Something To Atone For. BtVS/AtS, Doyle SI.

[Flightless Man]

Chapter 21: Hustle​

"You didn't say he was going to be so..." Glancing across the pool table at Liam's awkward stance, Fred searches for a word that isn't going to destroy my confidence.

"Good looking?" Her cheeks dust with pink and Fred ducks her head while the vampire pretends not to have heard. "I have eyes you know."

"So does every woman in here." She takes the shot and sends the four ball bouncing around the table without connecting and I glance around to confirm what she said.

Sunday's made her choice, finally got her gang to notice us. The vampire and her friends have stopped harassing randoms, now focused on our corner of the college bar.

"Time to start acting drunk," Keeping my voice low, I make my own incredibly terrible shot.

"Who's acting." Fred snorts to herself as I go after the cue ball I 'accidentally' sent off the table.

The plan tonight was just to make sure the college bar wasn't already serving the caveman beer. But as soon as Liam pointed out his fellow cold blooded patrons, we decided to chase off the nerds being eyed thirstily.

Putting some extra wobble in my step, I saunter over to the vampires' table. One of her minions has the white ball in his fingers and he keeps it just out of my reach.

"Stop teasing him Travis," Sunday smiles at me, with none of the warmth reaching her predatory eyes. "You must be new in town. Haven't seen you or your friends in here before." She takes the ball and holds it out for me with her eyes shifting into a leer. "You should let us show you around."

"Really?" I feel naked under the hungry gazes and try not to visibly shudder. "That would be really nice of you. Liam said he would..." I point out our own vampire and Sunday seems even happier. "But he doesn't seem to have any friends."

"Well we have more than enough to share," Sunday gloats as her three minions nod along eagerly. "Why don't you come back to our place once you finish up the game?"

Nodding dumbly, I return to Fred and make a show of 'convincing' her. While I do, Sunday takes the chance to work out a deal with Liam.

Thanks to my improved hearing, I'm just able to make out the words over the music. "We let my minions have one of them and we can share the one you really want."

"What if I want them both?" The sudden challenge in Liam's voice is reassuring. He's fast on the pick up.

I barely had time to give him and Fred a few hissed instructions when Sunday's gang arrived. Knowing all three of us are on the same page, gives me the reassurance to follow through.

"Well I guess the boys will just have to pick up something on the way home." She giggles at the growls of frustration that come out of her trio of waiting minions.

"That sounds fun." Agreeing with a hopefully fake smirk, Liam joins the other vampires.

While Fred and I finish up the game with increasingly bad aim, I explain the gist of the plan. "You have the bear mace?"

We bought a few different varieties of spray and I found the mace was by far the most aggravating. The worst smelling perfumes are a close second. But are also a lot harder to weaponize.

"Of course I did. This is 'bear' country." Fred rolls her eyes while I'm blocking her face from the vampires' view.

"You get the other victim outside. Liam and I will make sure you aren't followed." Grabbing my case, I exchange the normal cue for the sharpened one.

While I make sure to keep the tip covered with one hand, Fred nods her confirmation with a nervous grin. "I can do that."

"I know you can, that's why I asked." And because I have no idea how many friends Sunday has waiting at her nest.

We've both been getting some training in with Liam after school this week and I'm a little annoyed at being the slowest at picking up the proper moves. Of course I can physically overpower her techniques if it comes down to it, it just grates that Fred can so easily flip me onto my ass.

But I guess she has a more pressing need to learn fast. Fred doesn't have anything supernatural to fall back on in an emergency.

Sometimes I forget she's only had a little more than a month to wrap her head around everything. Not really fair to blame her for a little over reaction.

Passing one of Lorne's posters, I'm happy to have heard people sound interested in the radio show all night. I'm not sure how easy it would have been for a normal person. But Fred somehow got the empath on the airwaves with just the stuff in Ted's basement.

Liam brings up the rear as our merged group leaves the bar, giving me a discrete wink when I spin around feigning drunkenness. While Sunday's minions are not looking happy at Liam's presence, she just hisses some instructions that I can't quite make out.

Once the minions give some grunts of acknowledgement, the blonde vampire gives a louder 'explanation' to keep the 'prey' calm. "How about you boys go and invite some other people back to the house, we can turn it into a party."

"I've never gone to a party before," Giggles Fred and I'm not sure if she's slipping some truth into the act. "College is awesome!"

The trio of minions wander off with Sunday's final reminder to not stop for fast food. Once we're alone, Sunday's words takes on a more sensual tone.

"I hope you don't mind if we have something to drink before they get back." Sunday's predatory gaze darts back and forth between the two of us with a pulse and it makes me very glad the sharpened cue is now in my jacket sleeve. "No reason for us to wait for the fun."

"I guess it's the time to experiment." Making a show of suddenly 'understanding' the double entendre, I give Fred an intrigued look. "What do you think Winnie?"

Giving me a pleased look at the unexpected nickname, Fred's under the breath response is a bit more enthusiastic than I expected. "Well that would be interesting."

We swap 'partners' on the walk to Sunday's run down house, with Liam keeping himself between Fred and the other vampire. We pretend to believe her excuse about renting the place as is and follow our prey into the nest.

Sunday squeezes my hand a final time before opening the door, the whole house only lit by candles. "Power should be reconnected on Monday. Hope you don't mind the mood lighting."

"Just makes things easier." Suddenly dropping the act of inebriation, I let my Brachen side emerge along with the increased strength.

Sunday barely has time to gasp in shock as I impale her through the chest, exploding into a cloud of ash in the time it takes Liam to shut the door. The smell of old blood hangs so thick in the air, I can't tell if we're alone or not.

"We should check the place before the others get back. Make sure they don't have any friends who are going to jump out at us." Three on three is doable, I just don't think we're ready for a swarm of fang faces yet.

"Please don't use that in here." Noticing the can in Fred's hand, our friendly vampire reveals it's at least a deterrent on his species. "Not unless you really have to."

Apologizing with a stiff chuckle, she replaces the mace for her own pool cue. She follows me upstairs as Liam checks the main floor for any threat, with each door we open making our tension skyrocket.

"They really should have turned a maid." The first two bedrooms we check are complete dumps and don't seem to have anything worthwhile. But the bathroom has a medicine cabinet full of prescriptions and only half of them seem to be expired.

"Think Willy would buy these?" Fred frowns at my question and the sealed bottle in my hand. "Or should we start stocking a first aid kit at the house?"

"We aren't selling drugs to Willy." Crossing her arms, Fred spends a few minutes listing every single way that will go wrong. "... And you know some of these will end up in your students' hands."

My idle curiosity sated long before now, I give the fuming girl a look of concession. "That's why I asked." Hadn't given the idea any thought. "I did say I was going to start planning things with you and Lorne."

It looks like Sunday has claimed the entire attic for herself and it's the room we find the stuff of actual value. A box of of wallets give a rough estimate of how many victims have been brought back before us and it's soon clear why they're here.

She finds a dresser and bends down to pull open the bottom drawer. It's almost overflowing with assorted coins and I let out a long whistle.

"Looks like we don't have to worry about the laundry mat for a while." Or having change for a parking meter.

Fred pulls open the middle drawer, revealing at least a few thousand dollars in a loose pile. "That's a lot of money."

"We can split it up four ways at the house." Trying to stop myself from counting it all out now, I slide open the top drawer to find it full of jewelry.

"Well we can sell this stuff." Picking out a few choice pieces, Fred gives me a sideways glance. "I don't think Willy can hurt anyone with some rings and necklaces."

"Get down here!" Liam's warning from downstairs has us both grab our sharpened cues and dart towards him.

Broody pants is waiting by the door, his own stake in hand. "Two of them are back with company, no sign of the skinny one yet though."

"Play dead and try to surprise them, or should we just go right for the heart?" We have numbers and the vampires have hostages. Not really sure who has the advantage right now.

"Scare the girls with them and we'll deal with the vampires." Fred makes a growling face to remind me I haven't reverted to my own human one yet.

"Should shock the idiots long enough to stake them without a fight," Agrees Liam before he adds that we can repeat the process when the final minion returns.

 

[Flightless Man]

Chapter 22: Spice Of Unlife​

"Last one's on his way back." Peeking out the curtain, I make out the red headed vampire.

The blonde surfer dude being brought back to the nest looks completely strung out and is being lead by a firm arm around his waist. Need to separate them first.

"How do you want to handle this?" Liam takes his own glance out the window and notices the same problem.

"Go game face and start chasing us, I'll red rover my way between them while Fred tries to make the vamp grab her." Leaving him open for you.

Nodding in agreement, Liam's face blurs into ugliness. I'm first one out the front door, screaming about the monster as I charge straight towards the staggering couple.

Fred is only a few steps behind me, with a snarling vampire right on her heels. But she swerves to the left right when I tackle the surfer away.

"What the he-" The red head starts to snarl, only for his words to vanish in a cloud of ash.

"Dude, not cool." The shirtless surfer rejects my hand up, slowly clambering to his feet with more than a few grunts. "Hey..." He looks around in confusion once he manages the monumental task. "What happened to Travis?"

Showing he had social skills at one point in his unlife, Liam has already reverted to his human face. "The guy with you who was screaming about monsters? I think he was having a bad trip.

"Yeah, he just threw you at me and took off." Playing along with Liam's lie, I have a little bit more to add. "You need to pick better friends. I think he was using you as bait."

"You think?" Still unidentified, the surfer is at least starting to realize he was in some kind of danger. "Man that sucks. He seemed like a chill guy and said I could crash."

Taking enough pity on the guy to give him some advice, we start walking him towards the car. "My advice. Get on the first bus in the morning and don't look back."

Liam tries to sneak off once it's clear the patrol is over. But Fred is very insistent on her invitation.

"You have to sit in the scratchy chair so you aren't too happy." She's pulled out her serious voice. "But it's a tradition, you're going to come over and watch something every time we fight evil."

"Waves here suck anyway..." The guy mumbles a few more unintelligible words before going silent for the rest of the walk.

Liam still hasn't been convinced to come home with us and is trying to find an excuse that Fred will accept. "The suns going to come up soon. You'll be stuck with me all day."

"Allen has some blood in the fridge for you and this way you can keep Lorne company during the day." She even lets the frowning vampire know we have a spare room he can use.

"Either you're coming with us, or I'm following you home once I drop this guy off at the hospital." Unlocking my Corolla, I help Liam get the surfer into the backseat.

He glowers at me for a good ten seconds. "... Fine."

It doesn't take long to get the surfer admitted and we spend the ride back to Ted's now clean house listening to Lorne's pirated radio show. The fact that he gets two callers before we get home is a good sign and gives me confidence in my our plan to acclimatize Sunnydale to the empath.

Coughing awkwardly as the second caller finishes singing 'A Big Hunk O' Love', Liam can't help but brag. "I was at his and Priscilla's wedding you know. Elvis liked my hair."

"Really?" Fred is amazed at that bit of his history and very easily gets the whole story out of Liam. "How did you get invited?"

"Got one of the cooks hammered the night before and stole his uniform." Not even slightly ashamed, he explains his 'brilliant' plan.

He starts to get really into the retelling of it. But my mind wanders the entire drive.

I can finally upgrade the Corolla. Once the idea forms, I can't help but fantasize about the possibilities.

By the time I pull up outside the house, Lorne's show is starting to wrap up. Seems like Fred's run out of questions for Liam too.

"So I got to ask, one Irish half demon to another..." I wait until Liam is giving me his full attention. "What kind of car do you think I should get?"

He laughs once it's clear it's nothing serious and launches into a description of his favourite muscle cars. With Fred reminding me to grab the loot out of the trunk.

"Can you put the jewellery in my room, so I can spend a few days picking out what I like?" Trying not to seem to eager, Fred grabs the lighter box of cash instead.

"If Liam can bring the clothes in for Lorne." I jerk my chin at the most colourful clothes from Sunday's collection. "I really don't want to make more than one trip."

While waiting for Fred to unlock the door, our guest gives me an uneasy half smile. "Tonight has been..." He searches for the right word only to give up and settle for something vague. "Interesting."

"You're allowed to say that it was fun." Rolling my eyes at his need to be aloof, I'm second one inside. "I really don't think you're a big enough ass to ever ignore what perfect happiness means. You'd need someone a lot prettier than me to make you forget."

"And that's why we're here." Agrees Fred as as she starts giving Angel the tour, leaving me to run the trinkets upstairs. "I avoided one hell, really don't want your bad side bringing another to us."

By the time I return from dropping the trinkets off in her bedroom straight out of the fifties, Fred has already shown a very confused Liam the body of Ted. Of course judging by his concerned expression, she's neglected to tell him of the mechanical origin.

"Fred, did you tell him it's just a robot with incredibly realistic skin?" My words make her snort and glance up at a very concerned vampire.

"See, no blood." The android's shirt gets lifted up to reveal a torso filled with wires and not a single organ.

Amazed, Liam gets closer and has no problem using his fingers to feel the fake skin. "It feels so real."

"Which is why I haven't asked her what it's made of yet." Probably some kind of magically transplanted skin from the original scientist, so the android could slip right into his life like nothing had changed.

Because I refuse to believe that Ted is a hundred percent technical, not when the only working models I know of are all designed on the Hellmouth. Maybe it's the ambient energies powering the robots?

The trap door squeaks and is followed by Lorne's glowing face emerging. "Tonight was a new record, I had six callers!"

"At this rate, we're going to need to get you a separate line." It could start getting difficult in my personal life, if the school knows I live with such an... eccentric personality.

Clem comes up next, the tech support for the show assuring me that's not going to be a problem. "I got a cousin with the phone company. I'll make sure to get Lorne a great deal."

While Fred is putting 'Happy Gilmore' in, Lorne and Clem make a bowl of popcorn for everyone but the vampire. Liam is stuck with just a mug of sheep blood and blinks at the strawberry syrup I slide across the counter.

"Trying to use me as a lab rat for some kind of vampire cafe?" He doesn't push it away and eventually decides to try stirring some in.

"You said you liked the Burba weed." It was such a strange idea, I was easily able to remember that Spike sometimes added it to his blood for spice. "And I know chocolate milk was originally just to cover up the blood. So I figure we can try hot chocolate next time and try giving you some variety."

Liam starts to answer with what I assume is a heavy dose of snark, only for my senses to be overwhelmed by a searing headache. The vampire barely catches me under the shoulder's before I collapse to the floor, his worried voice barely audible as the vision replaces everything.

"A church...." When I do recover enough to speak, everyone is crowded around me with different levels of concern.

"Doesn't really narrowing it down very much." Fred snorts. "Forty three in Sunnydale. It's going to take days to check them all."

"One of the condemned ones?" It looked almost as big of a mess as Sunday's nest, so I really doubt the church is in business still.

Checking her notes, Fred's frown softens quite a bit. "Only eleven of those."

 

[Flightless Man]

Interlude 2: The Replacements​

Buffy hesitates outside the Hyperion and turns to her Watcher with a pout. "But I trust you, why do you have to retire?"

"Because after Lothos, I can barely walk with a cane." The English man explains patiently, knowing this isn't exactly standard procedure.

"It's not like you have to come out on patrol with me." Trying to find anything to change his mind, she brings out the big guns. "And besides, it's not like I'm supposed to be around much longer. Let your replacements fight over mine."

Touched by her trust, Merrick doesn't get mad at having to go over the plan yet again. "I'm not quitting today and I promise I will let you choose."

"Three black sheep and a couple fresh faced suck ups?" Shaking her blonde locks along with the tension, Buffy can only sigh at the choices. "Not like I really have great options."

"Rupert has come a long way since his troubled youth. I haven't heard of a single black mark since he came back to the fold." Even as he is able to reassure her one of the four Watchers on the way is capable, Merrick can't say the same about his peers. "Personally I recommend him or the Wyndam-Pryce boy."

"You want to stick me with the rookie?" Buffy can only scoff at that idea. "Maybe I should just retire with you."

Not willing to make that topic a discussion, he firmly puts his foot down. "That's not possible. You have a calling Buffy."

"Well what if I want to let it ring?" Confronted with Merrick's old motto of facing evil alone, Buffy can't help but think about the seer's words. 'You're special, not unique.'

"It will make a house call." He reminds her about how the Slayer essence will draw evil to her.

Knowing she can't change his mind right now, Buffy tries to reel in her frustration. "And what about the three I don't pick, what happens to them?"

"They take over instruction and evaluation of Charles and his friends." Leaving the task of rehabilitating any future captives unsaid, Merrick explains how thin the Council has been stretched. "I believe at least five of them will be accepted as candidates to the academy. Once we make sure they've caught up on the basics of course."

Once inside the hotel, both are impressed at how much more livable the place already looks. With a very proud Gunn sauntering over, his sister rolling her eyes only a few paces behind him.

"What do you think?" Running a hand along the new wallpaper, Charles Gunn can barely contain his nerves. "This good enough for you secret society folks?"

"You did all this in just three weeks?" Merrick peers down at the new carpet before noticing the lights aren't flickering anymore. "Even the wiring?"

"Got an electrician in the first week and a plumber the second." Before her brother can brag, Alonna gives the duo a more concise answer. "Spent the last few days making the main floor look decent. Upstairs still looks like crap though."

Knowing one of those rooms is going to be needed pretty soon, Buffy broaches the topic of werewolves. "So Tara told my friend Billy about werewolves and now I kind of need some help tracking one down."

Can't believe he was never going to tell me about his cancer and just let himself get turned into a vampire. He knows how many of our friends got killed by them.

"Plus a room he can spend the full moons in." The current restoration of the hotel is just enough to make Buffy remember to ask.

"First month we haven't lost anyone and that's because of you." Gunn gives her a look of respect. "You can ask us for anything."

Before Buffy can do more than say thanks, her Watcher interrupts with a smirk. "Better make sure that room is on reserve for three nights. Werewolves come out the night before and after the full moon."

"This bite will heal Billy?" Alonna reveals her own curiosity.

"It will, though the strain of transforming will shorten his lifespan by a decade or two," Admits a concerned Merrick, fully aware of what the girl's next question will be.

"Stronger and faster." Frowning as if she's the first person to discover the obvious, Alonna starts listing the pros of a werewolf bite. "Healing that can handle the big C and no more fear of getting turned into a vampire. Why aren't we all getting bit?"

Her brother and the members of the crew close enough to hear the words, all start to mutter words of agreement. But Merrik is quite to put a stop to this or so he hopes.

"Because it's something that should only be considered as a last resort." The Watcher starts countering with his own reasons. "It is a curse and the victims of it must battle the wolf for control until the day they die. At least a third of the victims fail to do so and eventually need to be dealt with."

"Dealt with?" Buffy catches the tone and is really hoping she's wrong.

Gunn doesn't have any such qualms though and gives the cold truth. "Same way you do with a rabid dog. Put it down."

"But they're people!" She's not even slightly convinced.

"Which is why the Council doesn't send the Slayer after them," Agrees Merrick with a sympathetic look reserved for his charge alone. "We have a task force that handles the greyer aspects of the fight. It's one of the few things we can make easier for you."

Relieved that she isn't going to be sent after any humans, Buffy's lips shift into a playful smirk. "Paying for college would sure help a whole lot."

"That hasn't really been a concern before." It stuns her when Merrick doesn't bother deflecting.

"Because none of us have lived that long." Buffy winces in realization, her words in no way a question.

The same reason Pike skipped town last week. No explanation except for a postcard that showed up on Monday.

"Damn..." Empathy fills Gunn's voice as her sees Buffy in a new light. "And I thought I had it bad."

Mister Doyle told me the other Slayer's died because they all fought alone. But everyone in this room has been fighting vampires longer than I have. How alone can I really be?

The double doors of the Hyperion swing open suddenly, five tweed clad people entering with varying expressions of intrigue at the décor. Rupert Giles and Wesley Wyndam-Pryce bracket the rest.

"Who are they?" Buffy still doesn't have names for and she hisses at Merrick to provide them.

"Rutherford Sirk." He gives a name to the middle aged man with the pinched expression in the middle of the group. "He's spent most of his time in the research division."

Buffy is curious by the prim Watcher in the skirt and the nervous blonde one who seems closer to her own age. "And the women?"

Pointing at the woman in her thirties first, Merrick gives a quick description of both. "Gwendolyn Post is recently off probation for dabbling in some restricted tomes. And Lydia Crowley was top of her class last year. She did her thesis on William the Bloody if I recall."

"So I give them all a test drive and you give the Council my recommendation?" Glad he's giving her at least some input, Buffy is still worried about going to Sunnydale with her mom in a January.

"And claim it is my own." Merrick winks at his charge, truly believing the Council would send any dangerous candidates.

 

[Flightless Man]

Chapter 24: Truth Comes Out​

"Do you actually sleep or should I just leave this on for you?" I give Liam a curious look and point at the TV with my elbow. "Ted only had basic cable. But we finally got an actual package a few days ago, you should be able to find something."

Clem left a while ago and Lorne went downstairs for his beauty sleep once the movie was over. With even Fred falling asleep halfway through the second one, her ponytail being used as a cushion on my incredibly bony shoulder.

"I sleep." Smirking at the drooling college student, Liam eventually climbs out of the orange armchair. "Just been a while since anyone else was in the same building."

The sun is high enough in the sky that the increasingly less broody vampire is stuck with us for the day. He stops me from waking Fred, a frown creasing his brow.

"You said everyone has something to atone for." Nodding slowly at his question, I can feel guilt pour into me. "Normally I wouldn't ask, it's kind of a personal thing."

"I found out I was a half demon and my wife left me." No point wasting time with playing dumb. "I was busy looking for the safest town in America to start over in and my cousin Lucas came looking for help in the middle of my nervous breakdown."

Not realizing the conversation was loud enough to wake Fred, I'm nearly shocked out of my skin when she interrupts with a quiet question. "What happened?"

"I told him to deal with it himself and slammed the door in his face." Both exchange looks of surprise as the guilt boils over. "Had my first vision a few hours later."

Hanging my head in shame, I can't help but remember the child's shoe. "But it was already too late. The Scourge killed everybody before I found the place."

"I spent the next week getting hammered because I was getting a vision at least once an hour." A lie but the only way I'm going to be able to explain such long term knowledge. "Saw how much shit the world was going to throw at you and Buffy. Figured I may as well get off my ass instead of waiting four more years to be useful."

"Was that how long it took for me to get rescued?" Fred is starting to understand why I've been giving her so many outs and her face pales. "I was going to be in hell for four years!"

"Five and a half." No point in playing things close to my chest now. "But Liam is supposed to have that beat by a few centuries when Acathla swallows him. A few seconds after Buffy runs you through with a blessed sword."

His dark eyes widen at that news, Liam's jaw clenching as he realizes the urgency of going to Africa. "When I lose my soul."

"Which is why I decided to tell you about the cave before that happens." I'm pretty sure Angelus would come straight for me now. "I already got one Scourge to deal with. Don't want you and the European variety after me until I'm ready."

"Want to share with the rest of the class?" Picking up that I have a plan, Fred starts poking me in the ribs with her index finger.

"Curse was cast once already, just need to ask the creators for a translation." Shoving a soul in Darla should be all the motivation they need. "They're sending someone to watch over you. But since you'll be in Africa, Janna will need something to keep her busy."

The conversation doesn't last much longer, with both of us who have a pulse letting out yawns. W point Liam toward the guest room and head up the stairs, Fred hesitating outside her door.

"When do you want to start checking out the churches? Should we wait for the sun to go down?"

"Probably a good idea." I seem to have a habit of getting hurt when I just charge in without a plan.

A few giggles escape her lips and I can only hope Fred doesn't catch me staring at them. "Are you finally learning to wait for back up?"

"You're the one who told me to start doing." My comment doesn't get the expected smirk, instead making Fred blush with embarrassment.

"I already apologized for that."

She's about to duck into her room and I realize I have absolutely no reason to stop myself. I told myself I'd make a move if I was staying in Los Angeles.

"Hey Fred." Well she came to Sunnydale with me and hasn't run away screaming yet.

Blinking at my suddenly intense stare, she stops outside her door with growing curiosity. "Yeah?"

"Once we take care of this vision..." I'm just an idiot if I keep ignoring how I feel about her. "You want to go out for dinner?"

"With everyone?" Suddenly wary, Fred's eyes dart down to my now bare hand.

"//i guess we should probably do that once Lorne can come with us. But I was thinking just the two of us." Can't start getting over you unless I actually get rejected.

She doesn't answer right away. But after a few tense moments, Fred's lips curl into a smile. "About time you asked. I was starting to think Lorne would have a better chance."

It's my turn to have a mouth gaping in giddy shock. But of course it shoots out a stupid quip before I manage to close it. "Not really my type, Lorne's a little to talkative for me. I like my guys with more of a quiet confidence."

Intrigue fills her chestnut eyes at my off the cuff comment. "Interesting."

"I know I am. That's why the Powers decided to give me the migraines after all." Trying to ease myself out of the heat I can feel building up along my collar, I almost smack myself at the mention of the visions. Shit! "I should probably give you full disclosure about my condition before you give me an answer."

"Like what, are you going to get all spiky while we're kissing?" Dammit, I didn't even think about that.

Deciding to worry about whether I'll poke her eye out later, I shake my head with a scowl. "The aforementioned visions. They have the potential to pass to someone I kiss."

Still haven't been able to remember what made them transfer to Cordelia in the show and I'm not willing to just experiment with everyone I know.

"Oh..." Suddenly not as sure of the yes that was about to come out of her mouth only a few seconds earlier, Fred hesitates in front of her yellow door.

"How about you sleep on it and let me know after we save the girls at the church. No hard feelings if you decide the splitting headaches aren't worth it." The sooner you say no, the sooner I can start picking myself back up again.

"Do you know what kind of demon has them?" Fred tries to put aside the sudden awkwardness between us and stay focused on the vision.

I could recognize his voice, that's about it. "He was in the shadows sharpening something. The whole time just muttering to himself about apples."

 

[Flightless Man]

Chapter 25: What's In A Name?​

I'm left with my anxiety growing through the day, Fred still not having made up her mind by the time the sun is low enough for us to drive around. Not that I blame her, it's a pretty big side effect I just dumped on her.

The first eight churches are nothing more than overgrown messes and the next one is little more than some burnt timber. But when we only have a couple more addresses to check, Fred's eyes light up behind her square frames.

"It's weird for a motor home to be here, right?" My brilliant friend points out the mud covered vehicle in front of the least run down church we've found so far.

"It could just be people trying to save a few bucks...." But even as I make the suggestion, I know it's not right. They would have been gone first thing in the morning.

While Fred and the melancholy vampire discuss the odds of it being trouble, my eyes scan the dead lawn for any kind of clue. Why is the lawn dead?

All the other ones we saw had been completely overgrown. But the only thing clinging to life here is a single crab apple tree.

"Something's going on here." Liam points at the disturbingly perfect star of dead plants that takes up most of the churches property.

"I'm kind of disappointed." We still had two more churches to check. "It's supposed to be the first or last place we check. This just feels wrong."

Chuckling at the comment, Fred reminds me that we did get lost for a while. "This was supposed to be the last one we checked. But you didn't make the left turn on Burch."

Getting out of the car, both of us with an enhanced sense of smell start sniffing. Liam only picks up the general scent of people and I realize how much better my nose is.

I can pick out a few different kinds of soap and while my team gets ready to go into the church, I stop them with a shake of my head. "Wait. One of them didn't go inside with the rest."

It's faint and even another hour would have left me without a trail to follow. But getting earlier lost pays off and we find a blonde girl sitting in a park only a couple blocks from the church.

She looks up when I purposefully snap a stick under my foot. Looks about the same age as my students.

Her plain white sundress gives her a sort of juvenile appearance and she looks ready to bolt. Wild eyes watch us and so I let Fred take charge of the situation.

"Are you alright?" I hang back with Liam as she makes a slow approach, eventually reaching the wooden picnic table.

"Did he send you to find me?" Terror is intermingled with resignation in the girl's voice.

"We don't know who you are, let alone this 'he'." Confused at the pronoun, Fred keeps her words soft as she presses for more information.

Frantic fingers start drumming on the table as the worried girl tries to decide if we can be trusted. "My name is Sister Sunshine and I thought you wanted to take me back."

"Back to?" I can only assume she means the church but need to make sure.

"Father Caleb and his lies." Sunshine has tears in her eyes as she explains. "He promised we would be forgiven and could have a new start here in Sunnydale. But I don't like the way he looks at us."

We learn about the four girls who apparently decided to go home in the week since the Daughter's of Eve arrived. How Sunshine believes the creepy preacher did something to them and covered it up.

"I found Dewdrop's stuff in the dumpster and knew the Father was lying. But none of the other girls believed me." As she wipes away the tears, I finally know why I recognize her. Anne!

"We'll handle the creep, don't you worry about that." Only one Caleb I know of and that name is sending off all kinds of alarms.

Though if the First doesn't have the power to touch the world until a champion is brought back... Considering the conversation, my growing smirk is kind of out of place. Caleb should be nothing more than psychotic human.

I know the plan was to try avoiding any big names noticing me. But if the Powers are going to head this threat off at the pass, I'm not going to argue. Not like I can really make many more changes just dealing with filler.

"Who are you people?" Sister Sunshine picks up on us being here on purpose and glances between us.

"The real Ghostbusters." The words are out of my mouth before I even consider the bad timing.

It gets a few relieved giggles out of Sunshine and I decide the name could have been worse. Better than being called the Pin Pals or something even worse that makes reference to my Brachen half.

Though maybe I should have gone with the Bloodhound Gang? I don't think it's in use yet and it makes sense for a seer to use a future band name.

"If we aren't back out in thirty minutes, start a fire and call it in." Fred gives a stiff nod and escorts Sunshine to the Corolla. The whispered good luck feels like it's just for me and I can feel my cheeks heating up.

"Angel and Allen will take care of it, don't wor-" She tries consoling the distraught teen.

"You need to make up your mind about who you want to be." Once the girls are out of earshot, I lead Liam towards the back door of the church. "I'm not wasting my time if you just want to be half a man."

So far I'm the only one he tolerates the name Liam from, with both of my roommates stuck calling him Angel. It might be easier for the guy. But it's not going to help his social readjustment at all.

"It's just not something I ever considered." He watches for onlookers as I snap the lock with a quick flick of my wrist. "Being treated like a man is something I thought I didn't deserve anymore."

"You fight against your urges every second you exist." I can feel my own instincts telling me to chase after random smells sometimes and can't imagine how much worse it must be for someone cursed. "Apparently that's the bar for being a decent guy."

Liam's nose picks up the same scent of blood and his eyes narrow as we approach the stairs to the basement. "The girls aren't scared. Why?"

"Cult indoctrination is a terrifying thing." He doesn't argue, his face grimacing with more understanding than I want to imagine.

"What's the plan?" Waiting for me to open the door, Liam has his fists clenched with determination to make a positive difference.

"I want this guy alive." If it's really the same Caleb, I'm bring him to Los Angeles tonight. Let the Watcher's pull every damn secret they can out of the monster.

Blinking at the sudden command, Liam understands I'm not saying everything. "You know something about this guy."

"The thing he worships..." Fear boils inside me and coats my rage with it's toxic essence. "I have no idea how to even approach stopping it."

"That bad?" It seems Liam is better able to handle a hopeless situation.

We follow the smell of blood and it gets strong enough to overpower everything else. When we find the source, the sight has me retching.

The bodies of each girl have been arranged like runes. The blood used to trace symbols on every spare inch of wall.

I'm disgusted with myself for being able to tell it's fresh and Liam takes over the search for clues. "Each apple has a single bite. It must have put them in a trance for the sacrifice."

"But Caleb's not here." I hate stating the obvious and yet I have no idea where the preacher could have gone.

He doesn't move into the vineyard until everyone is fleeing Sunnydale in droves. I highly doubt we'll find him digging.

"Are you sure about that?"

I have no idea how he did it without being noticed. But Caleb is blocking the doorway with a devilish smirk on his face and a bloody knife in one hand.

 

[Flightless Man]

Chapter 26: That Bites​

I know the knife dripping with crimson is the least dangerous part of the scene and yet it's where my eyes are instinctively drawn to. Not the blood splattered black Geneva gown or Caleb's manic sneer beneath a mop of brown hair that wouldn't be out of place on one of the Beatles.

"Now what are two fine lads like yourselves doing here in our master's home?" Caleb's smug words are punctuated with each step towards us. "A vampire and a half breed should begging me for a chance at salvation."

Keeping my eyes locked on on of the most dangerous people I know of in both series, I don't see the bodies begin to writhe behind me. All I can focus on is how completely unprepared for this I really am.

"You did all of this?" Noticing my own hesitation, Liam takes charge with a growl full of of deadly intent.

"From such an exquisite artist as you Angelus. I'm touched, really." Mock gratitude flashes across the preacher's face. "But I'm afraid I can't take all the credit. I only showed my brothers how to perform the sacrifice."

Brothers? Does he mean the blind guys? "The Harbringers?"

Caleb's eyes snap onto my own, his eyes shining with curiosity at such knowledge. "Well aren't you well informed."

"And aren't you a psychotic creep." Getting a hold of my panic before it completely takes over, I reach for the bladed bat on my back.

"So quick to reach for violence..." His eyes follow my hands and his tongue clucks with disappointment. "Just remember you brought this upon yourself."

Hissing from every direction follows his mocking words and I turn around just in time to see the horror. Slithering out of the mouth of each body, is a variety of venomous snakes.

I recognize only a few, the king cobra and diamond back in particular. But I'm pretty sure the red, yellow, and black one is called a coral snake and the bright green one a boomslang.

"First to bring sin is first to feel the sting." Mocks Caleb as the snakes lunge forward and I'm forced to throw myself across the room.

"Don't let him get away!" Roaring at Liam to catch the preacher, I smash my bat into the black mamba's snapping fangs. "I've got this!"

Giving me a final glance to make sure, the vampire charges through the snakes after Caleb. With his temperature being the same as the room, only a couple of the snakes even bother going after him.

Roaring over the sound of rattling, I force my demon half to the surface for the added strength. It's not a second too soon as I feel my leg burn with the bite of a bright blue serpent.

It's almost instant pain that floods my entire body. The sensation of lava pouring through my veins is almost enough to drop me to my knees in agony.

But instead of giving in like I would have only a few months ago, I force myself through the searing pain. Swinging at everything that hisses, I lose count of how many bites I receive by the time I fight my way to the stairs.

The bodies haven't stopped vomiting new ones since Caleb worked his horrible magic. But somehow I manage to close the door behind me, panting as my lungs burn more and more with every movement.

My entire body feels like it's simultaneously on fire and coursing with electricity. Every beat of my heart just pumps the cocktail of venom through my body and brings me closer to the end.

Somehow I find the strength to force my legs to keep moving. With my vision already blurry like I'm swimming with my eyes open, I can only hope I'm stumbling towards an exit.

It's kind of funny because I'm not scared of dying. This is a world where I know some form of heaven actually exists.

I'm not sure what it takes to qualify for a good afterlife. But I'd like to think I've managed it.

Even as that realization strikes me, I'm still not satisfied. If I die today, how much did I really change?

Stumbling past the pews, my sight fades until everything is just blobby shadows. Only the glow of the moon leads me forward and toward the crack in the door it filters through like a beacon towards life.

No! Gasping with panic, I stumble to the floor and find my legs unresponsive. I'm so close.

Refusing to just lay here and die, I use my shaking arms to pull myself the last few feet to the door. But no matter how hard I try, I can't quite reach the handle.

It's only a few inches out of reach and yet every attempt leaves me even weaker. I don't feel peaceful as the coughing begins to wrack my body, only overwhelming anguish at my failure to do more than rock the boat of fate.

"How arrogant was I?" My vision has gone dark and soon my hearing begins to follow it. "Thinking I could make the world a better place all by myself."

To my surprise, I feel a pressure wrap around my chest only a few seconds after I mutter to myself. "You aren't by yourself."


The voice is faint and sounds miles away. But I recognize it instantly as Fred's and feel her start to pull.

Swimming with delirium, I can barely comprehend the two pairs of arms dragging me to safety. "Angel?"

"He took off after some guy." Fred explains, her voice ringing with a thousand bells. "I'd call him a preacher. But all that blood doesn't really make me believe it."

"My hair hurts." For some reason, that's all I can focus on right now.

Fred doesn't answer right away, her voice finally coming out with a stilted wince. "Don't worry about that right now. We need to get you to the hospital."

"Shouldn't we call him an ambulance?" Confused at why I'm being stuffed into the passenger seat, Sister Sunshine thankfully doesn't raise a concern over my face full of blue barbs.

"They don't go out after sundown. We need to bring Allen in ourselves." The adorable brunette fills Sunshine in on the oddities of Sunnydale and I realize this may be the last chance I ever get to tell her this.

Reaching over once Fred buckles herself into the driver's seat, I tap her on the cheek with a wobbly finger. "Did you know you're as cute as two buttons?" I lean in a little bit closer so Fred isn't so blurry and realize how wrong I am. "Maybe even three."

"You really are making it hard to say no." Her muttered response is low enough that I'm not even sure I heard it properly.

"Should I wait for your friend and let him know what happened?" Realizing we're leaving without Liam, Sunshine is the one to mention it with a worried voice.

"He'll put things together and meet us at the hospital." Fred's explanation is vague as she speeds towards away faster than I've ever pushed the Corolla before. "He's got a nose for these kind of things."

Once we arrive, Fred has to talk me through reverting back to my human appearance. I'm not able to do it all at once like usual and so she gets me to take it in stages.

"Let's take it slow. Just one thing at a time, alright." Fred grabs my hand and squeezes in support. "Can you pull the barbs in first for me?"

Anything for you. "I'll try."



Notes: It's a shorter one, because I'm also going to do an interlude today (I'm going to start spacing them between episodes, so every 2-4 chapters.).

 

[Flightless Man]

Interlude 3: Get Well Soon​

Two awkward teens roll up to one of the tables outside the mall, hopping off to join the pair of girls already waiting with open books. Xander and Jesse pass the orders and grumble at having to miss out on such a nice afternoon.

"I just spent all week on those essays." Scowling at the time already nearing noon, Xander reminds everyone he's not supposed to be seen studying. "People are going to start thinking we're brainiacs like you two."

"Well you might not have to hand them in." Jesse McNally tries to make light of the news his father shared at breakfast. "Seems like Larry may have won the bet. Doyle's came into emergency last night with over a dozen snake bites."

While Willow Rosenberg and Amy Madison wince, Xander slams his fist on the table with a frustrated growl. "That's not fair! I actually did the assignment this time."

"You've never cared this much before." His oldest friend wrinkles her brow in concern and reaches over to check for a fever.

Shrugging in an attempt to play off his concern, Xander mumbles just loud enough for Willow to hear him. "Mister Doyle told me I reminded him of himself. If I don't pick up my grades, I'll end up in high school for the rest of my life!"

The last part is yelped loud enough to get chuckles out of Amy and Jesse. Even Willow has to hold in a few giggles at the idea of Xander teaching.

"How hard was it to write an essay praising Cordelia?" Prods Amy with a glint of something unspoken in her eyes.

"Way easier after I wore myself out on the mean one," Xander admits, shaking the untamed mat he calls hair along with his head. "Even decided to go back and soften up a few of the insults once I was done."

Giving Jesse a curious look of her own, Willow asks about his own week with Tucker Wells. "You still haven't let me look at yours. Did you finish it yet?"

"Yes Mom." Reaching into his bag, Jesse pulls out a binder containing the essay with an unreadable expression. "Got it finished last night."

"He do something weird again?" Xander catches the look and pries like any 'good' friend would. "Cause the only thing I can remember about Tucker, is when he thought it would be funny to bark like a dog."

"It was second grade." Reminds Willow, her lips curling in barely concealed amusement.

Forced to side with Xander, Amy points out how bad it was. "Tucker did it for a whole month and half the class must have caught him trying to 'mark' his territory."

"Hey, take a look." Jesse catches sight of two fellow students with trays from the food court and waves them over when they see no other empty spots. "Can you believe Jonathon got a date before any of us?"

"She said it was a really nice essay," Explains a grinning Amy as she sees the mentioned boy walking over with Marcie Ross. "No one had ever said such nice things about her."

"Doyle confuses me. He's nice I guess and yet he seems to be the Troll's only friend." Adds Amy as she slide over to make room. "Doesn't that make him evil by default?"

"Snyder only gave three detentions this week." Thinking back on the normally cruel vice principal's behaviour, Willow is forced to admit he wasn't quite so bad. "Maybe he was just lonely?"

"Hey, thanks for letting us sit down." Greeting the table, Jonathon Levinson lets his date sit down first.
"The place is packed today."

Once the return hellos have been handed out, Marcie nervously tries to start a conversation with the teens who ignored her last week. "Have any of you been listening to the new radio show?"

"Lorning all about Music?" Surprising Marcie with his enthusiasm, Jesse spins to face her eagerly. "It's awesome! I'm going have every girl in school loving me after the talent show."

"Wait..." Amy smirks at Jesse, thinking back to last night's show. "Did you call in and request 'I've had the time of my life' last night?"

Blushing right to the tips of his ears at being found out, Jesse is forced to admit the truth. "It's been Willow's favourite movie since forever. I thought a girl would know what other girls like better than me."

"My dad came home complaining about it on Tuesday," Admits a slightly uncomfortable Xander. "So I knew it was something I had to listen to. Jesse's the one who got hooked."

The teens tease the blushing McNally for a few more minutes and only stop when Jonathon mentions the stranger parts of the show. "What about the other stuff? You know, the magic and demons he talks about?"

"Jon, it's just showmanship." Confident in his words, Xander tries to ease the shorter boy's nerves with a joke. "He's like Elvira. But you know, without the boobs bigger than my head."

Amy watches her friends for any sign of being in the know and sighs when she fails to find any. But with the growing tension at home, she doesn't have anywhere else to turn to.

"What if it was real?" With trepidation soaking every word, Amy clenches her fists to stop them shaking.

"I'd probably pee my pants a few times a day," Jesse chuckles uncomfortably.

"Amy?" Noticing Amy's expression of torment, Willow realizes something wrong is being left unsaid. "Do you need to talk about something?"

The blonde shakes her head and refuses to let her tears start to fall. "You aren't going to believe me." It's completely crazy to even think about it.

"People call me stupid all the time." Xander raises a hand and smirks at the worried girl his friends have been spending more time with lately. "You can probably get me to believe anything you want. Like the time Willow made me think the pet store was shaving the naked mole rats every night."

"They don't?" Between him and Willow, Jesse's eyes bug out in betrayal. "But that's what I've been telling my sister for years."

Reaching around him to smack Xander on the arm, Willow glares at him furiously. "You said you told him!"

"I uh..." Xander tries to hold in a grin. "Forgot?" But he can't even keep a straight face for the length of his sentence, breaking into a smirk at his several year con.

"If anyone laughs, I'm leaving." Preparing herself for ridicule, Amy starts to explain what her home life is like. "You know how strict my mom is, right Willow?"

The redheaded computer nerd bobs her head in quick agreement. "Yeah."

"Well now she's getting even worse. Mom has been reading Grandma's old books and they really freak me out." When the worst reaction is Jesse's muttered 'really, Amy almost sobs in relief.

"Worse than making you live on chicken broth and carrots?" Remember many afternoons of baking brownies with her, Willow is worried it's approaching Xander levels of bad parenting.

"I think my mom is trying to steal my body." The raw terror in Amy's voice is enough to stop anyone from laughing.

 

[Flightless Man]

Chapter 27: Slow And Steady​

Waking up to the steady beeping of machines all around me, I'm fully aware the bed isn't the one I claimed for myself at Ted's. How many times has Fred saved my life now?

My head is still too hazy to actually count the times. But I'm pretty sure we're even at this point.

Ignoring the voices of nurses on shift as they filter through the hallway outside my room, my aching eyes are very grateful the lights are off.

Catching sight of someone curled up in one of the green chairs that I know from personal experience are uncomfortable as all hell, I'm disappointed when she rolls over. Fred doesn't have blonde hair.

Liam at least gets to kiss. What did I do to deserve this kind of isolation?

The grunt that sneaks out of me as I try readjusting, wakes an ecstatic Sister Sunshine up. Her sudden shout over me has me whole body filling with warmth.

"Fred, he's awake!" The girl I know best as Chantarelle rushes to my side and pours me some water. Get out here!"

Sunshine's wearing some of my spare clothes and she catches me staring at my signed KISS shirt being stretched. At least Gene seems happy about it.

Muffled curses come out of the bathroom and are followed by a flush. "He was in a coma for three days, Allen couldn't wait two more minutes?"

Emerging from the bathroom is a completely exhausted Fred. The dark rings under her eyes are thicker than a raccoons and I can't believe she's still up and about.

"Hey..." My croaking voice makes me blink in surprise and has Sunshine pouring me a refill.

"The doctors said it's a miracle you survived so many bites," Explains the genius glaring at me. "They just had a few doses of the right anti venom on hand and only got two more from the zoo."

"I was the only thing warmer than the room. Wasn't getting out without at least a few piercings." Another groan escapes as my aching bones try to distract me.

Just relieved I avoided getting a Prince Albert. That really would have been agony.

"What happened with Caleb?" I was expecting him to beat the shit out of us, not the whole serpent summoning thing.

"Liam chased him a few blocks." Fred gives me a worried look, biting her bottom lip nervously. "But the creep vanished near Restfield Cemetery."

Well so much for staying unnoticed. "That's not good."

Neither girl is aware of how big an understatement I just made and Fred tries getting me to look at the silver lining instead. "The two of you stopped the ritual from being completed and Liam called the cops."

"Hey..." It took a couple times for me to notice and I stare at Fred with bemusement. "You're calling him Liam now."

"Said he didn't need the name Angel anymore." Smirking down at me, her chestnut eyes twinkle with relief.

"He told me that I could have it if I wanted." Sunshine lets out a light giggle and rejoins the conversation.

"Huh?" Shocked into a stupor, I barely manage to vocalize a question.

Ducking her head when I glance over with surprise, 'Angel' takes a few seconds to regain her voice. "You're the bravest people I've ever met and I really just needed to borrow some of it for a while."

"What are you going to do?" Positive the runaway is still in her early teens, I find myself relieved when Fred answers for the shy girl.

"She's staying in our spare room until Liam leaves town," Explains Fred with an intent look I can't quite decipher. "And I'm going to need you to get her enrolled when you go back to work."

It wasn't a question and that makes me raise an eyebrow in response. "What happened to not telling me what to do?"

"That was before you asked me out." Staring me down, Fred makes it clear this is one of the conditions.

"What grade?" Not actually bothered by the 'command', I roll over and give Angel my warmest smile.

Shock fills her face at first and is slowly replaced with a grin as my acceptance sinks in. "Eleven."

After a few more questions about when she ran away from home, I have to let her know she's probably better off repeating the grade. It doesn't seem to bother her much though and she instead directs her questions towards how she can repay us.

"Do your own dishes?" When I glance to Fred for any further direction, I get nothing but a shrug. You said it's just until Liam leaves and that time table just got moved up.

"That's it?" Disbelief is pouring out of the girl with too many names for me to count.

"I'm a teacher. It's kind of my job to make sure you get an education." But if that's the case, I probably shouldn't just let you go live by yourself in a city like Sunnydale. "But don't worry about moving into Liam's creepy apartment. We have a room and you can stay as long as you like."

Coughing to draw attention her way, Fred makes sure the newly named Angel understands. "He's already given away his apartment and a whole hotel in Los Angeles. Lorne's getting the whole basement rent free and I haven't actually paid mine yet, so don't even think about worrying."

"Thanks..." When she finally accepts the offer, Angel climbs to her feet awkwardly. "I'm going to go find the nurse and let him know they need to call Guinness."

While the runaway teen heads out into the hallway, I stare at Fred with wide eyes. "Is she serious?"

"No. The doctor is already convincing himself you only got bit a couple times." Shaking her head, Fred has to hold in a yawn.

That just makes me snort at. "Probably be recorded as nothing more than a bee sting by the time I check out."

"If this is going to work out..." She walks over and stares down at me with concern. "You have to stop charging into danger like an idiot."

"Brain melting headaches aren't going to scare you off?" Trying to keep things light, I'm surprised at her sudden scowl.

"Not in the slightest." Fred's arms cross and her brow furrows intensely. "But having you maybe die every time you get a vision? That's not something I can handle."

Missing the point, I fail at easing her worries. "I'm getting better at fighting."

"But you don't care if you get hurt..." Squinting at me through watery eyes, Fred starts listing all my close calls. "You got bit by the Boretz, nearly killed by Lothos, and now this? It's only been two months since I met you and you've almost died three times already!"

"So if I promise to start being more careful?" Hope is rising inside me as I feel my cheeks heating up to match Fred's own scarlet blush.

"We can start taking things slow." Uncrossing her arms, Fred reaches down to grab my hand. "If you can find a solution to Liam's curse, we can figure out a way to lock down the visions."

The memory of two golden siblings flashes in my mind and I can feel a smile begin to grow. "I think I know where to start."

Next week when I go for my magic lessons with the Maclays, I just need to make a stop at the Oracles. Find out what will actually transfer my visions and if I have any kind of control over it.

"Liam needs to start packing." If the First is aware of me, I can't risk it sinking hooks into the vampire.

 

[Flightless Man]

Chapter 28: Waste Not, Want Not​

Turning to Angel and her new clothes courtesy of a shopping trip with Fred, I give her the most supportive smile I can. "You want to wait for a few more minutes?"

"Liam said I could only have his name if I was brave." Grabbing her jean clad knees to stop her hands from shaking, she takes a few deep breaths to calm herself. "It's just high school. I can do this."

"Just come and find me right away if you see anything weird going on." Reminding her about what I said last night, I get out of the car once she braves the student body by opening the passenger door.

Nodding to herself, I can just barely her some mumbled words of self encouragement. When she's ready, I lead her through the crowd very astonished by my return.

"I'll talk to my smartest student after class and see if she's free to help catch you up." Which also gives me a perfectly reasonable excuse to get the tech genius around the robot. "Just remember what we talked about."

It's none of the students business what happened to the girl and I know Flutie isn't the greatest at keeping secrets. So I'm just going to use his and Snyder's expectations against them.

"Witness protection." Her lips curl in bemusement.

"But only after we pretend to mess up the 'public excuse' first." Even Flutie will notice something is up if I just blurt it out.

"I'm Ted..." Angel frowns as she tries to remember the last name. "Buchanen's daughter?"

Nodding in relief, I remind her what the 'connection' to me is. "And I'm the son from his first marriage, here in Sunnydale to look after my little half sister. You know, since dad mysteriously disappeared." Should cover any casual questions about why we look so different.

A very happy secretary waves us right on to Flutie's office and his morning meeting with Snyder. Both look visibly pleased at my presence and Flutie jumps to his feet to pump my hand eagerly.

"Allen!" The relief on his face is encouraging until I realize he's probably just happy to not need a replacement already. "Hope you bought us all some lottery tickets with that luck of yours."

"Found a troublemaker already? I don't recognize this one." Snyder peers at my ward with curiosity and seems to holding back a sneer.

"Angel's my uh..." Making a show of looking up, I pretend to mouth something. "Half sister."

The normally affable principal narrows his eyes. "Really?"

I put up a token attempt to convince the pair. But once Snyder mentions seeing her face in the news, I let out 'frustrated' growl.

"That was a mistake." Now 'forced' to explain the 'truth', Snyder's expression actually softens a fraction when I explain about the serial killer Caleb.

"I was close enough to do something. But you can't talk about this with anybody else." My eyes lock onto Snyder's and he definitely notices who I care about convincing. "The Mayor wants things orderly and I intend to keep them that way." His back straightens in what I assume to be pride as I lie my ass off.

"Well I can finish filling her application out and bring Angel to class." Flutie points to one of the chairs in front of his desk. "You have a class to teach Mister Doyle."

Following me out into the hall with a half grin, Snyder wastes no time filling me in on what happened during my five day weekend. "We lost another four students and a bus driver. But no one important."

"Hey!" Suddenly stopping as I notice a commotion, Snyder has to go onto his tiptoes to see what drew my ire.

The crowd parts as I stomp towards the water fountain and the bullying taking place. "Mister Blaisdell. You do know we live in California, correct?"

"Yeah?" He let's go of Jesse's neck and allows the soaked teen to escape to his friends.

"And you know we're under a constant water conservation notice?" I'm not sure if it's a difference between my old life and this one. But signs are all over the state and I saw plenty more on the way to Louisiana.

"Um..." Larry stammers uncomfortably as my glare drills through him to Snyder's glee.

Nodding as if he gave an actual answer, I start pacing before the nervous jock. "Correct. So why are you wasting precious water on pranks, when you know expensive each litre is?"

"But the water fountain is free." Deciding he has some kind of a spine, Larry finally starts speaking up for himself with his usual swagger returning.

"Is that so Vice Principal Snyder?" Turning to my coworker for support, I'm a little perturbed by his eagerness to punish. "How much does it cost the school to keep them all running for the students?"

"I have a better idea Mister Doyle. Why don't we let our waster of water figure it out himself during detention this afternoon."

I know it's mostly misdirected frustration at Caleb escaping. But I let my pettiness take over and I return my scowl to Larry.

"What a splendid idea. Only..." With a show of grimacing, I give a slightly kinder alternative. "I don't think it's fair for either of us to be forced to stay after school with him. So how about we give Larry here a choice, like the responsible adult we're supposed to be turning him into.

"What do you have in mind?" Watching me closely for any sign of sympathy, Snyder hover like an angry wasp.

Grinning at the closeted bully, I wink as discreetly as I can. "Well Larry can do the assignment tonight and I'll check it tomorrow or Larry can repay the school for the money he wasted."

"We aren't allowed to bill the students, I already tried that." Shaking his head, Snyder misinterprets my intent.

"But we can make them do manual labour." I point to the nearby library and allow my grin to grow the slightest amount. "You can spend lunch time helping the librarian or you can have some extra homework tonight."

"Ooh. I need to remember that." The cackles inside Snyder's head can practically be heard by everyone and I'm already fearing how this will go wrong.

"I'll help in the library!" Quick to make his choice, Larry scampers away with his friends.

Snyder promises to save my 'usual' spot at lunch and stalks off to patrol the halls. But while he fulfills his strange obsession with enforcing the rules, I enter my classroom to the sound of groaning.

"Fine, I guess he really didn't die." One of smoker kids pulls out a pair of crinkled twenties and hands them to his friends. "First time for everything."

Ignoring the blatant gambling, I point to the tray on my desk with a tired sigh. "Hand in the essays and we can get started."

I have to check the paper on my desk more than a few times to make sure I get all the boxes lined up properly on the chalkboard. But when I have the crossword transferred as neatly as I'm going to, I tell the class they have until the bell to solve the puzzle.

When Willow gets the first four answers right with no one else putting up a hand, I pull her out of the game and give her the chalk. Once she's out of the way, the rest of the class is forced to start thinking for themselves.

While the students try to win the box of Oreos before the class ends, I go mark every essay with quickly raising eyebrows. Everyone always said the cast of Buffy was using dialogue to advanced for high school.

But damn... these kids all have extensive vocabularies. I couldn't justify giving a single kid a failing grade, even if I wanted to.

 

[Flightless Man]

Chapter 29: Perceptions Shape Us​

The bell rings and the students start hustling into the hall, making me call out to one in particular. "Miss Rosenberg, a moment please."

"Yes Sir?" Oh god does that make me feel old.

Her gaggle of friends is loitering around the door, with Amy shooting me frustrated glances every few seconds. Even though I'm intrigued to notice both Marcie and Jonathon included, I give my full attention to the eager red head.

"My sister is starting school again and I was really hoping my brightest student would be able to show her around. Maybe help her get caught up on some of her other subjects?" It's not like I can really bribe her with extra credit and so I lean on Willow's kind heart.

Like the amazing person she is, Willow even promises her friends will help. "I don't want her to know I asked. So since even Snyder says you're a good egg, I think I can trust you with this."

Opening the envelope I hand her, Willow is shocked to find five hundred dollars worth of gift cards. Each one is for something at the mall and is in a wide enough variety to keep all seven entertained for an afternoon.

"I have to say, you all impressed me." Locking eyes with a surprised Xander, I hand him back his already marked essays. "Especially you Mister Harris. I was expecting all the creative insults, but the praise was positively poetic."

"Really?" Shocked at being openly praised, Xander shows off his pair of A's with a growing smile.

Nodding at the joker, I remind him they are being averaged so he and Cordelia don't have an unfair advantage over anyone. "You should really be using some of those lines at the Bronze. You might actually get a few dances out of it."

"... I got an A." Smug as can be, Xander doesn't seem to be listening anymore.

"But now I know what you're all capable of." Grinning at the other teens still paying attention enough to grow wary, I notice Jesse is the one who looks ready to bolt. "I better not be handed any assignment I have to mark lower than sixty eight percent." It's the lowest test I've graded so far and that's the standard I'm holding everyone to.

"Dude." Jesse shakes his head in confusion. "I can't tell if you're a cool teacher or scarier than Snyder."

"Why can't I have layers?" Shrek isn't out yet, so why not steal the most recognizable line in it. "I'm like an onion."

"Well thanks for, you know..." Suddenly awkward, Jesse motions toward his still damp shirt.

Before he can say something that will get Xander to laugh, I cut him off with a wink. "Stopping you from wailing on Larry? I saw that look in your eyes and I wasn't in the mood to call another ambulance."

"You almost got in a fight with Larry?" The shortest among the teens claps excitedly at the idea.

"Hitting him in the throat may have dropped the jerk." Playing along to save his ego, I start feeding Jesse the answers. "But that probably would have gotten you sent to the big boy jail."

Suddenly aware this favour might take more than a few days, Amy speaks up from the back of the crowd. "I don't want to be rude. But how long do you want us to show Angel around?"

"Until she makes some friends of her own." Considering they just doubled the size of the group and you're a recent member yourself, why is one more girl a problem? Trying to keep the gender ration even or something?

The only people I really know anything about in her own grade are Devon and Oz. But I don't really want to turn Angel into a groupie, so this is my best option for friends I know aren't going to sacrifice her.

Once they agree, I spend the rest of my day just enjoying the lack of urgency. Not even a strangely pleasant lunch with Snyder is enough to shake off the good mood dating Fred has brought me.

It's only when he mentions the two new staff members starting next week, that I really start to pay attention. "New coach is supposed to be a Russian champion. He's going to make sure we win at least one medal next year."

Turning over his shoulder to point at the other 'athletes' in the room, Snyder's glare could cut diamonds. They must think my resting bitch face is agreement with the insults and the three coaches try to out sneer us.

Instead of thinking the situation through like I know a responsible adult should, I retaliate instantly by turning the heat of my sneer up to blue sun levels. Used to being able to group up on the vice principal, the trio are taken aback when I back up the troll.

"What are you staring at?" Annoyed at my good day's disruption, I don't wait for Snyder to say anything. "You coach extra curricular, we teach required subjects. Who's replaceable?"

Snyder's amused guffaw is more than enough to let me know I crossed a line. But instead of apologizing, I give the triad my most intense stare.

The one in the middle who coaches football is about to lift his massive gut off the couch. Only to drop back down when I point at his mug and tap at my nose. I can smell the tequila from here you idiot.

"Thanks." Giving me a grateful look, Snyder keeps his voice low enough to be unheard. "No one here seems to give me any respect except when I get angry. It's nice to know someone else understands how hard it is to keep order around here, Flutie just lets them walk all over him."

"I think you might need to tone it back a little." Shrugging at the scowls I know are being directed at my back, I decide this is probably my best chance to make some headway with the guy. "Right now the students have no reason to be good except for fear. But that only works until they hate you more."

He pretends to gag at the idea. "I'm not trying to be friends with my students. I'm just supposed to make sure as many graduate as I can and the mayor will make me transfer me out of this hellhole after the centennial."

"Well if you set expectations and students actually manage to meet them..." Staring at the balding man, I hope he sees my point. "That should be rewarded and it gives the less pig headed an easier path. We both know how lazy people are."

"True." Snyder seems to finally be considering the idea. "That would give me more time to focus on the ring leaders."

Since you've as much as admitted to being an agent of the mayor, aware of the true evils or not, I can use that to my advantage. You aren't going to waste Wilkins' time with this.

"I'm just glad I'm not assigned to this place by myself." Matching Snyder's whisper, I lean in across the table. "You keep things calm and I'll keep them safe. That way the big guy gets what he wants."

Hopefully that keeps the mayor from sticking his nose in my business until after the Master is dealt with. Caleb and the First are already on the loose and I really don't like the idea of rushing ahead any more big bads.