Disclaimer: I do not own Angel.
Title: Addiction is such an Ugly Word
Summary: Cordelia's obsession with romance novels brings her and Angel closer together.
Cordelia guiltily glanced around the room before reaching for the contraband in her purse. She was really beginning to feel like a junkie. First she had kept her habit at the stores, not buying, just looking. Then she had brought it into the safety and privacy of her apartment, where only Dennis could see it. Then she had started sneaking it to the office. It was really very foolish, one day she was going to get caught. But as long as that wasn't today, she was going to get her fix.
She opened the book and turned to the page she had left off on. She was just getting to the good part. All the more reason to be careful, and all the more reason to take the risk.
Bam! Went the doors.
And quick as a flash the book was back in her purse.
It was Gunn declaring that he'd had a run-in with a new demon. Which was rather obvious by the large amount of neon yellow goo he was covered in. Wesley had emerged from his office and was excitedly discussing the details. Angel would no doubt appear soon and Gunn would re-enact the fight like they were a bunch of losers hyped over a football game.
Sigh It all just served to remind her why that little paperback book was in her designer handbag. There was an utter and complete lack of romance in her life. Or anything remotely resembling it. She had no love life, no girl friends, she rarely saw anyone who wasn't a demon (or at least wearing demon goo) and oh, she had blinding headaches. Yes, she definitely deserved the books. If only she could get to one now.
Well, there was only one place in the hotel she could be alone without fear of interruption. She snuck away, trying not to make too much noise. Luckily, Wes and Gunn were far too engrossed to notice.
"Where are you going, Cordy?"
Crap, Angel had come in at the wrong moment.
"The bathroom," she said in her annoyed voice. The key to getting away with anything was to act like you had a right to do it.
"Why do you have your purse?"
Ugh, why did Angel have to have been born two centuries ago? If it was Wes or Gunn they never would have asked that. Why did any woman take their purse to the bathroom?
"Because I do," she answered haughtily, striding past a confused Angel.
Finally, Cordelia reached her sanctuary and closed and locked the door. Gunn could take a shower upstairs. He would know not to bother a woman in the bathroom. She got settled in the bathtub and then eagerly began to read:
"Where are you going?" Armand's deep brown eyes bored into hears as they looked at her vulnerably. It was like she held his heart with her answer.
"I'm just going to the powder room. It's really a necessity." She breathlessly stole away from him. She was scared to be around him, scared of what she might do. He could be so gentle, but his masculine strength frightened her. He was always fighting demons of his own.
Man, that was weird. But then maybe not so odd. Angel was really like one of those romance heroes. All tall, and strong, and saving people. And he just made you want to love him out of his brooding. After being hurt by himself and his horrible trials with Buffy. Of course, what he really needed most of the time was a good swift kick.
(Ten minutes later)
Knock Knock "Cordy, Gunn needs to use the shower. What are you doing in there?"
"There's a shower upstairs."
"It's broken."
She was just beginning to think she'd have to leave when she heard not so quiet whispers.
"Man, what are you doing?"
"Trying to get you clean. That stuff could be toxic, it's better to be safe."
"But you don't try to get a woman out of the bathroom, it's hopeless."
"She's had plenty of time. What could she possibly need in there for?"
"Trust me, we don't want to know."
"Do you think she's sick?"
"I can hear you, you know."
"Nah, she's too snarky to be sick."
Cordelia opened the door.
"There Gunn, clean that icky demon goo off."
"Thanks, Cordy."
Ignoring Angel, Cordelia marched back to her desk. It looked like she would have to wait until she got home.
(Next Week)
Angel sat in his office over-thinking things, or in other words, brooding. He was worried about Cordelia. She was spacing out at work. And sometimes she would disappear for no good reason. And she took her purse everywhere. He didn't know what was wrong, but something had to be. He had to find out what it was before he went crazy.
Unfortunately, he could only think of one way to find out. It was wrong, and almost certainly against those "rules" Wes and Gunn were always trying to teach him. But if he could only get into her purse, he could find what she was hiding.
He just needed a chance, and as he heard Cordelia's heels click away to the other side of the hotel, he saw an opportunity. Luck was with him, she had left it there. He unzipped it and reached inside.
A romance novel?
