"Rustic Chivalry…"
Summary: William and his son are plagued by a curse from the recent past…The very recent past…Using a rather ironic tool…
Disclaimer: Would Joss want his name associated with this? I think not...But anyway all BTVS characters remain the property of Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, and all other owner/creators of the Buffy the
Vampire Slayer series...Though his brother Mort gets nothing...
Archived at the Normalverse page of the Buffy Rebecca verse,
.com...
Part I…
LA…
Reasonably comfy condo home of one William Soames Walthrop, junior partner of Angel, Gunn, Burkle-Wyndham-Price, and Walthrop, the LA law firm and investigative corporation recently resurrected from the ashes of the collapsed Wolfram-Hart, Inc, resouled (therefore by his lights, human…Humanish?...) vampire and his adopted son, William Jr.
This evening…
The said Mr. Walthrop presently preparing for his side career as part-time…Classes on Shakespeare and Comparative Literature, Monday, Wednesday, Friday from 6-7 pm and 7:30-9pm…literature professor for one of LA's community colleges. Ersatz "credentials" for which had been supplied by his firm with the reluctant approval…"Spike, this is pushing our influence and crossing the line multiple times"…of CEO Liam Angel. Though urged… "Either we give him something to keep him busy on the outside when not fighting Evil or he starts trying to actually run something day-to-day here"… by senior partner Charles Gunn.
While also preparing and serving his toddler son's dinner…A task he relished to the extent of refusing either paid or, excepting exceptional occasions (and fervent pleas to take lil' Will for one night), the volunteer help of his colleagues, Dr. Winifred Illyria Burkle-Wyndham-Price, Mrs. Nina Angel, and the company's executive secretary, Ms. Harmony Kendall.
A polite knock… He frowned at the mashed peas now gracing his kitchen wall and with reproving glance to his delighted namesake and heir, currently comfortably secured on his high-chair throne, went to the door…Peering through keyhole…With the result that his frown reached serious proportions.
"Not at home or after hours, friend. See us at the office, the former Wolfram-Hart building, former Wolfram-Hart Plaza." he called.
The knock was politely repeated…Will Jr. looking over attentively…
"Someone I met in Italy a few years ago." Will shook his head at the toddler who smiled contentedly. "I'd best…" sigh… "…call for back-up. Sorry, lad…Dinner's temporarily on hold…As if that would bother you." he pulled out his cell phone as the knock was, again quite politely, repeated. Will Jr. inquisitively eyeing the front door.
An Italian-accented voice calling… "Signore Walthrop, we know you are at home. Please to open youra door or we will do it for you."
"You'll like this fellow…" Will addressed the boy. "Very odd little character…Though if he breaks that door down, he's paying every nickel of the replacement. Harmony?...Yes, it's me. Is Angel? Oh…Well, is Charlie or Lyri available? I've a situation here…"
The door was slammed open by a massive weight applied at force. In the form of a large, hulking, slobbering green creature…Behind him or her, several others, two demonic, three human or humanish. Behind them the source of the Italian-accented voice, a greasy-looking grey-skinned fellow in tuxedo…
"Harmony, just send anyone available. Tell him Will Jr is with me and…Harmony?..."
"Harmony?..." he eyed the phone.
Well, while I appreciate the enthusiasm of the response…A testament to her restored soul's general goodness where little ones are concerned…Might have been nice if she'd confirmed where I was.
"Signore…" the little grey-skinned creature stepped forward, though maintaining a cordon of guards between them. "What a pleasure to meet you again. For me at least…"
"The feeling will be mutual after I tear your head off. Though first you'll be paying for that door…" William eyed the demon.
"I think you ought to consider the consequences for your bambino there." the demon smiled at Will Jr. "It is never a good thing for one so young to witness the a…graphic violencia. Or experience it…"
"A fellow of your connections in the underworld must have heard of what happens to those types who've dared involve my son in these affairs." Will said, calmly.
"Your reputation remains as impressive as ever, signore…"
"So…How's Rome…And the Immortal…"
"Both still in the same physical space, signore. And well, so far as I know. But, as I once told you and your rather depressed friend, I don't have the privilege of working for his Benevolence."
"So you said. So we didn't believe…Especially after the capo turned up in LA…"
"Business transaction, signore. The Immortal made a an offer which we couldn't refuse…Literally."
"Uh-huh…Yet you wind up on my doorstep, not his. What, did Buffy decide I needed a lesson in manners or something for not congratulating her on her new boyfriend? How is that going by the way…?"
"His Benevolence acted in your name in a thoroughly honorable manner. And his offer while involving the threat of considerable personal violence included honorable compensation."
"Really?...So…I am a junior partner in what's left of the carcass of Wolfram Hart. What's honorable compensation running these days, given I'd prefer to end this quick so my son can finish his dinner in peace? I take it you're asking for money…"
"Ah…" the little demon sighed. "Normally, Signore…Money would be the solution to alla problems. However…" he shrugged. "In this case, my honor is at stake…" Grin... "Though to be honest, sufficient money could reconcile me to the loss of a little honor. But…You have also put the honor of my clan at stake. Meaning you have put my life or whatever I should choose to call my current form of existence…" he grinned slightly.
Will rolled eyes…
"…ata stake…" wider grin. "Excusa pun, Signore."
"No. But I think I have trouble seeing why you don't focus your attentions on the one who secured the capo. Or did Buffy kick your butt and tell you to come bother me instead?"
"Sadly…It seems she and His Benevolence were in fact not the couple rumor had them." the demon eyed Spike's expression.
"It came as much a shock to me, Signore. That any woman would fail to appreciate the glory and honor such a relationship offered her…"
"Well…" Will put up a hand. "Doesn't matter, even if I believe you. But why me?"
"You benefitted from the Immortal's honorable act in recovering the capo. At my expense…Therefore, by the laws and traditions of my ancient and honorable clan, I am obliged to seek revenge from those for whom the act against us was carried out."
"Sounds like typical demonic or European logic. Took your time about it, mate."
"Toa quote the Klingons 'Revenge isa dish best serveda cold'. Like a good antipasto…Besides…" the demon sighed. "Have you ever dealt with Italian bureaucracy, Signore? My own passport and visa took two years alone…And considerable moneys…To resolve. Let alone my comrades…"
"And no chance...money…?"
"Regrettably…For I would gladly take money, were it my own personal affair. No, Signore. Not to mention, given the way you and Signore Angel have driven what was once a mighty global corporation into a concrete wall, I must doubt you could offer what I would ask in recompense."
"A temporary bump owing to reorganization…Our focus is after all on converting the company into an instrument of good…"
"Howa…Laudable…" the little demon, sarcastically. "But not much of an instrument left to you now. The vultures are picking at youra bones."
"So it's a fight to the death, then." Will smiled benevolently. "Well, if we must to spare your honor. Shall we step outside…?"
"Mr. Walthrop…I remain Italiano." the little demon eyed him. Spreading hands… "Not stupido…"
"Right…" William sighed.
"I have secured a proxy as you say. Or would if you understooda the slightest thing about business…"
"A second?"
"Yes…" the little demon nodded, pleased to see a spark of intelligence at last. "At no little expense, though shared among my vengeful relations." he smiled.
"It isa interesting to see how resourceful we evil ones can be when the issue is personal. None of your enemies would normally ever taken such risks or put such effort into the mission. But, when the honor of a family clan is…"
Will frowned at him…
"…concerned…" slight grin. "The impossibla, becomes possiblea."
"Oh…" Will looked about. "Something special?"
"Oh, very, Signore…" the little demon, contentedly smug. "In fact I musta say…As a vengeance, this one truly is a work of art."
Vengeance…Will frowned again. Oh, Lord…
"You didn't go and find a way to revive Halfreck, did you?"
"Who, Signore? Oh…Yes, the one who helped condemna you to an Unliving death. Uh, no…" he beamed. "A far superior instrument…Ah, Signore…" he raised fingertips to lips, a light kiss. To Will's startled surprise, dancing a little jig in his spot. "Pardon, Signore…The irony of a this one just overwhelms me…"
"Glad to know you'll die happy. But what was that about Haly? Condemned me, you say? As in having a role in my death in 1880?"
"Si...As in croakina you. A fine job of it, too…" the demon grinned.
"So, she was Cicely…?" Will nodded thoughtfully. "But why me…? Wait, that's bollocks…She had family…"
"Well she wasa Miss Cicely, but only for one night. As for your other question…I fear that you will have to seek the answers in the next world. Guido, Giuseppe!…Bring our tool of vendetta…"
"Not in here, mate." Will growled. "I'll gladly dance with your friend to settle this and back to my evening but not in sight of the lad."
The little demon sighed…
"Ah, Signore, of course I understand. However, I should inform you I mean to kill your son before your eyes just before my instrument of vengeance destroys you. So…I think we will do our business right here…"
Will advanced on the demon who retreated well behind his guards. Will grabbing the lead guard and struggling to move it aside. The hulking figure eyeing him calmly, unruffled…
Angry cries in Italian from the hall. No…Will pondered…Italian and …Yes, Latin…And English, too…In fact…He blinked.
Some Californian…
In the doorway, the other guards parting to let the source of the cries through. Buffy…Face angry and red with an insane rage. Eyes black…Literally black including the whites. In rather fashionable Italian dress complete with shoes that looked rather like they'd cost the equivalent of the demon leader's "honorable compensation."
"Buffy?" Will stared. Glaring at the smugly smiling demon leader…
Heh, heh…Nota bad, eh?
"Vendetta!" Buffy screamed, her face distorted.
"Oh, Lord…" Will sighed.
***