Disclaimer: Simple. Not mine, don't sue. Told ya it was simple.
Feedback: A big thank you to everyone who reviewed so far, it's very much appreciated. And yes, there is going to be some angst soon, as far fetched as that may sound. Keep writing, though, I'd like to know what you think when the story starts to twist, especially concerning the creature.
Note: I know this chapter was a long time coming, compared with my usual update rate anyway, but I have an excuse. Blame it on results day. Here in little old England, it's been A'level results time, and I haven't been able to concentrate on anything else, I've been so worried. As it turned out, I did okay with two As and two Bs. Yay, uni here I come! I hope all you other students out there did okay too!
CHAPTER 3.
That was the last one. Wesley had read the thing cover to cover, and was still no closer to identifying the creature that had found it's way into the hotel last night.
Closing the book and placing it on top of the pile of others that had also failed to yield a result, he leant back in his chair and looked at his watch. 8.30am. Impressive. A whole nights work and you've found nothing. What was he going to tell the others? Sorry, but I couldn't find out whether or not the little beast will try and eat you in your sleep, we'll just have to wait and see?
He sighed. The creature was still sat there on the desk, its little legs tucked under its body in a very cat-like way, watching his every move. He would have found it unnerving if he hadn't already endured the scrutiny for the last seven hours or so. He wondered if the thing actually needed to sleep, or whether it could just go on like this for days. Unfortunately for the human race, bodies like his weren't so accommodating, and every muscle he had was demanding rest.
It seemed that vampires were not impervious to the strain of a long nights work either. Having joined him earlier that night to help him keep an eye on the animal, Angel had settled into a chair on the other side of the room, book in hand. Despite his good intentions, he hadn't lasted very long before his head had begun to dip, and Wesley had watched in amusement as Angel had fallen asleep where he sat, slumped rather awkwardly in his seat.
Looking at him now, Wesley wondered whether he should save him some embarrassment by waking him before he others arrived for work. He was saved the decision when he heard the lobby doors opening, and Gunn appeared in the office doorway.
"You're early", Wesley commented, running a hand through his hair and stretching.
"Yeah, I wanted to make sure a certain fluff ball wasn't picking its teeth with your bones. And I thought about bringin' a dust pan and brush too, you know, just in case."
"Well, as you can see, we're both fine. Thank you for your concern." The pair of them grinned at each other; Gunn's smile widening at the sight of the vampire in the corner.
"Doesn't that creep you out?" he asked, pointing. "He ain't even breathing. Looks like you got some dead guy in a chair over there and the worlds scariest furby on your desk."
Wesley shrugged, stifling a yawn and deciding he didn't much care anymore. The research could wait till later, but right now, he wanted to go home. Gunn and Angel could hold the fort until Cordelia dragged herself in, and it was there turn to play babysitter.
The creature stirred as Wesley got up, addressing the group with a chirp that inadvertently woke Angel up. Blearily jerking up his head, he squinted at Gunn and hurriedly brushed himself down, pretending that nothing had happened.
"Just resting my eyes", he insisted, distracting them from the subject by pointing at Wesley's desk. "So, did you find anything?"
As if to answer his question, the little creature jumped from the table and onto Angel's knee in a short flurry of movement, eliciting a small cry of surprise from said vampire. It gazed into his eyes for a second and then began to study his entire body, feeling around his clothes and finally reaching across his face to explore his peculiarly spiky hair with its fingers.
Touching the hair was the last straw for Angel, and he shot to his feet, grasping the little creature under its arms and holding it away at arms length. Squirming a bit but otherwise uncomplaining, it looked up at him serenely, enjoying the fun. Angel glared at it warily, and carefully placed it back down where it had come from, looking round to find that he had now become a source of amusement for his smirking friends.
"I haven't been able to pinpoint a species, Angel, no", Wesley supplied, sparing Angel the indignity of a witty remark, but not quite managing to wipe the smile off of his face either. "As much as I would like to find out, I'm afraid it'll just have to remain a mystery until I can actually see straight again, which won't be for a long time to come if I don't stop reading soon."
He turned to leave the office, picking up his coat as he went and fishing a round in his pocket for his car keys. Angel made after him, protesting at the fact that he was being left with the critter, closely followed by Gunn who didn't want to miss the action. The little creature followed immediately, scrambling down off the desk and running through their legs, eager not to let Wesley out of its sight.
Only momentarily distracted by the feel of soft fur brushing past him and nearly tripping up his feet, Angel continued with his pleas, knowing that if Wesley left, Gunn would be quick to make an excuse to leave him on his own with the thing.
"You can use one of my rooms. And I'm not sure you're safe to drive like that, after such a long night. Think of road safety!"
"Angel, I'll be fine. I really do want to change these clothes, and I'd rather just go home. It's only fair, after all…"
At that point, the opening of the lobby doors interrupted the discussion, and for a second, Wesley thought that Cordelia had also come in early. Before he got the chance to check the sky for flying pigs, the real person stepped in.
"Um, excuse me, but is this Angel Investigations? There wasn't a sign…"
"This is it", Angel confirmed, guiding the creature back towards the office with a sharp nudge of his foot. "I'm Angel, how can we help?"
The smartly dressed woman sauntered across the lobby floor, her executive high heels clicking out her steps and adding height to her shapely long legs. Dark brown curls cascaded down her shoulders, held in place only by the stylish lenses perched on the end of her nose. The three men willed themselves to pay attention as she approached the counter, bringing up a small leather satchel to place on top.
"I'm Mrs. Lovelle. I believe my husband hired you to look into disturbances at our company and locate a group of vandals?"
The creature, intrigued by the sound of the new voice, struggled against Angel's restraining leg and broke free, scurrying past into more open space. Trying to keep a calm expression, Angel glanced sideways to see the creature trying to climb its way up the reception desk, determined to make its presence known. Wesley spotted it just in time and stepped forward as it stuck its furry head over the top. Pushing it back down quickly with a discrete hand, Wesley leaned in next to Angel.
"Yes, that's right, we found the source of the, er, problem, and it's been taken care of." He gave Angel a sidelong look that confirmed that they both had questions. Why this woman's husband hadn't told her the true nature to the problem, he could only guess. Maybe telling her that he'd hired a group of supernatural detectives to neutralise a nest of flesh eating demons would have been too much. Wes could understand that. But why then had she been sent here about it in place of the one person who knew what he was up against?
"Excuse me, Mrs. Lovelle, I don't mean to be rude, but where's your husband? I got the impression over the phone that he wanted to come in and clear this up personally."
She produced a polite smile and flicked back her hair rather distractingly.
"I'm afraid he's indisposed at the moment, so he sent me in his place. I'm sure you can appreciate that he is a very busy man. Anyway, I'm here to ask if everything went well and to write out your cheque."
The creature started swatting at Wesley's leg, protesting at its harsh treatment and insisting upon recognition. Trying to ignore it wasn't working, but picking it up and shutting it in the office wasn't an option either. Keeping it hidden would be much harder if it decided to make a run for the lobby, and it was becoming more and more agitated. Pinning it against the shelving, Wesley gave Angel a meaningful glance, and the creature chose the moment to squeak in annoyance.
The woman frowned and looked at the men accusingly. Gunn coughed, thumping his chest with his fist in an attempt to look genuine.
"Would you like to come this way", Angel asked, taking the hint. He hurried around to the front of the desk and ushered the woman into the second office door and she obliged reluctantly, looking over her shoulder at the smiling pair of Wesley and Gunn.
As soon as the door closed, Wesley picked up the wriggly animal and carried it away, out of view of the office windows. Gunn followed, keeping an eye out for more unsuspecting members of the public, and they shut it in the bathroom.
They both stood guard for a good twenty minutes, flinching at the sound of the occasional crash or tumble of objects from within. Finally, the office door opened again and the woman emerged, smiling and shaking Angel's hand. She breezed past them on her way out, nodding in appreciation before she left.
When she had gone, they breathed a sigh of relief, and Wesley braced himself before he opened the bathroom door again. Sure enough, the creature had managed to make a mess, probably in defiance more than anything else. It sat on the floor with a mischievous glint in its eye, deciding that sulking wouldn't have had the same effect. Bottles of Cordelia's migraine medicine lay strewn across the floor, but, mercifully, it lacked the strength, intelligence and opposable thumbs to have opened the childproof caps. Having discovered the wonders of toilet paper, it had gone on to explore the contents of the cabinet, removing the various items it had found.
Its expression innocent, the creature chirped at them, a squeezy bottle of toothpaste in its paws. Dental floss was wound around its head, tangled web-like on its ears. Biting off the lid of the tube it held, it squirted the minty gel out of its container, managing to get a generous amount smeared on its face. Deciding that it definitely tasted like food, it stretched out its arms, offering some to its newfound human friend.
Wesley frowned down at it and tried to look angry, but he couldn't bring himself to feel annoyed in the slightest. Instead, he reached down and picked up the thing in his arms, pulling the debris from its fur. The creature snuggled into him comfortably, enjoying the attention.
He returned it back to the desk, wiping toothpaste off as he went, and sighed at the expectant little face that blinked up at him.
"What are we going to do with it?" he asked when Angel and Gunn joined him.
"Don't suppose we can take it to the nearest re-homing shelter, huh?"
The creature turned to Gunn, transfixed by the gleam of his shiny head. Freaked out a bit by its intense stare, Gunn leant back and forced himself to look at Angel instead.
"What did she say, then?" he asked, knowing that he wouldn't get an answer where it concerned the fluff ball.
"She said her husband's away on business and that, being second in command, she took it upon herself to tie up loose ends while he's away. Apparently she doesn't know about the real reason her husband contacted us, just that we still needed to be paid."
"Speaking of which…"
Angel held up a cheque and flapped it in the air in front of Gunn, and he snatched it away to read it himself. Whistling and smiling, he handed it over to Wesley when he was done, and he too took a look.
The sound of the doors opening yet again broke the mood, and they all jumped, fearing that the woman would come back in and discover their little secret. The creature, sensing their unease, leapt up onto Wesley's shoulders for protection, clinging onto the back of his neck for grip.
"Wow, did you guys see that skirt? That was nice."
Cordelia swept in, stopping at the sight of her three colleagues staring in surprise at her.
"What?" she asked, and they visibly relaxed, rolling their eyes in relief. "Hey, Wes, don't look now but you've got squirrel nutkin growing out the back of your head."
Wesley gave her a sarcastic smile and reached up to pull it off, puzzled when it resisted and refused to let go. Giving in and hoping it would get down by itself, he turned his attention back to their paycheque. Gunn 'subtly' whispered behind his hand to Angel as Cordelia approached.
"Man, do you think she can smell the money or what?"
"Oh, ha ha, very funny. Gimme gimme." She relieved Wesley of the lightest of his burdens and jumped up and down with glee, a huge smile erupting across her face to an extent that it looked unnatural. Without another word, she ferreted it away to a file, ready to be cashed in on her next trip to the bank.
"Was that her that gave us this? For mushing a few easy peasy demons? We should get clients like her more often!"
Angel nodded in confirmation and filled her in on the details. Apparently, he'd had to concoct some story about a gang of youths being responsible for the damage to cover up for the fact that they had actually had to clear out a newly dug demon nest. The money more than covered the extra expenses required for the more demonic aspects of the job, so Cordelia didn't complain about the lack of recognition for what they had really had to do.
Gunn clearly didn't appreciate the place the blame had been put, but Angel managed to convince him that it was for the best. With a huff, he turned to begin rectifying the damage done to the temporary cell used for fluffy-beast-containment earlier, leaving the others to deal with it.
"It seems to be quite attached to you, Wes, no pun intended. I think you've found a new friend. That's got to be a first!"
Wesley gave her an unfriendly glare, and Angel could already see where this was going.
"Okay, so let's not tease the people who haven't had the benefit of a nights sleep, shall we?" He gave Cordelia a warning look that somewhat deflated her chipper mood. She was never usually this perky in the mornings anyway, not usually being greeted to work by a big fat cheque as soon as she walked in the door, but she restrained herself, deciding it best not to push Wes too far.
Angel put his hands on Wesley's shoulders and manoeuvred him away, noticing his darkening expression. Tired and grouchy he could deal with, but tired and grouchy and arguing with Cordelia he didn't think he could handle. The pair of them would drive him crazy one of these days.
Coaxing him rather covertly towards one of the sofas on the far side of the lobby, Angel had managed to persuade Wesley to sit down before he realised just what his friend was up to. Adamant to the end that he wanted to go home, Wesley refused to give up without a fight, forcing Angel to physically stop him from getting up again. He was going to have to use different tactics to win this one.
The creature still clung tightly to Wesley's neck, and Angel used the excuse that it wouldn't come off to dissuade Wesley from leaving and doing himself an injury on the road. Knowing how stubborn the man could be when he wanted to, Angel pulled out all the stops, rationally explaining that all the books were here and close at hand for when he woke up, so no time would be wasted that could be better spent finding out about the creature.
It didn't look to Cordelia like Wesley was buying all this for a second, but eventually losing the will to resist made Angel's job easier, and Wesley finally gave in, muttering complaints to himself when Angel smiled in triumph.
Making himself comfortable on the couch didn't take long, especially once the creature had relinquished its hold on his skin. It crawled up to sit on the top of the cushions, looking down on its sleeping charge with protective adoration. Assigning itself the task of guarding its now vulnerable friend, the creature sat bolt upright, carefully monitoring all movements in the room.
Angel joined Cordelia at the counter again, and they watched the creature with some confusion as it repeatedly scanned the lobby for danger. Cordelia couldn't understand how it had become so devoted to Wesley in so little time, but guessed it was harmless enough and stopped worrying about it. Angel, on the hand, only became more anxious to find information on the thing, and went about organising some research that could be done in the meantime.
As he got to work assigning Internet duty to Cordelia, the creature sat in silence, reflecting on the nights events and the things it had discovered. The souls it had seen here had been full of grief and pain, something it was in fact very sensitive to. Had they known its true purpose, they probably would have afforded it some more respect, but the little creature was oblivious to such sentiments. All it knew was that it had made up its mind to stay here with these poor humans and help take care of them after all of the horrible things it had seen had happened to them all.
Unfortunately for it, the creature was unable to form a well-rounded assessment of each individual, seeing only the bad and not the good in their lives. But nonetheless, its motivations were honourable enough, and it intended to stay and learn. For now, it resigned itself to settling uneasily into the top of the couch, not relaxing entirely, just in case. It knew things that these mere humans could not imagine, and it was going to keep its guard. After all, in its opinion, these hard done by people needed all the help they could get.
* * *
Having gratefully voiced her thanks to the vampire and got one last good look at the place, the woman had left, glimpsing once again the suspicious looks on the other's faces before she went. They were hiding something; there was no doubt about that.
On her way out, she had passed a younger woman making her way through the tiny garden to the entrance. Smiling pleasantly and with a polite 'good morning', she had walked by; picking up on the crafty glance the other woman had afforded her when she had thought she wasn't looking. Definitely suspicious.
Keeping up the pretence, the woman crossed the street and rounded a corner, well out of sight of the hotel and being sure to stay in the bright morning sunshine that now bathed Los Angeles in it's light. Any smart person would do that anyway in these parts, if they knew what was good for them, and not because there was a possibility of getting mugged. She was all too aware of the dangers, and she did well to avoid them.
Picking up her pace and hastily tying back her hair with a band, she approached the waiting car parked at the curb not far away. The tinted window rolled down smoothly as she neared, and she nodded her head to the driver.
She glided round to the passenger side door and slid into her seat, flinging the satchel into the back.
"Well?" the man beside her asked, flicking his cigarette out onto the pavement impatiently.
The woman wrinkled her nose at the man, making it clear for the fiftieth time that she did not appreciate the haze of smoke she was forced to inhale when she was trapped in the car with him. Rolling her eyes when his flinty gaze didn't waver, she put their petty disagreement out of her mind and got to the point, her business face returning.
"It's there", she said.
To be continued…