Balled at the Ballet--Part Deux
by Jerri and Robin2
Angel snarled at the bowtie that steadfastly refused to bow. It was
harder then he remembered and the lack of a reflection seriously
hampered him. He growled and forced his face back into it's smooth
mask as an amused giggle came from the doorway. The dark vampire
swung around to face his...what was she anyway? "Yes, Cordelia, you
wanted something?"
The lovely woman with blonde streaks in her brunette hair, smiled at
him. "I thought I would offer to fix this for you." Her hands
deftly turned his tangle into a debonair bowtie. "I'm just glad that
we were able to find David so quickly. There is no way we could have
gotten tickets to this otherwise. It's been sold out for months."
Angel snarled down at the top of her perfectly coiffed head, and
blinked in shock. Was that a hair out of place? He was amazed it
had the temerity. His snarl transformed into a grin as he studied
that one wayward hair. "Tell me again, why we have to go to the ballet?"
His lovely, scary secretary peeked up at him, "Because I had a
migraine inducing vision nad heard someone screaming, and someone
saying something about that demon eating him, and all I could see was
the dancers acting as if nothing was wrong."
"Oh, yeah, that's why. And why is it that Wesley is going with me,
and that you and Gunn manage to avoid all the fun?" The last word
had a definite hint of growl to it.
"Because David could only let us have two seats in his box. He had
already given the other two to a personal friend of the Prima. And
because between you and Wes, you can identify and kill every demon in
the world. Oh, and because Wes would kill to see the Bolshoi perform
The Firebird."
"Why did I agree to this again?" In an effort to give himself some
room to breath he ran one finger underneath his coller then smirked.
Oh yeah, I don't have to breathe. Still not liking anything
restrictive around his throat he kept on straining the neck of his
crisp white shirt.
"Because, you are a nice guy, who wants to earn his redemption, and
because, while I have forgiven you for being a weenie, Wesley
hasn't. You have to keep him alive until he does." She shot a look
directly into his face, "Because this is the right place to be, and
the good thing to do."
She gave his cheek one soft stroke and smiled up into his eyes. "And
because it sure beats locking lawyers into a wine celler."
With that she turned on her heel and left the room. Cordelia made
sure she was down the hall and halfway down the stairs, before she
muttered softly to herself, "Because Gunn and I can't do a thing
about your surprise if you are underfoot, and this is the only way I
could come up with to get you out from underfoot."
Her smile lit up the entire lobby of the Hyperion as she thought
about his face when he realized it was a fib. A fib in a good cause,
but a fib none the less. Oh well, she absolved herself with a cheery
shrug, if she had a real vision, she'd know where to find him, for a change.
She tripped down the final few steps and came to a halt. Her glare
had downed lesser men and convinced at least one vampire by the name
of Lyle Gorch that he should run.....now.
"Wesley, why aren't you dressed and ready for the ballet?"
The rogue demon hunter quailed before her.
"Ah, Cordelia, there's a complication. I can't go to the ballet tonight."
"That is so wrong. I can't get a damn thing done if you don't go and
keep him occupied, what do you mean you can't go?"
"Well, you see, I, ah, dear Lord, I have been contacted by the group
in Sunnydale. They need me to help research a God vanquishing
spell. It is of the utmost importance. I'm sorry, but I have to
go." The British scholar returned to placing books in his
saddlebags. "I shall return as quickly as I can, but this is crucial
to the world's survival. I have to go." He quickly left the
Hyperion before the angry young woman could say anything more.
She swung to face Gunn. "Well, what are we gonna do now?"
"Uh-uh, don't you be looking at me girl, I ain't going to the ballet
and watching lots of men jumpin round in tights, that's a rich white
men's gig, and in case you ain't noticed.....I'm neither. I will put
the surprise together, but, Barbie, you enjoy the ballet now, you
hear." The handsome dark face split with a grin. "And girl, if
you're going to the ballet, then you best hurry." He cast an
appraising look at her baby tee and capri pants, "You ain't exactly
dressed for it."
She looked down at herself, shaken, she ran for the stairs and the
small wardrobe that she kept at the hotel. Cordelia thanked God once
again for her anal tendencies and sorted through the small collection
of evening wear and accessories she kept on hand in addition to her
killing slimy demon things wear. She slammed the door behind her and
went into high gear.
She looked through the small but tasteful choice of dresses and
quickly chose her favorite of the things Angel had bought her. The
form fitting shimmery olive dress was sleek and sexy, and it looked
damn good on her. Quickly, she showered and dressed, then carefully
arranged her hair, and did her makeup. With a long glance at several
different angles in the full length mirror she had installed in
her `room' and pronounced herself good to go. She looked at the
watch she'd left laying on the table and smiled. It had only taken
her an hour and a half to get ready. So they would be just a little
late, it wasn't as if there was really going to be demon-eatage going on.
She walked to the top of the stairs and drew up short. Oh my, she
thought as she followed Angel's anxious pace across the room and
back. She fought the urge to fan herself. Angel in a tux. Did it
get any better?
She blinked and then cleared her throat. Angel continued to pace and
Gunn continued to flip through whatever magazine she'd left on the
coffee table. Cordelia rolled her eyes. Didn't these guys know
anything about making an entrance?
Finally, they looked up when her heels clicked on the marble. A
genuine smile stretched her glossed lips at their collective jaw
dropped bug-eyed reaction. She began to feel better about this whole
thing. After all, she could distract Angel and if she got another
excuse to kiss him, well so much the better. She stepped down into
the lobby and took great pleasure in watching Gunn pick his jaw up
off the floor, and.....what was that look in her broodboy's eyes?
Could it be.....
The dark vampire strode over to her and offered her, his arm. "Shall
we go, then?"
"I think we shall. Gunn, make sure the hotel is still standing when
we get back from the ballet." She signalled to him behind Angel's
back. He nodded slightly, message understood. Be ready when they
get back or be dead by Cordelia's delicate little hand.
When they drew up to the theatre, Angel with the courtesy he had
learned and ignored for a good portion of his checkered past, opened
Cordy's door and handed her out onto the sidewalk. He reluctantly
gave up his keys to the valet and carefully put his claim slip into
his inner breast pocket.
Angel offered the beautiful brunette his arm and escorted her up the
steps to the head usher like the royalty she thought she was. Once
Angel said the carte blanche of all names "David Nabbit" they were
quickly ushered to their seats, despite the fact the performance had
already begun.
Angel smirked as they were led to their box. By the smell of things
someone somewhere was having a, he cleared his throat, good time at
the ballet. He allowed himself another covert glance at Cordelia's
shapely behind and for the briefest of instants wondered if there was
a way around that damned happiness clause.
Their usher's voice brought him back to the present as he opened the
door and in a stage whisper started to explain just how fortunate he
and Cordy were to be such good friends with Mr. Nabbit. The unctious
man gasped and Angel smirked as the door opened and his urbane and
chic date blurted out,"Oh. Migawd. Tacky much?"
"Don't you know that it's considered rude to be seated mid-act?" the
spunky strawberry blonde woman demanded as she crawled off her boyfriend's lap.
"Ahn, hon," the dark haired man said. Angel could smell the
embarrassement rolling off him. "Maybe now's not the time for a
lecture on manners."
Angel watched as Cordelia's horrified expression rolled into revulsion.
"Xander?" she gasped.
A large grin threatened to break Angel's happiness clause as the dark
haired man slowly turned and faced his accusers.
Xander swallowed and tugged at his collar.
"In the flesh," Angel observed then turned to face his conduit to the
Powers That Be, "I thought the demon was supposed to be eating him?"
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