"Xander, I understand you don't like him, but with Buffy's being gone, we need someone with his skill."
"Skill?" Xander scoffed "I could take him."
Giles raised an eyebrow.
"Okay, so, maybe I only could in my dreams but still... I don't feel right going on a big job with a killer."
"Ex-killer."
"We don't know that."
Giles's rolled his eyes.
"The Ring of Abrension is a very delicate and dangerous object, I want it in skilled hands, not in the hands of an eighteen year old boy."
"Eighteen and a half."
Giles scoffed, Xander sighed and relented.
"Okay, I'll work with him... but he'd better not get in my way."
"Just stay out of my way and everything'll go fine."
"But--"
"Just shut up, and do exactly as I tell you."
"I vaguely remember..."
"Did you not catch the shutting up part?"
Xander rolled his eyes.
"I remember being the one in charge here."
"Xander, you're an eighteen year old boy, who cannot read a map. You lack the skills needed to break into a top-security auction house vault."
"I can read a map just fine."
Angel rolled out the map.
"Where are we and how do we get to the control room?"
Xander stared at the map, determined to prove "Dead Boy" wrong. But, it was all gibberish to him. He sighed and rolled his eyes. Angel, committing the map to memory, rolled it back up and stuffed it into his bag.
"Why are we stealing this thing anyway?"
"Because, we don't want something that holds that much power falling into the wrong hands."
"Remind me not to let you touch it."
Angel sighed. He really wished Buffy was here right now. The two moved down the corridor, following Angel's instructions, careful to avoid security cameras.
At last, they reached the control room. Angel sighed and looked around.
"Top security my a--"
"Let's just get to work." Xander said, coolly. Just before he tripped.
Angel put his head in his hand and shook it for a moment, then looked up, to see what had made Xander fall.
It was a Chinese Star, but something about it made Angel's heart race (well it would've if it could've.). It was inscribed with a target. Angel traced his finger across it.
"Bull's eye." He murmured
"Hey Dead Boy, we are doing a job here--"
Xander caught the look in Angel's eye as he carefully turned the star over in his fingers.
"What is it?"
"Bull's eye." He murmured again, then shoved the star into his pocket. "We gotta work quicker now. We got company."
"Who?"
To that, Angel didn't answer. He moved over to the control board and sat in a chair, that was supposed to be occupied by a guard. Angel felt the small trace of body heat remaining. Some one had been sitting there not too long ago. But there wasn't a sign of a struggle. Only a skilled warrior could've gotten rid of them so fast.
Angel turned his attention to the board. Then, for whatever odd reason, ran his hand under it to the wires. Something... he bent down to look at it.
"A bug." Angel said
"Where?"
Angel rolled his eyes and gestured towards the small piece of machinery in his hands.
"Someone planted this, it's routed to a controller some where. Like I said, we've got company."
Angel looked up to the screen displaying the security cameras. Every few seconds, one would go out, then come back on a beat later, the hallway or room empty. Someone was moving through them. Angel ran his hands across the control board.
"What are you doing?"
"There's another thief here." Angel said "And I'll bet you, they're stealing The Ring."
Angel managed to pull up the room that The Ring was being kept in. It was laser guarded, but someone, sure enough was skillfully moving through them. Angel sighed and folded his hands.
"Bull's eye." He murmured again "Someone's doing our work for us. All we have to do is catch him on the way out."
And with that, Angel stood, and walked away.
Angel was trailing the thief. He was as fast as Angel was, and just as stealthy. Angel sighed, Xander panted heavily as he tried to keep up.
"I know someone's there." Said the thief "Come out and play."
Angel jumped down from his hiding place and lunged at the thief, who ducked and flipped Angel over his shoulder. Angel brought out his broad sword. And swung it. He heard Xander loading his crossbow. Angel stood face to... mask, with the thief, who paused as he stared at Angel. Then Angel lunged at him, and as he expected the thief dodged, every attack Angel made, the thief seemed to block or dodge. Angel tripped the thief and brought his sword down to just above his throat.
"Bull's eye." He said again
He then let the thief up. Xander prepared to launch an arrow when the thief waved his hand and the crossbow floated into the air. Xander prepared to lunge, and Angel stopped him.
"Hold it."
He turned to the thief.
"Dave, what the hell are you doing?"
The thief sighed, and removed his mask. Xander's eyes widened as he took in the face. Chiseled good looks, dark hair, but startling blue eyes. He looked almost exactly like Angel. Except, younger."
"I'm working Liam, what the hell does it look like?"
"Give me The Ring."
"No."
"David." Angel said crossly "Give it."
"Get your own."
"Uh... guys." Xander interrupted "What the hell is going on?"
"Xander, this is David, my little brother."
There was a moment of silence. Then Xander spoke up.
"Wah?"
Angel sighed.
"It's complicated. I'll explain some day--"
He looked down at David.
"You've got blood on your hand."
"It's not mine."
"Is the person alright?"
"I imagine not."
Angel raised an eyebrow, but shrugged it off.
"I need that Ring."
"So do I."
"Trust me I need it more."
"Bite me, I have to pay rent for the past three months."
"I'll spot you the money."
"I also owe several bookies, and there are more people looking to break my legs than hairs on my head. I need the money."
"I need to save the world."
"Well hey, if the world ends, I get to keep my ear."
"I'll spot you the money." Angel said tensely
"You don't have that much."
"How would you know?"
David raised an eyebrow.
"Oh... well... I can get it."
"Angel. Just let me get the cash for this, and then I'll steal it back and you can have it."
"Listen, the people who want this want to use it to kill everybody. Dave, I need this."
David sighed. Then none the less handed over the bag containing the ring. Angel nodded his thank you.
"I still need the money Angel."
"I'll take care of it."
"You'll take care of all my problems?"
"Don't I always?"
At this, David sighed, and nodded.
"Always."
