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DISCLAIMER: Anything I'd do would be in vain.
SUMMARY: One year after 'Hero' Cordelia and Angel converse.
WORDCOUNT: 654
NOTES: for Lara, just because. *smooch*
ANNIVERSARY
by Leni
"You weren’t here yesterday," Cordelia said from her chair as Angel entered
the room.
He stopped, trying to figure her out. She knew that there had been a big fight and that
he’d been needed outside.
Then he remembered.
Doyle. The Scourge. Two years and a day ago...
"I needed... to talk about it, I guess."
They rarely talked about that night, not even in passing. But Angel instantly knew that
he’d failed his friend. "I’m sorry," he said quickly, crossing the
room to her desk. "I totally forgot..." His hand had been about to stroke her
hair soothingly, but her quick movement stopped him.
"Don’t worry," Cordelia interrupted him as she stood up. "I called
Willow." Cordelia bent over the file cabinet, purposely looking away from him.
"I wanted someone to hear me, and Willow... well, she isn’t to trust but at
least she was always supportive when a girl had feelings for a demon – or half demon
in this case."
Angel’s eyebrows furrowed. Cordelia never hinted at his relationship with Buffy, for
she knew it still hurt him. He wanted to sigh at her childish behaviour, but the truth was
that he was a bit peeved himself. He had had an exhausting fight and, hadn’t
he apologised already? "Yeah," his voice took a sarcastic note, "because
sending Buffy to ‘kick my ass’ while she was re-souling me was so
supportive."
"Huh?" Cordelia lifted her head and whipped it around. "What are you
talking about?"
"It’s nothing," Angel lied, not wanting old memories to resurface more than
they had.
"She’d never..." Her eyebrows furrowed slightly as she remembered that
night. "I mean, I was there! She just sent Xander to tell Buf--- Oh."
Silence.
Cordelia’s hand went to her mouth, then her eyes narrowed and Angel recognised the
anger in them. "Oh, that- that *stupid* boy!" She slammed the files over the
cabinet, then moved intently to her own desk, eyeing the telephone determinedly.
"Wait until Buffy hears this. Or better yet, I’ll tell Willow. That little piece
of slime, see how he likes it when his best friend hex him int-"
"Let it go," he stopped her tirade.
Her eyes turned to him in exasperation. "What?"
Angel shrugged. "It’s not worth it."
"B-but..."
"Let it go, Cordelia."
Cordelia studied him, then glanced back at the phone and pursed her lips. "Sometimes
I don’t understand you, Angel."
"Cordy..."
"Fine." She threw her arms in surrender. "But if the subject ever comes
up..."
Angel nodded, then set off again.
"Angel?"
He stopped.
"Willow was really sweet and you were a jerk for forgetting. I’m still mad at
you, by the way. But... she didn’t even know Doyle." Her finger drummed
nervously over the wooded surface. "Would you mind...?"
With a light smile, he walked back to her and took her hand in his. "Would you like
some coffee, Cordelia?"
Covering their hands with her free one, she tightened them for a second in silent
gratitude. "I’ll just go for my coat."
Angel stood there, thinking about the last few minutes. He hadn’t wanted to learn of
Xander’s slip, but now that he had it didn’t really matter. It was old water
over old bridges and since the moment he’d left Sunnydale he’d promised himself
a new beginning. Looking around, Angel decided that for ‘new beginnings’ L.A had
done him good. New horizons, new goals and above all...
He watched as Cordelia came back, trying to put on her coat with a video on one hand.
Angel closed his eyes in remembrance, recognising the cassette as Doyle’s last
memento.
"Hello, needing some help here?"
Angel shook his head and went to help her. As they left, heading for the small cafeteria
some block away, he remembered his musings.
Looking down at Cordelia, who was now clutching the video to her chest, he completed that
thought.
Yes, new friends were definitely the best part of L.A..
The End
01/03/04
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