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

[Flightless Man]

Interlude 10: Crossing Paths​

The grim realization that he doesn't deserve the chance to be happy settled in Liam's gut as the days of fruitless pursuit piled on. Allen had one simple job for me and I completely screwed it up.

Even after Whistler told him where to go, the Irish vampire was unable to walk away from the first time he had been counted on in decades. Faith must be so scared right now.

The lack of rain is the only reason the girl's incredibly tantalizing scent still provided a trail to follow. With the biker's plan to travel only at night, enough to convince Liam it's a fellow vampire he pursues towards Ohio. One of Trick's goons must have grabbed Faith.

All because I got careless. After the taillight a few cars a head signals, the vampire with a soul follows them into the rest stop.

Complete with a picnic area that seems to be used often and a beach along a slow running river, Liam turned off his lights only seconds before the bike's rumbling died. The well maintained site even has a large brick building that doubles as both showers and a bathroom, with Faith making a mad dash towards it.

Strangely the driver didn't give chase, instead pulling a tent out of his saddlebags while Liam lurked in the darkness.

The wind changed direction and brought the unknown rider's odour right to the vampire. He's not a vampire!

Shocked to hear a heart beating in the teen's chest, Liam found himself at a lose. What the hell is going on?"

"You've been following us for two states..." Pulling a wooden stake out of the tent bag, the rider's defiant words are directed into the shadows. "Let's get this over with before she's done showering."

"What are you doing with Faith?" The question about the as of yet unnamed Pike's nature, hangs unsaid under the starlight.

But it is very much implied by the defensive posture the rider takes on as he refused to provide helpful details. "Keeping her safe from vampires."

The rider pulled out a small yellow device that looks an awful lot like a drill minus the bit. It gets pointed at Liam for only a few seconds with the leather clad rider letting out a growl as he checks a display.

"Room temperature." The infrared thermometer is replaced with a hatchet and Pike prepares to face of with the vampiric stalker. "That means you're one of Trick's boys."

Despite Liam's attempt to defuse the situation with mere words, the terrified teen threw himself into the fray. The rapid pace breathing and hammering heartbeat of the teen is all it takes for the vampire to hold back.

Instead of breaking the boy's wrists to disarm him, Liam settled for slapping the sharp objects to the ground. This wasn't enough to break Pike's spirit though and he dropped his shoulders for a nearly perfect tackle.

It worked and let him bring the vampire to the dirt. But once locked in a grapple on the ground, the teen from California rapidly became aware of his idiocy.

"What was that supposed to accomplish?" Confusion filling him at such an amateur mistake, Liam carefully manoeuvred his underage foe into a headlock. "If you know what I am, you should know how much stronger I am than you."

A girl's cough alerted the pair to Faith's return, the stake's tip pressed firmly against the vampire's back. "It was supposed to distract you long enough for me to do this!"

Rage and grief are intermingled in her voice as she shoved the stake into the vampire's back. His hasp of pain brought smirks of satisfaction to the duo.

Either her emotional state or inexperience ended up being the only reason Liam doesn't get turned into dust. The wood slammed against the vampire's rib cage and was diverted the few inches needed to keep him existing.

A roar of agony emerged from the vampire suddenly in game face. The increased strength is more that enough for Liam to keep Pike pinned with one arm.

The free hand snaked backwards to clamp down on Faith's wrist, the force just shy of what would be needed to cause a fracture. "Don't do that again..." The hiss of rage was left hanging for a few moments. "It really hurt."

"It was supposed to kill you!" Screams the pissed off preteen as she swung the hatchet for the vampires exposed wrist with all her might.

With a snap of the targeted appendage, Liam tosses her into the bushes nearby. In an attempt to buy time for an explanation, he holds the boy up as a very clear hostage.

"Enough!" Roared an exasperated vampire, his temper very close to exploding. "You're both going to calm down and we're going to talk this out..." He let the threat of 'or else' remain unsaid but very obvious.

"Get out of here Faith!" Ignoring his own impending death, Pike bellowed at the girl to flee.

She ignored the demand and scrambled out of the bush with only the stake still in hand. "He followed us this far, I'm not getting much farther by myself."

"I don't want to hurt either of you..." To the pair's disbelief, Liam carefully lets go of his hostage.

"Feeling's not mutual," Admits the grumbling Pike as he rubbed feeling back into his shoulder.

"Whistler didn't say anything about help." Doubt coloured Pike's voice as he confronted the apparent 'friendly' vampire. "Feels like he would have mentioned you."

His turn to be stunned, Liam tried not to let his face reveal the fact. "... Whistler's not really great at giving all the details."

Trading details of the balance demon, the two guys eventually came to an understanding. Though Liam is careful not to reveal his own part in Faith's forced flight from Boston.

But he does let them know about his own guide being based in Sunnydale. "He's the one who wanted me to check in on Faith."

"What's so special about me?" Conflicted at the idea of being special and that being what got her family killed, Faith tried not to blame her supposed protectors. "I'm just a girl."

"You have a lot of potential..." Liam offered with a frown, taking a few seconds to realize that's pretty much all Allen told him. "Not really sure for what though."

"Whistler just told me to get her to Robin in the woods." Shrugs the conflicted teen as he racks his mind for a reason why Benny couldn't have been a nice vampire like this one. "But he hasn't told me which forest to check. Just that it's somewhere in Ohio and I'm supposed to bring the girls to this Robin chick."

 

[Flightless Man]

Chapter 55: Out For Drinks​

The way Russel hesitates after asking is enough to stop me from turning the desperate guy down out of hand and actually consider the invitation. A few drinks after work should be fine.

The girls have self defence today, it's not like I'm needed at home until after seven. "You care if we have a 'regular' crowd when we shuffle in? Or is it alright if I bring you to my regular place?"

But the second Jenny overhears that part, she gets an intrigued expression. She holds off from joining the crowd of students heading home for the day and waits for the offer to be extended.

"You two actually know how to have fun?" Disbelief fills each chuckle. "Oh, I need proof of this."

"Just be careful talking to strangers." Willy doesn't have the friendliest clients and the vice principal is more than capable of pissing someone off. "I really don't want to get in another fight. Willy is going to start making me pay for furniture if I keep breaking stuff."

That is of course the same moment a troublemaker is being led past the teacher's lounge. With Jack O'Toole letting out impressed remark I know will be spread around campus by morning.

"A teacher who gets in bar fights?" The leader of one of the local gangs cackles to himself as he's escorted into the office. "Oh, that's awesome!"

"I hate that bastard." Grumbles Russel with a shocking amount of hatred. "His dad was just as bad when we went to school. Thought it was funny to have his girl say something nice to me, just so he had a 'reason' to run me up the flagpole."

Jenny doesn't change her mind by the time we reach my van and it seems to have left Russel dumbfounded. "You aren't going to suddenly remember you have something better to do?"

Ignoring the judgmental tone, Jenny gives the strict man conspiratorial look. And she actually knows how low to keep her voice, if she want's me not to hear.

"Really?" Suddenly excited, Russel doesn't even know to try hiding his response. "I guess it's fine to stay out a little late. As long as Allen can scare off anything dangerous."

"I'm not some kind of guard dog..." I don't mind joking about my nose. But it's actually starting to piss me off when I hear other people direct the comments my way. Really given me a dose of sympathy for Gunn and his friends.

Russel's face twists into his closest attempt at an apologetic look. "And I don't eat babies. But I'm still going to hear Chief Munroe suggest it every time we have a meeting with the Mayor."

Confused at the byplay between us, Jenny has her ears trained as we pile into my van. With her silence, Russel even seems to forget her presence momentarily.

"Are you going to be coming to the next meeting?"

Fear floods my body as I try not to visibly react. "... I guess I probably should."

I can't keep telling Russel I'm working for the Mayor and not meet the guy. In the show, he made it very clear to Trick that he doesn't like a bunch of unbidden favours.

"When is it?" That would get me close to Wilkins so I'm ready to take the guy out. Probably be a good way to find out the power players in Sunnydale too.

Russel's answer has me frowning. Though I do eventually agree to go with him on the seventh. Not very much time to plan this out, this will be risky.

Can I actually trust Russel? Or is he just the shithead Snyder all the students think?

"You do know he's evil, don't you?" Silence fills the vehicle after my sudden declaration.

"The man so nice he could be Mister Rogers' brother?" It ends up being Jenny who voices her doubt first, while Russel just stews in thought.

"The man who's been mayor for nearly a century and plans to eat everyone present at his centennial."
Please don't make me disappear you Russel, I'm really going out on a limb right now.

A growl of betrayed understanding emerges in Russel's voice and I feel a seed of relief blossoming. "The one he plans to hold at graduation?"

"He sold his soul when this place was just a settlement and was the one who designed Sunnydale as a deathtrap." Either the whole truth shocks the guy into rediscovering his morals or this drive is about to take a deadly turn. "Even set up a spell so people ignore the horrific deaths that keep piling up." I cannot let the Mayor know I'm onto him yet.

"How is one man going to eat so many people?" Logic has finally reached through Russel's shock and given him some good questions to ask. "And how do you know any of this?"

"Because the Powers don't want an Old One slithering around on Earth." Let's see if you care more about keeping order or personal safety. "So they send me skull splitting visions and expect me to figure it out. You're the first one he eats."

Paling rapidly, Russel is having a hard time picturing the kindly man doing such a thing. "What?"

"But no one can ever deny you have balls bigger than a school bus." No one can call Snyder a coward, not even his biggest haters.

"I really need a drink." More aware of the true danger I just mentioned, Jenny's hands are shaking when she unbuckles herself.

Not waiting for me to turn off the engine, Russel is already hoping out of the sliding door. "I need ten."

He isn't exaggerating and orders two pitchers while I place my bets with Willy. But this just gets him intrigued when Jenny and the bartender both duplicate my choices.

Seemingly distraught at his life's foundation being destroyed, Russel shocks me to my core by adding his own cash. "I know how much you get paid, this explains a heck of a lot."

Once he has the third drink in him, Russel stops being quite so surly. When he finishes the second pitcher without any help though, that's when I really start believing his claim of being part Troll.

How is he putting it all away? His stomach can't have anymore room. Shock fills me as he shuffles to the bar for a refill instead of the bathroom.

"I didn't think he could actually smile," Jenny confides once our coworker finally proves he's human by entering the swinging door. "Do you have a camera? I might want a day off."

After Russel rejoins us with two more pitchers, he actually lets us share one of them this time. The conversation steers towards difficult lives and impossible expectations, with Russel surprising us with his genuine distress.

"Wilkins promised to make things better..." His head hangs low, almost touching the cheap wooden table Willy stocks. "But he's just the more of the same selfish lies. The world is never going to change."

"Not unless people make it." I'm already fighting fate, what's six billion stubborn humans?

"You at least know what you need to change. How am I supposed to do anything?" The helplessness in his voice pulls on my heartstrings and I can even see Jenny wincing in sympathy.

Everyone knows the future, I just know a little bit more. "You know the sun's going to come up tomorrow and life is going to suck for a whole lot of people. It's up to you if you add to the misery or you show the world what it could be."

"How do I do that?" Raw desperation fills Russel's every word as he stares desperately across the table.

"Well..." I've been putting this off long enough and whining about not having a guide of my own. "What's your favourite song?"

 

[Flightless Man]

Chapter 56: Open Mic Night​

Lorne is giddy when I bang on his door, eagerly ushering the three of us inside for the show. But once I tell him I finally want to sing, he's even quicker to get Clem to hook up a microphone.

Does Clem ever go home? He's here every time I stop by.

"It's about damned time Bright Eyes..." The flamboyantly dressed empath shakes his finger in my face, really making me notice the gaudy gold watch. "I was wondering when you'd let me guide you. Was starting to think I should have just stayed with the Maclays since you didn't seem to need me."

Hearing a slight edge to his voice, it's hard to deny I need to visit more. "I know you don't want to get involved in this stuff. Didn't want to pressure you into anything."

"You make up your mind yet?" Ignoring the tension between the Host and I, Jenny tries to turn the conversation back to our reason for being here.

"I'm just supposed to pick my favourite, right?" Russel's ears have turned slightly pink as he realizes all of our eyes are on him.

Nodding with a soft smile, Lorne does his best to put the nervous man at ease. "It will give me the clearest reading. But you can sing whatever you're comfortable with."

"Not Pinball Wizard!" A frantic Clem's wrinkles pull back so much he takes on a menacing form by pure accident. "That's my song."

"Don't worry, I'm positive you haven't heard this one yet." To everyone's confusion I decide to sing something that isn't going to come out for another decade.

The words to 'Womanizer' are sung by memory, with my slower take on the song being purely from nerves. I know I wouldn't have been able to do this without the stop at Willy's and keep my eyes screwed tightly shut until I finish.

I don't get an applause when I dare to open my eyes. But nobody laughs either and I take that as a win.

"Did you write that yourself?" Envy shines in Russel's eyes as he assumes this is yet another thing I'm better at.

"Stole it from Britney Spears..." I know the rough time it came out and shrug as I give up the credit. "About a decade from now."

Russel closes his eyes and seems to count to five before taking the chance to open them again. "So you just know everything that's going to happen? Seems a little unfair."

"It's more like a bunch of five minute clips that I have very little context for." Lorne's smile lets me know he's aware of my white lie.

But he thankfully doesn't squeal and I know I'm going to be owing him. "This part is private, we'll be right back."

"I'll make sure they put everything back in the right order." With a watchful eye on my coworkers, Clem takes his task seriously as I'm led into the washroom.

"Just let me turn these on first." The shower and faucet are both turned on full blast to covr up the sensitive words. "Perfect. Now let's dive right into the juicy stuff."

"What am I supposed to be doing?" I've been making a lot of assumptions, steering the direction of many people as if I know best for everyone.

"Don't look so worried Cupcake. You're not as far off as you think." Smiling wide in an attempt to reassure me, Lorne reaches over to grab my trembling hand. "Teach the Champions to work together. You're all on the same side after all."

Unable to accept my task is that hands off, I shake my head firmly in denial. "That can't be it."

"You should probably know that if you keep doing all the planning..." His scarlet eyes bore into me and lay my aura bare to his special sight. "Sure you might get all the credit when things go right. But when something goes wrong, all the blame is going to fall on you."

"I can't expect the kids to make hard choices yet. They've just found out the monsters under the bed are real." I'm trying to get as many to choose the support role as I can and it's proving rather difficult.

Though considering how many of them have gone to the first three self defence lessons, I seem to be horribly failing at my goal of scaring them off. The harder I try to convince them to leave it to me, the more stubborn the teens seem to get.

"I didn't see any teenagers walk in with you tonight." He smirks at me as the truth sinks in.

"I'm still worried I might have to make Russel disappear." I can't let him tell the Mayor anything important. "Really hoping you get a good reading on him." Even if it means I have to kill a friend who hasn't actually done anything wrong yet.

Pursing his lips, Lorne gives me a look as if I'm an idiot. "You want to keep your secrets, they get to keep theirs."

"Just tell me if he's a lost cause or not." No point beating a dead horse, Lorne's not going to spill any details. "I'm not scared of some hard work, just not going to waste my time on something hopeless."

"Four more things." Holding up a closed fist, my Pylean friend lifts a finger with each point. "First, you really need to take Fred out more often."

"Uh..." Not really sure why that's so high on the list. "Alright?" But even if it's just Lorne being a good friend, I'm not going to ignore the advice I should have already been following.

His smile expands once I agree and Lorne lifts his second finger. "The more people you care about, the more people who care about you."

"That's pretty self explanatory." Quirking my lips, I try not to roll my eyes at the obvious statement.

"But you don't really seem to understand it. It seemed like you needed a reminder." His third finger goes up with it's pair of emerald siblings. "You may want to find that glove before the Slayer shows up. Otherwise it might get lost in the Post."

Holding in a groan at another vague instruction, I don't get my hopes up at getting anything more out of Lorne. "Which cemetery is it in?"

"No idea. Just know that you don't have nearly as much time as you think." Shrugging at my confusion, the music lover's final finger goes up. "And finally, I hope you don't mind having a destiny. Because you're stealing the lion's share of one."

"Hurry up!" Russel bangs on the door with desperation filling his voice. "I need to pee!"

He grumbles about the running water while we shuffle past him back into the living room. Jenny is trying incredibly hard not to laugh. But Clem has no such kindness and is slapping his knee with each chuckle.

"You pick some songs?" Ignoring the gasp of pleasure from behind the closed door, I turn my full attention on Jenny. "Or am I the only one brave enough?"

"One Way or Another." Her response is simple and confidently spoken almost as if she is daring me to say something.

Happy to disappoint in this area, I just give her a thumbs up and an honest grin. "Nice. What about Russel?"

"He said it was going to be a surprise..." Jenny's challenging look morphs into an expression of uncertainty when I bring up our pissing friend. "But to be honest, that's how I've felt the entire night. He's not the same guy he is at work."

When he emerges from the bathroom satisfied and with dry pants, Russel insists on going next. When Nine Inch Nails starts to play, I'm stunned into complete silence for the whole song.

Russel's rendition of 'Hurt', is raw and the words contain a lifetime of anguish. He's not great and yet the passion he sings with is more than enough to smooth over the rough edges.

After he finishes, Lorne is true to his word and pulls him into the washroom for his own private talk. The only information I receive either way when the door finally reopens is a nod directed towards me alone.

 

[Flightless Man]

Chapter 57: Shocking Touch​

"This is what you do?" Somehow Russel has managed to remain the most sober, looking very conflicted about where I bring us once Lorne ushers us out for the start of his show. "Loot graves?"

Can't even really call the place Liam's anymore since it's yet another place I'm apparently paying the rent on now. Willy should probably spreading out the bets to different bookies, don't want anyone halfway clever putting things together.

"I'm not selling anything I find." Slightly offended at the accusation, I spin on my heel beneath the Restfield gates. "It's really closer to bomb disposal." Or maybe toxic waste clean up.

"This thing might blow up?" With a wood axe clutched in his extremely anxious grip, Russel is at least brave enough to make sure a wary Jenny is hemmed in between us.

The shrill hiss just makes me snort, the pleasant buzz keeping me from firing back with a more sardonic response. "The glove's only going to be a problem if someone stupid puts it on."

Only one person I can think of who might be better off with the damned thing stuck on her arm for life. Not sure if it's a good thing or a shame that I have absolutely no idea where to even begin looking for her.

"Before vampires get a whiff of three humans in a cemetery..." Sneezing out the avocado green skin and thorny barbs nearly shocks Russel into dropping his weapon. "You two should spray up."

Pulling out the bottle of deer musk, I hand it over to a disgusted Jenny. "This stuff better be the synthetic kind."

"Of course not." I don't even let the grimace on her face fully form before turning it into a full blown scowl of annoyance. "Vampires can tell the difference." Liam was very clear on the fake stuff just smelling like chemicals.

"What's the hairspray for?" Jenny frowns at the extremely fragrant brand I had in the van.

"Slather your neck in really strong perfume or cologne before you go out clubbing and you're pretty much ignored by the fang faces." As long as they have a selection to choose from, vampires will ignore the foulest tasting people by a mile.

Grimacing in frustration, I can already foresee the upcoming body-spray craze being even worse than it was in my first life. "And if you smoke, kind of have an instant blowtorch if they're really hungry."

"We need to do something about the new swim coach. Preferably before he returns the teens to the Black Lagoon." Trying to keep the conversation lighter than grave robbing, I seem to fail based on the horrified gasp Jenny lets out.

"Shouldn't we be dealing with that first?" Visibly holding in her panic, Jenny settles for continuously flicking the red lighter in her hand.

"It's not urgent until the team starts to actually win." The guy still has to finish his formula and a few blood transfusions will clear the effects. "We have about a year."

Rage flows out of Russel so powerfully, he kind of looks like a leading man in the moment. "... Mutating my students? I don't think so buddy." He swings the bat a few times, his hands no longer shaking. "Think it's time I called in one of my favours and get Flutie to fire the guy."

My friend is revelling in being able to do something about the unfairness he's been faced with his entire life. But sadly I have to put my foot down.

"That just sets him loose on another school somewhere else and those kids won't have us to protect them." I'm the only one who actually knows what this coach is capable of and I can't expect my friends to help me kill him without any proof.

"Best plan I have is have you seduce the nurse. She's working with the guy and should know where to find the files." He can't be dumb enough to just have them on his school computer.

"Me?" Russel blinks as I stop in front of a mausoleum, reading the correct name once I tilt my head enough. "But you're the cool one." I hate cursive.

Grinning at her own apparently genius idea, Jenny shows I'm not the only one who thinks Snyder is an actual friend. "I actually might be able to help with that."

She explains how unsettled she was by the magical jacket's effect. With the idea of Amy helping the techno pagan turn the jacket into a less potent artifact.

Shocking them even more, I reveal one of the perks of being a drama kid. "Ted had a sewing machine, I can take care of it as long as you don't want anything too fancy."

"If we can reduce the material by turning the jacket into something like wristbands, the effect should be more like beer goggles." The way Jenny shudders really reveals her distaste for the enchanted jacket.

"Can we Shallow Hal the things?" Instead of just making anyone look better, it would be a good way to training better people. "Sorry, that's another movie that hasn't come out yet..." Neither of my friends look impressed at what sounds like a casual flex. "Could you make the effect reveal a person's inner beauty?"

Considering the idea, Jenny doesn't give me a hard no. "That should be possible. But I'll need to ask Mary about it first."

"I'm thinking just enough to make a nice person look like they've been touched up for a magazine cover." A smirk grows as I think of the reverse also being true. "And jerks will look like they haven't bathed in three months."

Checking over my shoulder and not seeing anyone watching, I bend the Von Hauptman's iron wrought gate open widen enough to slip someone small inside. "Russel, still want to help?"

"Nothing's inside?" Confidence brought on by three pitchers flows through him as he prepares to enter. "Just some spiked glove?"

"It really should be called a gauntlet." You know what, that's what I'm calling it from now on. "Just grab it so we can get out of here. I have a bad feeling about this place."

Not sure why the hair on my neck is standing on edge, I strain all of my senses to find the threat. But no matter which shadow my eyes peer into or how many whiffs of the air I take, no one is revealed to me.

"So what did Lorne tell you?" Jenny doesn't seem to care the advice from earlier was supposed to be private. "Because mine was really just life advice I should have already known. Except for the part about using the present to bring back the past, that was actually helpful."

"Pretty much the same thing..." Thinking back on my own words of wisdom, I decide some of it wasn't too personal to share. "I'm supposed to take Fred out more often. Apparently my soul knows I'm being a bad boyfriend."

"Probably a good thing I don't have to share a charge with you anymore. The Elders wanted me to get close enough to influence you, no matter what it took." She keeps her voice low enough that the grunting Russel can't hear us. "But since you've been straight with us, Uncle Enyos said is was best to listen to the Oracles."

Blinking at the admission, I have my own dumbfounded one to make in response. "... You've been trying to seduce me?"

"Not very well it seems." Rolling her eyes now that the secret of her old orders is out in the open, I get a sense that real friendship is now possible between us. "No idea how Fred got you to notice her."

Well that's easy. "She saved my life at least four times now and I like a confidant woman who knows what she wants."

A crack of electricity inside the mausoleum is followed by a bang as Russel is thrown against one of the walls. Before I can really worry about the guy's status, he's crawling out with his jacket wrapped around the Gauntlet of Myhnegon

"Ow." What little hair Russel still has is standing on end as hands over artifact to Jenny, her smirk of amusement being held back admirably.




Notes: I just fell asleep writing this last night, sorry. I'll post another one today to catch up.

 

[Flightless Man]

Chapter 58: Scoping Out The Sunset​

"The club's not actually dangerous. But it is going to become a deathtrap when someone starts to think outside the alley." Though with Ford not eligible for the same offer as in the show, I have no idea how long the place could remain safe.

"You really want to bring us inside with you?" Clem has faced a lifetime of exclusion and clearly expects my plan to fail horribly. The loose skinned demon doesn't even try to lower his voice. "Allen really needs to start being realistic about these things. If people actually knew how to be tolerant, he'd have no problem showing his real face."

That comment wriggles around uncomfortably refusing to let go of me. "I don't have a real face and I don't appreciate people telling me I have to choose between them."

I may not know much of anything about my newfound demon half. But just like in my first life, I'm not just going to let people erase half of my existence.

Abashed at my gruff tone, Clem hurries out an awkward apology before the good mood sours. "I just meant that you can actually walk into a store and pay for something before anyone screams."

"You want us to do your grocery shopping too?" Fred offers as we walk into the cleanest alley I've seen since becoming Doyle. "Just put the stuff on Lorne's list."

Blushing pink, Clem reveals how close he and Lorne have been getting the last couple months. "Kind of already have been. I'm over pretty much everyday."

"Well here at least, the kids should be nothing but supportive of how you look." Just need to give the Lonely Ones a proper introduction to the night life before I'll feel safe letting Angel come by alone. "This will be a perfect test to see if Lorne's ready for a trip to the mall."

"You know..." Trailing off as she realizes everyone is giving her our full attention, Angel swallows a lump in her throat before finishing. "If we're using the radio to get people used to Lorne. What if you went on and did an interview, tell people it's a liposuction job that went horribly wrong?"

Hope fills his posture as Clem looks over to me. "Would that work?"

"In Sunnydale?" Frowning in thought, I consider how much the citizens can rationalize away. "... Almost definitely."

As ignorant as I always am, I missed something in Clem's undertone. But Fred proves her intuition is far superior to my own when she grins at our former roommate."Ooh, we could go on a double date."

Wait a second... "Since when have those two been dating?"

"Do you pay attention to anything besides your visions?" Smirks Fred as I slip the doorman enough to cover the whole group.

"Well you have afternoons free to catch up. I'm kind of out of the loop." Reminding her who has more free time only gets a giggle out of my girlfriend. The loose curls she put in for our date really open up her face and go excellently with her own attempt to emulate the fashion inside.

Her skin tight leather pants have been painted on once again and it's taking a whole lot of effort to walk beside Fred. Her silver top is strapless and accentuates her curves in ways that make sure I know how stupid I've been for ignoring her since the move.

Xander and Amy are the only two who took Angel up on the invitation and I can't help but be curious at the sudden lives the rest have. Willow actually went over to Warren's house to study and it was willing.

Knowing they have the schematics to build a robot frame, curiosity burns as I try to figure out if Warren is still making a sex-bot. Willow's pretty naughty herself and that Doogie Howser fanfic she wrote is proof. But I'm not sure if she's ready to open up about that yet and work on robots designed for such a sole purpose.

Jon and Marcie are still in the honeymoon stage and seem to find an excuse to be elsewhere most nights. Even Jesse has plans that aren't last minute and is at the beach with his new friends on the swim team.

The witch in training seems to have taken advantage of her dad's desperation to make up for leaving her with Cathryn. The spell used to keep her father away wore off and he's been making up for years of missed birthdays.

"After the introduction is over, just make sure you don't leave until we're back to pick you up." These lonely teens need to know enough to keep out the real vampires.

"I thought you wanted to make them like us..." Clem grumbles as we descend into the bomb shelter turned into a gloomy club out of an 'Interview with the Vampire' fan's wet dream. "I'm just going to make this place smell like a barn."

Wisps of fog trail around our legs, pooling just around the edge of a slightly raised dance floor. The effect is magnified by dim yellow lights that cast massive shadows over the many corners of the club.

Our entrance is noticed almost at once by the regulars, with the whispers turning excited once they can all see Lorne. He exchanges nervous glances with Clem and forces a blinding smile onto his face.

"This place is actually decent." Hisses the empath with a wink thrown my way to make sure I know he's only teasing. "I might just have to make this my regular hang out."

"Angel!" A teen I sort of recognize from one of my classes darts over with a wide smile. "You came." His eyes finally slide over to me and become a confused frown. "And you brought a teacher."

"I'm only going to be here for five minutes." Careful to assure him the club is still safe from adults, I get the introduced 'Diego' to bring us to the stage.

It takes more convincing than I would like and it's only when Xander joins the pleading that the regular agrees. "Fine. But you better not do anything weird."

"I'll keep it short." Holding in a snort, I try not to make my opinion on the place obvious as the band introduces me between songs.

"Most of you probably know who I am." And Lorne seems to be even more popular already. "So let's keep this quick so you can go back to pretending teachers' don't have a life."

Amused voices allow me to continue and gesture for Lorne and Clem to stand beside me. "You know Lorne and this is our friend Clement. You probably think it's make up, like how all of you are just dressing up like vampires."

The crowd starts to sound annoyed at my judgmental attitude and I have to hurry before i;m thrown out. "But this is how they really look and I'm going to show you proof."

Pressure builds behind my nose and I force my demon half to emerge to shocked gasps. Whether the teens will run or listen to my words rests on a knife's edge.

"Vampires are real and so are a whole lot of the monsters you've been told are just make believe." Triumphant cries answer me and it takes almost a whole minute for the club goers to calm down. "But even though some species can be friendly, only two vampires on the entire planet have a soul. The rest are soulless demons who just want to drink you."

Before they can start denying my claims, Clem steps up to do his part. "Please don't be too scared. I'm not going to hurt anyone."

With that warning given, Clem's folds of loose skin are pull back to expose his true visage to the crowd. The screams are deafening and at least four people faint at the horrific sight, the cacophony only ending when Clem stops flexing.

"Nine out of ten demons want to eat you and vampires are the most common species you will encounter. Werewolves are a far better choice to base your obsession on." Before I can be answered with shouts of betrayal, I hurry to explain my reasoning. "Two out of three werewolves actually retain sanity for more than a year and can live normal lives."

Once I've stunned the crowd into silence, it seems like the perfect time to leave my friends the clean up. "You have any questions, Lorne and Clem will be here all night."

Looping arms with an amused Fred, the pair of us are indeed back outside before my speech reaches the five minute mark. "Ready to go bowling?"

 

[Flightless Man]

Interlude 11: Snide And Her ​

Pursing her lips in clear disgust at the tale of his childhood, Jenny ignores the smashing of metal to commiserate with Russel. "At least you got to go to an actual high school. Even if that troll kicked you out before graduation, you actually got to make friends before you turned twenty."

Roaring into the pit loud enough to drown out any possible response from Snyder, the star attraction of the monster truck rally was finally ready to crush it's foes underwheel. The 'Red Devil' launched off it's entrance ramp, smashing down on top of some strategically placed cars.

This is incredibly cathartic to watch. The thought bounced around inside the vice principal's skull, growing with each new vehicle turned into scrap before his eager eyes.

Why have I never come to one of these things before before? We have a rally almost once a month.

"Fat lot of good it did me..." Pulled back to his bleak youth, Russel reveals what happened to 'all' these friends he made. "Jennifer went missing in grade ten. They never did find a body and everyone blamed me."

He tells her how the rest of his friends in the jazz band, they all conveniently forget it was them who chose to make the pair walk home. "They said she needed to lose the weight and my face would scare away any creeps. I thought she would be fine, it was only a few more blocks."

His head hung low, Russel's long concealed grief came out in wracked sobs. His only relief at breaking down in public was that no one could possibly have heard him over the crashing trucks.

"The Mayor helped me find a place and even set me up with a scholarship." Conflicted at his formerly greatest memory being tainted by his current knowledge of the warlock, Russel's face screwed up in anguish. "He just asked me to help him keep things orderly. Promised me people would be safe if they just followed the rules."

"You must have gotten real good at denial." Very aware of how dangerous Sunnydale still is, Jenny shook her head with amused laughter.

Guilt filled the balding educator's whole body. "At first I tried to keep all my students alive. But I just wasn't strong enough to do it by myself."

"After a few years, I just tried to make sure the good kids made it to graduation..." He growled with years of pent up rage tainting each syllable. "Now I just try to scare the kids into following the rules. It means I don't have to get attached to anyone and the survival rate went up a few percent."

Jenny listened quietly until her friend's grief was released before sharing her own difficult past. "Darla still sends a childe after my people every decade or so. I had to live with my uncle Enyos after my parents died back in seventy four."

"It's not just some long forgotten memory of revenge, is it?" Understanding shone in his tired eyes as Russel showed he did in fact understand what empathy is. "You got sent to watch that one vampire because his sire wouldn't let it go either."

"Exactly. We could have let it go eventually if the bitch just let us grieve." Fury simmered just beneath the surface as Jenny paused to cheer for the 'Red Devil's triumph over the 'Thunder Lizard'. "But Darla seems to be obsessed with making the Romany suffer."

"You seemed pretty motivated after you sand for Lorne." The man with just a hint of troll blood couldn't stop thinking about his own words of wisdom.

What did he mean? 'Opening myself to love will change my life'. I've tried plenty, it's the world that rejected me each time.

Why do I need to choose between security and happiness? I'm happiest when I'm safe.

The last part was the strangest tidbit and had been wriggling around in Snyder's mind each time his eyes closed. Perceptions shape us?

"The curse on Angelus lasted a century. I don't need to waste my life watching Darla once my vengeance is complete." Smirks the woman with a hundred year old mission.

"How's the translation going?" Completely lost whenever she talks about magic, Russel is never the less extremely interested in learning whatever he can about the subject. "You need any really strange stuff for the spell?"

Relieved at how useful it is to have a seer do the shopping, Jenny's frown softens just enough to be called a smile in the right light. "Allen already picked up a pair of the only thing out of my price range."

"That uncle really wanted you to seduce him?" Russel tries not to let the envy show on his face.

"Anything it takes to make our enemies pay." Shrugged the computer teacher with no apparent problem. "Just glad Allen turned out to be a friend. Because I really don't want to find out what Fred would have done to me if I actually succeeded."

Changing the subject with a strangled gasp of air, it took Russel a moment to recover enough to get the words out clearly. "... I've been thinking about this whole swim team thing. Can't you or Rosenberg just back track the guys files?"

"If you can give us access to the school records, we should be able to find something concrete." Suddenly inspired by the idea, Jenny slapped the blushing Snyder on the back. "That's a great idea Russ!"

"Allen doesn't want to make the guy disappear without proof. I figured why not get some instead of waiting for him to do anything to our students." Even the dour Russel got caught up in the excitement of having a plan, rising to his feet to cheer along with the rest of the crowd as the surviving trucks do a victory lap.

 

[Flightless Man]

Chapter 59: Political Rivals​

"Come on Willy. We both know I could just hit the answers out of you." Trying to control my temper at the greasy man's sudden bout of stubbornness, I slide him over a slip of paper with tonight's bet instead.

Speaking loud enough that the nearest patrons will be spreading the gossip, Fred's voice takes on a dangerous tone that makes me shiver. "Take advantage of the fact that people know how much money we're making you and save yourself a black eye."

Having discovered a slight problem with my plan to shove a soul in Darla, I'm in a rush to find the four hundred year old vampire before the translation is finished. We need her somewhere secure when we perform the Ritual of Restoration or Darla will just be killed by the Master before I get my directions.

Since I've already sent Liam of on his mission to Africa, I don't actually have any idea how to find the lair under the city. Kind of a problem if I want this all over before Buffy moves to town.

"It's not her I'm worried about..." Pale with fear, Willy doesn't even bother making a crude joke. Of course that's probably because my spikes are out. "Her 'family' are kind of a big deal. I kind of like living."

That's actually fair. It's going to get out very quickly what the plan is and Willy will be a prime target for Aurellian revenge.

"What if I give you a really big game to 'bet' on?" Swallowing my doubt, I know this is the easiest way to get answers.

Scribbling down to exact scores for every single game the Red Wings will have in the Stanley Cup this year, I watch the greedy man nearly faint with glee when he snatches it from my hands. "Yeah. That should pretty much cover it."

"Where does Darla hunt?" Liam made it very clear vampires establish a territory and rarely feed outside of it.

"She's old enough to get a slice of the juicy teens." Voice low, Willy's eyes reveal his already forming plans of flight. "Darla's allowed to feed at the Bronze on Saturdays. Rest of the week she's got to make do with the tourists dumb enough to stay out after dark."

Disgusted at her sudden thought, Fred blurts it out. "It sounds like the opposite of wine."

"Blood just gets worse with age." Leaning over to reveal he's heard the entire conversation, a heavily tattooed vampire grins wide enough to reveal his fangs. "I don't even bother tasting someone with grey hair now. It's almost as bad as all this swill the Americans call beer."

His own Spanish accent really makes him stand out as someone more important than just a minion. But since his face doesn't even strike a chord of memory in me, I'm left to wonder about his possible threat level.

Harmony said in the show that it took effort to stay in game face and yet this guy has been in it since we walked in. He's got to be over five hundred if even Darla prefers to look human.

"They do the whisky alright..." Trying not to offend the unknown vampire, I offer my own recommendations. "And this close to the border tequila is strong enough to strip paint."

"Wine's pretty good." Fred offers her own opinion, holding up the glass of white with a brave face. "At least if you ignore the cheap stuff Willy dares put on the menu."

My eyes dart to the owner and his string of chuckles. "I'm not even going to pretend to be offended. Anything under four bucks is not fit for human consumption."

The conversation is tensely taken over by the unnamed vampire as he stares me down with piercing yellow eyes. "You really intend on going after Darla of Aurelius?"

"She's had four hundred years to make something of herself and she's still just a lackey. Why would I be scared of her?" Refusing to allow a shred of my intense fear into my voice, my gaze doesn't waver.

My bluster seems to be bought by the smirking corpse, who really seems intrigued now. "The Master's wrath doesn't bother you?"

"He's next." Any vampire loyal to the bald freak beneath me would react with instant violence at such a remark. When this one doesn't, I at least know he's got a different boss.

"So it is true..." Tattoo-face seems to have reached a conclusion all on his own. "The Mayor does have a seer taking care of the trash now. I'll make sure to let everyone know this one's off limits."

The way his eyes trail over Fred disgust me. Yet somehow neither of us visibly react and maintain the illusion.

"At least until it's just the real powers left in Sunnydale." The once friendly tone is replaced by a deadly warning. "Since Wilkins is making moves again, so will we."

With those words hanging in the air like a tangible threat, the vampire struts from the bar before I can even start forming a response. Who the hell does he work for and what kind of moves does he mean?

"Cabeza likes you..." Sliding over refills before I even need to ask, Willy watches the door swing closed behind the vampire. "That's not really a good thing."

"You feel like sharing why?" I'm in the dark until I get home and do some research or the Powers decide to give me a vision.

"The Mayor has political rivals and they seem to be aware of you. Shitty luck my friend." Guilt fills his voice as the New Yorker avoids making eye contact.

"Shitty luck or just you accepting bribes?" Noticing his distinct lack of bruises, I know he hasn't been roughed up in a few weeks.

Getting defensive at my own tone, Willy throws up his hands in an attempt to ward me off. "Hey now, I made them hit me the first few times. But they keep coming back and you know how much I lick money."

"Well I guess you have enough money that you don't need all of these." Growling as I reach for the bartender, he instinctively moves to protect his face.

Having no desire to even touch the slimy man right now, I grab the list I made and tear it clean in half. "That should cover my information and now I don't want to hurt you." As much.

Before I can change my mind and use my fists, Fred drags me out of the bar. "Come on, we still need to pick up the kids."

My specific demon genes mean I need to use alcohol as a digestive aid. So the two drink limit means I still blow a zero on a Breathalyzer and am perfectly fine to drive the teens home.

"I'm just glad it's a weekend. I don't want to deal with my new boss with a hangover, she's already a bitch from hell most days." Fred brings up the research post she accepted two weeks ago with a grimace directed at her demanding professor in charge of the project.

"Do anything interesting?" I know better than to ask about any specifics and keep my questions vague.

Grinning up at my lack of pressure for details, Fred just gives me a single word response filled with excitement. "Yep."

"Well tell Graham if he doesn't try to intimidate me again..." Sticking out my tongue as we reach the van, I make it clear I'm just teasing and invite her cousin to the Christmas gathering I have planned a few days before her flight home. "I guess you can invite him to the barbecue."

 

[Flightless Man]

Chapter 60: Big Decision​

Not willing to let anyone play bait with such a known danger as Darla, tonight I wait alone above the alley. At only two stories, I know it's a short enough drop to spare my knees any serious pain and am ready to pounce.

I'm not going to tell Fred about this part of the plan though. She'd just call it needless dramatics and I can't really come up with a counter argument besides it made me feel like Batman.

Forced to witness two separate feedings during my lurking on the roof above, I actually manage to aim my drop properly enough to do more than scare off the second vampire.

They may be supernaturally durable. But a vampire is just a blood demon possessing a corpse and they require simple things like functioning nerves to move.

Landing right on top of the vampire with a look inspired by the Lost Boys, the sound of his bones breaking is incredibly satisfying. Landing's a whole lot softer when I have someone to land on.

Thankfully the wails of agony are cut off as suddenly as the crippled vampire's existence. Th sharpened pool cue pierces his heart before the victim has recovered her coherency and gives me time to revert to a human appearance.

"Mister Doyle?" I recognize the shaking redhead's voice as a one of my quieter students. "What are you doing here?" One I never would have thought had the nerve to ditch her friends to go neck in an alley.

"Picking up my sister. But I figured you didn't want to get picked up by someone wanted by the police and told him to get lost." The lie is out before I even need to think about it and it makes it easy to get the girl's friends to take her home. "I think he was that guy who stole Lance's jacket. Because his face was all green and spiky."

With that bit of gossip ready to spread, the preppy girl and her friends get picked up long before I'm needed back in the alley. I also make sure to send a quick page to Jenny the moment after I see y target with her prey.

When I reclaim my perch on the roof, it's easy to let such a small change go to my head. It really doesn't mean anything.

That's what I have to keep reminding myself as the night wears on with only those two kills. They just moved to safer places.

The vampires are just smart enough to know they're not untouchable anymore. All but the dumbest are only here to lure victims back to the nest for the feeding and I know very well that Darla is no moron. Her four centuries prove she has a few brain cells.

It's almost closing time when I'm finally proven correct and Darla emerges from the club. Her prey is clearly drunk and under her charm enough to follow the apparent naughty school girl anywhere.

Expertly avoiding the alley itself, she leads the stumbling teen out onto the poorly lit street out front instead. "It's so kind of you to walk me home. My dad works the night shift so most nights are pretty lonely."

That reminder of the blonde having no chaperone at home gets the boy to through his arm around her shoulder in an attempt to look casual. Pretty sure he just needed the support to actually stay upright.

"Well I don't mind keeping you company..." The slurred words still contain a very clear message of intent as I make a careful jump to the next roof.

Rolling as I land to minimize any noise, I hopefully manage to make it seem like the pigeons I scared got disturbed by a cat instead. But to my frustration, it didn't work on my target at all.

Now wary of whatever is watching her, Darla is quick to agree with her victim's offer in a way that only makes his feet move faster. "Thank you so much. It's just, we haven't gotten all of our furniture yet and don't actually have a couch you can sleep on..."

Hint caught after only a few seconds of Darla's leering, the teen I think graduated last year is lead towards his doom. This is of course the time I choose to strike and throw myself off the roof.

The vampire hears my footsteps in time to know I'm coming. But the speed I hit her with was too surprising for Darla to avoid.

My flying tackle sends all three of us to the sidewalk hard and the drunk teen just moans on his side. At least it's hard to use dead weight as a hostage.

Darla recovers a hell of a lot faster than the other two fledglings I tried this on tonight and slashes at my face with her claws already out. "Here I was thinking the Slayer had finally come to Sunnydale. But it's just some amateur demon hunter?"

Relaxing her demonic face once she evaluates my threat, Darla takes charge of our dance with a flurry of blows. Barely able to keep up with her strikes even with my training, it's proven clear I need more than a few months to become an actual warrior.

It's only when the vicious woman goes for the throat that I decide it's time to reveal my own surprise with a sudden headbutt. The shower of blood is because of my choice to go Brachen just before the impact, the barbs tearing trenches that weep crimson all across the once perfect appearance.

Shocked at feeling pain, Darla reaches a hand up to touched her scarlet covered cheek. Rage quickly becomes her only emotion as the vampire promises my end will be agonizing.

"It's a good thing you aren't all human. I can take my time making you suffer!" Rushing at me even before he words are finished, it's only desperate instinct that makes me react.

Forced back against each of her attacks, I'm worried to realize she's actually stronger than me. Not by a whole lot though. Maybe just enough to put her in the next weight class.

It's more the fact that she bothered learning how to fight that really makes me worried for my life. I really hope I gave Jenny enough time.

"I've seen how I die..." Grimacing as I manage to block a strike with my now trembling forearm, it takes all of my willpower to utter a noise beyond screaming in pain. "It's three years after you get turned to dust."

Shock flashes across the vampire's face as she recognizes the words of a seer, letting them sink in with horror. One benefit of being around Drusilla for so long, the whole Whirlwind is very easy to be convinced of fate.

"Mine actually means something!" Probably better if I don't tell her I'm planning on changing both of those until after I survive the night.

My first punch to connect shatters her nose in another spray of scarlet and leaves her too stunned to block my second. But those are the only two clean hits I get on Darla and she quickly recovers from her shock.

Back on the offensive and angrier than an entire stampede, Darla returns my blows threefold. With my head spinning from several powerful punches, it takes me more than a few seconds to realize the storm has stopped.

Wiping blood out of my eyes without knowing which one of us it belongs to, I finally see Darla with an expression of grief. The few minutes needed for the memories to return to her passed while I caught my breath and I know we need to move fast.

Ignoring the vast pain coursing through my entire body, I take a careful step towards the distraught girl. "I can't even imagine how horrible this must be for you and I really am sorry it was necessary. But I promise you don't have to live with the memories unless you choose to."

Explaining my plan, I lay out all of the options I could come up with. "You can have your memories erased so it it's like you have amnesia. It would really be more like we reincarnated you."

Despite her overwhelming grief, Darla is able to laugh at my incredibly stupid suggestion. "... I'm just supposed to trust a man to meddle around in my head? That's exactly how I wound up like this, trusting men."

"Well we have some trained professionals ready to provide therapy and will help you find a new life after it's finished." They just aren't exactly trained in the therapy part yet.

She's just as dismissive of my plan to put her in hibernation until I can turn her back into a human. But once that idea is in the open, Darla has no interest at all in the option to put her soul in a robot.

"Give you some directions, get some therapy, and what?" Darla really has trust issues and is looking for the double cross in my words. "You want me to atone for four hundred years of the demon's sins?"

"Of course not. That's a stupid idea and if that's what I wanted, why would I offer to erase the memory of them?" My blunt response is barely enough for her to nod in wary agreement.

The Kalderash people want vengeance and they think they're getting it. But who says the spell turned out the way they think it will?" I sigh in relief when I see her finally understand the meaning of my words. "If they think the spell went wrong, that's on them for not translating it before I suggested it. They had a century to get it right."

"What do you expect out of me? You seem to know an awful lot." Disgust flashes across her face for a brief moment as she assumes me to be like the average man she knows.

"Liam has a century of sins to atone for." He fed from dozens of lowlifes and criminals during that time and let many good people die with his inaction. "But it's not because of the one he spent without a soul. It's because of what he did with it."

"You paid for your sins when Nest turned you." She recoils at the name but eventually nods in understanding. "The demon paid for hers by losing control. And right now, you're a newborn with the whole world ahead of you." And I'll do my very best to give you the one you choose.

"But if you just can't handle remembering everything..." Holding up my pool cue, I make the offer clear. "I can let you rest after you give me directions."





Notes: For anyone concerned at how fast the spell took to be translated, the show does it in 3 episodes, which is about 3-4 weeks time. Jenny has had about 2 months to do it here.

 

[Flightless Man]

Chapter 61: Unintended Consequences​

By the time Fred collects me and the vampire and we pile in, Darla's become wracked with anguished sobs. I hadn't really understood what the exact details of the Ritual of Restoration entailed and am horrified by my results.

"Liam didn't say anything about this..." No wonder he couldn't just get over his trauma in under a year the same way Spike with a soul could.

"You did make it seem like you already knew all the important stuff," reminds Fred as she races South on the freeway. "Why would he?"

Grimacing as I realize it made me come across kind of like an ass, a tired sigh escapes me. "The curse really is a perfect torture."

"It doesn't just tear a soul out of the afterlife." Voice tight with her own guilt in the ritual, Fred keeps her attention on the road to distract herself. "It makes the innocent soul remember the face of every single victim the demon killed."

"No more making fun of Liam when he gets broody." I see a vision once and it's already as much as I can take.

My champion however has seen those same crimes for a hundred years and hasn't staked himself yet. Liam really does have what it takes to make things better.

Bitterness flashes through me as I remember I'm only filling in until he returns with a secure soul. I guess that's the difference between the hero and the support staff.

The wails of distress pick up again as yet another terrible memory overwhelms Darla. But when I try to reach down to comfort her, she recoils away knowing full well I'm the one responsible for this.

"Why me?" Snapping at my hand with fangs out, Darla is determined to get answers. "Why didn't you do this to the Master and end the whole line?"

"Because even if he didn't kill himself immediately, either Luke or you would have just taken over within a few weeks." If four hundred years is this hard to cope with, I really can't even begin to imagine what a thousand's like.

"Wouldn't have worked anyway. Jenny was pretty clear that the caster needs to wish great vengeance on the target or nothing would happen." A tense Fred has actual facts instead of just my hypothesis.

Which pretty much excludes any random vampire from getting a soul until they make it so personal I wouldn't want to spare them. "Your demon wouldn't leave the Romany alone and one of them finally found her. Of course it would have been harder if you moved around a bit more."

"Wouldn't have been found if a seer wasn't looking for me," hisses Darla with a hundred unnamed emotions churning just beneath the surface of her false calm. "You're the one you chose to punish an innocent soul because you needed a map!"

The accusation stings with truth and fills me with dread as I fail to find any kind of argument. "... You're right."

"You knew what Liam was going through and you decided that-" She cuts herself of mid sentence as my response sinks in. "... You're not arguing?"

"I completely screwed you over and nothing I say is going to make you feel better about the why." Facing her cross expression with all the courage I can muster, somehow I manage to stop myself from flinching in guilt. "But I'm not going to lie to you and say I regret it. It's a sin I'll just need to atone for myself once the Master is ash."

Snorting at my declaration, Darla seems amused for the first time since the curse took hold. "Lots have tried. None have even come close."

"That's just a bald faced lie." Not letting the grave threat intimidate me into inaction, I focus on the one part I know wasn't exactly true. "Wilkins would probably like to argue that point."

He was just a regular guy when he achieved that victory and I have a few advantages of my own to work with. Mainly knowing you only write down a prophecy so someone can change it.

"Mary said you can stay with her as long as you want if you chose rehabilitation." Dennis is going to need help readjusting to modern life anyway so I hope this works out.

In an attempt to ease Darla into the strangeness of the Hyperion, Fred reveals what the nurse has been doing. "She's working with the werewolves and a revived mummy right now. But once they get a doctor signed on, Mary will have time to focus on you three out of timers."

"With a Slayer on hand to make sure I know my place..." The scowl is back in full force as Darla crosses her arms. "Sounds like a great place to get therapy."

"Do you have a better option?" Shooting back my own stern expression, I make it clear someone cares. "Because as long as it's more thought out than just letting you walk off into the night, I'm willing to give it a listen." Even if it's just out of guilt ridden shame.

She doesn't come up with one the rest of the drive and it ends up being a tensely silent hour. When Darla does finally break the silence, it's with a warning that chills my blood.

"The Master isn't going to let this go." Her words are grim with the promise of suffering being sent my way. "Luke is a lot better fighter than I am and the Three have been itching to get off leash for years."

"And if I really get scared, I'll start throwing lightning at your family." Vague flex out of the way, I refuse to elaborate anymore. Really shouldn't have said even that much when she's staying at the same hotel as Gwendolyn Post.

Saving my bacon with an even more interesting distraction, Fred mention's the Princess. "Or just bring a second Slayer. That would probably do the trick."

The second hour is a lot better and Darla seems to be out of the overwhelming trauma stage of the curse. "I'd rather try to cope with my nightmares than be erased."

"Well just know that if you change your mind, Mary has the ingredients for all three spells." She also has a stake if that's what you choose. "You can pull a sleeping beauty until Liam Shanshus and I'll make sure you get included." I really need to get cracking on the book I got from the Oracles.

It's supposed to have information on Mohra demons and yet I can't read a single word. Written in German that nobody on my team knows how to translate, I'm stuck waiting for Giles to move closer before I can actually get started on pulling off my own prophecy.

"I really want to hate you for what you did to me..." Darla's expression is wavering as she tries to decide. "But you're really going out of your way to give me choices and that's just not something I'm used to."

"It's a big decision and you really don't need to rush into it. It's better if you take the time to think it over first because we can't undo the choice very easily."



Note: So some people mentioned the SI hadn't really done anything he needed to atone for. This was always going to be his actual act that made him guilty of sin and not just the inaction from the beginning.

 

[Flightless Man]

Chapter 62: Reboot​

It's several sense seconds in the apartment once Mary and Tara finish the binding spell. No one wants to break the silence and reveal we failed, leaving the task to fall to an impatient Darla.

"Are you still a ghost Dennis?" Arms crossed in some of Tara's borrowed clothing, the blonde vampire is oddly concerned about the phantom.

Nothing moves of it's own accord, allowing hope to rise in all of us as our eyes move from the whiteboard to the robot.

Only one eyelid flickers open at first, with the blue orb dilating rapidly before settling on a smirking Tara. With some signal the two must have decided on long ago, Tara puff's up her chest.

"It's alive!" The attempt at an Igor impersonation is admittedly terrible. But seeing Tara collapse in glee filled giggles makes me just enjoy the moment for what it is.

Smirking back at the younger Maclay, I have to give her credit for a good joke. "We really should have done this during a thunderstorm. I'm glad one of us was thinking about the stuff that really matters."

"He-" Stiff from lack of practice, Dennis tries to speak his first words as Ted. "-llo." Once the mouth is in motion, the rest of the sentence starts flowing better. "Thank you... so much. I though I was going to... be in that wall forever."

"Not sure if you beat Amy out for the worst mom." Extending a hand to Dennis, I have to use quite a bit of strength to pull him up. "But everyone here aside from Fred has at least one crappy parent."

The comment confuses Tara enough that she has to speak up. "But you never even met my grand parents."

"Who do you think gave your father the idea for the curse?" Mary's confession comes with more dark details. "It's a family tradition to pass the lie on to the new son-in-law."

Giving me a sidelong frown, Angel reminds me I really need to watch what I say around my students. "No wonder my friends cling to every word. Jesse seems to be the only one with two parents who care."

That would probably explain why he didn't like me talking down to him at the zoo. It's not like fans knew anything beyond the fact that Jesse was a pervert and with all the minor changes that have been piling up... Which means I can't really keep relying on my meta knowledge for personal details.

Big stuff should still be relatively unchanged since the villains have plans older than Giles. But I can't treat anyone like a character. They're all people and I'm just one in a crowd. What I think is best, may not be what anyone wants.

"So we just trapped a ghost with technology..." Smirking at Angel, Fred calls back to our introduction. "We really are the Ghostbusters now."

Unable to accept the praise, Angel instead frowns with anguish. "But I didn't do anything to help."

"What did I ask you to do when I gave you a room?" Recognizing the tone from my own use of it in my teens, I refuse to ignore a cry for help.

She only hesitates for a second before listing the three simple tasks I gave her. "Clean my room, wash the dishes, and do my homework."

"Well the dishes have been done every every night and I don't smell anything weird in your room." I've yet to actually go inside and plan to keep it that way. "And since Russel hasn't said anything, I know you're turning assignments in." Every kid needs some privacy, especially one with a past like Angel's.

"Best roommate I've ever had." Fred is quick to throw in her own agreement as soon as she catches on. "You actually want to watch Red Dwarf with me." Her eyes slide over to me, shifting into a scowl. "Unlike someone."

"I liked the episode where they meet the alternate universe versions of themselves." Guilty at being called out in front of everyone, I can feel my ears heating up as I scramble for words. "The one where time goes backwards was pretty neat too."

"You gave it a try, that's all I can ask." The expression softens so I know she was only teasing. "Besides, you don't make me watch Xena. So we're even."

Dennis seems to get the hang of his body pretty quickly, with only a few odd facial expressions as he settles into the robot. "All you want me to do is keep Darla safe?"

"Curses can still be broken." Grim faced as I answer, it's impossible to avoid thinking about the ways it could happen even temporarily. "Darla deserves a real second chance and I'd really appreciate it if you could keep her safe for a few years." At least until I can deal with Nest and the rest of the Whirlwind.

"Anything for my 'son'." Winking to make sure I know he's in the loop, Dennis seems perfectly willing to run with our public cover.

With a snort at how convoluted my false family tree is becoming, Fred's joke isn't really so much of one. "Do you have a chart so I know what I can tell my coworkers about?"

"Charles has one," Tara answers before realizing it was rhetorical and goes pink as soon as it sinks in.

"Gunn has files on me?" Shocked at what seems like a lack of trust, I can't help but feel hurt.

"He has them on everything and everyone." Focusing on my quest to force away the embarrassment, Tara shares what she learned from Alonna. "He doesn't like feeling stupid so he writes down everything. Says every Watcher needs a journal."

"Can I talk to you two?" Pointing to me and my newest responsibility, the mother heads into her room for the private words.

Knowing this could only be about a couple of things, I try to play dumb. "What's up Mary?"

"I owe you a lot for getting us away from my husband..." Hands trembling at her side, Mary squares her shoulders for what needs to be said. "But you never said the curse could be broken or that people might be coming after her."

Doubt, frustration, and betrayal, mix into a stormy expression as Mary's eyes dart back and forth between us. "I'm sure you're a lovely girl Darla." Her eyes and tone both soften just a bit when they're directed at the vampire. "But I have a daughter to keep safe and you bring an awful lot of danger into our home."

"But she needs hel-" My words of defence get cut of when Darla presses my jaw shut with one hand.

"Mary's right. It's not safe for them if I stay here." Not offended by the mother's honesty, Darla rather seems impressed by the foresight I apparently lack.

It's Darla's unlife. I really don't get a vote, I can only offer my opinion and respect whatever she chooses to do.

Unless of course she plans on hurting people. If that's what happens, I have pretty huge mistake to clean up before Liam returns.

"Thank you for understanding." Relief fills her voice as Mary finally releases a tension she had been building in secret since I arrived. "It's really not personal."

"Wish I had a parent who cared as much as you. Might not have ended up with such terrible choices." Bitter at her existence, Darla points all of the fury at me instead of the mother she actually seems to like. "I don't trust you not to mess with my mind once I'm out of sight."

"I wouldn't do tha-" Again I get silenced when she presses my mouth firmly shut.

"Yes you would." Darla shakes her head and laughs ruefully. "As long as you had a good enough reason that is. Which is something I can respect." Nodding her head in what appears to be approval, the vampire's gaze pierces me right to my core.

"I'm sticking close until you make good on the promise to turn me human." Does this mean I need to tell people my 'dad' came home with a new girlfriend?