Angel pt 2 "Angel?" She stirred blearily at the psi's voice, "I'm sorry - I have to go."
Angel blinked and rolled over onto her back. Adelaide, fully dressed, was sitting beside her on the bed, strong fingers gently stroking her hair. The beautiful 'path gave her a small, regretful smile.
"I have to go to work."
"OK," Angel mumbled thickly, "When will you be home?"
"Don't know," Adelaide shrugged minutely, "could only take a couple of hours, could be an all day call. I'll contact you later." She paused, hesitant, then bent down to peck a kiss on the young woman's cheek. Angel responded by snagging a velvet furred arm around the psi's neck, holding her in place so she could properly kiss her. Adelaide surfaced from the kiss flushed and flustered but smiling broadly. Angel grinned, tracing the psi's lips with a fingertip - Adelaide looked so different when she smiled. The 'path's vibrant blue eyes softened as she looked down at her, then she frowned.
"You're meeting with Sal this morning. I was going to walk you to the central records."
"Don't worry, I'll ask for someone to show me the way."
"Hm. All right, if you're sure. Any problems you call me -" Adelaide tapped her temple "- straight away."
"I will." Angel smiled softly.
"Gotta go," Adelaide stood up fluidly, half-smiling over her shoulder as she turned to leave.
"Have you had breakfast?" Angel pushed herself upright.
"I'll get something on the way," Adelaide flashed her another reserved smile, "but thanks for asking. Bye."And then she was gone and Angel was alone, completely alone, for the first time in days. She lay back down, shunting aside the impending panic by thinking of more pleasant things.
Like Adelaide - Angel's smile was warmly secretive as she hugged herself - specifically, Adelaide last night.
It'd been odd; Angel was used to being submissive, there to be used at the discretion of others but last night Adelaide, maybe unconsciously, had given control of the situation over to her. There'd been a deep, deep satisfaction for the ex-pet in having the strong woman in her thrall, literally at her fingertips. It had been thrilling.
And while they were making love Angel fancied she'd glimpsed the psi's potential for love and warmth. It hadn't escaped her notice that Adelaide - Razor to everyone else - was treated with a mix of awe, dislike or outright fear and Angel could understand why. The psi kept herself aloof, disdainful of everyone, except for Lenore though there was antagonism there, and now herself.
Why did she shut herself off like that?Angel squeezed her thighs together, remembering Adelaide's startled response to her own arousal, the way she'd frozen, quivering, fists twisting in the sheets as Angel had teased her higher and higher until she'd gasped and come, head tipped back, eyes closed tightly. Angel had cuddled her, holding her close until the spasms stopped racking the strong body, nuzzling and kissing the psi's tensed neck and shoulders and feeling strangely protective of her. Then Adelaide had looked at her with such wonder Angel had felt the tears brimming; up until then, she'd had never considered the possibility that she'd actually enjoy using the skills she'd been forced to learn.
She recognised the stirring in her groin, relishing the unforced nature of it, but didn't indulge herself. She wasnt ready for that yet, didn't want to have sex by herself - she wanted Adelaide with herSal was an imposing woman. Middle-aged, she dwarfed Angel in both height and girth and the ex-pet could've sworn she felt the vibrations through the floor when she spoke. Central records was Sal's domain and she was the absolute ruler, the hub of all that occurred there. She knew everything, and controlled every scrap of information that went in or out. Sal's voice, booming as it may be, was still pleasant to listen to, having a musical lilt to it evocative of her Irish homeland. Angel liked her.
For this first visit and briefed by Pamela - Sal had only shown Angel a small part of the records complex before taking her through to a quiet little office and introducing her to the two other clerks there, Marnie and Jo. Both of the women were friendly and welcoming without being effusive and there were none of the curious, leering looks Angel had come to accept as normal. In fact, Angel realised with a jolt, no one she'd met here had treated her with anything but friendship and respect other than the couple of people who'd been affected by her excessive pheromones, but that wasn't their fault.
Angel's terminal was next to a large window that looked onto a well-maintained little courtyard. Angel was given over to Marnie's care, who under Sal's watchful gaze took the young woman through the basic protocols she'd be using. Angel's security clearance was negligible so she wouldn't be allowed to handle any sensitive material, but even though the work she was given was routine and would get very dull very quickly the ex-pet was enjoying feeling productive and useful for a change.
With Marnie's supervision Angel worked steadily for a couple of hours, surprised at how easy it seemed to be, bashfully proud when she was praised for her efficiency. Marnie eventually called a halt saying with a smile that they both deserved a break. The 'tea-room' wasn't that big, but it felt like a cavern to Angel, an open, unfamiliar space. Marnie was aware of the young woman's unease (she was a low-grade empath) so they didn't linger there, quickly filling their cups with a rich, fragrant blend of 'real' coffee and taking them, along with a plate of crunchy biscuits, back to their office.
Marnie grinned impishly at Angel as they slid closed the office door.
"Sal is normally very strict about having food and drink near the computers, but I think she'll make an exception in this case."
After their short break, Marnie left Angel to work on her own with strict instructions to call her if she had any doubts about anything. Angel smiled gratefully at the older woman and got back to work.Angel lost track of the time as she immersed herself in stationary requests and invoices for various, unknowable departments - what was X-5?, or BC-12? - and she was startled when Marnie tapped her on the shoulder.
"Lunchtime." Marnie smiled.
"Already?" Angel peeled the 'trode away from her temple.
"Yup, you've been very busy." Marnie nodded towards Angel's monitor, "I'll check through what you've done after lunch, okay?"
"I'm due at the infirmary in about an hour," Angel frowned.
"If there's any problems we'll tackle them next time you're in. Tomorrow morning?"
Angel nodded, smiling shyly.
"Thank you for your help, Marnie."
"No problem. Heh, keep putting work through at rate you are and you'll be Sal's golden girl within a week!"
There was a small knock, then the door slid open to reveal Sal filling the door frame.
"There's someone to see you, Angel."A pretty woman with bright blonde ringlets and a ready smile beamed at her. Angel recognised her, of course, she was one of the people responsible for defusing the cortex bomb.
"Hello, Cloudie."
"Hi, Angel, good to see you. How're you settling in?"
"Very well, thanks."
"Great! Look, Holly told me where you were and I was just wondering if you'd like to have lunch with me?"
Angel considered the offer, briefly, before shyly nodding acceptance.
"Cool, we could go to the caff, if you like? Or get something and go up to the park?" She stopped at Angel's strained silence. "Or we could go over to the infirmary and have a quiet lunch there?" Cloudie offered with a small smile.
"I think I'd prefer that, sorry." Angel said quietly and Cloudie shrugged and grinned.
"Fine by me."Angel and Cloudie sat opposite each other at one of the tables in the infirmary's small dining room. Angel listened to the vibrant woman chatter on, occasionally answering a question from her, thinking it would be hard not to like Cloudie. The TK was so animated, so friendly; she should be called 'Sunny' not 'Cloudie'...
"You can tell me to sod off and mind my own business, Angel," Cloudie said, wide blue eyes serious, "but I was wondering why you've kept the cat features?"
Angel blinked, that wasn't a question she'd been expecting, and she sat quietly for a moment while she considered the answer.
"I can't get rid of them," Angel sighed, "certainly not the fur, that's a genetic change apparently and without a a map of my original DNA it's impossible to reverse."
"What about the ears and tail?"
"The tail's been grafted into my spine, there's a real chance of nerve damage if it's removed, and " Angel brushed the hair back from where her ears should be. Cloudie stared at the blank space, fascinated. " my hearing's been rerouted to the cat's ears. I could lose that if it's tampered with."
"But both those problems can be fixed with cyberware." Cloudie reasoned.
"At this stage, I don't really want to risk it." Angel looked down, "maybe later... Besides, this is the only face I remember, I'm not sure I want to change it."
Cloudie impulsively reached across the table and squeezed Angel's hand.
"It's a beautiful face too, sweetie," the TK smiled. "Can I make a suggestion?"
Angel looked up, instantly wary only people who were about to fuck her ever called her 'beautiful'.
"Start training in a martial art." Cloudie said.
"I don't know," Angel shook her head, surprised.
"Doesn't have to be one of the aggressive forms, y'know the 'finger of death!' types," Cloudie chuckled, "Try one of the defensive forms. I learn judo and aikido, they're fun and there's some great instructors here."
"Why do you suggest that?" Angel asked eventually.
"I was raped when I was younger," Cloudie said evenly, "and I just didn't want to go anywhere or do anything, talk to anyone - I was turning in on myself. A close friend suggested I take up a martial art " she stopped and snorted, " what am I saying? 'Suggested'? He bloody frog- marched me down to the dojo and wouldn't let me out until I'd given it a try!" Cloudie grinned ruefully, then became serious again. "The thing is, knowing that I had the skill to defend myself if any other bastard had a go at me gave me the confidence I needed to start living again."
"I see." Angel frowned as she considered.
"I'm not saying there's any similarities in our situations, but, it might help, generally?" Cloudie shrugged.
"I'll think about it, certainly," and talk to Adelaide about it - the thought came unbidden and Angel smiled to herself. "Thanks, Cloudie."
"My pleasure!" the TK grinned back.They'd finished their lunch and Cloudie had gone back to work. Holly had just called Angel into the physiotherapy room when Adelaide contacted her.
*Angel?*
*Adelaide! Hi!*
*You're sounding happy.* the psi's *voice* was warm.
*I've had a good morning.*
*That's great.* Adelaide sounded like she was smiling, *Sorry, Angel but it looks like I'm going to be out all day. I'll be home sometime this evening.*
*I'll be waiting for you.* Angel held her breath: that had just sort of slipped out. There was a slight pause then Adelaide said simply:
*I'm glad. I miss you.*
Angel experienced a wonderful rush of warmth spreading out from somewhere deep inside.
*I miss you too,* she said softly.
*Got to get back to it,* Adelaide was regretful. *I'll see you this evening.*
*I'm looking forward to it,* Angel said, and meant it...
© 2003 April rd Lutra
Darkside