Title: The Mature Plan
Author: Cat D
Email: cat_5555@hotmail.com
Disclaimer: The characters and situations from 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' and 'Angel' depicted herein are the property of Twentieth Century Fox, and the creations of Joss Whedon et al. They ain't mine.
Spoilers: Seasons 1-4 of 'Buffy, Season 1 of 'Angel'. IWRY is assumed knowledge.
Author's Notes: This is I guess the fanfiction equivalent of a pilot. I have this idea for a story, but it could turn out to be very long. So before I go and do all that writing I want to know whether anyone is interested in this story or not. 'Cause it's no fun to write if no one's gonna read it. So, if you like this part and want to read more, please let me know. Conversely if you don't like it and won't read anymore, please let me know too. I just want to gauge audience interest before I proceed.
Part One
"This plant was thriving just this morning. Now look at it. I'm telling you where she leads, dark forces follow." Cordelia stopped fussing over the sickly plant and joined Doyle on the couch in Angel Investigations' reception area.
"Buffy gave it mites?" he questioned disbelieving, referring to the Slayer who had shown up at the offices earlier in the day.
"How else do you explain it?"
"Jealousy?"
"I'm jealous of her?" Cordelia was outraged. "Oh, please!"
"It's just a theory."
"Jealous or not, our lives are about to kaleidoscope."
"How do you figure? Angel's only been human a day."
"The last two and a half hours of which they've spent down there in his apartment - together." In Cordelia's mind, that explained everything. Doyle however was often flummoxed by her strange logic, and with Angel's stunning transformation earlier from demon to human, he was having trouble making sense of things.
"So? Don't they deserve a little happiness after all they've been through?" Sighing, Cordelia realised she was talking to the uninitiated.
"Let me explain the lore here, okay? They suffer, they fight. That's business as usual. They get groiny with each other, the world as we know it falls apart."
"Well, he's not cursed anymore. And anyway, you can't be sure that they're.." Doyle preferred to use a waggling head movement as a euphemism, rather than Cordelia's charming language.
"Oh, please! They've got the forbidden love of all time. They've been apart for months. Now he's suddenly human? I'm sure they're down there just having tea and crackers."
********************
The tension in Angel's apartment was palpable as he and Buffy sat across from each other at the kitchen table, awkwardly avoiding the other's eyes.
"Would you like some more?" Angel gestured with the teapot after filling his own mug.
"No! Thank you," Buffy politely replied, before returning her gaze to the mug in front of her on the table.
Angel's mind was a jumble of thoughts as he struggled to comprehend the enormity of what had happened to him, and how it opened up possibilities he had only ever dreamed of. When he had left the Oracles and Doyle he had been so clear and focused in his purpose - he had to find Buffy. He had walked towards her without hesitation, taking in her stunned expression as he smoothly gathered her into his arms and kissed her. In that blinding, passionate moment there had been no conscious thought, only emotions and physical sensations surged through his body.
Now however his mind would not stop processing over and over as familiar self doubt leapt to the fore. He had been so sure of what he wanted - but what did Buffy want? She had been receptive to his kiss, but he hadn't really given her a chance to object, and maybe she was just caught up in old memories. For old times sake. He couldn't just assume that she still loved him, no matter what he wished. Earlier when tracking the demon in the sewer she had said that she was on the brink of something back home - a new relationship? Could someone else now lay claim to her affections?
"I'm really sorry I kissed you like that."
"You are?" Buffy was startled. 'He doesn't want me anymore?'
"Well, not for the kiss itself.." Buffy smiled and sighed in relief.
"Good." 'Oh God,' she thought, as Angel looked at her quizzically. 'Did that sound too desperate?'
"I mean, 'cause - as far as kisses go I thought it was well above average." Buffy was blushing, nervous to be admitting things that had once been so natural between them, and now seemed so awkward.
"It was incredible." The words rushed out of Angel's mouth before he could stop them. While he was sure of the truth of that statement, Angel wasn't sure of anything else, least of all what Buffy was thinking. "I just - I- I think, maybe we'd be asking for trouble rushing back into things." As Buffy looked at him hesitantly, he hurried to reassure her. "Not that I don't want to - rush. Believe me, I do." The pounding of his heart and the intoxication he felt in her presence were certainly testament to that fact.
"Right." Buffy attempted to cover her hurt feelings and go along with Angel's suggestion. "You spoke to the Oracles and they said you were cured for good. But how do we know that they really speak for the Powers? I mean they could be - pranksters." Angel was relieved that she seemed to understand some of his fears.
"Or there could be another loophole."
"Exactly. And then the two of us would be in even deeper and its 'grr' all over again." After the sheer joy she had experienced when Angel kissed her in the sunlight, Buffy was now feeling extremely let down and depressed.
"It would be smart to wait a while. See if this mortal thing takes." Angel was trying to act cool and casual.
"Exactly. And even if it does, it's still complicated." What had seemed so right a short time ago in his arms, now seemed so confusing with the table and forced words between them.
"You're still the Slayer. And I'm not sure what I am now. I don't know what my purpose is." The sympathy Buffy felt at Angel's confused expression quickly turned to disappointment as he continued.
"I can't just wedge myself into your life back in Sunnydale." Angel desperately wished that she would ask him to, wished she'd give him a sign that that was what she wanted. "It wouldn't be good for either of us. Not to mention the fact that you just started college. And what about slaying. I mean, if you had me to worry about, you might not be as focused." Buffy's heart had dropped further and further at his words.
"Are you going to pull out a pie chart on me now? Because I get it, it's not necessary." Angel realised he'd been a little too convincing with his casual, non-committal attitude, and he moved around the table into a closer chair to reassure her.
"I'm not saying I don't want you Buffy. You know how much ..." He had never been able to find words to express the depth of his feelings for her. "I'm just saying it's worth the wait to be sure this is right. I need to be sure you won't get hurt again." 'Like I've hurt you countless times before.'
"You know it's a good thing I didn't fantasize about you turning human only about 10 zillion times," she commented as she stood up from the chair, her cheeks flushed with feeling. "Because today would have been a real let down." Turning away from the source of her anxiety Buffy leant against the sink and looked skywards as she struggled for composure. How did he do this to her? After months apart he could still make her skin tingle with a glance, with his mere presence. She had to get in control. Swinging back to face him she forced her voice to stay calm and even.
"So how does the mature plan go? You call me? I call you? What?"
"We stay in touch" Angel answered as he moved to stand next to her at the sink. "Just not ..."
"Literally. Funny." Buffy had to drag her eyes away from Angel's, not sure what she'd be compelled to do if she didn't. "Okay, I'd better ..."
"Right" Angel agreed, as she moved past him. "Remove the temptation." He was almost breathless, being this close to her. He could just reach out and ...
They both spun around to face each other, their eyes hungrily devouring the other. Buffy wrapped her arms around her body, tense fingers biting into her skin as she fought not to just reach out and ...
"So, we'll ... talk soon."
"I'll call you," Angel heard himself say, as he gazed into her eyes. He was searching for a sign, something to convince him that this logical argument he was pushing should be tossed out the window. But Buffy became distant at his words, visibly withdrawing into herself as emotional barriers flew up around her.
"Fine." Her lashes fell as she paused for a moment, waiting for Angel to indicate that he wanted her to stay, that his "I'll call you" wasn't the dismissal it seemed to be. When nothing was forthcoming she turned on her heel and walked away, not looking back for fear Angel would see the tears starting to spill down her cheeks.
********************
Doyle hurried down the steps into the apartment, urgently looking around for Angel. Finding him sitting on the couch, Doyle didn't waste time asking him why he was sitting in the dark - there were more important things to deal with.
"Hey, that Mohra demon regenerated more than just you."
"What?" Angel seemed to rouse himself from a trance.
"I had a vision. It regenerated itself."
"Where?"
"In the tunnel where you fought it. Then it was in some sort of factory. I thought I tasted salt. Could have been the margarita."
"No, it needs a lot of salt to live."
"Well, it was very much alive in this vision, and angry if I might mention."
"I'll have to kill it again." Angel stood up with purpose, and hurried around the room arming himself for battle.
"Yeah, but you're human now. They released you."
"You want to let that thing roam free? You saw it in a factory. There is a saline plant in Redondo, We'll start there."
"Yeah, but if it can regenerate itself, how can you kill it?"
"We'll figure it out. Just grab the book of Kelsor. You'll read, I'll drive." Doyle stood in the middle of the apartment, a skeptical look on his face as he watched Angel prepare. "Doyle?"
"I think we should bring someone a little ... supernatural? Where's Buffy?"
"She's not here." Angel turned on his heel and left without looking back.
********************
As they hurried through the saline plant Angel's eyes busily searched the shadows for the demon, while Doyle searched the Book of Kelsor.
"Okay. This is not good. It doesn't just come back - it comes back bigger and stronger. I think we should wait and call Buffy."
"I know what I'm doing."
"This isn't your average demon we're fighting here. It nearly licked you before and now you're mortal."
"If me and Buffy have a chance of being anything, I need to be able do this on my own. I can't keep risking her life every time some minion of hell ... just tell me how to kill it. I can't keep bothering her with my responsibilities." Shaking his head, Doyle continued to read from the book.
"Uh, 'It regenerates until the dark future it envisions is upon us.' Oh, 'to kill the beast one must bring darkness to 1000 eyes'."
"Funny, I only saw two."
"Keep up the glib. It makes me feel like we have a chance." Angel stumbled at the sight of some dead humans, obvious victims of the Mohra demon. As he gagged, overcome by the scene, Doyle held on to him. "Take it easy, mate."
"The blood."
"It's never an easy sight. It's part of being human now."
"I'm going to kill that thing." Resolved, Angel started forward once more.
"Just remember that it's brutal, deadly, and ..." Doyle looked up to see the demon on a platform above them "... here!"
Seeing its prey below the Mohra jumped down, immediately sending its two opponents flying - Angel with a blow from his left hand and Doyle with a blow from the right. Scrambling to his feet Angel rushed at it with a sword, only to be punched to the ground once more. Leaping forward with an axe, Doyle was kicked backwards, tumbling into a collection of metal drums before lying motionless on the ground.
Standing, Angel swung at the demon which caught his sword-arm easily, turning its face away as Angel punched at its head with his left fist. The demon sent him flying once more with a swift elbow to the stomach. Getting to his feet he moved to strike but the demon easily counter-attacked, flipped Angel over his shoulder. The impact caused Angel to drop his sword, which now lay on the ground a metre away. As he rolled to pick it up, the Mohra stood one foot on the sword and kicked Angel in the chest, sending him out of reach of the weapon. Despite his protesting body, he managed to stand and stumble away, realizing he was clearly outmatched.
Hurrying through the plant Angel desperately cast about in his mind for a solution, but before he could think the demon caught up with him, tossing his bruised body forward to the ground once more. Angel tried to stand, but the Mohra sent him sprawling yet again with a kick to the back. Producing a morgenstern from somewhere on its body, the demon swung at Angel with it, who rolled to his back. Blocking Angel's attempted punch, the demon swung his weapon again, connecting with the ground and thin air as Angel desperately tried to avoid the blows. He wasn't successful for long, the spiked ball slamming into his back as he tried to escape. Leaping to stand over Angel, the Mohra swung his weapon once more, but Angel somehow managed to roll away. The weapon shattered the wooden planks that were supporting the two combatants, and they fell several metres to land at the bottom of a salt silo. Coughing blood, Angel braced himself to stand, but the Mohra kicked him back to the floor. Holding him down with one foot on the back of his neck, the demon savored the triumph.
"The end of days has begun and can't be stopped. For any one of us that falls, ten shall rise." As it uttered its dire prophecy, the Mohra lifted its sword, preparing to deliver the killing blow. At that moment Doyle leapt through the broken silo roof, knocking the demon to the floor. Leaping to his feet Doyle was now in possession of the demon's sword, his own mixed heritage evidenced in his spikey features.
"A great darkness is coming," the Mohra proclaimed, before attacking, morgenstern in hand. The demon and half-breed fought desperately, spinning and kicking and driving with weapons, while Angel lay in pain on the floor trying to rise. Somehow the demon wrapped its morgenstern around Doyle's sword, and pulled it from his grasp. Retaliating, Doyle put all his force into a kick, sending his opponent back into the wall.
"Come on, this is the great warrior of darkness?" As the fight continued, Doyle managed to step on the chain of the Mohra's morgenstern, kicking the demon until it relinquished its hold on the weapon. Doyle's success was short-lived however, as he was picked up and thrown into the wall, before the demon grasped him around the throat.
"Together they were powerful. Alone, they are dead. And so are you. What do you think of the great warrior now?"
"A little bland." While the demon was distracted by the fight, Angel had found the strength to stand and try to help his friend. Throwing something into the demon's eyes, Angel tried to help Doyle as the demon released him, throwing its arms up in pain. "Needs salt."
Recovering quickly, the Mohra grabbed Angel and tossed him across the silo. Doyle valiantly fought on, but his strength, even in demon form, was no match for the Mohra's. He retreated across the silo, ducking the powerful blows sent in his direction. Watching the battle from his position on the floor, Angel suddenly noticed the multi-faceted jewel in the demon's forehead.
"The light of a thousand eyes ..." the Book of Kelsor's message suddenly became clear. "The jewel in its forehead! You have to smash the jewel." Picking up the morgenstern from where it had been abandoned earlier, Doyle swung the weapon through the air, slamming the spiked ball onto the jewel.
"No!" The demon cried, before disappearing in a blinding flash of light. Doyle sighed in relied, before hurrying over to crouch over Angel.
"Doyle, are you all ..."
"Shh man, you're all right. And it's over."
********************
Buffy sat on the edge of her bed and stared at her phone on the bedside table. The early morning sun shone through the windows, falling on Willow where she slept peacefully across the room. She hadn't woken when Buffy had slipped inside in the early hours of the morning, having caught a late bus out of LA. Declining her father's offer to drive her home the next day, she hadn't been able to stay in the city any longer. He was too close ... and he didn't want her. He'd just dismissed her as if she wasn't anyone special - their relationship wasn't something that couldn't wait.
Despite the pain Angel's leaving had caused her, Buffy had believed that his motivation was to give her a better life. His sacrifice for her somehow made it a little bit easier, knowing that he loved her that much. But now there was no reason for him to stay away. No reason to wait, and all he had offered to do was call her.
It had been less than 24 hours since they'd seen each other. Of course he wouldn't call her straight away, she was silly to expect that he would ... but why hadn't he called?
********************
Angel sat on the edge of his bed staring at the phone on his bedside table. He should call her ... she'd probably gone back to Sunnydale already. It was early, and they'd only just seen each other, but he needed to speak to her, needed to hear her voice. Seeing her again, it was like falling off the wagon. His addiction to her was just as strong as ever, even more so after the amazing kiss they'd shared in the sunlight.
Shifting slightly, Angel grimaced as the movement sent pain shafting through his limbs. The bruises from the fight were countless, and there wasn't one part of his body that didn't ache. It was all so different. It had been so long ago that Angel was human, he had forgotten how immediate pain was. Sure, vampires suffered, but nothing was this real, this alive. All his strength, his battle skills - all gone. He still knew the moves, but without a fierce strength to back them up ... well he might as well be Xander.
What good was he now? He was weak, a weak human who couldn't fight, who endangered himself and those around him. She needed someone strong, someone who could back her up without distracting her with concerns for his safety. He would be a liability, useless in a fight. And what else was he good for? She hadn't seem particularly eager to stay...
So Angel continued to sit on the edge of the bed, staring at the phone on the bedside table, not moving a muscle.
Author: Cat D
Email: cat_5555@hotmail.com
Disclaimer: The characters and situations from 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' and 'Angel' depicted herein are the property of Twentieth Century Fox, and the creations of Joss Whedon et al. They ain't mine.
Spoilers: Seasons 1-4 of 'Buffy, Season 1 of 'Angel'. IWRY is assumed knowledge.
Author's Notes: This is I guess the fanfiction equivalent of a pilot. I have this idea for a story, but it could turn out to be very long. So before I go and do all that writing I want to know whether anyone is interested in this story or not. 'Cause it's no fun to write if no one's gonna read it. So, if you like this part and want to read more, please let me know. Conversely if you don't like it and won't read anymore, please let me know too. I just want to gauge audience interest before I proceed.
Part One
"This plant was thriving just this morning. Now look at it. I'm telling you where she leads, dark forces follow." Cordelia stopped fussing over the sickly plant and joined Doyle on the couch in Angel Investigations' reception area.
"Buffy gave it mites?" he questioned disbelieving, referring to the Slayer who had shown up at the offices earlier in the day.
"How else do you explain it?"
"Jealousy?"
"I'm jealous of her?" Cordelia was outraged. "Oh, please!"
"It's just a theory."
"Jealous or not, our lives are about to kaleidoscope."
"How do you figure? Angel's only been human a day."
"The last two and a half hours of which they've spent down there in his apartment - together." In Cordelia's mind, that explained everything. Doyle however was often flummoxed by her strange logic, and with Angel's stunning transformation earlier from demon to human, he was having trouble making sense of things.
"So? Don't they deserve a little happiness after all they've been through?" Sighing, Cordelia realised she was talking to the uninitiated.
"Let me explain the lore here, okay? They suffer, they fight. That's business as usual. They get groiny with each other, the world as we know it falls apart."
"Well, he's not cursed anymore. And anyway, you can't be sure that they're.." Doyle preferred to use a waggling head movement as a euphemism, rather than Cordelia's charming language.
"Oh, please! They've got the forbidden love of all time. They've been apart for months. Now he's suddenly human? I'm sure they're down there just having tea and crackers."
********************
The tension in Angel's apartment was palpable as he and Buffy sat across from each other at the kitchen table, awkwardly avoiding the other's eyes.
"Would you like some more?" Angel gestured with the teapot after filling his own mug.
"No! Thank you," Buffy politely replied, before returning her gaze to the mug in front of her on the table.
Angel's mind was a jumble of thoughts as he struggled to comprehend the enormity of what had happened to him, and how it opened up possibilities he had only ever dreamed of. When he had left the Oracles and Doyle he had been so clear and focused in his purpose - he had to find Buffy. He had walked towards her without hesitation, taking in her stunned expression as he smoothly gathered her into his arms and kissed her. In that blinding, passionate moment there had been no conscious thought, only emotions and physical sensations surged through his body.
Now however his mind would not stop processing over and over as familiar self doubt leapt to the fore. He had been so sure of what he wanted - but what did Buffy want? She had been receptive to his kiss, but he hadn't really given her a chance to object, and maybe she was just caught up in old memories. For old times sake. He couldn't just assume that she still loved him, no matter what he wished. Earlier when tracking the demon in the sewer she had said that she was on the brink of something back home - a new relationship? Could someone else now lay claim to her affections?
"I'm really sorry I kissed you like that."
"You are?" Buffy was startled. 'He doesn't want me anymore?'
"Well, not for the kiss itself.." Buffy smiled and sighed in relief.
"Good." 'Oh God,' she thought, as Angel looked at her quizzically. 'Did that sound too desperate?'
"I mean, 'cause - as far as kisses go I thought it was well above average." Buffy was blushing, nervous to be admitting things that had once been so natural between them, and now seemed so awkward.
"It was incredible." The words rushed out of Angel's mouth before he could stop them. While he was sure of the truth of that statement, Angel wasn't sure of anything else, least of all what Buffy was thinking. "I just - I- I think, maybe we'd be asking for trouble rushing back into things." As Buffy looked at him hesitantly, he hurried to reassure her. "Not that I don't want to - rush. Believe me, I do." The pounding of his heart and the intoxication he felt in her presence were certainly testament to that fact.
"Right." Buffy attempted to cover her hurt feelings and go along with Angel's suggestion. "You spoke to the Oracles and they said you were cured for good. But how do we know that they really speak for the Powers? I mean they could be - pranksters." Angel was relieved that she seemed to understand some of his fears.
"Or there could be another loophole."
"Exactly. And then the two of us would be in even deeper and its 'grr' all over again." After the sheer joy she had experienced when Angel kissed her in the sunlight, Buffy was now feeling extremely let down and depressed.
"It would be smart to wait a while. See if this mortal thing takes." Angel was trying to act cool and casual.
"Exactly. And even if it does, it's still complicated." What had seemed so right a short time ago in his arms, now seemed so confusing with the table and forced words between them.
"You're still the Slayer. And I'm not sure what I am now. I don't know what my purpose is." The sympathy Buffy felt at Angel's confused expression quickly turned to disappointment as he continued.
"I can't just wedge myself into your life back in Sunnydale." Angel desperately wished that she would ask him to, wished she'd give him a sign that that was what she wanted. "It wouldn't be good for either of us. Not to mention the fact that you just started college. And what about slaying. I mean, if you had me to worry about, you might not be as focused." Buffy's heart had dropped further and further at his words.
"Are you going to pull out a pie chart on me now? Because I get it, it's not necessary." Angel realised he'd been a little too convincing with his casual, non-committal attitude, and he moved around the table into a closer chair to reassure her.
"I'm not saying I don't want you Buffy. You know how much ..." He had never been able to find words to express the depth of his feelings for her. "I'm just saying it's worth the wait to be sure this is right. I need to be sure you won't get hurt again." 'Like I've hurt you countless times before.'
"You know it's a good thing I didn't fantasize about you turning human only about 10 zillion times," she commented as she stood up from the chair, her cheeks flushed with feeling. "Because today would have been a real let down." Turning away from the source of her anxiety Buffy leant against the sink and looked skywards as she struggled for composure. How did he do this to her? After months apart he could still make her skin tingle with a glance, with his mere presence. She had to get in control. Swinging back to face him she forced her voice to stay calm and even.
"So how does the mature plan go? You call me? I call you? What?"
"We stay in touch" Angel answered as he moved to stand next to her at the sink. "Just not ..."
"Literally. Funny." Buffy had to drag her eyes away from Angel's, not sure what she'd be compelled to do if she didn't. "Okay, I'd better ..."
"Right" Angel agreed, as she moved past him. "Remove the temptation." He was almost breathless, being this close to her. He could just reach out and ...
They both spun around to face each other, their eyes hungrily devouring the other. Buffy wrapped her arms around her body, tense fingers biting into her skin as she fought not to just reach out and ...
"So, we'll ... talk soon."
"I'll call you," Angel heard himself say, as he gazed into her eyes. He was searching for a sign, something to convince him that this logical argument he was pushing should be tossed out the window. But Buffy became distant at his words, visibly withdrawing into herself as emotional barriers flew up around her.
"Fine." Her lashes fell as she paused for a moment, waiting for Angel to indicate that he wanted her to stay, that his "I'll call you" wasn't the dismissal it seemed to be. When nothing was forthcoming she turned on her heel and walked away, not looking back for fear Angel would see the tears starting to spill down her cheeks.
********************
Doyle hurried down the steps into the apartment, urgently looking around for Angel. Finding him sitting on the couch, Doyle didn't waste time asking him why he was sitting in the dark - there were more important things to deal with.
"Hey, that Mohra demon regenerated more than just you."
"What?" Angel seemed to rouse himself from a trance.
"I had a vision. It regenerated itself."
"Where?"
"In the tunnel where you fought it. Then it was in some sort of factory. I thought I tasted salt. Could have been the margarita."
"No, it needs a lot of salt to live."
"Well, it was very much alive in this vision, and angry if I might mention."
"I'll have to kill it again." Angel stood up with purpose, and hurried around the room arming himself for battle.
"Yeah, but you're human now. They released you."
"You want to let that thing roam free? You saw it in a factory. There is a saline plant in Redondo, We'll start there."
"Yeah, but if it can regenerate itself, how can you kill it?"
"We'll figure it out. Just grab the book of Kelsor. You'll read, I'll drive." Doyle stood in the middle of the apartment, a skeptical look on his face as he watched Angel prepare. "Doyle?"
"I think we should bring someone a little ... supernatural? Where's Buffy?"
"She's not here." Angel turned on his heel and left without looking back.
********************
As they hurried through the saline plant Angel's eyes busily searched the shadows for the demon, while Doyle searched the Book of Kelsor.
"Okay. This is not good. It doesn't just come back - it comes back bigger and stronger. I think we should wait and call Buffy."
"I know what I'm doing."
"This isn't your average demon we're fighting here. It nearly licked you before and now you're mortal."
"If me and Buffy have a chance of being anything, I need to be able do this on my own. I can't keep risking her life every time some minion of hell ... just tell me how to kill it. I can't keep bothering her with my responsibilities." Shaking his head, Doyle continued to read from the book.
"Uh, 'It regenerates until the dark future it envisions is upon us.' Oh, 'to kill the beast one must bring darkness to 1000 eyes'."
"Funny, I only saw two."
"Keep up the glib. It makes me feel like we have a chance." Angel stumbled at the sight of some dead humans, obvious victims of the Mohra demon. As he gagged, overcome by the scene, Doyle held on to him. "Take it easy, mate."
"The blood."
"It's never an easy sight. It's part of being human now."
"I'm going to kill that thing." Resolved, Angel started forward once more.
"Just remember that it's brutal, deadly, and ..." Doyle looked up to see the demon on a platform above them "... here!"
Seeing its prey below the Mohra jumped down, immediately sending its two opponents flying - Angel with a blow from his left hand and Doyle with a blow from the right. Scrambling to his feet Angel rushed at it with a sword, only to be punched to the ground once more. Leaping forward with an axe, Doyle was kicked backwards, tumbling into a collection of metal drums before lying motionless on the ground.
Standing, Angel swung at the demon which caught his sword-arm easily, turning its face away as Angel punched at its head with his left fist. The demon sent him flying once more with a swift elbow to the stomach. Getting to his feet he moved to strike but the demon easily counter-attacked, flipped Angel over his shoulder. The impact caused Angel to drop his sword, which now lay on the ground a metre away. As he rolled to pick it up, the Mohra stood one foot on the sword and kicked Angel in the chest, sending him out of reach of the weapon. Despite his protesting body, he managed to stand and stumble away, realizing he was clearly outmatched.
Hurrying through the plant Angel desperately cast about in his mind for a solution, but before he could think the demon caught up with him, tossing his bruised body forward to the ground once more. Angel tried to stand, but the Mohra sent him sprawling yet again with a kick to the back. Producing a morgenstern from somewhere on its body, the demon swung at Angel with it, who rolled to his back. Blocking Angel's attempted punch, the demon swung his weapon again, connecting with the ground and thin air as Angel desperately tried to avoid the blows. He wasn't successful for long, the spiked ball slamming into his back as he tried to escape. Leaping to stand over Angel, the Mohra swung his weapon once more, but Angel somehow managed to roll away. The weapon shattered the wooden planks that were supporting the two combatants, and they fell several metres to land at the bottom of a salt silo. Coughing blood, Angel braced himself to stand, but the Mohra kicked him back to the floor. Holding him down with one foot on the back of his neck, the demon savored the triumph.
"The end of days has begun and can't be stopped. For any one of us that falls, ten shall rise." As it uttered its dire prophecy, the Mohra lifted its sword, preparing to deliver the killing blow. At that moment Doyle leapt through the broken silo roof, knocking the demon to the floor. Leaping to his feet Doyle was now in possession of the demon's sword, his own mixed heritage evidenced in his spikey features.
"A great darkness is coming," the Mohra proclaimed, before attacking, morgenstern in hand. The demon and half-breed fought desperately, spinning and kicking and driving with weapons, while Angel lay in pain on the floor trying to rise. Somehow the demon wrapped its morgenstern around Doyle's sword, and pulled it from his grasp. Retaliating, Doyle put all his force into a kick, sending his opponent back into the wall.
"Come on, this is the great warrior of darkness?" As the fight continued, Doyle managed to step on the chain of the Mohra's morgenstern, kicking the demon until it relinquished its hold on the weapon. Doyle's success was short-lived however, as he was picked up and thrown into the wall, before the demon grasped him around the throat.
"Together they were powerful. Alone, they are dead. And so are you. What do you think of the great warrior now?"
"A little bland." While the demon was distracted by the fight, Angel had found the strength to stand and try to help his friend. Throwing something into the demon's eyes, Angel tried to help Doyle as the demon released him, throwing its arms up in pain. "Needs salt."
Recovering quickly, the Mohra grabbed Angel and tossed him across the silo. Doyle valiantly fought on, but his strength, even in demon form, was no match for the Mohra's. He retreated across the silo, ducking the powerful blows sent in his direction. Watching the battle from his position on the floor, Angel suddenly noticed the multi-faceted jewel in the demon's forehead.
"The light of a thousand eyes ..." the Book of Kelsor's message suddenly became clear. "The jewel in its forehead! You have to smash the jewel." Picking up the morgenstern from where it had been abandoned earlier, Doyle swung the weapon through the air, slamming the spiked ball onto the jewel.
"No!" The demon cried, before disappearing in a blinding flash of light. Doyle sighed in relied, before hurrying over to crouch over Angel.
"Doyle, are you all ..."
"Shh man, you're all right. And it's over."
********************
Buffy sat on the edge of her bed and stared at her phone on the bedside table. The early morning sun shone through the windows, falling on Willow where she slept peacefully across the room. She hadn't woken when Buffy had slipped inside in the early hours of the morning, having caught a late bus out of LA. Declining her father's offer to drive her home the next day, she hadn't been able to stay in the city any longer. He was too close ... and he didn't want her. He'd just dismissed her as if she wasn't anyone special - their relationship wasn't something that couldn't wait.
Despite the pain Angel's leaving had caused her, Buffy had believed that his motivation was to give her a better life. His sacrifice for her somehow made it a little bit easier, knowing that he loved her that much. But now there was no reason for him to stay away. No reason to wait, and all he had offered to do was call her.
It had been less than 24 hours since they'd seen each other. Of course he wouldn't call her straight away, she was silly to expect that he would ... but why hadn't he called?
********************
Angel sat on the edge of his bed staring at the phone on his bedside table. He should call her ... she'd probably gone back to Sunnydale already. It was early, and they'd only just seen each other, but he needed to speak to her, needed to hear her voice. Seeing her again, it was like falling off the wagon. His addiction to her was just as strong as ever, even more so after the amazing kiss they'd shared in the sunlight.
Shifting slightly, Angel grimaced as the movement sent pain shafting through his limbs. The bruises from the fight were countless, and there wasn't one part of his body that didn't ache. It was all so different. It had been so long ago that Angel was human, he had forgotten how immediate pain was. Sure, vampires suffered, but nothing was this real, this alive. All his strength, his battle skills - all gone. He still knew the moves, but without a fierce strength to back them up ... well he might as well be Xander.
What good was he now? He was weak, a weak human who couldn't fight, who endangered himself and those around him. She needed someone strong, someone who could back her up without distracting her with concerns for his safety. He would be a liability, useless in a fight. And what else was he good for? She hadn't seem particularly eager to stay...
So Angel continued to sit on the edge of the bed, staring at the phone on the bedside table, not moving a muscle.