- Pages:
- 1
- 2
| Shadows; A post NFA story | |
|---|---|
| Tweet Topic Started: Jul 13 2009, 02:16 PM (696 Views) | |
| Zira | Jul 13 2009, 02:16 PM Post #1 |
|
A/N- This is something that's been floating around my head for a good long while now. I originally wanted to do this in a script format, but then realized that it worked better as just a story. I hope you all like it, and I have the first two parts written out, if not typed out on my computer. Disclaimer- Joss Whedon, Fox and Mutant Enemy own Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel. I'm just playing in their sandbox for a bit. Oh! And thanks to Dahlia for making the pretty Storyart Banner! ~~~~ ![]() “’ve been around for a few years. Alright. Maybe more than a few. For majority of them though, ‘ve been dead. Nah, ‘m not a ghost. Was for a bit, now that I think about it, but not now. I’m a vampire. The big bad. Or I was once upon a time. For most of that time, I was others of my kind. Either my sire or my grandsire. Now, I’m thinking that I have to face my greatest challenge. It’s not a slayer. Not a big scary demon either. For the first time in my life, I’m alone.” -Journal of William the Bloody, Los Angeles, 2004 Part One- Redemption Chapter One In a rain slicked alleyway, there was a sudden movement from underneath one of the many piles of bodies. If one looked closely at them, they would see that though they were humanoid in basic shape, most were far beyond anything that could be considered human. Fangs, claws, horns and scales ruled. A human appeared from beneath the bodies of what could only be called demons. He was tall, dressed in black and bleeding from several wounds, including one above his eye. It would probably scar if it wasn’t taken care of soon. The blood coming from it looked old though, like a cut that was already starting to close up after having bled out. His hair was caked with mud and even more blood, though it was clear not all of it was his, seeing as how some of it was green or blue. In fact, most of his entire body was covered with goop. He whirled around suddenly, looking around for the source of a noise. Holding a sword in his hand, he looked completely prepared to continue fighting whatever had been the cause. With a sigh, he relaxed his stance and dropped his guard when he saw who the noise had come from. “Blood ‘ell, Blue. Could’ve killed you,” he said softly. “You could not have reached me, half breed, let alone kill me. I am Illyira, the God-King!” The woman speaking was looking at her companion with disdain etched firmly on her face. Her blue streaked hair was close to matching the male’s: gooped up with all manner of things and stringy because of it. The only thing that looked clean was her leather body armor. Illyria walked over to the other and looked at him. “Are we all that remains then, Spike? I do not see the human and the other vampire.” “Dunno ‘bout Gunn. Didn’t see much of him once the fight started.” Spike ran a hand through his hair, wiping his hand off on his pants when he realized what the mess on it was. The gesture revealed a bit of the color of his hair: shockingly white. “The vampire is dead?” she asked him slowly. In a voice barely above a whisper, he replied with a simple, “Yeah.” “You were enemies, rivals in everything. Yet, you grieve for him. It does not make sense.” “Never really enemies. Just, saw the world in a different way ‘s all.” There was a moment of silence before Spike spoke again. “Then again, not a whole hell of a lot makes sense anymore.” He looked up to the sky and closed his eyes for a few seconds. There was silence in the world for once. O night noises that he could hear, which was rare. He looked back over at Illyria once he was done with the silence and gave her a weak smile. “Let’s go see if Angel left any of Evil Lawyer Central standing, shall we?” Illyria thought for a moment before nodding slowly. “This idea is pleasing. We shall go see where the Wolf, the Ram and the Hart were destroyed.” Without any warning, she scaled the same fire escape that she had come down from before the fight had truly started and set off across the rooftops to get to the office building. Spike looked off in the direction she had gone and smiled a real smile while shaking his head ever so slightly. “Glad to know you’re with me on that one,” he muttered before walking on the streets of LA towards Wolfram and Hart at a much more sedate pace. ~ Spike and Illyria stood on the steps in front of the Wolfram and Hart staring up at it. The windows were glowing brightly from within and there was not so much as a speck of dust on any of them, nor even a crack in the foundations. In short, it looked to be in the same pristine shape that it had been in once upon a time when Spike had first seen it. “Thought Angel said he’d turned the place to rubble.” “This was the impression I was under as well.” “No, it was,” said a voice from the shadows under the trees lining the way up to the main doors. “The people in charge just rebuilt it though.” Both Spike and Illyria spun around to see who was there, but neither could see anything in the pitch black shadows that surrounded them. The very street lights that had aided them in finding the place were now hindering their night sight. “Best come out here ‘f you don’t want me comin’ in after you,” Spike growled out. After the giant fights and finding out that Wolfram and Hart still stood, he wasn’t in a good mood. “Relax, Spike. Just me,” the mystery man replied as he stepped into the light. “Connor?” “Hey,” he responded, walking towards them. “Spike, Illyria.” He nodded to both of them in way of formal greeting. “What’s this ‘bout Evil Incorporated bein’ rebuilt now?” Spike asked. “I was with my dad when it started coming down. He told me to leave, but, well,” he grinned, “we all know how well we listen to our parents. I stuck around once I made it outside and saw the rubble flicker out for a moment. There was a bit of a shimmer, then the entire building reappeared once dad had left.” Connor paused, then actually looked at the condition the two demons before him were in. “Speaking of which, where is my dad?” “He’s dead,” Spike said, cutting right to the point. “Dust in the wind now. Ashes to ashes and all that.” “What? H-how?” Spike closed his eyes, quickly getting lost in the memory of the recent fight and apocalypse. When he finally spoke, his voice was barely above a whisper. “Head cut off. His goal in the fight was to bring down the dragon. He managed that much, only that dragon what the one thing he had in his head. So after he killed it, bugger gloated for a moment too long. He didn’t see the fyaral coming at him with an axe until it was too late, and both Blue and I were too far away to do anything to help him. Still, the idiot tried to fight his way out of it. He was feeling cocky after killing the dragon, though, I can’t blame him on that. All the fighting did was make the death more painful.” There was silence as Spike finished. Connor just stared at him, knowing that there had to be more. There couldn’t not be more, dammit! The remaining Aurelian vampire opened his eyes and looked directly into those of Angel’s son. “He went out a fighter, Connor. It’s the way he would’ve wanted to go.” “Still doesn’t make it any easier,” he muttered. “Nothin’ can ever make it easier. Time’ll lighten the load a bit.” “I understand that alcohol helps to numb the pain as well,” Illyria offered him. The men felt their faces twitch into smiles at her words. Strangely, it is Spike who grew serious first, taking charge of the situation for the first time in a long time. Connor noticed it and asked quietly, “What now then?” “Dunno,” Spike replied honestly. “Can’t speak for Blue here either. You should go back to school though. Finish up gettin’ that education o’ yours and go do some good in the world.” Connor just stared at him. “You’re joking, right? My father was just killed, murdered by the bastards in control of that building!” He pointed at Wolfram and Hart. “I can’t just sit around in some psych class with that kind of knowledge.” “The boy is right,” Illyria spoke quietly. Her words carried more force than normal because of it. “He, as much as the rest of us, has a right to vengeance. His father was killed, as my Wesley was killed, as your sire was killed.” “Not the same,” Spike shot at her. “Why not? Are you turning into Angel this quickly, deciding what is best for everyone?” she asked him. Spike looked like a guppy at her comment, his mouth opening and closing as he tried to figure out what to say. Finally, he just gave a snort, rolled his eyes, and said, “Fine.” “Still have to figure out what we’re going to do,” Connor pointed out. They all nodded at his statement and there was complete silence for a third time that night. As before, it was broken by Spike, this time with a snort of laughter. “I fail to see what you find amusing.” “Just thinking that we could all be rogue demon hunters like Wesley was ‘fore he turned into less of a pansy.” Spike found himself thrown against the Wolfram and Hart sign, held there by an angry looking Illyria. “You will not speak of Wesley like that. He is more than you will ever be, half breed.” “Just a thought, Blue. Now let go of me,” Spike growled out, eyes flashing amber. He was on the ground a moment later. Standing, the thought crossed his mind that if the three of them ever worked together for any length of time, things were sure to get interesting with Illyria intent on hurting him whenever she felt like it. “Anyone else have any ideas?” “Not that I really want to go back in there, but we might as well go into the building to try to figure this out.” Connor pointed towards the eastern sky that was beginning to turn grey with false dawn to make his point. With a curse, Spike pushed past the two of them and through the large glass doors to enter into the building proper. The others follow him inside a moment later. It wasn't long before they all reach the top floor of the office building, where everyone had been located prior to taking on the Circle of the Black Thorn. Stepping out of the same elevator, they each took a moment to look around, searching for any signs of the destruction that had occurred to the place. Just like with the outside, there were no signs that anything was different, save one. “ ‘CEO of Wolfram and Hart’,” Spike read outloud from a plaque that was on the outside of what had once been Angel’s office. “ ’William the Bloody’. Oh, hell no. No way that I will ever be running this evil arse law firm.” “Good to know that,” a voice called out from behind him. He stiffened. He knew that voice; there was no way he would ever be able to forget it. “Buffy?” he asked, turning around. “This mean that you’ll actually come visit for once? I mean, when I’m actually home?” she asked, coming closer. He had eyes only for her. Damn, but she looked gorgeous, even more so than she had back in Sunnydale. Time in Rome and less danger with all the extra slayers around had been good to her. Her golden hair was tied back as it used to be, and though her clothes were now more modest than they had once been, they were still stylish and were completely her. It took him a moment to find his voice in order to actually speak with his golden goddess. “Andrew told you? Prat,” he huffed out. “Told him not to. I’m just gonna have to murder next time I see him.” He meant it as a joke, and could see a smile begin to form on Buffy’s face at it, but a second, and just as well-known voice broke in and ruined the moment. “You’ll do nothing of the sort,” Rupert Giles told him. “Somehow, he is our top watcher now and if you killed him, there would be repercussions.” “ ‘Lo Rupes,” Spike said. “Wonderful to see you too.” “Excuse my interrupting, but who the hell are you guys?” Connor broke in, effectively destroying the little bit of the mood that had somehow survived Giles entering into the conversation. “Conner, Illyria, meet Buffy Summers, Slayer Extraordinaire and her one time Watcher and current head of the Watcher’s Council, Rupert Giles.” “This is the Slayer? The one of who you talk about constantly?” Illyria asked, as she began to walk forward. Within moments, she was circling her as if sizing her up for a fight. “This…this stick does not look like much at all. I sense nothing special about her.” She looked back at Spike after completing a circuit. “She’s but a mortal girl.” “And yet, I can still kick your sorry ass into next year,” quipped Buffy. Illyria laughed as a queen would laugh if one of her lowest subjects had just said that she was unfit to rule. “I would like to see you try.” “Shouldn’t we do something?” Connor quietly asked Spike and the females began to move towards one another, a fight looking imminent. Rubbing at his chin, the vampire shrugged. “Probably. But this looks like its gonna be a fight too good to stop.” In a huff, Giles stepped between Illyria and Buffy, glaring at them both. There was just something about an angry British man that had them both backing down quickly. “Enough.” As she always did, the Old One quickly jumped to another topic after seeing Giles standing there. “You are dressed as Wesley dressed. Are you his brother?” she asked, looking him directly in the eye. “Oh, good heavens no.” He began to clean his glasses. “I am, erm, was a friend.” “Spike? What happened here?” Buffy asked him softly. “The council seer said something about a final apocalypse, but when Giles and I get here, there’s nothing.” She stood right in front of him, a hand moving to touch his arm. “Has it even happened yet?” “Oh, it happened alright,” he told them. “You might want to grab a chair. This could take a while.” ~ So...what do you think? Edited by Zira, Jul 13 2009, 02:22 PM.
|
![]() |
|
| Dahlia Brennan | Jul 13 2009, 02:35 PM Post #2 |
|
The crazy comentary verson: love love love and looove. Alright, calm now. Perfectly 'shiny' to me, missed Angel and to me a pretty good way to continue it. Get chapter two here sooon.
|
![]() |
|
| Zira | Jul 20 2009, 07:20 AM Post #3 |
|
Thanks D. And for anyone else reading...here's chapter two! ![]() Chapter Two In what had once been Angel’s office, there was a conference table. It was at that conference table that Spike had come to listen—with beer. And it was just by that table that the plan to take out the Circle had come to be. At the head of the table was Spike, his coat tossed over a couch that was in the office proper, feet propped up on the table while he leaned back in his chair. “And that’s that,” Spike finished, the poet in him knowing that it was a bad way to end the tale, but too tired to even give a shit anymore. Down the table from him and next to Connor, Buffy just stared at him. “Wow. I just…wow.” Giles, one seat down from her, had removed his glasses and was cleaning them, searching for a way to be more articulate than his slayer had been. “The one thing I fail to see is how only four of you managed to stop an entire demon army. It took a bus load of slayers to stop the last one.” “And the shiny amulet that let me toast all fifty thousand of the buggers you all never got to,” Spike said sharply. “Spike!” Buffy responded, just as sharply. “It was an honest question. Would it kill you to at least try to get along?” “Already dead, pet. Twice now, actually.” She just glared her Summers glare at him. “Right. Play nice. I get it. Illyria over here,” he explained, “can slow time. Or speed us up. Not sure how that one works yet. Anyway, she did that a load of times and we were able to move ‘bout the demons, killing them as quick as we could, getting’ into different positions an’ all that.” “Wait a minute. I thought dad said that he and Wes took away her powers. How could she use them if she didn’t have them?” “The stones from my tomb are direct conduits to my powers. By holding them, I am able to access that which is otherwise denied to me while I remain in this shell. I am not as strong as I once was, but still strong enough.” “That does make more sense than thinking that only four beings could stop an apocalypse entirely by themselves,” Giles agreed. “Oi!” “What happened to Angel in the end?” Buffy asked, attempting to change the subject and to stave off a fight that would be coming soon. “Andrew mentioned a prophecy. Shanshu or something like that. Did it happen? Was he ‘gifted with new life’? Ever turn human?” “Vampire to the end. Order to make the plan work, we found out that he had signed the prophecy away,” Spike explained. “Never changed then? And Giles, did you know I could sign away prophecies? Cause, damn, that would’ve been nice to know.” “Angel was Angel,” Spike told her at the same time Giles denied any knowledge of even considering that signing away a prophecy could happen. The noise of a chair backing away from the table quickly startled them all. Connor rose and was already walking towards the door. He mumbled something about going for a walk and was then gone from the room completely, not wishing to hear anything else about what had happened to his father, even though he had barely known him. It was the rooftop of the building where he found himself, lost in his thoughts as he looked down at the city waking up below him. There were thousands of people down there who would never know anything of what had happened in the alley the past night. “What are you doing?” came Illyria’s voice from behind him. “I’m thinking.” She joined him at the edge of the building, looking down at the same view he was, and having completely different thoughts on it. Still, she was learning to like some of the things the humans had created. The Playstation, for instance. “You are grieving for the vampire,” she said in understanding. “Yeah.” “Why? I was not aware you knew him well.” “Doesn’t matter. He was…is my dad.” She nodded. “You’re grieving because you cared for him. That is understandable. I felt grief when Wesley died.” He gave a glance in her direction. “Did you care about him?” “I do not know. I know that this shell, Fred, cared about him and he about her. I do not know about myself though. He tried once to kill me to bring back his beloved.” “You always hurt the ones you love,” he whispered into the dawn. “Yet, I still grieved when he was dying,” she continued. “I liked to him, for him. In the end, I think I might’ve…I might have cared about him, yes.” The unlikely pair both found solace in the silence and the shared experiences between them for a few minutes, just staring out over the city. The dawn light was turning everything a brilliant golden color, marking the start of a new day. “I once asked Wesley if there was anything in this life besides grief,” Illyria told him after a bit. “What‘d he say?” “He said that there was love, and for some, hope.” “Is that enough?” he questioned, looking up towards the sky that was no longer dark above them. “I asked him the same thing.” “Did he answer?” “No,” she responded quietly. “He never did.” “What do you think?” he asked, turning completely so he was facing her. “Is that enough?” “I don’t know for certain, but I believe that for most, it is.” “Hey, Lyri?” “Yes?” “Thanks.” Then, Connor was graced with something that had not been seen on this plane in many millennia: Illyria, the God-King of the Primordium, smiled at him. “You are welcome, though I do not know for what you are thanking me. I just did what Wesley would have done. He was a good man.” He gave her a smile of his own. “Think we should go help Spike with all the explaining that needs to be done?” “Most likely. The half-breed talks too much some days. It gets him into trouble. I fear he may get killed for it,” she answered as she began to return to the stairs that would lead them back down to where Spike, Buffy and Giles were. “Oh gods. She just made a joke,” Connor whispered in awe before hurrying to catch up with her. ~ The two had just stepped off the last step when shouting could be heard from inside the office, even with the doors closed. “Looks like you were right,” Connor muttered to her as they went through the doors to take in the scene that had rapidly deteriorated since they had left. Both Buffy and Spike were standing at opposite sides of the conference table with Giles between them, a small smile on his face as he watched and listen to them. “Don’t you get it, Slayer? People change. I’ve changed! I’m not going to follow you halfway ‘cross the world like some bloody lap dog. I’ve got stuff to take care of here!” “Like what, Spike? Fight the good fight? Taking up Angel’s job? I thought you hated him!” “Never hated him, Buffy. Envied him,” he said, his voice lowering back to normal. That took her aback. “You what?” “Envied him. Your first love and all that. Always in his shadow, I was.” “Really? Spike I never…” “Just, save it Buffy. Don’t start lying to me now. It doesn’t become you.” Her eyes widened in shock. “What? What the hell is that about Spike?!” “Don’t give me that whole ‘Holier than Thou’ act. You know it won’t work.” Somehow, his voice was still fairly level, even though everyone in the room could see that Spike was fighting anger and demon alike in taking control. “What the hell are you going to do if you don’t come with me?” she questioned. “You lost your hook up to the Powers. No visions, no missions.” “Not. True.” Spike said pointedly. “Never lost them. Cordy passed the onto Angel before she died.” “Yeah, well, Angel’s dead, remember?” Behind Buffy, Connor winced. It was one thing to know. It was another thing to have it so callously tossed at him. Illyria looked at him, and brought her hand up to his shoulder. He nodded his thanks to her before stepping forward. “It’s more like square two, really.” Buffy and Spike finally noticed that he was in the room at his words and focused their attention on him. “What’s that about square two now?” Spike asked. “I think dad might’ve given the visions to someone else before he went into the final fight.” “And what leads you to this conclusion?” Giles said. “Dunno. Call it a hunch. I have no idea who it is though.” “So, you know Cordelia, as some sort of ghost, gave Angel her vision powers. Then you think that Angel gave them to someone else, only you don’t know who or where they are. That about sum it up?” Buffy asked, plopping down in her chair. “Hey, you’re lucky I know that much!” “So what are we supposed to do now then? We makin’ a list of every person Angel’s snogged since Cordy?” “You do have a point, Spike. That may just be the best way of proceeding.” Giles took off his glasses and stared at the vampire. “Bloody hell.” |
![]() |
|
| Dahlia Brennan | Jul 21 2009, 01:49 AM Post #4 |
|
"Bloody Hell!" - That made me shiver with his wrinked face, slightly raised voice, looking like he's gonna be sick or half way to Mexico by now. Another five stars on the chapter. Though, got to admit, Buffy's getting slightly on my nerves right 'bout now.
|
![]() |
|
| Zira | Jul 27 2009, 09:25 AM Post #5 |
|
![]() Chapter Three They were all crowded around the foot of the table, staring at a sheet of paper on which several names were written. “No one can think of anyone else?” Connor asked for what seemed to be the millionth time in the past five minutes. Spike glared at Connor. “How the ‘ell am I supposed to know? I don’t follow him around making a tally mark for every person he’s kissed.” “So, our list has three names. Not much of a list,” said Buffy. “Looks like.” Spike picked up the paper and turned around, sitting on the edge of the table. “I don’t even know what the point of making this even was.” “A sense of accomplishment?” He glared at the slayer. “Just saying.” “Connor, can you read off the names?” Connor grabbed the list from Spike and began to read it over. “We’ve got Eve, Nina and…” He faltered a moment before looking up. “I can’t read this last one.” “Cause I can’t spell it,” Spike said. Buffy took the list from Connor and stared at it herself. “It just looks like a bunch of letter thrown together with a few vowels in there to make it pronouncable.” “Spelling’s overrated. Long as you can sign your name, you’re set,” Spike joked. “Who is the remaining female?” Illyria stared at the others, effectively getting them all back on track. “The head of the Italian branch of Wolfram and Hart,” Spike told everyone. “He kissed her?” Buffy exclaimed. “Angel kissed that slut?” “I see you’ve met her then. But no, mainly, he stood there while she came onto him and kissed him.” “And you know this how?’ “Was there with him in Italy, remember, love?” “Oh yeah.” She gave him an overly sweet smile. “I forget that you were spying on me.” “I’ve had enough of this,” Connor told them. “If you’re going to act like five year olds, then go find another room to do it in. If you’re going to help, then grow up.” Everyone stared at him. “Good. Now, is there anyone we can eliminate?” “Last time Angel kissed Eve was when Lorne had his sleep removed.” “What?” “Long story, Slayer. But that happened before Cordy came back, so we can rule her out.” “And Miss Italian Vampire?” Connor prompted. “Haven’t seen here since he and I were in Italy, getting a head and apparently rescuing Buffy.” “Which I was in no need of!” she said forcefully. Connor glared a warning at both of them. “That leaves Nina then,” Illyria decided from her place in the corner of the room where she leaned against the wall. “Not completely sure of that one either,” Spike said sadly. “I don’t think he saw her after the whole episode with the puppet illness.” Giles looked over at the vampire, confusion in his eyes. “Puppet illness? Do I want to know?” “Probably not.” “He couldn’t have given away the visions until after he had gotten the vision. Do we know when that happened?” Buffy asked. Both Connor and Spike shook their heads. Illyria moved from her corner and approached the table. “I have an idea on the timeframe. I saw the vampire in the training room at one point playing with the weapons in there. He stopped suddenly and let the axe fall to the ground while he clutched at his head. When he rose again, there was a small smile on his face.” She paused to look at everyone. “It happened after I was stripped of my powers, yet before Connor came for help.” “Anyone know if dad saw Nina after that?” “Before the fight, when he gave us the day off. I know he was going to meet someone.” Spike’s words were thoughtful, as though he was carefully measuring the weight of each syllable before it was spoken. “It was me,” Connor revealed. “He stopped by the café where I was writing up a resume and offered to help. That ended with father son bonding time and finding out that he really does write like a girl.” The realization that it had happened just yesterday hit him as he finished speaking. “Oh, God. That seems like a lifetime ago.” “I didn’t mean that,” Spike disagreed. “I knew he was heading towards you. It’s obvious if you know him well enough. After he got back though, I think he talked to someone outside the building.” “Security cameras,” suggested Giles. “Do you have them?” “More than I could shake a bloody stick at, ‘m sure. But if the building was destroyed, tapes probably were too.” “Not necessarily. If the senior partners, if I remember the name correctly, saw fir to return everything to the way it was, why not go the whole way and restore all that was inside of the building as well. The tapes might still be in existence.” “Where might they be stored though. That is the next question,” pointed out Illyria. When no one answered her, she nodded and exited the room. Everyone heard voices from out in the hall, assuming correctly that she had found some poor hapless employee to scare. Still, her tactics must have worked, as she returned soon with a stack of DVDs in hand. “This is all that has happened in the last 48 hours. I assume that we’re searching only the outside ones?” “Yeah, Blue.” She took the first ten off the top of the pile and put them to the side. Five more were quickly added to it. “Daytime,” she gave in way of explanation. Her quick sorting had left them with five dvd cases remaining. Spike moved to pick one up. “Try this one, shall we?” |
![]() |
|
| Dahlia Brennan | Jul 27 2009, 09:36 AM Post #6 |
|
Preeety. Want more, more, more. Lovin' my b-day prezzie. *hugs* |
![]() |
|
| Zira | Aug 3 2009, 08:42 AM Post #7 |
|
![]() A/N- Personally, this is my favorite chapter of the first part. Two more chapters to go, and Part One is done. Then we're onto Part Two, where things really start picking up. Chapter Four Two hours had passed since Illyria had come in with the DVDs. Even going through them at fast forward speed, it had been a long and boring two hours. A few empty soda cans lined the edge of the table while Spike flicked a rubber band at them one by one in an attempt to knock them down. His pile of the bands, that had been large when the viewing started, was down to only five now. He sighed. He would need to get up to reclaim his ammo if this was going to continue. “Well, that was a waste of time,” Buffy groaned out as the latest screen went blank and the word ‘Stop’ flashed across the screen. “It’s either this disc or we’re SOL,” Conner said, as he picked up the lone case and tossed it across the room to Spike, who ejected the old one and pushed the new one it. Pushing fastforward again, it didn’t take long before the vampire was forced to resume normal speed when he saw Angel and Nina talking. “I thought I already told you to get out of here,” Angel was telling Nina. The two were seated on a bench outside of the Wolfram and Hart building. Nina was attempting to hand an envelope back to Angel, only he wasn’t taking it. “And I know you didn’t mean it.” “Nina, please. Take them. I don’t want you and Amanda around here when the fight starts. LA’s going to be going to hell in a handbasket.” “I can’t,” she protested again. “Come on. I already promised that I’d join you if I made it through this.” He took out three tickets from the envelope and handed them back to her. “Please.” “Connor! Pause it!” Spike exclaimed, jumping up and pointing at the screen. The image on the screen paused as Connor took the remote and pressed on it. “Is there a way to zoom in?” he asked Connor, feeling dumb. He knew how to zoom on his DVD player, but not on this one. With a few more button pushes the image slowly moved in until it was centered directly on the names of the tickets. But it was all still too blurry. “Can’t you make it any clearer?” he asked, exasperated. “No, Spike, I can’t,” Connor snapped at him. “This is a DVD player, not some technologically advanced viewing station in a police station. “We have said viewing station at the Council. If I were to take the disc, I’m sure we could…” Giles trailed off as he saw Spike glaring at him. “Or not.” “The memories of this shell,” Illyria began before Spike cut her off. “Use her bloody name, Blue.” “Of Winifred Burkle indicate that such equipment could be found in the lab at the time that she was in charge. It was used when Angel was a puppet. Perhaps we might try there.” Everyone stared at her a moment. “Bloody genius is what you are,” Spike told her. ~~~ “Pause!” Buffy and Spike yelled out together. Rolling his eyes, Connor glared at both of them. “I know! And now I zoom up and Illyria can work her magic.” “What magic? These vermin…” “Let Fred take over and do what she does best,” she was told. She stared coldly at Spike as her blue hair and skin melted into brown hair and tan skin, with familiar warm brow eyes looking out. Her voice never changed, however. “You wished me to assume the Burkle persona? Even though it causes you pain?” There was no answer, but that was reply enough for the old one. Her voice changed again. “What do I need to do now?” “Make the tickets a bit less fuzzy so that we can see what they say?” Connor asked her. “Sure. Scoot on over and I’ll see what I can do.” Her fingers flew over the keyboard, tapping again and again on some of them while her other hand occasional went to click with the mouse on a part of the image. Within moments, the tickets were zoomed in, cleaned up, and completely readable. When Illyria had melted into Fred, Spike had moved from his place by the screen to the doors of the lab, eyes halfway closed and focusing elsewhere. It was a lie, and he knew it. But seeing Fred there in front of him was a damn convincing one. “What’s it say?” “Looks like…Australia,” Buffy read. He jerked up from his leaning against the wall and stalked over to the group. “You serious? Angel wasn’t really takin’ any risks when it came to dog-girl, was he now.” “I’m joking. It says New York.” “Dear Lord,” Giles muttered. He quickly began to clean his glasses. “New York is even worse than here.” “Yeah. It being on a Hellmouth an’ everythin’,” Spike agreed. “Wait. Wanna run that by me again? New York being all Hellmouth-y?” “Older parts are right over it,” Spike told her. “Why else would a Slayer be there. It’s not active though, so nothin’ to really worry ‘bout.” “Do we know if Nina ever used the tickets?” Connor asked, setting them all back on track once again. “Dunno. Any way that we can?” “’Course there is. Just give me a moment here,” Fred told everyone. “Well, that was easier than I thought. Hacked into Airport records and it says they were bought by Angel, but never used.” “Nothin’ else then?” Fred shook her head. “No. Sorry.” “Damn.” There was silence in the lab. Suddenly, “Buffy!” “Yeah?” “You still keep in contact with Oz?” Spike asked her, nearly bouncing on the balls of his feet. “Sometimes. I don’t see what…Oh! Oh! I’ll see what I can do, yeah.” He smiled at her. “Thanks. Keep us posted on what you find out. I’m thinkin’ of having us all head back to Hyperion. For a while at least. Sure as hell ain’t stayin’ here.” “I understand.” She looked over at Giles. “Time to go then, I guess. “What? Oh yes. Of course. Goodbye all.” “Bye Mister Giles! Bye Buffy!” Fred waved from her chair at them. Connor just nodded at the two of them. “Buffy,” Spike said with a nod. With a smirk, he turned to look at Giles. “Ripper.” “I swear. If you call me that one more time-“ “I’ve heard it before and I’m still not afraid” Buffy just rolled her eyes at the two men and left the room, doors swinging behind her, Giles following her out a second later. “So…what was that bout Oz then?” Connor asked quietly. “Oz’s a werewolf. Has a bit of a network goin’ on since he last came ‘round. If anyone can find Nina, he’ll be the one to do it.” “Is my job finished?” Illyria cut in, her voice harsh and so completely unlike Fred’s warm and friendy tone once more. “Can I resume my form again?” “Do what you want,” Spike told her as he moved for the door. Behind him, Illyria rolled her head and Winifred Burkle melted away once more to reveal the Old One underneath. “Can I talk to you for a moment Spike?” Buffy had poked her head in through the doors, stopped Spike in his tracks again. He shrugged, crossed his arms and waited. “Umm, alone?” “Fine,” he sighed. Moving into the hall, he assumed the same position as before. “What’s this ‘bout now?” “I…God. You have no idea how hard this is for me. Seeing you alive, after I thought you were dead.’ “Still dead her, pet.” “You know what I mean. Why didn’t you call? Let us…me know you were alive!” Shrugging, he responded, “Dunno. I tried. A couple times, actually. Pick up the phone and think this is it. ‘m really gonna do it this time. Never could though. I don’t know what stopped me, but something always did. ‘Sides,” he smirked, “how could I top an exit like that?” She just stared at him, open mouthed in shock. With a slap across his face she began to rant. “You showing up on my doorstep, saying hi might’ve been a start! God, you really are selfish, aren’t you! This whole thing put Dawn and I through hell. She cried every night for a week when you died. Didn’t you ever stop and think about what you were doing to us?” “Every night,” he admitted quietly. “What?” “First thing I thought of when I popped out of the amulet? You and Nibblet. Wondering if you were okay and how you were. I couldn’t find out that. I was just a ghost. Was bound to Wolfram and Hart. When I was corporal again, I tired to leave and go find you. I just…couldn’t. Don’t ask me why, ‘cause I don’t know. I just couldn’t.” “And now? Would you come now?” “You heard me before, Buffy. I won’t” “But why?” “Look, luv. If you had asked me two days ago, I would’ve said yes in a heartbeat. I can’t anymore though. World’s already lost one Champion. It can’t lose another. I have to stay here. I’ve got a job now, a commitment.” He looked back over his shoulder and through the window in the lab doors where Connor and Illyria were talking. Somehow, there was a smile on both of their faces. Turning back to her, “I’ve got people ‘ve got to help out. ‘m not just a vampire with a soul, Buffy. I’m a Champion. I get that now. And this is somethin’ that I have to do.” She looked at him when he finished his speech before slowly nodding. Duty was something she could understand. Sometimes, it was the only thing that kept people alive and fighting for something. Turning, she began to walk down the hall, back towards the lobby and the elevators. “I do love you, you know,” she called back to him. Spike watched her leave, saying nothing until she rounded a corner and was lost from sight. “I know, Buffy,” he whispered. “I know.” |
![]() |
|
| Ertia | Aug 6 2009, 01:25 PM Post #8 |
![]()
|
YAY! Finally caught up on this! Zira, you rock! |
![]() |
|
| Zira | Aug 10 2009, 12:56 PM Post #9 |
|
Thankies Ertia. Glad you like it too. And here's the next chapter folks! Just one more and then we're onto Part Two! ![]() Chapter Five It was almost three months after Buffy had left and the entire group had left the grounds of Wolfram and Hart. They hadn’t been back since, instead voting to live in the original home of Angel Investigations: the Hyperion Hotel. It had managed to survive the onslaught of the demon attacks with only a few problems with the outer walls. They had been patched up quick and now it looked just as it had when Connor had last saw it. He paused upon entering the doors, a plastic bag in his hands. Searching, he saw that Spike was nowhere to be found, though Illyria was in the back office. In case customers came in, she was looking like Fred, thought judging by the way she was moving, it really was just a shell at that point, a candy coating to sweeten the ancient god who was really behind it. Moving into the lobby, he made his way across the tile flooring until he reached the back office and placed the plastic bag on the desk next to Illyria. “What is this?” she asked him. “Present. Got it for you when I was out.” “A gift? Is there one of your mortal holidays today of which I am unaware?” He shook his head. “Nah. Saw it and thought you might like it.” “I see.” She pulled a box out of the shopping bag and stared at it for a long moment. “What is this contraption?” “It’s called a Rubik Cube.” “Is it a weapon of some sort?” “It’s a game. They don’t really put weapons out in a store for kids to buy these days.” “So it has no power?” He shook his head and she tossed it to the side. It hit the wall and fell to the ground. It was a testament to the Illyria’s ability to control her strength that it wasn’t completely destroyed. “Then I am in no need of it.” Sighing, Connor picked it up and wrestled with it till it was out of the packaging. He placed it back on the desk and looked at her. “Try it now.” She picked it up and stared at it. “The thing does nothing.” “Yes, it does.” He picked up the cube and began to twist it around. “You’ve broken it!” she exclaimed. “No, I haven’t. It’s supposed to do this.” “You twist the cube, so it does not match?” “No. No. That’s how you start. The point of it now is to make it all the same again.” Connor held it out to her. “Want to try?” Illyria took it and stared at it again. “I have no time for mortal foolishness,” she declared before placing it back on the desk. “No time for what now?” Spike asked, coming into the room. “I gave Illyria a Rubik Cube.” “Why?” He shrugged. “Thought it might be fun.” Spike opened his mouth, ready to say something before shaking his head and walking away. With his paper bag full of blood in one arm, he went over to the mini-fridge and restocked his supply before returning and sitting in the remaining chair. “Any news from the Slayer then?” Illyria shook her head. “No” “It’s been three bloody months and not even a hint ‘f if Oz found Nina yet. Annoying, that’s what it is.” “Maybe Oz isn’t as good as you thought it was,” Connor said. “Maybe,” Spike shrugged. “Prob’ly not though. He lives in Tibet. Doubt they’ve got instant messaging there.” As he finished speaking, the phone at the lobby desk began to ring. Connor looked to see if anyone else was bothering to move before getting up to answer it himself. When he came back, it was with a grin on his face. “We just got a case.” “Come on then. What is it?” “Someone has a nest of Vamps living in their basement. They just bought the house and need someone to clear it out.” “I got it.” Spike jumped up and grabbed a sword from the weapons case. “I’ll come with. Backup.” “No. Someone’s gotta be here case we get word from Buffy.” “Lyri. Can you keep watch as base?” Illyria glared at Conner, both for his nickname and his assumption that she was incapable. “Yes. I am good at answering the phones.” “Great. Let’s go then.” As the two males left the old hotel, Illyria shifted back into her true form and picked up the cube that was still laying on the desk. Perhaps mortal foolishness in cube form would be like that in playstation form. ~~~ The door opened as soon as Connor rang the bell. “Hi. I’m Connor Angel from Angel Investigations. This is my partner, Spike. We’re here about your basement problem?” The woman on the other side of the door just looked at him. “I don’t remember calling you. And I have no basement problems. Are you sure you have the right address?” “Now that you mention it,” Connor said slowly, “it might have been 3121 instead of 3112. Sorry to have bothered you ma’am.” She smiled at him. “Not at all. You have a good night now.” “ ‘Sorry to bother you ma’am,’” Spike mimicked once the door was shut. “God, you are your father’s son, aren’t you?” “Shut up Spike. Something’s not right here.” “Like the address?” “Yes. Because I can’t copy an address down right.” “Might’ve been a prank call.” “Maybe.” There was a sudden scream from inside the house. “Then again…” The two raced towards the house and break down the door. Connor is able to keep running, but Spike is stopped cold by a barrier. “Vampire, remember?” he tells Connor. “Go. I’ll stay out here. Go save the lady and get me in later.” With a nod, Connor disappeared inside the house, leaving Spike alone outside wearing a leather duster and carrying a large sword right as a man walking his dog walked by. “’lo there. Lovely weather we’re having, innet?” ~~~ He stopped at the doorway between the living room and the kitchen. Two completely identical women were fighting with one another, one choking the other. “Guessing not sibling rivalry between twins?” The woman with hands around the others throat had her eyes glow red a moment before letting go and launching herself at Connor, changing form as she went. By the time she landed, she was a perfect match to Connor himself. “Shapeshifter. Wonderful.” He leapt out of the way and brought his sword down where he thought his opponent would be, but only succeeded in sending it cleaving through the kitchen table. Whirling, he looked about to see where the shapeshifter was and found himself on the receiving end of a hit with a kitchen chair. Reeling, he stumbled back against the wall, leaving a dent in the drywall once he picked himself up again. He let out a yell as he lunged forward, sword out in front of him, effectively severing the head from the body and watching it transform back into a human shaped demon as it hit the ground. He gracefully picked his way across the demolished kitchen to help the original owner to her feet. “Hi. I’m Connor Angel. You called us about a problem with things in your basement?” |
![]() |
|
| Dahlia Brennan | Aug 12 2009, 02:54 PM Post #10 |
|
Now those two chapters I did not see before. Apsolutly love it. Rubik cube? Seriously? Laughed through half of Illyria's responses and finally the end of that season. Beautifully written both chapters.
|
![]() |
|
| 1 user reading this topic (1 Guest and 0 Anonymous) | |
| Go to Next Page | |
| « Previous Topic · Buffy and Angel · Next Topic » |
- Pages:
- 1
- 2







Another five stars on the chapter. Though, got to admit, Buffy's getting slightly on my nerves right 'bout now. 

1:30 AM Jul 11