Part 12
"You," Cordelia declared as she entered Giles' abode, flanked by Wesley and
Gunn, "are a dead man."
"Well, obviously," Angel replied blandly, resigning himself to the hissy fit
that was sure to follow. He spared a glance towards his former Childe and
found the insufferable bleach blond groping Xander in all sorts of obvious
ways. Spike was deliberately stirring the Prom Princess, of course. Not that
she needed much stirring by the looks of things. Queen-sized tantrum, just
add water, coming right up. As usual, though, Angel deserved every bit of
it. Atonement really was a bitch.
"Don't you get smart with me, Mr Keeping Secrets Just Because They Go With
My Brooding Image," Cordelia practically growled at him. "Would it have
killed you to warn me?"
"Well, no, I'm already dead," Angel threw in. After all, in for a penny...
Cordelia ignored him and continued on her rant without missing a beat.
"Would it have been so difficult to pick up the phone and say, 'Hey Cordy,
you're about to see the most disturbing thing EVER, bring a doggy bag'?" She
glared at him, hands on hips. "Oh, no, because that would make my life a
little easier! As if it isn't hard enough! First I have to watch these two
make eyes at each other," she waved in the general direction of Wesley and
Gunn, "and now I have to watch my ex being groped by the undead." She flung
her arms up in the air. "Haven't I see enough?" she demanded of Giles' cream
colored ceiling.
"Very dramatic, Cordy," Angel complimented her blandly.
Cordelia sucked in a deep breath...and let it out slowly. "Thanks," she
agreed plesantly. "I thought so."
Gunn had the good sense to look slightly abashed, his eyes darting anywhere
but towards Wes.
Wesley, however, was blushing and embarassed bordering on flustered. "Now,
listen here," he insisted. "I do NOT 'make eyes' at anyone and..."
The others gave him a collective disbelieving look, except for Gunn, who was
still busy staring at the floor.
"..Oh sod you all," he declared. "And what exactly has this got to do with
the Prophecy and impending doom?"
Giles, who was busy cleaning his glasses, answered him, "Not a lot, it would
seem. Nice to see you again, Wesley, Cordelia," he greeted them both
politely. He tilted his head inquisitively at Gunn.
Angel took the hint and made the introductions and there was a brief flurry
of handshaking, reunion hugs and howareyous.
"So where's this Super Slayer Chick I've heard so much about?" Gunn asked
when the introductions were over. "Bunny, ain't it?"
"Buffy," Giles supplied. He cleared his throat awkwardly. "And, ah, she
won't be assisting us in this matter, I'm afraid."
"Oh, that's suprising," Cordelia snorted sarcastically. "Because she's
always SO eager to help with things which aren't about her." Angel gave her
a stern look. "Hey!" she protested. "I like Buffy as much as the next
person, but she even rivaled ME for the Self-Involvement Award in High
School."
Spike chuckled appreciatively. "I could get to like you, princess," he told
her almost fondly. "Even if you did interupt the whelp and I, pre-shag."
The look he got from her in return was filled with disgust, which of course,
only made him laugh harder.
"I can't believe I'm saying this," Xander cut in. "But shouldn't we get with
the researching?"
"You're right, Xander," Angel agreed. "Did you bring the prophecy, Wes?"
Wesley nodded mutely.
"Right then, here's what we'll do," Angel began ordering them. "Wesley and
Giles get to work on that prophecy, as many possible translations as exist.
Willow, Tara and Cordelia should research the history of Warriors and any
spells, incantations or other prophecies pertaining to them. Spike and Gunn
can take over patrolling while the rest of us work, and Xander and I will
commence Warrior training immediately."
Angel looked at them all, expectingly. They met his gaze, completely unmoved
by his speech.
"Someone's forgotten who pays his wages," Spike sing-songed.
"Oh," Angel muttered weakly. He turned to Wesley. "Well, *boss*?" he asked,
grating the last word out between clenched teeth.
"Well," Wesley began. "Giles and I should get to work on the prophecy,
Cordelia and the witches can research Warriors in general, Spike and Gunn
can take over patrolling and you can start training Xander."
Everyone responded, immediately getting to work.
Angel sighed. "Was there any point to that?"
Wesley gave him an angelic smile. "I just enjoyed it."
"So did I," Gunn put in.
"Oh yeah," Cordelia agreed.
Xander stood back for a moment and watched as everyone got to work. He got
that same shock of anticipation he always got in the eve before a battle,
during the preparation period. Only this time it was he who was at the
center of it and the anticipation was amplified a thousand times.
This was it: The beginning.
Part 13
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