Dark Corners 2: Whispers by Dannyblue
Summary: The sequal to "Dark Corners." In this fic, Angel and Cordy are already a couple. This story takes place in some nebulous future. I have no idea where Connor is, so don't ask.
Spoilers: Season Four up to "Rain of Fire."
Distribution: Ask and ye shall receive.
Angel felt it every time
she walked out the door.
Panic.
A chill raced
through his already cold body. In that moment, he was
consumed by the ugly
certainty that Cordelia wasn't coming back. That she'd step out into the sun, feel its warmth on her face, and
decide she
was tired of living in the dark.
And it was like
something digging inside him, claws slashing at his
heart.
But the panic didn't
last long. Just a fraction of an instant. By the
time the door shut
behind her with a soft `click', logic had reasserted
itself. Of course she was coming back. This was her home.
He was her home.
"It's so
sad," Fred was saying. She placed a stack of files on the
counter. "Cordy
meets an old friend she hasn't seen in ages. And then…"
"They weren't
friends, Fred," Angel interrupted, eyes still on the
door. "She
barely knew him."
"But she said
she really liked him. He was one of the few friends she
made in that acting
class. And they were gonna meet for coffee today." Fred shook her head, a forlorn droop to her
mouth. "Instead, she's
going to his funeral. It's just so sad."
"Yeah,"
Angel half-heartedly agreed. Arms folded, he waited another
second for Cordy to
come running back inside. To get her purse. Her keys. Money. Or maybe to kiss him once more before really,
really
leaving.
But the seconds
ticked by, and the door didn't open. So, he reluctantly
pulled his gaze away and drifted towards the counter.
"We have a new
case." Fred handed him a folder. "This woman thinks
her house is being
haunted by her uncle. He owned a bakery. Anyway, she doesn't think he's dangerous. But the smell of fresh
pastries has been
making her so hungry, she's already gained 10 pounds."
Angel smiled as he
opened the file. He'd have to tell Cordy about
this one as soon as
she got home.
The promise of her
boisterous laughter echoed through his memory.
____________________
Cordelia dragged
herself towards the door of the Hyperion. The last
few hours had left
her exhausted, her heart heavy in her chest.
"I didn't
really know him that well," she'd found herself saying over
and over again.
Until that day at the grocery store, she'd all but forgotten he existed. Surrounded by Matt's friends and family
at the funeral,
then at his childhood home, she'd felt like a fraud. Like
she didn't have the
right to be there.
But she'd had to go.
She felt like she'd lost something, too. Not a
loved one, but a
possible friend. Someone she could've really liked, but would never get the chance to know.
Cordy pressed her
fingers against her temple. How long it would take
to get Diane
Potter's tear-stained face out of her mind? She'd been so desperate to talk to someone about her son. So, Cordy sat
with the woman
she'd just met, and listened for hours as Diane bragged about
Matt.
Sighing, Cordy
opened the door and stepped into the dimly lit lobby.
A quick look around
told her there was no-one there. They were all probably out on a case.
Cordelia stepped out
of her shoes, which had been pinching her fee
all day. Leaving
them in a heap by the door, she started across the room.
"You're
late."
With a startled
gasp, Cordy spun around. "Angel," she breathed, one
hand pressed over
her heart.
He sat in a reading
chair in the darkest corners of the lobby. Sitting
there, he seemed to meld into the shadows.
No wonder she hadn't
seen him.
She closed her eyes
and took a deep breath. "You scared me."
"Sorry."
He stood and stepped into the light. "You said you'd be home
hours ago. I was
starting to worry."
Cordy studied him.
There were lines of tension in his face. The hint
of anger in his
deep, sable-brown eyes.
Knowing how she felt
when he was late, when she had no idea where he
was or what might
have happened to him, she started to feel guilty.
"I'm so sorry,
Angel," she said. Walking towards him, she rested her
hands on his chest.
"I know I should've called. But I guess that, with everything going on…"
"I
understand," he interrupted as his hands spanned her waist. "It's
okay." From
somewhere, he dredged up a strained smile. That beautiful smile
that made her heart melt, and made things seem not quite as bad as they had been just minutes before.
Feeling the sudden
need to be closer to him, Cordelia stepped forward
and rested her head
on his chest. Immediately, Angel's powerful arms wrapped around her.
"How was
it?" he asked.
Cordy shook her
head. She could try to explain that it had been much
harder than she'd
thought it would be, but she didn't have the energy.
Angel seemed to get
that she didn't want to talk. So they just stood
in the center of the
lobby, wrapped in each other's arms.
End.
Contact
Dannyblue