By The Light Of The Blood Moon

Making It Right

"You wanted to see me?" Angel stood in the doorway. If he hadn't been wearing his signature pink gloves one might have thought he was examining his fingernails, but as it were, he was looking at his fingertips absentmindedly. He had that look about him, as if he were expecting something to be said that he would not like and at the same time he looked uncomfortable. Truth be told, he didn't really like being in Charlie's office. It wasn't that he didn't like the girl, most times she was fine. They got along well, or at least they got along well compared to Angel and Vaggie, but that was mainly because Angel liked to aggravate the girl to get a rise out of her. She was such an easy mark. Angel figured that maybe she just needed to get laid a bit more often to take the edge off, but that was none of his business, after all. He was only here because Charlie had sent for him, and the sooner he could make a getaway, the better.

"I guess you're wondering why I asked you to come see me, huh?" Charlie said almost tentatively, as if she were nervous about some undisclosed subject. Angel narrowed his eyes at her. She was up to something, he was sure of it.

"What's on your mind, Cha-Cha?" he said flatly. He really felt it would be better to get this over with as quickly as possible. He hadn't been up to any mischief. At least, not this week, so why was he feeling so uneasy about this whole thing?

"Lets, ah...go for a walk in the garden?" she answered, sounding more than just a little unsure of herself. Angel shrugged. Anything would be better than this room, since it seemed that every time he was here, someone was chewing his ass for some stupid shit he'd done.

"Okay, toots. Why not." He tried to smile, but he was still a bit nervous of what she had on her mind. Clearly, she was stalling, and that fact alone made him worry a little. As they made their way through the halls until finally exiting through the kitchen to the back garden, neither said a word, but the tension was palpable. As they rounded the corner to the sitting area on the patio, Angel stopped in his tracks seeing who was sitting there ostensibly waiting for the two of them to join him. He wasn't certain if he would stay or tell everyone present to get bent but seeing as it was Charlie that had asked him out here, he gave her the benefit of the doubt, although he cut his eyes towards her suspiciously.

"Baby..." said the guest sitting at the table, as he stood up to greet Angel, one of the only demons in the area that was able to tower over the spider.

"Don't you baby me you fuckin' bug." Angel took his seat next to Charlie. If the girl looked any more translucent, she would glow in the dark. He turned his attention back to the demon on his left side. "What the fuck do you want, Val? I thought that I made myself clear the last time we spoke, or do I need to shoot your ass again?" Angel sneered at his former boss, a bit of venom dribbling from his exposed fangs.

"Ho-ho..ld on, Angel" interrupted Charlie, placing a pale hand on his upper arm to get his attention away from his murderous thoughts, probably hoping to avoid a violent scene. Angel snapped his head towards her, making his displeasure at this set up obvious. "Please, Angel Dust," she begged, her eyes pleading with him for a little patience. "He's only here to make things right. I wouldn't have allowed him here otherwise."

Angel considered her words, then turned his head back to Valentino, who was looking nervous despite himself. He could hear the bug out, for Charlie's sake, but he wasn't going to be easily fooled. He had believed Val too many times in the past, and he had the scars to show for it, physically and mentally. Angel wasn't sure that a person like Val could change if he wanted to, and Charlie always believed the best in everyone, but then again, how many chances had she given Angel? More than she should have, he admitted to himself. He could hear Val out, then he would decide what to do afterwards.

"Alright Val," Angel replied, rolling his eyes. "You got ten minutes. Say what you came to say."

Valentino seemed relieved to hear Angel's reply. He wasted no time in getting down to business.

"Angel face. Doll, listen. You know what kinda guy I've been." Angel scoffed, waving his hand a bit for Val to continue. "I know, I know. I deserve that." He said, letting his gaze fall to his lap for a minute. "I ain't been no saint. Hell, I probably been worse to you than the devil himself, no offense there Charlie." He spoke gingerly.

"oh, it's ok." She chimed in "I hear that all the time. You wouldn't believe it." She smiled and urged him on.

"Anyways, Angel, baby." He reached out to take Angel Dust's hand, Angel just rolled his eyes again.

"Is this the part where you tell me you're sorry and it will never happen again, just come back with you?" sneered Angel "'cause I done that too many times, Val. It ain't happenin'. Not today, not ever."

Valentino shook his head and smiled. "You're one smart gal, Angel baby." He squeezed Angel's hand, waiting until Angel looked him in his eyes. "I ain't asking you to come home. I know you're done with that, and I'm okay with it."

"oh?" questioned Angel, now interested in hearing what Valentino was up to. "Why you here, then? Don't tell me your goin' straight and narrow?" Angel laughed, despite himself. The thought of Valentino changing his ways was a damn funny concept.

"oh Hell no." laughed Val, wiping a tear from his eyes. "no, that ain't it. You know me better than that" He scooted towards Angel a bit, putting the latter on the defense. "I just wanted to make sure you know that I would love it if you would reconsider coming to the masquerade ball. I heard through the grapevine that you wasn't coming, but really, I wanted to have this ball to make things a little better between us. I know I can't have you back, and that's understandable, but Angel, baby, it kills me that you hate me. I just want us to be friendly, even if you don't want to be friends. Please," he begged, "will you accept my personal invitation to come to the ball?"

Angel was, for once, speechless as he took the envelope that Valentino slid across the table to him. He pulled out the invitation inside to find it personally made out to him. He hated to admit it, but he and Valentino had a past together, and although Val turned out to be a real shitty boyfriend, it hadn't always been bad. In the beginning, they had been happy together. Maybe Angel should reconsider. Part of him still didn't trust Val completely though.

"It says on here that I can bring a plus one." He eyed Valentino. "That true? Can I bring someone with? Anyone?"

Valentino nodded, a grin spreading over his face, revealing the one gold tooth, matching to the one Angel had.

"Does that mean you accept my apology and invitation?" he asked eagerly, smiling broadly now.

"It means I will think about it." Angel said simply, knowing that he would end up attending. He just didn't want to let Valentino know it just yet. "I will let you know by this time tomorrow. I wanna think things over for a while first."

Val nodded. "That's all I ask for, Angel face." He said, placing a small kiss on Angels forehead before he got up and left the patio, leaving Angel and Charlie both staring after him, speechless.