Armadillos & SalsaBy Syn
Chapter Four: Of Bar Fights and Body Shots"My ass feels like I've been riding three bikers and a drummer." Faith said as she climbed out of the Winnebago the next day, wincing as the sun set and sank below the horizon. "Why did I let you drag me sightseeing? Why?"
"Because San Antonio has some fascinating history, Faith. You could use a little education." Wesley said with a smirk as everyone piled out behind her.
"I got all the education I needed in the communal shower, thanks." She muttered, glancing at Wesley, who just lifted his eyebrows at her. She tossed him the keys to the RV and then stretched one muscle at a time. Wesley watched her with large eyes.
"Faith! You nearly killed us!" Cordelia screeched as soon she stepped out of the motor home, her short brown hair falling in her eyes as she glanced wildly around for the Slayer. "Do you even have a license?"
"I got a license to kill if you don't shut up, C! Anyway, I got you home safe, didn't I?" Faith remarked as Fred and Connor walked by her, followed by Gunn and Lorne, who was looking slightly greener than usual, which was probably due to the fact that Faith drove like she lived her life--wild and dangerous and with a constant stream of obscenities coming from her mouth.
"Safe in an Oops, I Crapped My Pants! kind of way, yeah." Cordelia groused as she pushed her hair away from her forehead and stalked toward the house.
"Hey, did you guys have fun? Winnie show you the sights?" Grayson asked as he loped out of the house and perched on the railing of the porch, a bottle of beer in his hands.
"Yeah. Fred showed us around." Gunn said as he walked past, his eyes narrowed at the lean cowboy before him. Grayson glanced his way, noting the hostility with a purse of his lips.
"Soo...Stubby's still on for tonight?" Grayson asked with a sly glance Cordelia's way. The Seer smiled tight-lipped and walked past him as Lorne grinned. "Good. Are you all coming?" He looked around nervously, spotting Gunn, who was still giving him the evil eye.
"That is the plan, buckaroo. Barring our junior member, of course." Lorne said, clapping Connor on the shoulder as the teen scowled and shook his hand off. "Ahh, don't look so down, Connor. I'll bring you back some stale nuts and a pickled egg."
"Yeah thanks." Connor said dryly and moved off for the house. He glanced backward at Lorne once and winked. Lorne nodded and grabbed Gunn's arm as he walked by.
"What?" Gunn asked as he tore his eyes off Grayson. The demon grabbed Wesley's arm as he walked by too, stopping the Englishman dead in his tracks. Faith sauntered past and disappeared into the house along with Fred and Cordelia.
"Come with me. Both of you. And where is Angel?"
"That guy with the permanent frown? He's in the h--" Grayson started to say as Angel stepped outside, his face in shadow.
"I'm right here." Angel said, glaring at Grayson as he cut him off. "Connor said you wanted me."
"That's right Broody cakes! You boys are coming with me. Right now."
"Why?" Gunn asked, ever suspicious.
"Yeah, what's going on?" Grayson asked with interest, taking a swallow of his beer and inching closer to them. Every eye was turned on him immediately, glaring. He shrank back a pace as his eyes widened.
"I don't think you were invited." Angel said coldly as Lorne sighed and lead them all back toward the motor home. Grayson tipped his hat back and watched them go as he bit his lip in thought. He glanced around as the screen door creaked open and Connor walked back out onto the front porch.
"You know, I don't think they like me much."
"You don't say?" Connor shot at him and then he too trotted back out to the motor home, a smirk on his face.
"What did I do?" Grayson wondered aloud, throwing up his hands and taking another swig of his beer. Tonight was going to be interesting--if he didn't get his block knocked off.
****
Back in the house, Fred closed the door to the den and averted her eyes as Faith pulled off her shirt. Cordelia was too busy brushing her hair to notice. She crossed the room wearily and collapsed onto the pulled out couch, her legs drawn up to her knees.
"Do y'all think everyone's acting weird today?" She asked as Cordelia flipped her head over and started brushing the underside of her hair.
"You mean Wesley and Faith practically dry-humping each other at lunch? That's not weird. That's normal." Cordelia said in a muffled voice.
"We weren't dry-humping!" Faith interjected with a growl as she unzipped her jeans. Cordelia flipped her hair back over and rolled her eyes at the Slayer. "What about Fred and Gunn being touchy-feely ALL day? Huh?"
"No, I mean...Lorne and Connor kept whispering and this morning I walked in on Mom and Lorne talking and they got really quiet as soon I came into the kitchen. Something's going on." Fred said, blushing and hastily changing the subject.
"And what was up with your mother giving us that talk in Victoria's Secret yesterday? Like I need to know about the birds and bees, cuz hello? Too late for that." Cordy said as she chewed on her lower lip in thought.
"She was acting weird." Fred conceded, rocking back and forth as she remembered the big speech her mom had given her and Cordelia yesterday. "I kept getting the feeling that she was pushing me to...well you know. With Gunn."
"She was? Damn, your mom is cool." Faith said with a laugh as she shimmied out of her jeans and grabbed for a fresh pair. She grinned to herself and pulled them on. She wasn't about to say anything to the two women in the room with her. It was much more fun watching them get played.
"She never used to be! Something's definitely up." Fred said as she unfolded her legs and reached down into her bag, pulling out a blue jean skirt and a sweater.
"You think? Not to mention Lorne getting both Gunn and Angel to go dancing. Angel doesn't dance! It's weird. What do you think, Faith?"
Faith chewed on her lip for a moment and then spoke up, sighing wearily. "I think you guys are looking for conspiracy where there is none. Just relax, have a few drinks and I really hope you're not wearing that tonight Fred!"
Fred looked up through the tumble of her ponytail, her nose scrunched as she glanced down at the skirt and sweater in her hands. "What's wrong with it?"
"You look like a school marm, for one! We're going to a bar, not a nerd convention."
"Well, what should I wear?"
"Oh sweet Jesus--Fred you're not seriously going to let Faith dress you? She looks like a hooker half the time!"
"Fuck you!"
"No thanks. I don't know where you've been."
"Bitch."
"I wouldn't call me that. Most girls get their hair ripped out when they call me that."
"Most girls, but not Slayers?"
"Yeah, like I'm that stupid."
"Are you guys done?" Fred interjected with a sigh as Faith grinned and pulled a tight shirt over her head. Cordelia smirked and went back to brushing her hair. "Thank God. I've had enough bickering the past few days."
"Yeah, how is that going C? You and Angel still on the warpath?"
"None of your business. And don't say that name in front of me." Cordelia sniffed and opened her makeup case as Faith dug through her bag with a frown.
"Still pissed I see. And you going out with Cowboy Bob--"
"His name is Grayson!" Fred interjected with a huff. Faith rolled her eyes and trudged on.
"Dick Grayson or whoever, has nothing to do with you trying to make Angel crazy?"
"Grayson's a nice guy. He's cute and...and..."
"And you barely know him." Fred said sourly, brushing her hair away from her eyes.
"Oh, someone sounds jealous. What about you being all Gunn obsessed?" Faith said, pulling out a sparkly red top and a pair of tight leather pants.
"I'm not jealous! I'm...it's nothing."
"Let me guess, childhood crush? Those always die hard, but they never work out. Listen Fred, forget about Cowboy Bebop and go after the guy you love."
"Whoa, Faith is channeling Lorne! That's creepy." Cordelia commented, looking up from the mirror in her hand, a line of eyeliner half-drawn on her left eye.
"Well, I'm feeling extra-nice today. Plus, I'm tired of seeing Gunn sniffing around Fred like a dog in heat. Just get back together and spare us all the testosterone-fest. Please!" Faith said, thrusting the leather pans and the red top at Fred. Her eyes widened.
"You want me to wear that?"
"No, I want Lorne too. Yes I want you to wear it, stupid."
"Isn't it too big? I mean...I'm a stick and you're...all...curvy."
"The shirt is stretchy and the pants are too tight on me. They should fit."
"I don't know. I'm all for looking sexy, but that's kind of...slutty."
"Faith's clothes? Slutty? Never!" Cordelia said in mock amazement as Faith flung the hairbrush at her. She turned back to Fred with a grin.
"I heard Gunn say that he liked you in red..."
Fred bit her lip, thinking of the reaction Charles was sure to have once he saw her in the clothes. The whole day he'd been looking at her hungrily, as if he were ready for things to change for the better. She wanted that so bad. She took a deep breath and then took the clothing from Faith's hand. "Okay, but if it doesn't fit I'm going back to the sweater, kay?"
"Of course!" Faith said with a grin as she turned back to her own clothing. Hey, Lorne wasn't the only one good at this matchmaking shit. Tonight was going to be fun; she just knew it.
****
Stubby's was a smoky, dark bar with a low wooden ceiling, a big dance floor, a country band on the small stage, cramped corners and tiny tables. Not to mention a mechanical bull that was the center of everyone's attention.
Angel was in hell.
He looked around, peering through the crowded bar, smoke swirling around his face. From his seat at one of the tiny tables in a cramped corner adjacent to the dance floor, he could see everything. For instance, Cordelia.
She was out on the dance floor with that...Grayson guy. Anger boiled through his system as he watched her laugh and shoot a glance in the direction of his dark corner. She was wearing a tight pair of jeans and a slinky black shirt that dipped down in the front, revealing the plump swells of her breasts. And Grayson was certainly looking for all he was worth too.
"Wow, I didn't know Cordy could line dance." Fred said as she took a small sip of her drink, sweat rolling down the sides of the tumbler in her palm. Angel glanced her way for the first time all night and let his eyes go wide.
Fred was dressed in a tight red top and a pair of what looked like Faith's leather pants, her hair drawn up off her neck and dark makeup on her face. She looked...hot. Angel tore his eyes away from her and regarded the four other people at the table with him. Gunn was sitting next to him with his elbows on the table, his fingers picking at a damp napkin, a cowboy hat on his head.
He didn't look too happy. Not that Angel could blame him; he'd be pissed if he had to wear that hat too. Not that Lorne hadn't tried. He'd to get all three of them to wear this western crap Fred's mom had bought for them. He was glad Lorne hadn't pressed the issue too much.
He glanced at Faith and Wesley, who were sitting side by side. Faith was straddling a chair backward, a bottle of something alcoholic in her hands. Wesley was drinking something too, his eyes on Faith who was licking the rim of her bottle seductively. Angel's eyebrows rose a little. He didn't even want to know what was going on there.
"Yeah...she's good. Who knew?" Gunn commented as Fred sighed over the loud music.
"Whoa, look at you sourpusses! That's it! I am not having this be the Table of Doom!" Lorne exclaimed as he appeared out of nowhere, looking ridiculous in a fringed jacket and white cowboy boots and a matching Stetson on his head that covered his horns. That still couldn't hide his green face, but he didn't seem too worried about it. In fact, he was grinning from ear to ear.
"We're having a good time, really." Fred nodded, trying to appear enthusiastic. Lorne huffed a sigh and grabbed her hand.
"You're dancing with me, little lady and that's it."
"Oh well--" Fred glanced sharply at Gunn, who looked up and met her gaze.
"Go ahead. Don't let me stop you." He said, shrugging his shoulders.
"Well, then if he says it's alright..." Lorne said, helping Fred to her feet and leading her out onto the dance floor. Gunn watched with an amused smile as the demon tried to imitate the elaborate line-dancing going on. Fred immediately fell into step and led him along with her. Grayson and Cordelia danced their way over to them and the four of them went through the steps together, laughing over the loud music.
Angel watched them, grabbing his beer and taking a swig. Bitterness spread over his tongue as he followed Cordelia with his eyes.
"Angel!"
He glanced sharply at Gunn, who was staring at him with wide eyes. He followed his gaze and saw beer spilling down his hands and onto the table from the bottom of the bottle. He hadn't even realized he'd broken it in two in his anger. He immediately dropped the shards and started mopping up the mess with Gunn's shredded napkins.
"Why don't you just go ask her to dance?" Gunn said in a low voice, glancing back at the dance floor. Angel scowled and stood.
"I'm going to get another drink." With that he moved off toward the bar, darting past the padded ring where they kept the mechanical bull. The bar was packed with people getting drinks and shouting over the music.
"Hey there." A husky female voice said from his right elbow. Angel turned to face the owner of the voice, surprise crossing his features as he took in the sight of a curvy blonde with big green eyes smiling at him. She was tan and dressed in a tight shirt that showed off all her ample curves. He smiled politely and glanced around. "Haven't seen you here before."
"Well...I'm not from around here." Angel said, motioning at the bartender for a beer.
"Oh? Where you from?" She asked, lifting a drink to her lips and taking a small swallow, her eyes locked on his.
"Umm...Los Angeles."
"Ooh, City Boy! What's your name, City Boy?"
"Uh, Angel."
"I'm Kari Anne. It's nice to meet you, Angel." He nodded in greeting and slid his money at the bartender, then took up his bottle of beer. When he turned around, Kari Anne was blocking his path back to the table. "So...what are you up to tonight?"
"Uh...just having a night out. With friends." He said pointedly, feeling very uncomfortable under her hungry stare. He glanced over her shoulder to see Cordelia still dancing with Grayson. His eyes narrowed.
"Oh, you're here with your girlfriend?"
"Not exactly."
"Well, if you're not exactly here with someone...would you care to dance?" She asked, touching his shoulder lightly. After so many years of being around humans, he knew when he was being flirted with and the signals she was throwing at him were anything but subtle.
He glanced back at the dance floor and caught sight of Cordy and Grayson again. His eyes narrowed. It was on the tip of his tongue to say no, but the reply came without warning. "Sure. I'd love to."
Kari Anne smiled widely, grabbed his hand with her own and lead him toward the dance floor before he could really think about what was happening. As soon as she swept him out onto the dance floor though, he suddenly remembered he couldn't dance.
Ahh...shit.
Back at the table, Gunn was busy drawing pictures in a big pile of spilled salt with his pinky and feeling rather glum. He wanted to go onto the dance floor and get Fred, but he wasn't sure she wanted him to. Her signals were rather mixed. His ears perked up as Faith laughed out loud, breaking the silence at the table.
"Dude, is that ANGEL?"
"What?" Gunn whirled around and stared where Faith was pointing, his eyes going wide with surprise. "What the hell?"
"Who is that?" Wesley asked, squinting through the darkness and smoke at the dance floor.
"Looks like a random bar slut if you ask me. Angel, Angel, Angel. Where has your taste gone?" Faith said, clucking her tongue in amusement.
"Is he...is he doing the Electric Slide or is it just me?" Gunn asked, mouth falling open as they all watched Angel attempting to do the dance. The blonde was holding possessively onto his arm, as Angel tried to get his feet moving.
"Well, he's...moving like he's trying to do it. This is the saddest thing I've ever seen." Faith said, blinking rapidly. She glanced at Cordelia, and noticed that the Seer had stopped in the middle of the dance floor. She was glaring right at Angel and the blonde, her eyes slits of anger in her face. "Oh fuck, red alert people."
"Uh-oh. Cordy's spotted him. He's dead."
"I don't know...she's...smiling. That's slightly worrisome."
The three of them watched, as Cordelia turned back to Grayson, pulling him close. He smiled widely, as she whispered in his ear., then began to dance with the music, their bodies drawn close together. They immediately turned their attention back to Angel, who was glaring at the two of them. He turned a wide grin on the blonde and started dancing closer too.
"This isn't going to go down well. I'd better get Lorne and Fred..." Gunn said, jumping up from the table and disappearing onto the dance floor.
Wesley glanced at Faith and bit his lip as she took a deep breath. She turned to him and smiled, thrusting her chin at the dance floor. "Ten bucks on Cordelia beating the shit out of that blonde."
"I don't know...Angel's really doesn't like Grayson. He might snap."
"You're on. Either way it's gonna be fun to watch, though. I might just get in on it." Faith said with an impish grin, taking a swallow of her beer and grimacing. "God I hate this shit. You can't get drunk fast enough on it."
"Drunk? Who said we were getting drunk?"
"I said. What's the point of going out to a bar if you're not going to get shit-faced and wake up naked the next morning?"
Wesley swallowed hard. "Naked?" Faith only smiled and took another drink.
Out on the dance floor, Gunn weaved his way through the line dancers until he found Lorne and Fred. He tapped Lorne on the shoulder, making the demon jump and grab his rear end.
"Oh lordy! Charles, I about had a heart attack! Feel my ass, it's going a mile a minute!"
"Uh...no thanks!" Gunn said with a stricken look on his face. "We've got bigger worries than your ass, Lorne. Look!"
Lorne followed where he was pointing, his mouth falling open. "Angel doesn't dance!"
"Well that's obvious, but he's trying. And look at Cordy."
Lorne followed his finger to Cordelia and let out a long-suffering sigh. "That stupid ass vampire. He never makes things easy on me, does he?"
"What are you gonna do?"
"Nothing. I'm getting a drink and then I'm going to try out that mechanical bull. Excuse me." With that, Lorne held his head high and walked off in the direction of the bar, leaving Gunn in the middle of the dance floor with Fred. She smiled and then jumped as the music suddenly changed to a slow song.
"Hi."
"Hi."
Gunn glanced around and saw people pairing off, cuddling close as the slow strains of music filled the air. His gaze refocused on Fred, who was looking uncomfortable in the dim lights. She looked so beautiful his heart ached.
"You wanna dance?" He offered her his hand and she took it hesitantly, drawing in close to his body. They nestled together, her head on his shoulder and his hands going around her waist. "Wow, this feels..."
"Yeah."
"So...I like your outfit. It's different. Not your style, but sexy."
"Faith dressed me. I like your hat."
"Lorne did it."
"Oh."
They both went quiet, moving in slow circles as the music went on, a disco ball in the low ceiling making patterns of light swirl over them. He started to look for Angel and Cordelia again, but found that he couldn't really care what they were doing. He was dancing with Fred and it felt right. For the first time in a long time, something felt right.
His hands slid up her back and she shivered under his touch, tilting her head to the side. She smiled as he looked down at her, his fingers curling into the soft hair on the back of her neck.
"Charles..." She started to say as he drew her closer, her chin tilting upward.
"Yeah Fred?" He whispered, barely audible over the music throbbing through the air. His eyes were dark pools that sucked her in and made her feel like she was drowning in the sky. She wanted to kiss him and she opened her mouth to say something.
"I...I'm really hot. Could we get some air?" She wanted to kick herself.
"Sure." He pulled back immediately and let her go. Together they made their way through the crowd and into the empty parking lot. The night air was crisp and stars were sprinkled across the sky in twinkling fistfuls. A pale sliver of waning moon shone down on them as they leaned against the empty motor home.
Fred tilted her head to the sky and drank in a lungful of the clean, crisp air. She didn't know what to say. How could she make him understand what she was feeling? "It feels really good out here."
"And look at those stars." Gunn said, taking off the cowboy hat and smiling at her. "They're almost as pretty as you."
"That was a good line." Her heart jumped into her throat as she turned his eyes on her. Where they really going to...?
"I thought so. Did it work?"
"Hmm...I don't know. Let's find out." Fred reached for him as he reached for her and suddenly, they were kissing. Slow, tender and full of a million things they could never say. She pulled away quickly and smiled. "I love you." The words tumbled out of her mouth and she flushed at the rapt expression on his face.
"I love you too."
"I'm sorry...about everything. I never wanted to hurt you. You know that, right?"
"I know. And I'm sorry too. I just...I want everything the way it was. I miss you."
"Ever since we got here, I just keep thinking about how much I screwed up. I lost the only thing I was ever sure about cuz I'm a great big idiot and you had every right to act the way you did. And I didn't mean to make you jealous!"
"Fred...honey, you're rambling."
"I can't help it! I have so much to say to you. Like I don't want you to be jealous of Wesley or, or Grayson--"
"I'm not!"
"Yes you are! You're being all mean to him! He's a nice guy and I've known him for a long time, but I don't feel anything for him. We're just friends. The same way I'm just friends with Wesley. I need you to understand that, Charles."
"I do baby. I do."
Fred pressed her face into his chest and drew in a shuddering breath as his hands buried themselves in her hair. He held her close and tilted her face to the side. Their lips met and there was no going back, no time for talking. That would all come later. Kiss after kiss came and went as the minutes wore on. When they finally came up for air, they were both gasping.
"This is way better than line dancing." Fred said breathlessly as lifted her by her waist and carried her into the motor home. He lowered her down onto the bed in the back, his hands exploring the places he'd long claimed as his own. His mouth lifted away from her neck, where he was making a nicely sized hickey, a smile spreading slowly across his face.
"Way, way better than line dancing."
****
"It's called a shiver shot." Faith explained as she set down two shot glasses full of tequila and a cup of ice.
"A whaty shot?" Wesley asked, leaning forward. His cheeks were flushed and he was well on the way to being quite drunk, although he was at the stage of denial right now. Faith was holding up quite well though.
"A shiver shot. Come here." She gestured with her index finger and he scooted closer. She grabbed his shirt collar in her hands and tilted his head to the side.
"What are you--?" He asked, his voice trailing off as she licked his neck, her tongue sliding across the thin scar on his throat. "Whoa...Faith..."
"Shut up." He closed his mouth with a snap as she licked his neck again, her fingers reaching for the saltshaker Gunn had abandoned. She sprinkled salt on his skin and licked it off, then sprinkled it again. He took a shuddering breath and stared at her.
"Now, the point of this is that you shiver..." Faith reached for an ice cube and placed it between his teeth. He held it there and watched her with fascination as she took one of the full shot glasses in her hand. She met his gaze with an impish grin. "While I get the shot."
She licked his neck again, downed the shot and then captured his mouth with her own. He was too surprised to move, her tongue sweeping into his mouth and claiming the ice cube as her own. She pulled back a moment later, crunching down on the ice with a grin.
"Fun, huh?"
"What's with you and ice cubes?"
"I don't know. I think it means I'm sexually frustrated." Her mouth snapped closed as soon as she said it. He just smirked and grabbed the saltshaker.
"I wanna do one." He said, licking his lips, salt from her mouth clinging to them. He swallowed hard as she tilted her head to the side, the long column of her neck exposed to him. Wesley's tongue swirled over her skin and she shuddered, biting her lip in anticipation. The salt followed and he licked it off slowly, picking up each tiny crystal before sprinkling it some more. He reached for the other shot and an ice cube, but she grabbed the shot from his hand with an evil glint in her eyes.
"It's different for girls." His eyes widened as she put the shot between her breasts, a splash of the liquid spilling down her top. She took the ice cube from his hand and placed it in her mouth. "Okay...I'm ready."
Wesley's eyes were trained on the shot glass. He took a deep breath and then licked the salt off her neck with one fast, hot stroke of his tongue. Then he dipped his head down between her breasts, his lips and teeth closing over the rim of the shot glass, nose pressing into the soft muscles between her breasts. He lifted it up and tilted his head back, tipping the liquid down his throat, and then grabbing the glass out of his mouth. He swallowed with a grimace and looked at her expectantly.
Faith wiggled the ice cube at him from between her teeth, inviting him to take it. He leaned in, mouth closing over hers and sucking deep. The ice cube was slowly worked onto his tongue, but neither of them felt the pulling away. The ice slowly melted as it was passed back and forth between them, until finally Faith pulled away.
"Wow." She said, licking her lips, her head swimming from the alcohol in her system. Her stomach was warm and not just from the shot.
"Yeah." Wesley said, shaking his head to clear it. His eyes traced the curve of Faith's lip and he wondered if she'd let him do that again. Faith took a deep breath and looked up.
"We need more shots."
"Definitely." He answered with a grin.
****
Cordelia was seething. Her teeth ground in frustration and anger as she caught sight of Angel dancing with some blonde again. She was groping him pretty tightly and Angel looked like he didn't mind. Jealously flared through her system and she felt like cracking someone's skull.
Grayson's hands splayed out across her shoulders and she felt like shrugging his hands off. He was starting to get on her nerves. Not that she didn't think he was a great guy, but she barely knew him and it made her feel bad that she was using him to make Angel jealous. Of course, he had no clue and that just made it easier for her.
"So, how did you meet Winnie?"
Cordelia forced her attention back to Grayson, his blue eyes on hers as she looked up at him. "In the library...kinda."
"Oh. That's cool. So...you from Los Angeles originally or..?" His voice trailed off as Cordelia stopped in place, her mouth falling open as she glared at Angel and the blonde. The strange woman's hands were spread out over Angel's ass, squeezing slightly. And Angel looked like he was enjoying it. Her hands balled into fists. "What's the matter?"
"I need a drink." She said shortly as she grabbed his hand and pulled him toward the bar. As they passed Angel, he looked up, his eyes narrowing.
Kari Anne's hands were all over him and it made him want to jump away from her. But he stayed where he was, barely managing the slow dance she was pulling him into. He watched Grayson and Cordelia with growing anger. He watched as Grayson's hand slid down Cordelia's back and hovered above the round swell of her ass. Angel suddenly broke away from Kari Anne and gestured toward the bar.
"I...I need a drink." He stammered and started off toward the bar. She followed closely behind, running her fingers through her long blonde hair, a frown on her face. He stopped at the bar and glanced around as Kari Anne hovered at his side.
"I'm gonna powder my nose, City Boy. Be right back." He watched with relief as Kari Anne disappeared in the direction of the bathroom.
"You look like you're having fun out there." A cool voice said in his left ear, causing a shudder of fear to lace through his system. He knew what was coming and it scared him to death.
"So do you." He said just as coolly, his face a mask of indifference. Cordelia stood with her arms crossed over her chest, cheeks flushed from dancing. She smelled wonderful so close up and it drove him crazy.
"So what are you trying to prove with that bar slut?"
"Oh, you mean Kari Anne? Sweet girl. I think you'd like her."
"Doubt that." Cordelia shot at him, grinding her teeth in anger.
"What's the matter, Cordy? Am I making you jealous?"
"Not even!"
"Why don't I believe you?"
"You're only doing this because I'm dancing with Grayson."
"Where is he anyway? Shouldn't he be following you around like a little puppy?"
"He's getting me a drink and don't change the subject. You're jealous of him!"
"That little redneck? I don't think so. And he's too stupid to know you're using him to make me jealous. Pathetic." Angel shot at her as she got in his face, her finger pushing into his chest.
"Listen up, I think you've proved your point, okay?"
"I had a point? I just came here to have a good time." Angel said with a smirk as Cordelia glared at him. Angel grabbed her shoulders, pulling her against him.
"You are so begging to be slapped." Cordelia said, gripping his chest with her hands, anger and excitement running through her. As pissed as she was, he was so hot when he was being jealous. It was half of the reason she was doing this. Just to see him squirm.
"You'd love that. Why don't you just give up? You want me, not him." Angel said, his eyes boring into hers. She shook against him, her anger giving out for a split second until--
"What's going on? Who's this?" Kari Anne's tight voice interrupted them and Angel flinched. Cordelia let go of him and glared at the blonde with an air of contempt. Angel felt his stomach drop. This was not going to end well.
"Kari Anne...this is...Cordelia." He said with apprehension.
"Oh. Nice name." Kari Anne said, smiling falsely, her eyes taking in Cordelia. Her lips pursed and she inhaled sharply. "Nice outfit too. Looks...cheap."
"I could say the same about yours. Hookers R Us must have been having a half-off sale." Cordelia retorted immediately, a glint in her eyes that made Angel want to grab her and run before anything happened.
"Didn't I see you dancing with some other guy earlier?" Kari Anne asked, crossing her arms over her chest and glaring at Cordy.
"Yeah. You did." Cordelia forced out through her clenched teeth.
"Well...shouldn't you be hanging all over him and not someone else's property?"
"Whoa...property?!" Cordelia's mouth flew open and she flung up her hands. She glanced at Angel, who looked just as stunned.
"I saw him first, bitch. Now why don't you just move along."
"Oh no you didn't. No one calls Cordelia Chase a bitch without getting her hair ripped out."
"Are you threatening me?"
"That's not a threat, that's a promise." Cordelia's eyes narrowed into slits again as she glared at the blonde.
"Hey, what's going on here?" Grayson said as he drifted over to them, his gaze going back and forth between Cordelia and Angel. His gaze landed on Kari Anne and he let out a low whistle. "Did I miss something?"
"Yeah, your bitch was all over this guy right here."
"Oh...well that's...and who are you?" Grayson asked, confused, as he looked Kari Anne up and down.
"She's Kari Anne. Evidently she got lost on her way to the Hee-Haw convention." Cordelia retorted as Kari Anne's face went red with anger.
"Glad to meet ya. M'name's Grayson." He tipped his hat at her politely while Angel rolled his eyes.
"Nice to meet you too. So, I gotta ask...why are you here with the queen of slut town and not me?" Kari Anne asked, batting her lashes at him. He smiled and then wiped it off his face as Cordelia smacked him in the stomach.
"Don't worry white trash princess, he's in good hands. Now why don't you go back to your trailer park?"
"Bitch, you are riding my last nerve."
"And that's the last 'bitch' you throw in my direction!" Cordelia growled, jumping at Kari Anne.
Both women landed in a sprawl with Cordelia on top. Kari Anne screeched and clawed at Cordelia's hands as she grabbed a fistful of blonde hair. Kari Anne yelped as Cordelia slammed her head into the dirty floor. Kari Anne bucked and twisted, dislodging Cordy from her perch; she grunted in pain as Kari Anne bit her wrist. Punches flew as both women rolled on the floor.
Angel was trying to find a way into the fight, but he was kicked in the face with a high heel for his troubles. Blood flowed down his lips and chin, but he was lucky; Grayson attempted to get in the middle of it and he was kicked in the crotch. His eyes crossed and he dropped to his knees immediately.
Finally, one of the bouncers waded through the milling, cheering crowd, and grabbed Cordelia by the scruff of her neck, hauling her off of Kari Anne. She was getting one hell of a black eye and Kari Anne had a claw mark across her forehead.
"Take it outside!" The bouncer exclaimed, pushing both women out the front door and into the parking lot. Angel and Grayson followed; Angel grabbed a hold of Cordelia immediately when he saw her going for Kari Anne again.
"Yeah, you'd better keep that bitch on a leash!" Kari Anne exclaimed, fingers pressing to the claw mark on her face.
"I'm gonna fucking kill her!"
"Cordy! Calm down! Kari Anne, you'd better go!" Angel said, his hands gripping Cordelia's middle so hard he was sure to leave a bruise.
"Fuck that shit! You can have the psycho! You guys were made for each other!" Kari Anne said, attempting to straighten her disheveled hair.
Cordelia squirmed in Angel's grip, trying to get free. He held on even tighter, but he couldn't stop her from kicking her shoe at the blonde. The shoe smacked Kari Anne square in the chin. She stumbled backward in shock.
"Ha!" Cordy shouted with a mean smile on her face.
"Jumpin' Jesus, Cordy. You could have taken her eye out!" Grayson said as he stepped toward Kari Anne, whose lower lip trembled as he touched her face. "Are you loco?"
"I may be temporarily insane...but she deserved it!"
"Yeah, whatever. Listen, I'm gonna patch her up. You guys better get back to the Burkles." Grayson said, wrapping his arm around Kari Anne's shoulders. He didn't look at Cordelia and Angel wanted to smile in triumph.
"Can you...drive me home?" Kari Anne sniffed, her lip quivering again. Grayson smiled and nodded. They watched them walk off across the parking lot for a minute before Angel sighed and loosened his grip on Cordy.
"Are you happy now?"
"Me? Why should I be happy you got in a bar fight?"
"You knew exactly what you were doing. You knew I'd get jealous and do something and then Grayson would stop sniffing around and I'd stop making you jealous and then things would work out and I'd stop being mad at you. Well, ha! It's not going to work on me."
"Your logic defies all known thought process, you know that right?"
"Shut up and let me go."
"Are you going to behave yourself?"
"Yes. Besides, I got what I wanted." Cordelia said, shrugging off Angel's arm as he let her go.
"What's that?" Angel's brow furrowed with worry.
"This." She lifted her hand and Angel's eyes widened to see a huge chunk of blonde hair in her fist. "No one calls me a bitch without getting their hair ripped out. Trailer skank found that out the hard way."
"You frighten me."
"One of my many talents." Cordelia sighed wearily and brought her hand up to her face, wincing as she felt the huge bruise blossoming spectacularly on her face. "Am I all Quasimodo?"
"You will be if we don't get you something to put on that. Come on." Angel said with a smile, leading her toward the motor home parked not far away. "Put something cold from the fridge on it while I go get the others, okay?"
Cordelia nodded and made her way into the RV. She sighed and opened the fridge, pulling out a can of Sprite and pressing it to her eye. It was cold and it made her brain jolt with pain. All she wanted was to lie down. She turned around and threw open the sliding door that lead to the back room of the motor home.
"Cordy!" Fred and Gunn yelled and she immediately drew the curtain closed with a yelp.
"Oh...eww!! If only that bitch had blinded me!"
****
Faith sucked the melting ice cube from Wesley's lips and opened her mouth wide, daring him to take it back. By now they were quite drunk, having emptied a little more than half a bottle of tequila between them.
She tilted her head as his fingers dug into her scalp, his mouth pressing to hers, tongue dancing hungrily over her lips. His mouth tasted dark and salty. A moan ripped through her throat as she felt his hands venture beneath her shirt.
"Hey, you guys are...making out!" Angel's voice interrupted them with a look of disgust on his face. Faith cursed as Wesley tore his mouth away from hers.
"Oh hey Angel. We were just doing some shots and..." Wesley looked like he'd been caught with his hand in the cookie jar.
"And we were making out." Faith interjected, her mouth dipping back to his neck, her tongue swiping away the last remnants of salt from his skin.
"Yeah. Okay. Well...we gotta go." Angel said impatiently, his brow furrowed. It was then that they both saw the blood on his chin and nose.
"Dude, what the hell happened to you?"
"Long story. Come on, we gotta go. Where are the others?"
"Lorne is...I don't know. And Fred and Gunn are...you know, I don't know that either." Wesley smiled and grabbed the bottle of tequila in his hand as Faith helped him to his feet.
"Alright, well I'll go look for them while you guys find Lorne. He shouldn't be too hard to spot." With that, he disappeared onto the dance floor, leaving them to look for the green demon.
"Come on." Faith said, tangling her fingers in the front of his shirt and pulling him after her, weaving a little with each step. They both scanned the crowd, looking for a green face among the mass of rosy flesh.
"Where the hell did he go?"
"Hey man, you seen that green-faced fella on the bull?" Someone a few feet away said. Both of them listened up, blinking in the smoke.
"No! What do you mean he's got a green face?" The other person answered, rising on tiptoes to glance in the direction of the bullring.
"Yeah, I think he's from one of them circus acts or something. Maybe the carnival's in town."
"Yeah, maybe!" Both of the talkers moved off in the direction of the ring. Faith turned to Wesley with raised eyebrows.
"Come on. I gotta see this." Faith pushed her way into the crowd around the bullring easily--with her elbows. Wesley followed in her wake as the crowds closed up around them again. Faith reached the edge and stared in shock at the sight before them. "I wish I had a camera."
"Me too."
Lorne was perched atop the mechanical bull as it spun and dipped, trying to buck him off. One hand was wrapped in the reins; the other one was holding his white Stetson high in the air. A huge grin was spread across his face.
"That's disturbing."
"You're telling me. There are three of him." Wesley said, squinting at the demon and then taking a quick swig from the bottle. Faith laughed and leaned forward.
"Lorne! HEY! LORNE!" Lorne glanced around, trying to see who was yelling at him. He smiled at her and waved his hat. "WE GOTTA GO!"
He nodded and immediately let go of the reins, sliding off and hitting the padded matting with a roll. He came up on his feet as people cheered and whistled.
"Yeah, I know. I'm bad." Lorne exclaimed as he climbed out of the ring. "What's up?"
"We gotta go."
"Phew!! You two been bathing in tequila or something?"
"Body shots."
"Damn, and I missed it?" Lorne said with a laugh as they made their way out of the bar, Wesley and Faith staggering as they went. They entered the motor home and looked around to see Cordelia with a black eye, a can of Sprite pressed to one swelling eye.
"What happened to you?"
"I kicked that bitch's ass."
"Pay up!" Faith declared, turning to Wesley, who grudgingly pulled out a ten and handed it to her. "Shit...I missed it too. Did you whomp her good, C?"
In answer, Cordelia held up a huge chunk of blonde hair. Lorne's mouth fell open and then he suddenly got distracted. He turned toward the back of the motor home, his brow furrowed. Everyone followed his gaze.
"What in the world?"
"Hey, I couldn't find Fred and Gunn. Are they...?" Angel asked as he jumped up into the Winnebago. He looked around to see what they were all looking at.
The curtain across the back room slid open and Gunn and Fred stepped out, faces sweaty and red. Gunn had lipstick all over his face and his shirt was on backward. Fred's makeup was smeared and her hair was a mess. Faith grinned at the sight of the huge hickey on her neck.
"Did you guys do what I can sense you did?" Lorne asked with obvious delight.
"Oh yeah. I walked in on it." Cordelia said with a shudder. "Scarred for life."
Fred blushed a brilliant crimson and smoothed one hand over her hair. "Can we change the subject? This is none of your business!"
"I couldn't agree more. Let's go." Angel said with a shake of his head. He sat down in the driver's seat and started the motor home as everyone settled down to hear the story of Cordelia's great bar fight.
Lorne watched them with a grin, his gaze lingering on Fred and Gunn. Oh yeah. One down, one to go.
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