fire
Guiding you back home
As darkness falls
Slowly the knowledge of their proximity stole over both Kat and Angel, igniting the air with confused tension. Angel's smile slipped a notch, his eyes clouding over with a serious emotion Kat couldn't place. Her heart began to pound as his head began to tilt slightly, his lips dangerously close to her own.
Oh God oh God oh God, Kat's mind babbled in Willow-like behavior, her eyes widening as she realized what he was about to do. Her pulse began to race, the blood roaring in her ears drowning out all other sounds in the Bronze. Fear and uncertainty welling up inside of her, she backed up suddenly, pulling her hands away from Angel before he could tighten his grip on them. "I'm so..I'm sorry," she stammered, her knees wobbling and making it difficult for the werecat to make an elegant exit as she continued to back away from the confused vampire. "I've got to go. Thanks for the dance." Whirling around, Kat rushed off into the throng of people, eager to put as much distance between herself and the vampire who confused all of her senses.
"Kat!" Angel called out, but it was too late as he watched, bewildered, as the kitten made a hasty retreat. His arm, which had been raised to call her back, fell listlessly to his side as he watched her dainty backside run away from him. Stuffing both hands into his pockets, he contemplated what he had been about to do before she had spooked. He wasn't sure what has possessed him to try and kiss her.all he had been able to think about was how soft and velvety her lips looked, and he had wondered how they might taste.
Raising his head, Angel once again looked in the direction Kat had run, but the kitten had already left the Bronze. His undead heart heavy with emotion, the vampire turned on his heel, exiting in the opposite direction. So lost in his own thoughts and feelings was the dark-haired undead man that he didn't hear the last strain of the song as he melded into the darkness surrounding him.
I say come home
Leave it all behind
And settle down
I feel my love
Can give me what I want
For all time
For all time
I feel like fire.