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

[Flightless Man]

Interlude 14: Not So Innocent Whistles​

Peering down at Sunnydale from his spot on Kingsman's Bluff, an incredibly smug balance demon was ready for the fireworks to really go off tonight. "Useless am I Doyle? Guides don't get involved for a reason and you're about to find out why you fool."

Boss lady isn't happy you got her back on the Powers' radar and it's high time you paid for daring to even speak her name. He let out a string of cackles that lasted far longer than humanly possible, all with a single hate filled breath.

"Angelus might be out of the cards now." His mocking words echoed over the city, only to be swallowed by the sky before reaching anyone ears down bellow. "But you've given us so many possible replacements. This is going to be so much fun."

His eyes peered through the street with perfect clarity and focused in on the small band of champions in the catacombs underneath. Led by the freshly turned Xander and the ensouled Darla, they managed to avoid running into any stragglers going out to feed.

Next he took a glance over at the first stages of what are sure to be an entire military installation. The tests performed on Luke haven't sunk through the brute's skull yet and have currently left the vampire twitching on the concrete floor beneath the university.

Whistler does grow interested when he sees a pair of her agents approaching the home of the Soviet scientist. "Hope that causes lots of drama when Doyle finds out what his girlfriend did."

He made sure to check in on the disgruntled Zookeeper and his plot for revenge. Even left the man a few clues to steer him in the right direction.

Not daring risk even glance at city hall for too long, Whistler instead settled for sending the mad seer a warning of what would happen if she arrived before recovering her strength. But this brief distraction was enough for Wilkins to find him.

A pulse of divination magic warned Whistler he needed to leave or risk fouling his Lady's plans. "Shame, I really wanted to see how many more kids he got killed."

With a final curse towards the century old warlock, Whistler vanished with the sound of a dog whistle. No humans heard it thankfully. But along with the canine population, a vast majority of the demons winced in pain.

The scenery around him was replaced at once by the Los Angeles skyline as Whistler stood on the roof of the Hyperion. His eyes still pointed down, widened at the sight of two sneaky Watchers."

"Well isn't that interesting..." He watched Gwendolyn Post and her attempt to sway the werewolf to her cause. "She's going to have her own little gang pretty soon."

Only a two floors above in his own office, Rutherford Sirk was on the phone with his contact at Wolfram and Hart. Promises of favours and great wealth was all it took to sway the Watcher, getting him to provide every bit of security on the hotel.

"Can't let that plan take off." Eyes narrowed at the idea of the law firm getting a win, Whistler already had a few ideas for how to meddle.

His gaze is soon pulled to the active Slayer and the hapless fool she 'chose' as her Watcher. Really wasn't hard to make sure he was the best option.

A smirk returned as he noticed the frosty attitude between the pair. "He actually told her about the test!"

"Naughty Giles." A few more giddy snorts sneak out of Whistler. "Travers isn't going to be happy with you. He almost had the Council crippled for his boss."

When he gets to the Inca princess and her guardian, Whistler's expression hardened. "How many messes did that damned Brachen leave me to clean up?"

Before his rage could grow enough for the balance demon to do something noticeable, he vanished with the sound a boiling kettle. This time reappearing all the way in Ohio, Whistler was able to relax at the sight of someone actually doing what he was told.

"At least someone is staying on task." He sighs in relief at the sight of Pike and Faith facing off with a vampire outside a truck stop. "Just has to keep collecting Potentials for us and we don't need to worry about them being lead astray with any of this nonsense Doyle's spouting off about them mattering."

Even though Liam was chased off by the pair a few days ago, the balance demon is extremely pleased to find the runaway teens aren't returning to a normal life. The two had nearly made it to Robin Wood and his distinct hatred of the Watchers Council, which finally let Whistler relax.

"Can't wait to get this face off." A final shrill whistle covered his disappearance as the human flesh began to melt away and reveal a silver carapace.

 

[Flightless Man]

Chapter 71: Battle Preparations​

Fred and Willow have nearly finished with the battle modifications for an eager phantom and my anxiety grows with each new screw they put in. Pretty much everything is going to rest on you tonight, really hope you're up to it Dennis.

A thud from the basement has Jesse let out a roar of success that I can't find it in me to get mad about. Good on him, finally pinned Darla.

Darla is going through some last minute pointers with him and Angel. Which has thankfully given me enough time to pull Lorne off to the side.

"I know you aren't the warrior type." He snorts at the incredible understatement. "So I was hoping you could make sure the kids stay safe at the Sunset Club."

Catching on quick, my horned friend's voice loses most of it's humour. "Thought you made a deal?"

"I did, when Xander told his friends he didn't want to be a vampire." With no reason to keep it secret, I fill him in on my plan to make things difficult for the strangely cordial vampire.

"You're sure about this?" His hum of doubt does nothing to dissuade me.

"I can't bring anyone who smells human into the sewers. So I'm going to have Fred and the teens set an ambush of our own for Vander." If he's the one who returns to the surface once things are finished, I'm not just going to let him turn the club into a buffet.

"You have anymore friends to call before things get hairy?" His tone is odd and it almost seems like Lorne is waiting for a very specific answer.

Not sure I can provide it though. "Not calling anyone in LA for this."

"One a little bit closer to home." I can picture his smug face perfectly.

Holding in a groan makes my voice strained. "Jenny's already working on some welding goggles so I don't get hypnotized."

"Strike two."

"I literally only know one more person's phone number." Not sure why Russel would want to get involved in something this dangerous. "Guess I can ask him to help you spread the word around town." Might even get the Mayor to take care of the cleanup this way.

But when I do give the vice principal a call, his voice is strangely tense once I do fill him in. Knew he wasn't ready for this kind of thing yet.

"Harris is dead?" His voice doesn't seem shocked by the news.

"Was walking Amy home and they got jumped by a vampire." What is Lorne thinking? "Xander made it follow him so Amy could get inside safe." Russel hated the kid.

Silence lasts long enough that I almost think the call got dropped. "... He did?"

"Can you do me a favour?" Words out on me already, no reason to keep my head down.

His gruff 'of course' is almost instant and makes me relax a fraction of a percent. But even though I've already made up my mind, stress surges through my suddenly sweaty pours.

"I need you to let city hall know it's open season on Aurellians tonight." Wilkins should be able to thin out any of Vander's potential forces.

To my continued shock, Russel doesn't hesitate with his response. "Anything else I need to know?"

"If I don't come in to work tomorrow." My voice drops down to just above a whisper. "... I'm probably dead."

"Want my advice?" His voice holds just a hint of hilarity.

Letting him pull me into a brief moment of distraction, my lips curl upwards. "Long as it's free."

"Don't do that." The comment is as simple as I've been called many times in my life. "Hard enough to find a substitute who will actually show up. It's going to be impossible to replace you before summer."

"Better hope I have some unfinished business." Shouldn't take too long for Warren and Willow to finish a new robot. Might even be able to get the face to look sort of like my original one.

Awkward silence starts to grow until Russel throws me for yet another loop. "Good luck."

"You too." School's still not much safer than the sewers.

Hanging up, my eyes scan the assembled team. The Gauntlet of Myhnegon is in the unliving hands of Dennis as he demands answers from Warren.

"-nd if it doesn't come off?" He clutches his only recently acquired hands tightly. "You can really just make me a new arm?"

"We hack it off at the elbow and pop on a new one. No big deal at all." The nerdy boy is fully confident in his answer.

Sighing in relief, Dennis looks a whole lot more confident in the plan. "Okay, good. I was really just starting to get used to having hands again."

"Thanks for doing this." Can't regrow one of my arms. "Really wasn't looking forward to facing the Master myself."

"Fred would turn me into scrap if I let you do it." He visibly shudders at the stern look being directed at the back of his skull. "Rather fight the vampire than the person who knows exactly how I was put together."

She giggles nervously when a bunch of eyes swivel towards her. "I wouldn't do that unless you hurt him yourself. Would only change your voice modulator or something like that if you let him die on me."

"You can do that?" Dennis' eyebrows shoot all the way to his hairline.

"If I wanted to." The stern tone really doesn't match Fred's playful smirk.

Willow leans in to whisper and I'm pretty sure that I'm the only one who hears what is said. "I'd change it back after a few days. Don't worry Dennis."

"We start chanting at eight thirty sharp and between me and Amy..." A frowning Jenny looks up from the goggles she has finished with. "We can give you thirty minutes of silence. Any longer and we risk losing concentration." That would be bad.

 

[Flightless Man]

Chapter 72: Snap to It​

The sudden whiff of sour milk is brief but almost enough to make me gag. Thankfully it seems to bother Darla and Vander nearly as much and I'm not alone in plugging my nose.

The sewers have already given way to century old brick tunnels and it's only the muffle spell that stops each step from echoing. Rage is the only reason I'm not shaking in fear as we creep towards our very possible deaths.

Dennis is the only one who doesn't have a grim expression. At least he's polite enough to have stopped grinning like fool.

The magic gauntlet on his arm occasionally lets of a spark of power and startles one of us. But that just reassures me it's still in working order. Really didn't want to find out it was out of juice at the last minute.

Fred really wasn't happy once I revealed what I needed the humans to do. But she did bring the teens and Jenny to the Sunset Club to make sure Vander actually asked for donors.

Not going to dust him until he does something actually evil. Just need to make sure he's really on the up and up before I let him take over the club. And I feel a whole better about it with the idea of the mayor doing some clean up.

Knowing the three have at the very least decades of practice on me, I didn't waste time by grabbing any of my real weapons. The red crowbar clutched tight in my hands will have to do.

Vander decided to follow my lead and ignore anything sharp. But he did accept the hairspray and chain with a cruel grin.

At least one of us actually knows how to wield a blade properly and that's why Darla is leading us ever downwards. With one of my shorter swords in her grip, she understandably seems even more terrified than her newly risen kin.

The goggles Jenny coated with... something magical, are tight on my head. But they're barely tinted and don't hamper my sight that bad.

When Darla freezes, the rest of us follow suit at once. With movement only starting when our guide is positive we're alone.

A quick glance at my watch lets me know we're running out of time and I hold my wrist up. But she dismisses my warning by holding up a hand with only three fingers.

Does she mean three minutes or three miles? Because we barely have enough time if it's the first.

Thankfully we reach the final fork not too much later and Vander breaks off to slip among the Three. Or this is when he betrays us and Dennis has to bring the whole cavern down on our heads.

The short trip through a side tunnel brings us out on a ledge where the stench of old blood is nearly overpowering. Checking the countdown has me holding up six fingers as can't help but overhear the Master greeting Vander.

"You return to me..." The tone is stiff with barely concealed fury. "I trust you have a good reason for your absence?"

Nest is actually a few inches shorter than his new minion. But her towers over Vander who has been forced to kneel in an inch deep puddle of blood.

A trio of vampires stand guard at the entrance Vander just came through. Judging by the swords, those are the Three.

With baited breath I watch the seconds pass, not daring to look away for even a second and miss the signal. Each minute brings us closer to the attack and I lower a finger as each one passes.

At the ten second mark, I start mouthing the countdown. 'Three...'

Vander's tenseness is noticed by Nest who pulls his minion's face up with a clawed hand. "What aren't you telling us Lex?"

The muffling spell ends just when Jenny said it would. Every sound the four of us made during the last half an hour echoes out in a single deafening bang.

The sound is so loud, it makes four of the five vampires below screech in agony. Hands clutch at their ears even as Xander endures it thanks to the beeswax in his own. Only reason mine aren't bleeding right now.

With the signal announced with deafening volume, all three of us waiting D's drop off the ledge to the complete shock of the Master.

"Darla?" It's clear Vander never told him she was still existing and the betrayal in Nest's voice makes me grin.

Her response is bitter and full of hatred that I can't even begin to imagine. But she doesn't lose track of the plan and is only trying to keep the Master distracted.

Vander and keep the Three more than just busy. The demon wearing my favourite student's face whips the hairspray out of his jacket pocket and turns it into a roaring flame with a flick of the lighter in his other hand.

The cloud only ends up containing the ash from one of the ancient warriors. Both of his fellows manage to avoid the blaze long enough for it to sputter out and they face us with live steel at the ready.

It soon becomes clear as I parry the frantic slashes from the foe I claimed that they aren't even as old as Liam. I'm both faster and stronger than my Third, actually snapping his sword in half somewhere around the twentieth block.

The time it takes me to stake the surprised vampire is enough for the final member of the Three to overpower the cocky Vander. The very chain that was only moments early his weapon, is now wrapped tightly around Vander's neck.

The reflex to breath is still fresh in Vander and he chokes feebly in his opponents grip. Before I even have a chance to stop myself, my body is already in motion.

The stake still in my tightening hand rises as I charge forward. The rage at everything that has gone wrong gives me a speed I wasn't aware I had.

Piercing the Third's heart by going up through the armpit, he joins his siblings as nothing but dust. The hacking coughs make me wonder what the long term effects could be and I make a mental note to get a family doctor.

"-n't believe this!" Shrieks the Master, making my gaze whip over to the real action. "You've betrayed me for the humans?"

Darla's answer is not nearly loud enough to be heard over the sudden 'KRAKOOM' of thunder. None of us are prepared for the blinding flash of blue that comes a mere instant later either.

The only thing I do know. The Master is no longer saying anything.

My hand shoots down with the same reflex that made me save Vander and is what turns out to be my downfall. Still barely able to see, I'm completely unable to stop him from spinning me around and gripping my head with a vice like grip.

"Looks like the robot ran out of gas..." Vander's tone is filled with snide mockery as he tilts my head towards Dennis.

My stomach drops when I blink a few times and can finally see the steaming pile of slag that the Left half of Dennis has become. Only one of his eyes is still recognizable as such and locks on to me as the light slowly flickers out.

"No one can stop me from taking over now." His voice becomes a growled promise of misery for everyone. "And if I'm not mistaken, you left all my friends waiting for me." He knows!

"It was so kind of you to get rid of any of my kin who might have stood in my way." Vander is smug with victory as his grip on my head tightens no matter how hard I struggle. "Say hello to Xander for me."

With that final mocking goodbye, his demonic strength suddenly twists my neck the opposite way I was straining. The crack echoes in my ears and is instantly followed by pain almost as bad as the snakebites.

My last coherent though it disgust when Vander drops me like yesterday's trash. My face splashing down in the same puddle of blood he was forced to kneel in.

 

[Flightless Man]

Chapter 73: Angel​

"You have the directions?" Not even five seconds after the bomb shelter door slammed shut, Fred's determined expression turned towards me.

"She promised to mark the forks with chalk." Nodding stiffly, it's impossible to ignore the anticipation at being able to finally start repaying Allen.

"Also said anything dairy would cover our smell the best." Disgust soaks through Jesse's voice as he stares at the containers of spoiled yogourt being put on the counter by Diego. "Really hope she wasn't just screwing with us."
"We really get to help do magic?" Clutching his blue cape around himself tightly, Diego's eyes are filled with excitement.

Once the appropriate number of candles have been handed out to the club goers, Jenny motions for Amy to take her place at the head of the second circle. "If we want to keep the second group hidden, we're going to need the help with the chanting."

"It was nice of them to leave the good weapons." Holding up an incredibly well made wood axe, Jesse looks a little to eager to use it. "Don't feel completely helpless now."

Knowing her stun gun isn't going to be enough this time, Fred grabs a shorter sword for herself. "You sure about this Lorne?"

"I may not like violence. But it would just break my heart if Fred lost her hunk and I didn't even lift a finger to help." The charming radio host looks at the dagger he's chosen with clear distaste.

Revelling in the complete lack of disgust in any of the teens' eyes, Clem is more than happy to help. "I can get us through the sewers just fine. But I've never been brave enough to really explore the catacombs."

Once the well wishes are exchanged between incredibly nervous teens, Fred leads our group out of the club. Jesse and Willow are of course with us and flank me with a lot less joking than I'm used to from them.

The alley above the club isn't as empty as it usually is though and I'm more than a little surprised too find my vice principal waiting for us with a quickly forming expression of disgust. "You all smell terrible."

"Price of being a hero I'm afraid." Lorne is the one who breaks our groups awkward silence with one of his cheeky remarks. "You willing to pay it?"

Something about Snyder is off and it takes a few seconds to realize what's different. He actually looks decent tonight.

"I looked at the possible replacements we have on file. I'm not letting Allen die tonight." The normally crooked teeth are just a little bit straighter and the usual sneer even looks more like a confident smile.

From the shadows behind him, an even more surprising trio emerged. Two of them have expressions of guilt ridden shame. But Warren just gives a cheeky wave.

"He called my house..." Jonathon admits with far more gratitude than I've ever heard directed towards Snyder. "Told me I'd regret it for the rest of my life if I just stuck my head in the sand and let my friends die."

"People like us don't get very many chances at having friends," explains Snyder when our stunned expressions return to him. "Didn't want him turning out like me."

Marcie is quick to voice her own reason for being here tonight. "My biggest fear is being invisible. Can't believe I was about to treat all of you like that."

"I'm just as shocked as the rest of you," Warren admits with a nervous chuckle. "I was just going to give you these." He hands a pair of night vision goggles to Willow and it's very easy to see how red his cheeks are. "I didn't have time to take them apart yet."

"Don't have time for this..." Growls Fred as she points to the dumpster. "You want to come, get something to cover your scent."

Horrified at the order, Snyder is the first one to follow it. He grumbles the entire time and swears us to silence or face a lifetime of detention. But the vice principal does cover himself in some of the foulest trash he can find.

It doesn't take long to get the other three coated in their own rancid perfume and soon after the whole lot of us lose our voices. It takes a few seconds of charades to explain the plan and calm down the four who decided to join us. But once it's done, Clem can finally lead us down into the sewers.

He knows shortcuts through them that Darla never seems to have learned and before too long brings us to tunnels of incredibly old brick. Has to be a hundred years old.

Each step makes my skin crawl and not just with the desire to shower off the filth. This is where vampires really live? The club really should think about switching to werewolves.

The muffling spell ends before we make it to the action. A deafening boom lifts up a cloud of century old dust, quickly followed by the sound of clanging metal.

"Move!" Roars a frantic Fred, making the lot of us follow Clem at a sprint.

Desperation fuels me as my legs pump with effort. Each step brings us closer to the action and soon a rage filled roar can also be heard. That's not a voice I recognize, hope that's a good sign.

The tunnel comes out on a ledge about the fighting and my heart plummets at the sight before us. The only two people still standing are both vampires, with Darla doing her best to rip off Xander's head.

It's not going as well as it should. What appears to be a broken arm is really stopping her from taking control of the fight.

Sparks at the far side of the room draw my eyes to Dennis next. Or what's left of him.

His left arm is completely gone. Only some melted steel at his shoulder shows where the limb used to be.

But Fred's anguished shriek is what makes me see the worst of it all. Face down in a puddle lays a motionless Allen.

"No!" She's the first one off the ledge.

She's only a few seconds ahead of the rest of us though. With each of us rushing to where we can be the most help.

Jesse and Snyder seem to be in a race to join the fight itself. I don't have to worry about Dennis either, the smartest among us going right to the robot's side.

By the time I reach Allen, he's already been rolled over by a desperate Fred. "He's not breathing!"

"Get out of the way." It's clear she's too distraught to do proper CPR and I have to shove her.

I know I'm doing it right when I feel at least one rib crack and get lost in the rhythm. I'm so relieved when he starts to cough, I completely ignore the bile on his face.

 

[Flightless Man]

Chapter 74: Fred​

Relief surges through me when Allen starts coughing and I lose track of everything else in the cavern. Both the fight between the vampires and the desperate attempt to keep Dennis online are forgotten.

But the one thing I can't ignore, is the knowledge that this isn't the last time it's going to happen. Allen's not going to stop this.

"Angel?" Groaning with pain as he struggles to sit up, Allen's eyes dart back and forth between the two of us with growing confusion. "Fred? What are you doing down here?"

"Seems like you're not the only one who can see the future..." My tone is mixed with equal parts relief and frustration. "Because I told you this was going to happen."

His face contorts in shame as he doesn't deny the claim. "You did."

"Going to let us help out for real now?" Angel tries to cut through the strange tension. "Or should we start cutting you out of the real plans?"

Doesn't matter if he does. None of Allen's plans are actually long term.

Green hands grip the side of his face before twisting to the left with a chilling crack. "That's going to hurt for days." Not as much as my heart will.

"Did the plan work?" When she realizes I'm not going to say anything, Angel asks about the Master with a worried voice.

"Really hope so..." The infuriating hunk reveals he's just as in the dark. "Because I really don't think we get another shot at hitting Nest with lightning."

All three sets of eyes turn towards Dennis and his still smoking body. At least a third of his body melted away or as horribly misshapen by the intense heat and I know it's going to be nearly impossible to fix. Good thing Warren and Willow are working on a back up already.

"Hand me the hack saw!" An incredibly focused redhead holds out her hand for the demanded tool. "And get the jumper cables ready."

"What are you doing to me?" Terrified at the sudden amputation, Dennis is unable to anything but demand answers.

"All your systems are shutting down..." Through grit teeth, Willow fills in the terrified phantom. "We need to connect your back up power to the car battery Warren brought."

"Don't worry Dennis. You'll be walking around again by the new year," Promises Warren with a nearly concealed grimace. "You even get to pick what you look like this time."

Gotta give him credit for just giving up his sexbot so easily. But considering how much time he's been spending with Willow, maybe he's lost interest in that aspect of robotics.

That seems to do the trick in calming down the terrified Dennis. "... You'll make me look handsome?"

"Just like Doogie Howser," Willow consoles the head in her hands.

A roar of frustration diverts my attention to the fight between the vampires just in time to watch Jesse pull his weapon out of the side of his best friend's body.

Russel tries to follow it up by leaping on his most hated student's back. But Vander kicks the axe wielder into him, sending both student and vice principal to the ground in a heap.

About to pounce on the fallen pair, it's only a sudden whistle that seems to change the snarling Vander's mind. "This isn't over!"

With a final snarl of rage, the vampire flees into one of the many tunnels surrounding the central cavern. Lets see if you still feel that way after I tell Maggie about you.

"Glad the rumours are true." Clutching what looks like a broken arm, Darla still seems to be the best off of the three we came to rescue. "Wasn't really sure if you could survive that."

"Think the lesson's going to stick this time?" Lorne stares down at Allen with a scornful expression. "Or do you need to almost die a few more times first?"

Closing his eyes in the face of such blunt truth, Allen seems to actually realize his mistake. Too little, too late.

"Not like the kids are going to listen to me anymore. I'll be lucky if they even listen to my ideas for a while." He accepts Lorne's help up and winces in pain.

Darla coughs to get our attention, tension creasing her brow as she glances between the various passageways. "We should get up to the surface. It's not just my bloodline that calls the catacombs home."

"But Xander..." Not happy with letting his best friend's body just get away, Jesse doesn't know who to glare at. "We can't just let him go!"

"He's a freshly turned vampire. Lex is going to be obsessed with all of you." Darla uses the name the vampire chose for himself instead of the mocking title Allen provided. "You'll all have plenty of chances to face him again."

"Oh..." Terrified at the knowledge he can enter her home anytime, Willow is pale as a sheet. "That's not good."

Allen flushes with guilt. "You can stay at house until Jenny has a chance to rescind his invitation."

With a little more urging from Darla, we do finally start making our way back to the surface. Lost in my own tumultuos thoughts, I don't pay much attention to the conversations around me.

No matter how much I care about Allen or he about me, the mission is always going to come first for him. It's not a future with me he's planning for... just the next emergency.

No one wants to go home after we reunite with the others at the Sunset Club. So we end up bring the entire team back to the house for celebratory cartoons.

Savoring the moment, I curl up against Allen's undamaged side and just enjoy 'Yogi Bear's First Christmas'. But when Angel pops the second tape in, I let him know we need to talk.

Thankfully he doesn't make a joke about the phrase and just follows me into the kitchen with a grim expression. "What's up?"

"What's the most important thing to you?" This is the last chance to convince me I'm wrong.

Without any hesitation, Allen proves he's the man I fell in love with. "Keeping my students safe."

"That's what I was afraid of." I don't need to be the first thing he thinks about. "Which is why this is so hard." But I know I'm just going to be a distraction to his destiny and it's time I started working on my own. "We can't be together anymore Allen, I can't keep seeing you like that. You're going to leave me all alone."

 

[Flightless Man]

Interlude 15: Friends Filled In​

Nestled on the couch under a pile of blankets, Tara could only let out a huff of annoyance when the phone rang and forced her out of the cocoon. It was early enough that the good cartoons hadn't even started yet and the witch in training knew it must be important.

Both Buffy and Alonna pretended to sleep through it all. At least that was the plan before Tara let out a startled gasp.

Only hearing their host's side of the conversation had both of her friends too curious to remain 'asleep'. With Tara's expression enough to chill the good mood, it soon becomes clear why.

"What do you mean Angel?" Tara's voice lost any of it's usual warmth and stammered out the last few words. "He almost died?"

"Who did?" Prodded a frowning Alonna as she realized the Slayer's hearing is a lot better.

"Allen..." Pale in the face, Buffy refused to believe the words. "But how? He can see the future?"

Quick to grab her friend's hand to stop it from going to her mouth, Alonna stopped her from chewing on the fresh nail polish. "Not like he can watch six billion movies everyday. Lots of stuff can still surprise the guy."

Once the call was over, Tara did her best to explain the details of such a terrible night. She filled the other two girls in on how one of his students was turned and the attack on the Master's lair.

"I Don't think Giles is going to be as excited about the robots anymore." She winced at the thought of the friendly phantom being trapped in a useless shell. "Dennis needs a new body already."

"No offence. But Dennis is already dead." Allona awkwardly pointed out. "I wanna know what happened to Pinhead."

Having wanted to avoid any specific details, Tara goes pale with concern for her crush. "... His neck got broken and he was found face down in a puddle."

"Well shit..." The blunt response slipped out of a guilty Alonna. "Probably would have been better off if he did just kick the bucket last night."

Horror filled both of the blondes as they turned on the blunt speaker as one, Buffy's response only beating out Tara's by a half second. "How can you even say something like that?"

"That's not what I meant!" Shame filled Alonna's voice as she realized her mistake. "It's just...." Her eyes had a hard time meeting either of her friends'. "He's not really going to be walking away from a broken neck."

Anguished at the idea of what Allen sacrificed for her, Buffy still hadn't noticed the part about his breakup. "... Oh."

"If he really feels what goes on in those visions," The Slayer gasped with guilt ridden understanding. "That's going to be a living hell for him."

"Guess that explains why the vampire didn't know either..." Tara mumbled out awkwardly.

"Know what?" Frowned Alonna.

Her lack of grief finally explained, Tara clarifies exactly what she was told. "Brachen can actually walk away from a broken neck. He's just going to be sore for a few days."

Relief surged through Buffy at the news and the feeling wasn't something Alonna was immune to either. All three girls had different reasons to owe the half demon. But none of them wanted him to suffer.

"Well now that he's taken care of that stupid prophecy..." Relief rushed through Buffy and she didn't even bother keeping the grin from her face. "He's just going to have to deal with having to patrol with me."

"Giles isn't trying to convince you to go solo once you move?" Alonna knew that Gwendolyn and Sirk both had rather outdated ideas. With Merrick back in England, it's just Wesley and Lydia who don't piss me off each night.

"He told Post that if her ideas had any merit, she would be the one assigned to the Slayer right now." Smirked Buffy as she revealed her Watcher wasn't going to cramp her style in the slightest. "She hasn't talked to him in four days and I don't think Giles minds."

A growl of annoyance escaped Alonna's lips. "Really wish he'd tell her to leave my brother alone. Charles actually seems to listen the guy."

"She can't be that bad, can she?" Tara didn't want to make any waves. But hadn't really spent much time around the Watcher focused on artifact recovery and didn't have a proper opinion.

"Post seems to think she's already been chosen to take over once you move." Pursed lips made Alonna look like she was ready to commit murder. "But Wesley said the four of them are splitting the responsibility. So I'm not really sure what's going through her head."

Buffy was elated to have a topic to switch to that wouldn't leave her so red in the face. "Wesley said?"

"When was this?" Quick to join in on the teasing, Tara was quite happy to shift the topic away from Buffy's interest in older men.

"When I was trying to make him see the goods were up for grabs." Alonna grumbled bitterly as she glanced down at her pyjama clad body. "But for as smart as he seems to be with some things, the guys clueless in pretty much every other way."

"Sure he's not just terrified of your brother?" Teased a smirking Buffy as she threw a pillow at friend's head. "I know even I get wiggie when he hasn't had his coffee."

"It's the eyes, so intense." Agreed a grinning Tara, quickly being forced to duck the pillow thrown at her in response.

When her friends finally got up for the morning and stretched, it would have taken more strength than Tara had to look away. They're both beautiful and I'm just plain old Tara. No wonder Buffy never looks at me like that.

"Can't really blame you for waiting anymore." Alonna pulled a fresh shirt from her bag and this time Tara really did turn around. "How do you just get over a guy who died for you?"

 

[Flightless Man]

Chapter 75: Two Months Later​

The guilt over how everything turned out with the Master has finally lessened enough that I can meet Angel's concerned eyes in the passenger seat. I haven't Fred very much since she had Graham help her move her things to campus.

It's finally sunk in that she really getting away from all the crazy since the last time we spoke was when Dennis got his new body. Glad someone I care about is able to have a normal life.

"You have enough chew tabs?" Worried about how fast she's going through the latest batch the Maclays sent, I have absolutely no idea how to fix this mistake of mine.

She's pure human... The visions will kill her in just a couple years and I still haven't figured out something better than slipping some Mohra blood in her coffee once a week.

Determination to avoid that has had me taking advantage of Jenny's online expertise and my growing wealth has been put towards quite the collection of esoteric books. Giles might even think I'm a proper educator when he sees how many shelves have been filled.

"As long as I don't have more than one vision today." Winces my brave passenger as the front door swings open the reveal a waving pair of Summers women. I really need to start recording stuff before Dawn changes all my memories.

"If you do have one?" My voice demands with worry filling it.

Angel rolls her eyes and the dark eyeliner really makes the expression sting more than it should. "I go straight to you, Jenny, or Snyder."

Can't believe he's the one who said they can call him that, just because he thinks it's cool to just go by only a last name. As strange as it is to even think about, it seems like Russel is actually being accepted by the group.

Darla gives him less lip than anyone besides Jesse and the teens have stopped sassing him all the time. Of course they still give him his fair share of teasing, it's just spoken without actual hatred now.

Hell, Snyder's even taken over coaching the swim team ever since the fish guy vanished without a trace. Fred couldn't even find a trail, so I'm really thinking he just got unlucky one night.

Since Nest's defeat, Vander has been laying so low I was worried he left Sunnydale. It wasn't until he started leaving Willow 'love' notes, that I knew for sure he was still around.

"Or Buffy." I know you and the other teens have started staking vampires at the Bronze without me.

At least if Buffy helps I can stop asking Darla to keep an eye on you all. I'd prefer if she helped Lorne keep the Sunset Club safe anyway.

No matter how many facts I spouted, the teens latched onto the idea of Darla, Liam, Dennis, Lorne, Clem, and I, being the true 'Lonely Ones'. They don't think all vampires are just misunderstood now and the costumes at the club have become more varied. But It's really strange to see the one guy who really seems to be trying to cosplay a Brachen.

Of course Lorne loves his little clutch of groupies who insist on covering themselves in green body paint every night. Do they start the second they get home from school?

The owner was quick to offer him a nightly spot to host his radio show live and the greedy gleam in Lorne's eye had me slightly concerned. But it's given both Dennis and Darla something to do each night too.

Dennis is just as good a cook as the show claimed he was and has turned the Sunset's kitchen into something of actual quality. Of course Darla refused to have anything to do with that part of the business and took the bouncer's position eagerly.

Enough of the teens liked Frankenstein enough that Jenny's been able to start a science club. With Willow helping Warren take charge of the club, it seems like the girl is starting to open up again.

Giles really was even more disappointed by Dennis' performance than I thought. He made it very clear the Council can't afford to be replacing all of it's robots each patrol and I was able to sleep soundly once that phone call was over.

"As long as we can keep making it seem like it's me who has the visions," It was Jesse's idea and I have to admit it was quite brilliant. "The Mayor shouldn't care about you at all."

"You're really going to that meeting with him?" Her face scrunches up at the idea. "And just with Snyder?"

"After our help making sure the Aurelians became an endangered species, Wilkins apparently just wants to find out what other ways I intend to help." The cheque Russel handed me on Friday was big enough to make it clear the Mayor seems to think I'm on his payroll now.

"It's probably best if we split the teams up and you lot handle the stuff at the school." I've dealt with enough of the filler that you shouldn't be completely overwhelmed by it now.

Joyce follows her daughter to my van with a warm smile. "Thanks for all of the help Allen. It's made the move so much easier on us both."

"We're already going right past the place, no reason you need to leave early." My shrug is casual as Buffy pulls open the sliding door with her own 'good morning'. "And hey yourself. Ready for hell on Earth?"

"He's exaggerating. I've been to way worse schools." Didn't Angel pretty much get 'home schooled' by Caleb? "We'll let you know which teachers to stay on the good side of."

Conceding the point with a chuckle, I wink so Buffy knows I was just referring to why she should avoid the library. "Not quite as many extra curriculars at this school and the teachers might not be as highly acclaimed as the ones you had at Hemery. But the cliques intermingle more than you would think."

Even in the show, Cordelia and her friends knew far too much about the 'cretins'. And for such an apparent loser even Jonathon was getting invited to some of the parties.

"Angel's friends usually come over after school to study. What time do you want Buffy home?" Leaving the power entirely with Joyce, I can practically feel Buffy's irritation coming off in waves.

Joyce considers the question for moment and goes over how much work she has to do at the gallery before it's ready for opening day. "I'll be home around six."

My expression twists into one of sympathy. "Why don't you just stop by and join us for dinner? That's way too late in the day to worry about food and I pretty much have to have enough food to feed an army."

Glad to avoid dishes tonight, Joyce gratefully accepts the offer and lets me back out of the driveway. I keep the conversation basic until I turn off Revello Drive before giving Buffy a serious look in the rearview mirror.

"It's going to be a whole lot safer if you tell your mom about everything..." Her face goes pale at the idea hanging in the suddenly tense van. "Want to do that that tonight at dinner?" Should make patrolling a whole lot less stressful for the next two years.

 

[Flightless Man]

Chapter 76: Lounging Around​

The morning classes pass by in the same self-pitying haze that the last two months have been full of. Every single time I see a couple of blushing teens, my stomach twists uncomfortably.

I made the choice to stop being just a guide. No one to blame except myself for being stuck with a lifetime of loneliness. Either that constant grief.

I'm part of the Buffyverse... The bitter thought burns inside my head. We don't get happy love lives.

Stopping outside the lounge, I force my expression into a neutral state. Don't need to spoil Russel and Jenny's good mood.

Finding the pair engrossed in a conversation already, I'm not in any rush to join them. Taking my time at the coffee pot, I even refill it before grabbing the lunch Dennis made for me last night.

Not giving me even a minute to dig in, Russel throws me under the bus as soon as I sit down. "And I'm delegating to Allen. He actually seems to like spending time with the kids."

"What am I doing?" The way his eyes are kind of popping out has me uncomfortable.

The smirk grows on Russel's face. "Field trip to the zoo needs more chaperones."

"I've got a dentist appointment that day."

"Haven't told you when it is." His voice is full of triumph.

I can feel myself going pale at the idea of going back to the scene of my crime. "Haven't booked it yet."

"Please?" It's still so strange to hear him ask for anything.

"You have no idea how bad that place smells..." My growl is deep enough to make the secretary give me a strange look.

Chest puffed out as he reminisces about chasing Vander off, Russel just makes Betty look even more confused."Can't be worse than the sewers."

"Have we gone back into them?" My snarky retort has the secretary leaning in closer for the juicy gossip.

"It's either this or you handle the talent show in May." The choice is offered with a mocking grin. "Your choice."

"Give me the talent show!" The urgency shocks Russel out of his cockiness. But I can only focus on one very small detail I overlooked.

I haven't done anything about Morgan or Sid yet! The realization that this is the third person in Buffy's life with a brain tumour, really has me wondering if it's just bad luck. Or are some of them maybe a side effect of something magical?

Well since I'm already helping some of the teens with start up funds for a robotics company once they graduate... Maybe I should talk to Amy about Mohra blood.

"Really?" Russel's shocked voice brings me back into the moment. "I thought I was going to be stuck with that damn thing again."

"I'd rather risk my ears." Better get used to bad singing before Liam comes home.

"How's the ID coming along?" Once the secretary leaves the three of us alone in the lounge, Russel steers us towards the important topics.

Shrugging awkwardly, I fill them in on the very little I know. "Fred said it would take a while."

"It's been two months..." Jenny's lips twist into a frown. "I'm pretty sure I could have gotten something whipped up by now."

"She's just making sure to stay under the radar." I did warn her the government is keeping an eye on Sunnydale. "Don't want any suits grabbing Dennis."

Wrinkles form on Russel's forehead right before he speaks. "What happened to Dennis just reclaiming his own identity?"

"He didn't want to be nearly a hundred." Wouldn't have been able to experience anything life has to offer that way.

"Makes sense," hums Russel as he finds nothing he can argue with. "Does that mean you're going to pretend he's another half sibling instead?"

Shaking my head, I try not to dwell for too long on the how. "Can't keep getting away with that. Fred's just going to surprise us with his backstory." And for some reason, Dennis is perfectly fine with just getting a random identity.

"How's the swim team treating you?" I'm not just curious about the teams' physical health and actually care about the sudden volunteering my friend did.

Jesse hasn't complained once and that's what I find most unusual. But as I watch my friend shoot another beaming smile at Jenny, I realize it's not actually such a mystery.

"Apparently my attitude is just what the swimmers need to really push themselves." He lets himself smirk. "I'm pretty sure we can avoid the bottom rankings at the next meet."

"Really?" I'm impressed, in the show the team was barely worth being called one.

Russel's grin goes from confidant to unnervingly feral. "I'm going to break the boys down and spend the spring turning them into actual competitors."

"You sound like you actually care..." One of my eyebrows goes up. "Feeling alright?"

"I couldn't understand why you spent so much time on the teens." Admitting this seems to bring him physical discomfort and Russel shifts in his seat. "But after Percy beat his best time, he called me coach and he actually meant it."

A chuckle escapes Jenny as she narrows her eyes on her beau. "Is that why I've been having less than half the kids in detention?"

As the newest member of staff, the responsibility has now fallen to her. And I'm perfectly happy being able to go home when the bell rings.

"How are the little mad scientists?" Turning the inquiry onto her and the club Willow talked her into hosting, my lips curl into a smirk. "Anyone else I need to scare straight for you?"

"Chris was the only one I was worried about." Jenny's grimace is enough for me to avoid bringing up how she had to kick his friend Eric out of the club. Pretty sure that kid terrifies all of us.

"He's going to work with Warren and Willow on designing his brother's face?" As long as the coma rumour holds, Daryl Epps will be able to go back to school by spring break.

Humming her agreement between bites of blueberry muffin, Jenny explains why Angel's vision was so easy to deal with."It's not like Daryl wants to look like a monster. He's very willing to go with whatever story we come up with as long as he gets a normal life back."

"Even if he can't play sports anymore?" He can't exactly face any kind of medical scrutiny.

"You get to choose which face you wear." She snorts right in my stunned face. "He's stuck looking like a rotting corpse and will agree to any conditions we set."

My face turns a bit green at what the future could have held. "I just don't want him making a corpse bride out of several cheerleaders."

"Angel never said anything about that!" Shock is mixed with disgust as Jenny resists the urge to jump to her feet.

"I just have a wild imagination." And hopefully that's all it will ever be now. "You find any dirt on the lunch lady yet?"

Not missing a beat when I turn to him, Russel has an answer ready with a smug expression. "Her last day is next Friday."

"And what happens if Miss French calls the school?" Since Russel decided to start helping out, I've really taken advantage of his administrative connections to handle upcoming problems.

"Tell you right away." He shudders at the idea of the She-Mantis.

A thoughtful smirk suddenly appears on Jenny's face and she leans towards the now sweating Russel. "Why don't you stop by for dinner and we can make sure she keeps her eyes off of you."

The words make me freeze in place. I don't think I was supposed to hear that part.

 

[Flightless Man]

Chapter 77: On The Spot​

As the students start to file out of my class before I can pile on anymore homework, I'm relieved Buffy seems to be meshing well with everyone. Cordelia wasn't even giving her a hard time about hanging out with 'losers'.

Actually seeming to respect Willow's grief, I haven't had to call either of them out since Xander's funeral. Proof the self proclaimed 'Slayer of Dating' was never really heartless.

Unless her and Angel suddenly become best friends, I think that's at least one of the Scoobies safe from fate. In less than three minutes, everyone not getting a ride home with me is long gone.

Giving the teens my full attention, I have to admit Jesse stunned me today. I was expecting him to pretty much replace Xander in the group. But he's proven to be his own man and not shifted his attention away from Cordelia.

Though he has stopped being creepy about it. Just a few tame compliments each day and it seems to be working. I guess it doesn't hurt that he's on a team now and isn't going to ruin her reputation.

"Thought about my idea?" Directing my words to Buffy, I remind her about dinner tonight.

"You really think it's a good one?" Her lips pull down into a conflicted frown. "Giles and Merrick both said it's safer if she never finds out."

"That might have been true in a city like Los Angeles..." Marcie finds her voice and speaks up, even though I can see it on her face that she expects to be ignored in such a large group.

Earning a friend for life, Buffy's enhanced hearing doesn't miss the words. "Is Sunnydale really that bad?"

"Already had to get rid of two teachers since I started here and I'm keeping an eye out for anymore." Considering the risk carefully, I give Jesse a warning look. "Some demons like to hunt virgins specifically. So you should all keep that in mind if a teacher suddenly starts putting the moves on you."

"The Mayor is going to eat us all at graduation..." Jesse tries to change the subject back to how dangerous the town is, his face flushed at what he must think was me singling him out. "You should at least tell your mom about the vampires."

Turning the suggestion back on the lanky boy, Buffy still isn't convinced. "Have you told yours?"

"It was the only way I could think of to keep Vander from getting invited in while I was out one night." His voice is suddenly tight with frustration. "No way my parents would have left him out in the rain, not without me ruining his memory at least."

"And they actually believed you?" Buffy's doubt gets turned away from me and focuses on Jesse's claim.

"Dad already knew about the vampires." Lips quirk into a wry grin as Jesse shares how it went. "He said it's one of the reasons so many of the doctors on staff drink."

Her shocked jaw drops at the same her voice rises in pitch. "Why would a normal person keep living here?"

"Lots of people live right beside an active volcano." Points out Jonathon. "This isn't really that different."

"And every job pays at least twice what you would make even just moving outside city limits." Amy explains her dad's reason for staying. "It's enough for anyone who notices the strange to stop looking in the shadows."

Having gotten the worst results with her folks, Willow nod her agreement. "Mom just told me to keep my voice down and to be inside by sundown."

"I'm not going to tell your mom unless you want to. Just wanted you to know you don't have to break the news alone." Darla should be enough proof of concept and if she's not, I can always just sneeze."

"May as well," Buffy concedes with a strangely relieved face. "Giles isn't going to be happy though."

"The Council does a heck of a lot of good in the world..." My words are as honest as I can be on the subject. "But they are still just people and we're known for screwing up. Either by betrayal or accident, not everyone in tweed can be trusted."

"But you can?" Noticing what seems like hypocrisy, Warren shows some use outside of the computer lab.

"I'll never lie to you unless a life is immediately on the line." My eyes lock onto Buffy's blue pair as I desperately try to make the words sound true. "You've more than earned that from a comrade."

A snort at the classroom door announces the arrival of Angel. "Does that mean you're going to tell her about all the 'visions' you have written down? Or are those still things we don't need to worry about right now?"

Exhaling all my frustration out one nostril, I force myself not to react anymore visibly than that. "... I put most of them on the calendar."

"After you died!" My 'sister' is quick to retort with betrayal filling her voice. "And you still aren't telling us everything. I saw how many pages you just flipped past."

"Those ar-" I'm about to explain those away and have to freeze when I get hissed at.

"Don't bother telling us those have already been dealt with." Willow joins the rest in showing me under the bus. "I already know you use blue Post-Its on those ones, just not sure what the pink ones are for."

Well crap... These kids are too damn smart.

All eyes bore into me and I know they won't let me avoid the truth this time. "Those are the things that could end the world."

Gasps of shock fill the air as Willow stares at me with horror. "But you have at least ten of those."

"And Wilkins isn't even on that list." I use the Mayor and his plans as a reference base for the scale of threats I'm talking about. "He's barely a state level threat." Even if Wilkins beats us, he's going to be bombed into paste before he reaches the Rockies.

"So what do you consider world ending?" Lips tremble as Jesse pries for answers.

I start holding up fingers as I count some examples off."Cult of all female demons who want to open the Hellmouth, evil spirit trapped in the internet, or a statue that wants to swallow the world."

"I'll tell my mom..." Buffy shares a conniving look with the teens but doesn't reveal the ringleader behind this. "But only if you let me borrow that diary."

 

[Flightless Man]

Chapter 78: Revelations ​

The table is set and everyone who isn't at least pretending to be someone's relative has left with the promise to join us for patrol. Of course that had Buffy quite a bit more interested in the activity than she seemed to be down in LA.

Since Qullana is trying to adjust to a normal life, Buffy could just be looking forward to not being the only special one. It's not like Gunn's boys could really push her and now she has three of us to share the burden with.

"Giles will be here at seven. He's going to drive Mom home and answer any of the hard questions while you show me the hot spots." The incredibly nervous girl hangs up the phone. "But he's really not happy about this."

"If this doesn't turn out the way we hope, they can just ignore my advice with the next Slayer." Before Buffy can finish her gasp of shock, I hastily hold up a hand to correct myself. "They can have the next sixty years to figure out a better system."

"Thanks for making Giles tell me the truth." Her face crinkles into an odd expression I can't quite name.

Trying to play it off as a smaller deal than I know it really is, I can only shoot her a half smile. "I did the same thing I do with all of my charges. I gave him the facts and let Rupert choose how to react." Really glad he made the right call though.

Her eyes dart behind me to the clock before sliding towards one of my roommates. "Well that's good. Because I've been told you're still moping around and I can't figure out why."

"You might have noticed Fred isn't here." Whatever reason could I have for feeling depressed?

"She dumped you months ago though..." Darla snorts derisively from the stairs, letting me know it's Angel behind me. "At this point you're acting worse than William."

That really stings and I know my face has contorted into a shocked grimace. "You take that back!"

"Well stop brooding like a bloody awful poet." The scorn in the vampire's voice cuts right through me. "You've been split up as long as she lived with you."

"Time's up on the socially acceptable grieving period," adds a smirking Buffy.

As much as I want to bicker the point, I know they're right. Even if my moods only partially about Fred calling it quits, I'm not really ready to share the full details of my future knowledge.

If it was this hard taking down the Master, can I really make a difference against the bigger threats coming up? Or am I just going to get even more people killed?

The address book I've been using to keep track of the things I could remember is open in the Slayer's hand. "How do you make sense of any of this?"

"It's just some notes so I don't forget the big things." It's not like I was writing down a synopsis of every episode for you to go over with a fine-tooth comb.

"Go to little league games and watch the coaches." Turning the book towards me, Buffy's frown is directed at thee incredibly brief descriptions I left her. "How is that helpful to anyone?"

"I got eight years worth of visions all in a single night. Wasn't easy to even get that much written down before I forgot it all." And I'm pretty sure I still didn't even get half of it in the right order.

"How come I didn't get that?" Angel doesn't let me out of the frying pan. "I've only had ones about stuff happening that day."

Darla saves me from answering when she ponders aloud. "Probably because they just got passed on to you. No reason to repeat the same visions Allen already saw."

"I guess..." Not really sounding convinced by the suggestion, Angel side-eyes me intently for clues that I can only hope are absent from my face.

"What about this one?" Flipping to one of the pages with a pink tab, Buffy snorts at the limited information. "Demon Sorority and zombies with a bomb on the same night. That's literally all you have written down!

It's like taking notes for school, you only use key words and phrases to trigger the memory." Would have been awfully stupid of me to leave all that information written down for someone evil to steal.

"How is that worse than the Mayor trying to eat us all?" Confused at my ranking system, Angel is finally distracted enough to stop the glaring.

"The military can blow up a giant snake." Some homemade explosives did the job just fine. "I'm not sure they could close the Hellmouth."

Everyone goes quite at that grim thought and it lasts a few awkward moments. Thankfully Joyce's headlights shine through the window and the mood shifts to a lesser tension.

"I'm really doing this." Buffy takes a few deep breaths and darts to the door ahead of me.

I remind her who really has to worry about consequences tonight. "I'm the one she's going to be mad at. Worst case scenario and she just thinks I'm trying to take advantage of you."

Her cheeks go pink with what I assume must be embarrassment at the idea. "But Mom likes you."

"Let's see if that holds true after she learns what we do most nights." Or that my family is freakier than the Munsters.

"Probably isn't going to be that mad once you mention the savings accounts." Darla brings up the envelopes with each teens' name on it that I brought home from the bank.

"What is she talking about?" Buffy isn't the only one to blink in confusion, with Angel mirroring her stunned movements.

"I made sure to use my visions properly when I had them." An amused smirk appears on my face. "I've invested in some stocks that I know will pay off for everyone helping out." Least I can do considering the fact that both shows make finances an issue at some point.

Joyce is let inside by a chuckling Darla, instantly noticing the undercurrent of excitement I just created. "Buffy is asking about stocks? I'll know it's a lie if you try telling me she's interested in math now."

"Do you prefer to be eased into shocking news or would you rather I just dump you right in the deep end?" Flustered at how many eyes are on me, I attempt to go for levity.

"Is Buffy already in trouble at school?" The groan reminds me that Joyce wasn't always the most understanding parent.

"She's not in any kind of academic trouble." Not with Russel on our side. "We just thought it was time you knew the truth."

When my spikes emerge along with the dark green skin, Joyce let's out a terrified gasp. It only gets repeated when Darla reveals her own fangs with a smirk revealing she's enjoying this at least a little bit.

"Run Buffy!" Joyce's first instinct is to bar her arms wide in an attempt to give her daughter time to flee.

Of course Buffy doesn't move and I'm quick to shake my face back to human. "Now that you know we're telling the truth, let's talk about what kind of town Sunnydale really is."