(A/N): Ending prologue. Sadness ahead and in the next chap, but no worries, it'll b a little better by the third part...kinda.
L&F S&S will b updated next!
7 DAYS OF INNOCENCE- Ending Prologue
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The shadows of the night surrounded and clung to the two men that ran towards the gates of the hotel, one already having in mind to head towards the center of the city and the other suddenly making a beeline for his car.
"Angel?" Wes called out as he opened his driver's side door. "Driving would be quicker."
The vampire stopped but didnt turn to face the ex-watcher, instead placing his hands on his hips and frowning deeply at the ground. "He's fast, Wes." So fast, in fact, Angel knew no form of wheels would be able to catch up with him.
"He couldnt have gotten far..."
But he was.
Connor's scent was lingering and diminishing, along with his essence- the very sense Angel had always felt when his boy was nearby or in close proximity. Connor was far, very far indeed in such a little amount of time, meaning he was most likely scared...
But of what?
"What was he running from?" He was practically pacing now in his severity to find his son.
"I..." Wes shifted almost nervously but didnt move further into his automobile. "I dont know. I couldnt see anything, but I ... I saw his face. Angel, he was-"
"-Terrified. I know. I can feel it," came the stony reply that quickly turned into a low gutteral growl. "And whatever or whoever made him feel that way's going to die."
Wesley almost shivered hearing that voice, remembering a time, just a few months ago actually, that he had been at the receiving end of such fueled anger.
The sight and sounds had been absolutely frightening on their own, but to be given that brute force with its intent on creating violence and bloodshed...
He almost felt pity.
He almost felt sorry for the people or creatures that had mistakenly chosen the vampire's son to target. Whatever harm was done to the boy instantaneously brought about the wrath and rage of one man placed with an untrue name.
Or maybe it was.
Angel to the city, and his friends and family living in it.
Angel of Death to anybody or anything that hurt his child in any way.
"Take the car and follow me if you can," the vampire's voice cut in through the ex-watcher's thoughts. "It'll be easier for me to track him on foot. Im going up." And with that he was gone, a dangerous figure of the night shrouded in fury.
Wes swiftly jumped into his car and started it, but just before pulling out onto the empty road, he said a small prayer while looking up to the heavens through his streaked windshield, a wish to God that Angel found his son and that the boy was safe, but did not find the ones responsible for the vampire's madness.
Angel would surely kill.
Even if they were humans, the very things he had chosen himself to protect.
Angel would kill for his son.
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The moon shone brightly down on Connor as he ran, dashing and jumping through streets and over cars, whether parked or not, scaling small buildings to achieve more distance, leaping over railings that led to underground subways but never climbing down, too wary of the loud noises coming from there, then moving quickly through dark alleys, one in particular, though, he skidded into, satisfied and knowing full well he had gotten far enough.
Far enough from Angel.
He turned as they all manisfested again, facing them and finally taking in their appearance.
They were dressed from head to toe in black, the material looking thick, and had their faces covered with dark masks, hiding away if they were human or not, but Connor already had his answer to that one.
They were on foot.
And they had easily caught up to him, following along the same path he had done.
They werent human in the slightest bit and they held strange weapons, ones without blades or wood or electricity like Fred's stungun, but pointed at him just the same as if they could do instant damage. He had seen them somewhere before, a while ago, but in a different form.
And they also reminded him of Gunn's small handheld rifle, only much much larger.
He shifted his stance, hands raising, as he trained his dark blue eyes on them all. "Who are you? What do you want with me?" He ordered out.
One man stepped forward, causing the boy to lower to the ground more in a defensive position, then tilted the gun away as he spoke. "This has nothing to do with you, boy."
Connor's eyes narrowed when hearing that. If it wasnt about him, then... His lip suddenly curled. "I wont let you hurt him. Any of you."
"We have our orders."
"You wont leave here alive."
"We have our orders," came the firm repeat as the man cloaked in black turned to his crew. "Harm him if you must but do not kill. That was our directive." But when seeing the others rear back quickly, he turned around to view the boy and instead saw...
With a malicious growl, Connor had leapt into the air within seconds and came down onto the surprised man, grabbing his neck and twisting it swiftly but not letting go as he wasted no time with slugging another that tried to come to the rescue.
When that man went flying and the others scuttled around, weapons pointed but bodies shaking nervously, Connor finally let the body drop from his arms, keeping his grip, though, on the mask as it came off.
Green bumpy skin.
He was right.
None of them were human.
He looked up and grinned.
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It wasnt hard tracking him, the scent he knew all too well, but it was difficult to keep his vision through the haze of red and rage and fury directed at the ones that were after his son.
He could smell it- Connor's fear.
It drifted through the air and swelled out of the ground, to slowly seep into the vampire's dead skin as he ran forward, intent on bringing bloody justice to anything that hurt or even TOUCHED his boy.
Nothing was allowed to. Not ever.
A yell tore through his rampaging thoughts and he gasped, trying to quickly discern the voice and the one after and then the one after that.
None of them were Connor; none of them belonged to his precious Miracle.
But nevertheless, he catapulted his body forward, gathering more adrenaline, because the direction the screams were coming from was the same direction his son's scent was leading to.
He would kill them. Every last one of them. If they were there and Connor was there and the boy was still afraid, they would all die and nothing would stop him.
As he rounded on a series of alleys, already knowing which dark section to follow, he heard a sound that chilled his already cold and still blood to the core, and with a manic roar of sheer rage mixing in with growing terror, he barreled down into darkness, violence in his eyes being the only thing that shone the way.
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"Oh my God." And those were his last words, a mantra that had been on dying lips as Connor delivered another blow his way, finally silencing him. The boy then scrambled for the next attacker closest to him and, propelling his thin and wiry body from off a dirty and decaying wall, he shot to the side, giving a deadly kick to the head that bashed the creature where he stood taut but shoulders trembling.
They obviously hadnt been informed on what exactly they were up against, and smirking at that fact, Connor bolted for another, punching him and then his partner straight in the face, blood now leaking out their masks.
There were five now left standing, only three with their weapons still in hand, and seeing one of the newly-punched creatures drop his hardware, he swiped up the piece and looked it over curiously, but soon realized his mistake as he saw a blur from his side and felt something leap on his back, brutally increasing his weight and slamming the boy into the wall, then grabbing his neck to pound his head against the slimy surface.
Connor shrieked in rage and partly pain due to a sharp jagged edge sticking out that had sliced all the way through his pant leg and dug deep into his knee.
The creature still pounding on his back, he then twisted around, stumbling slightly as he got his first jolt of pain that raced through his body, and rammed himself backwards, the thing's own body cushioning him from the impact. A few more times of that had the man loosening his grip and while sliding down, Connor whirled around again and dispensed harsh strikes to the abdomen, almost relishing in the yells and grunts of pain he heard.
Until a thick arm snaked around his belly and he was lifted off the ground.
"Im willing to forget about orders, arent you?" The scratchy voice whispered into his ear and he was soundly slugged on the cheek, head whipping to the side as he yelled in hurt and surprise, still being hefted in the air.
He was then spun around and lowered, but not let go of.
As he was being held and struggling, his fist flung free, smacking into material and flesh, but the act was reciprocated just as quickly, a punch delivered to him that caused little spots to dance in front of his eyes and his head to throb in sync with his blood flow.
In front of him, a man rose.
In back of him, the creature gripping him tightly slung an arm around his throat and pushed up, making him gasp in his discomfort and horror that he was now so close to something he should be destroying, his head practically resting on its shoulder.
Leaning forward, he suddenly found the strength to hurl his elbow back for a crushing blow, but missed as his captor ducked his head, almost letting him go in the process, and repositioned him, now his arms held down and head pulled back.
Connor again screamed in rage like an animal being subdued within a cage, and finally turned blazing eyes to the creature behind him.
"Let me go!"
The other three, the only ones left who were not unconscious or dead, crowded around to watch, but backed away once they saw the rifle raise.
And heard a bloodlusting roar from somewhere just beyond.
Connor's eyes widened, hearing the noise, instantly recognizing it.
It was his father.
Angel.
And he sounded wild with madness.
That sound alone stopped all further struggling and fighting from him, but the creature behind him continued on like he hadnt taken any notice or just didnt care.
"Do it!"
A click.
Connor looked back at the thing in front of him, with its body tense and nervous and weapon at the ready.
He frowned.
What could the piece do? It was large and black, not small and silver like Gunn's weapon that he had just recently acquired, and it wasnt pronged or shooting sparks like Fred's stunner, but Connor knew enough about the world already that harm and danger came in all sizes and all forms, especially when created from technology.
He frowned again, as the man hesitated then brought the weapon up to his face to match his eye level, his thoughts leading him away even as the arm tightened around his neck.
He knew he had seen the black object before, used in the same way it was now. He doubted it was in Quor-toth, the hell could never produce the right components for such a thing, and he had only been in this world for a few months, but knew since he couldnt remember correctly, that it had been a while ago, meaning...
When he had first met his father.
When he had first met Angel and had been in a fight similar to this.
Fighting.
Arms around his throat.
People in uniforms.
Sunny's home erupting in loud bangs.
Connor's eyes widened as the voice again spoke in his ear.
"Im not dying in this alley tonight and I dont take orders from a bastard who cant get rid of a simple vampire on his own."
The blood thrummed through him as he snarled a reply, his body practically burning to kill the thing speaking in such a way about his father.
"Do it!"
The boy began to struggle again, now knowing full well what the weapon could do.
The man's finger moved to the trigger but never made it any farther to pull back.
With a loud snap, he went down and from behind, loomed a figure, dressed also in black, but pale features contrasting drastically with the darkness surrounding him.
The other creatures raised their weapons, but other than that, everything just STOPPED, and the only noises that could be heard were harsh breathings and cars honking off in the distance.
Connor almost smiled seeing his father, but then cringed mostly in guilt as he realized the men around him had wanted just that.
They wanted Angel.
And they had gotten him.
The vampire stepped forward, his dark gaze smoldering with pure wrath, and Connor could hear the gulps that were made from all around him, but especially see the one made from just behind, the creature that was holding him bringing him closer to his body in a tighter grip, almost clenching the air out of the boy's chest and lungs.
And Angel's angry eyes were only on him.
Only on the thing holding his son.
TOUCHING his son.
The hands.
The arms.
The body.
All of it was TOUCHING Connor.
"Let my son go."
The creature didnt move.
Connor even felt himself grow fearful from under such a heated glare. Angel was TERRIFYING. Never before had he seen the vampire react in such a way or display so much venom.
This wasnt the Angel he had fought months ago.
This wasnt the Angel he knew.
"And if I dont?" The creature spoke out, challengingly.
"Then you'll die. Right here in this alley." He already knew the thing would be killed, though, but if his boy was hurt any more so or manhandled even worse, the creature would die slowly.
Painfully and slowly.
Stances were shifted and large firearms were cocked. Angel growled at them in warning, his eyes never straying from off the one that dared to touch what was his.
Connor was then pulled even closer, if possible, his body now held like a shield as if to fend off the vampire father.
And Angel's growl turned into a full-blown roar at seeing that, game-face immediately switched on, no amount of firepower stopping his rampaging dead body as it broke through the blazes of bullets and small tuffs of smoke, the small pieces of metal ricocheting off the walls to come back and hit him, but even those couldnt stop him from seizing two men at a time and promptly breaking their necks, the third left in shock and dropping to his knees at seeing his death coming for him. Angel held a rifle, and using it as a blunt force, he swung it to the thing's head, the skull practically caving in at the unmerciful impact.
He then turned his rage to the real threat to him.
The one holding his Miracle.
Connor could feel the creature shake, the tremors starting from the knees and tearing its way through the body as the thing beheld the sight of his father, the true Scourge of Europe and legendary vampire with a soul, stalk towards them, face set in anger and body rigid, while cold fingers twitched to be used.
Just looking at him, Connor almost shook himself, that is until he was roughly flung to the side to smack into the wall and slide down, looking on in shock as the thing that held him quickly picked up a rifle and began to fire.
His boy now safely out of harm's way, nothing stopped the vampire from instantly grabbing the threat and hauling him in the air, the gun spent and out of ammo, all that was loaded into it now in his rippling chest and a building's wall behind him.
The creature hissed as he dangled and futilely grabbed at the fist that encircled his uniform collar but was without warning shoved right into the snarling face of the immortal.
"You work for somebody. Who is it!"
"You'll find out soon enough," was the only reply that was choked out and a moment later, wasting no more time, Angel snapped the thing's neck, the head almost completely twisting around.
He quickly looked to his son, seeing the boy still in a heap against a dirty wall, but staring up with wide eyes at him.
"Connor, are you ok?"
"You...killed them all," came the quiet voice, filled with disbelief. Never before had he seen his father fight so savagely and...kill like he had done. The man usually only beat others unconscious or left them for dead, but never had he actually killed in a rage like that. Connor looked at all the damage again, swinging his head from body to body, almost in sick fascination, not that he hadnt seen or even created death himself before on the things that deserved it, as the vampire stepped forward towards him.
"Yeah. I dont take too kindly to people touching you." He bent low to help his son up then winced, a hand going to his stomach. Connor scrambled up, seeing that, and was instantly at his side.
"Youre hurt..." He hesitantly reached out but his father grabbed his hand and, instead, placed his own cold one to the boy's cheek.
"I'll live," he reassured, almost showing a smile, but quickly frowned in worry. "Are YOU hurt?"
Connor shook his head, surprising himself as he leaned into the touch, but Angel frowned even further.
"I can smell your blood, Connor. Where is it coming from?"
At that, the boy looked down and the vampire followed his gaze, then was instantly bending low again, ignoring the pain from the gunshots, as he inspected the cut knee. The wound was deep and dirtied, and the skin around it already infected, but the blood had stopped its flow, already drying in streaks of red down the thin and pale leg.
"I-Im fine, Dad. I'll heal."
"Thats not the point," his father growled out but somewhat gently, now standing up again. "Youre in pain."
Connor stared up at him, his gaze deep and penetrating, then turned away, repeating his words but more quietly this time as if embarrassed. "I'll heal." The hand that had been resting against his cheek then fell to his shoulder, holding on tight, and he was suddenly pulled forward into a strong embrace, a passionate one, filled with love and longing and yearning and comfort, because past the scent of blood and gunfire, thats what it was.
Connor could feel it.
Could smell it and finally feel it.
The scent of Angel.
The love of Angel.
The warmth his father's cold and dead body gave.
Stifling back a gasp, he was still for a moment, ready to give up the feelings the vampire gave if he should pull back, but as Angel held on tighter and strengthened the affection, he relaxed and let his mind believe and arms raise up to hug back, encircling around the man just as tight, or maybe even tighter, he didnt know.
Or care.
"Dad," he choked out, ordering his body to fit better against the other's as he burrowed his head deeper into the firm chest, and he heard his father sigh, bringing him towards his unbeating heart.
They stayed like that for a while, one silently hoping and pleading for the moment to never end and the other caressing and longing for the night to last forever, but questions needed to be answered and Angel was willing to put everything aside, even his own happiness, for the safety of his Miracle.
"Connor," he pulled away, but kissed the boy's forehead when seeing the momentary flash of hurt within blue eyes. "Do you know who they were? Where they came from?"
His only reply was a quick shake of the head and lowered eyes.
"Why were you running? Why were you afraid?"
"I wasnt."
"You were," Angel affirmed, and blue eyes were lowered again.
"I wasnt," Connor said, this time sounding indignant.
"You were." Angel then grasped his chin softly and tilted his head up, wishing to look again into those brilliant orbs. "Why were they after you?" He desperately needed to know.
And desperately needed to kill the ones that had plans on harming his child.
It looked as if Connor wasnt going to answer, until he soon turned his head away again, speaking slowly as he directed his gaze to the cement below. "They werent after me. They said they werent." That was why he had been afraid.
They had been after Angel.
The men had followed him from his father's home.
It was then Wesley finally made his appearance, extremely late and jittery, expecting a fight as he clambered out of his car, fully equipped with artillery that practically spilled from his arms.
"Angel, Connor, are you both alright? Have they been defeated? Where are th-" He stopped, though, seeing the bodies littering the alley floor. "Oh," was his quiet observation, aiming his weapons away. "Nevermind then."
Angel frowned once more at his son then turned to the Britishman. "Yeah, Wes, its alright now. We're both ok."
"Im sure," the ex-watcher said, kicking a random bloody body, then looked towards Angel's son, smiling slightly.
Connor looked down again, embarrassed and unsure.
"So what now, then?"
Angel frowned once more then turned to his son, instantly brightening as Connor looked up with a frown of his own. "We're going home." Connor's eyes widened. "All of us."
"N-No-"
The vampire gave his best authoritative stance, hands on his hips and eyes trying to be hard. "There's no room for discussion, Connor. Youre my son and youre going to live with me. We're all going home."
The boy stood there, pale and shocked and filled with disbelief, until he crossed his arms and huffed, turning from the man that had a small smile on his features and love in his eyes, and, instead, started to walk away in the opposite direction, intent on showing his father he would do no such thing, that is until his leg ached and pain shot up again, making him gasp and topple forward...
Right into the protective arms of his undead father, Angel, who didnt so much as blink an eye at him as he brought him closer to his cold and caring chest.
"W-Wha-What?" the boy squawked, struggling somewhat as he was practically swept off his feet, an act he could not and would never be able to get used to.
His father holding him.
And Angel would do that alot. He could see it in the vampire's eyes as he was grinned down upon.
"Where do you think youre going, kiddo?" The man laughed softly. "And what part of 'we're all going HOME' didnt you understand, huh?"
"I-I understood. I was going home. To my home," Connor replied lamely, blushing madly as he realized he was already much too comfortable in his father's arms.
"No," Angel shook his head, starting to walk forward as Wes moved to his car also, hiding away a small smile at how happy his old boss seemed. "That was never your home. Your home is with me. At the Hyperion."
"You...You kicked me out..."
A flash of regret was instantly seen as Angel looked down at the bundle in his arms. "I should have never done that. I was angry, Connor. Im sorry. Nothing like that will ever happen again, I swear it."
The dark automobile was getting closer and Connor realized his chances at escaping were becoming little to none.
But he didnt care.
Looking up at his father, the undead thing he was sent to kill, the undead thing he had made suffer for months on the bottom of an ocean, he just didnt care anymore.
Because the undead thing loved him.
Angel loved him.
And Connor loved him back.
Had wanted it, found it, then screamed at himself for not seeing it before.
Love. So much love. In the past and in the future.
And he would be there to grab it.
But not letting the eagerness seep through, he continued to gaze up at the vampire, willing his features blank as he gave a slow and hesitant nod, eyes becoming wary, but lips breaking open with a small, unhindered smile as Angel grinned down at him, hugging him closer, almost crushing him in his compassion.
Home.
He was finally going home.
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"They hate me."
A sigh. "No they dont, Connor."
"They do."
"They just dont understand." It had been hell trying to get his son out of the car, but strong urgings and loving smiles finally did it, although now, the boy wouldnt budge from the street.
He seemed so happy moments ago...Angel almost begged whatever Powers above to let him see his son smile once again.
"Lets go in and make it right, ok?" Angel smiled again as Wesley moved on ahead inside to inform the others, but quickly sighed once more as his Miracle shook his head vigorously. "Connor-"
"-They didnt trust me before and now it'll be even worse. I know it will."
"Ok, well, if they dont like the idea, then I'll just kick them out." Connor opened his mouth to protest more, but instantly shut it as Angel took his hand, already walking him closer to the gates and the Hyperion's main entranceway. "We were meant to be together, kiddo, and you have no say in it," the vampire grinned.
Connor trailed behind, not at all as fast as his father, but displaying the same exact smile, albeit shy almost.
The older man taking charge was new to him.
Before, it seemed like the vampire was waiting. Waiting for what, he didnt know, but waiting for SOMETHING- an emotion, an opening, a sign even, just something and not pushing in the slightest, not that he was now, but he just seemed different, as if now leading instead of following.
Which they were doing.
Angel lead.
Connor followed.
Into the Hyperion.
And into the waiting arms of Wolfram and Hart.
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"About damn time. I was ready to pull out the tea and biscuits." Linwood stepped forward, flanked on either side by three soldiers.
Soldiers dressed in similar suits to the ones Angel had killed only minutes ago.
"Did you kill all my men?"
Angel didnt answer, instead holding up his arm to hold his son back and keep him protectively behind. He then surveyed the damage.
The damage being his friends.
Fred held securely by one armed creature, a small gun trained directly on her forehead.
Lorne held by two, bloody gashes all over his face and one horn missing.
Gunn on the floor under one soldier's boot, looking as if he got most of the brutal beatings as blood trickled from the side of his head and chin. A gun was pointed down at him also.
Then Wes, newly entered, hung limply in a green officer's arms, already unconscious.
"It was a distraction," his voice shook as he stated it. "You were after me the whole time." And they had used his son to get to him. That enraged him the most, even more than seeing his friends lying bloody and beaten on his home's floor.
"Correction," Linwood said as he straightened his tie. "I told my men that. This was actually a plan not well prepared for." He gave a glare to a figure hidden away in the shadows, leaning against a wall, who languidly moved forward into the light.
Lilah.
She gave a small wave.
"We were counting on the boy being here but not running," the executive of W&H continued. "And we definitely werent counting on you following, or even knowing about it for that matter. My orders were quite clear. Subdue you all and grab the boy so I can get my much needed revenge. Not only was the Miracle Child the bonus, he was the prize. But..." He then shrugged. "They failed and I came to clean up."
They were after him.
Connor
From the very beginning.
The fear rose and it was impossible to quench it as he glared at each of the men who posed a threat.
They were after his son.
"Dad?"
Angel turned to see his son eyeing the room warily, stance shifting and head cocked to the side. "Connor, stay here," he ordered tersely, stepping in front of him more as if to hide him from view.
His son's eyes widened in shock. "But-"
"-No, son, they want you." He then whirled, fixing them all with a gaze filled with provoked and blazing fire. "And I wont let them have you."
He would kill them all.
A bloodbath within his own house.
Because they had hurt his friends and his son and wanted to hurt his boy even more.
"...Dad..." Connor stepped forward, in hopes of changing his father's mind, but Angel stopped him again, this time his order fierce and snarling.
"STAY HERE!" Game face in place, he then leapt for the nearest creature, punching him ferociously and flinging his body in the air, away from his Miracle. The next two were the same, both acquiring their rightful distance away from the boy as they crashed through the Hyperion's windows, falling dead to the ground outside.
Angel moved quickly to Gunn and, knocking away his captor, freed the black man, adding muscle to his small and relentless army.
They dashed forward with twin guttural growls as the whole place erupted in screams, creatures shrieking in pain, Fred shrilling in horror, and Linwood yelling out more orders to the few men left standing around him.
Lorne had even gotten free, now bashing people over the head with a red bat he had found from somewhere.
But the men kept coming, theyre numbers growing, something Angel thought odd and untrue, hoping against hope his eyes were betraying him as he knocked two out of commission, only to have four more leap at him, four which hadnt been there before.
And then he saw how truthful his eyes were.
More men filed into the hotel, ignoring his son, thankfully, and rushed towards the vampire and his friends, their weapons ranging from all different types.
Even stakes.
Linwood laughed in the background as three jumped on the ex gang member, expertly tackling him and thwarting off attacks, then pinned him to the ground again, successfully hindering all chances of escape.
Lorne was easily caught off guard and slugged in the stomach as well as over the side of the head, knocking him out instantly.
Others in black rushed in again.
Now the place was practically filled with men in uniforms.
Angel roared in fury, still fighting, still weaving in between men and punching, kicking, slashing, breaking necks, and creating holes that, seconds later, caused the evil things to spurt out blood and gore from different parts of the body.
Nothing could stop him.
Not all the men.
Not all his wounds.
Not his friends' frightened faces.
Not their terrified voices.
Not Linwood yelling in fury.
Not the blood quickly gathering on his floor.
Not-
He suddenly heard Connor's yell of fury, and turning, he was quickly caught off guard and taken down, six holding him down in place, but that didnt stop him from looking or roaring in sheer agony at what he saw.
Three men had grabbed a hold of his son, two restraining and one fisting his boy's dark hair.
He roared again in pure madness, a rage taking over that stormed through his already-clouded mind with wrath and vengeance as he tried to rise, to stop the things that were hurting his son.
TOUCHING Connor.
But he fell back as four more surrounded him, beating him and pummeling him during his time of weakness, a time of unrestrained malice, a time of his thoughts only consumed with his son, his Connor, and nothing more, not even his own safety, and further lost his strength as more moved forward for a piece of the action, some so eager to hurt the legend that they punched in already bloodied spots, reeling back in disgust as their dark fists came back to them coated and slick with red.
"DAD!"
"C-Connor," Angel groaned, shaking the blood out of his eyes and peaceful consciousness away as he was held in place, three men on each side.
His game face then swiftly left him.
Linwood finally stepped forward, eyes wandering up the vampire's bulky frame, smiling in satisfaction at what he saw.
"This look suits you, Angel. You should really keep it going." He motioned for one of the guards behind him to step forward and was handed something small, something Angel couldnt see quite well besides noting the fact it was hand-size, but he knew it was a weapon.
Linwood's eyes lighting up proved that fact.
Angel again tried to shake the haze away, craning his neck to the side to catch a glimpse of his son, to see if he was ok, but he didnt dare call out as his efforts were stopped.
Linwood grabbed his head, forcefully turning his gaze back to him. "You know, I wanted this on tape, I really did, but, again, I was disappointed." He again sent a glare Lilah's way, and the lawyer woman shrugged, arms crossed and eyes hard. He then gave an airy sigh. "Oh well."
He watched as the vampire in front of him spit up blood, then smirked when their eyes met again. "Do you remember the last time we were gathered here, Angel?" His eyes turned cold. "You threatened me with sharp, pointy objects, tried to offer me as a sacrifice, then threw me down a flight of stairs as I was tied to a chair. I seriously DO hope you remember it all..."
Angel swallowed back the blood and managed a small sneer. "And now what do you want me to do, cry for you?"
Linwood smiled thinly. "No, but it DOES rhyme with that." He raised his weapon. "Youre going to die here, Angel, right in front of me."
A stake.
Angel's eyes widened against his will, taking in with sick horror the very thing that could end his unnatural life, hovering now right above his heart.
"I'll be somewhat humane though. Any last words?"
"How bout 'FUCK YOU'!" Gunn suddenly snarled from behind him, still held down on the floor.
Linwood turned to him and gave a disapproving frown. "Your's doesnt count. Not yet." He looked back at the vampire. "I'll ask again. Any last words?"
And Angel raised his head, his eyes set hard like stone and blood dripping free. "I wont die tonight. I wont leave my son alone. Not again."
"Not a thing to worry about." Linwood leaned forward. "I'll take good care of him." He almost flinched as the vampire suddenly howled with violence, the thought of the man in front of him coming near his son putting him in a craze that ruled out any other, one filled with mania and madness and furious frenzy.
Connor was HIS.
And nobody else's.
"Hold him!" Linwood barked out as he raised the stake again.
"DAD!"
"Oh God, Connor." He couldnt get free. He couldnt save his son.
He couldnt save himself to save his son.
Throughout all of this, though, as it all was taking place, and from atop the stairs still where his father had left him, a young boy screamed with fury and mental terror, watching the older man in the hands of his sworn enemies, a stake raising, a weapon to be used, the vampire's life about to be ended...
Angel about to be taken away from him.
Killed.
Destroyed.
Gone.
Forever.
And he had just gotten him back.
They were going to start a life together.
No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, NO, NO! Connor inwardly shrieked, his body shaking in the arms of the two men.
The third had stepped back, seeing the turmoil rising.
The boy's eyes burned with anguish.
His father had given up everything for him.
Connor flung the two men to the side, and they crashed into each other, driven by the Miracle's malevolent force.
And now he was hurting.
Again.
No one was supposed to hurt this much, especially not him. He wasnt ALLOWED to.
He sacrificed everything for his son and had gotten absolutely nothing in return.
Now, not even a life.
Connor struck the last man quickly, hurling him into the wall to crash to the floor.
Sacrificed it all.
Angel had sacrificed everything.
And now it was his turn.
He would save his father.
And make everything right, just like the man had wished for while stepping into the hotel.
He would save Angel.
The Angel.
HIS Angel.
With the ultimate sacrifice.
"Hold him!" Linwood repeated, positioning the long piece of wood over the vampire's heart again. He then stared into his eyes, the dark and tortured and anguished eyes, and smiled, his body trilling with excitement.
He was enjoying this.
Linwood was truly enjoying this.
He pulled back the stake as he heard the vampire's friends scream from all around. "By the way, those last words were sweet and very...heart-felt." He laughed at his own small joke. "I approve."
"No. Connor. My son..." Angel moaned in pure agony, now realizing he couldnt escape, but his mind being consumed with images of his child never the less. If W&H got him while he was gone...
If they took away his precious Miracle when he had turned to dust...
Linwood brought his weapon down with a shout of manic glee.
The vampire's friends shrieked their alarm and terror.
Angel, himself, let out his own holler. "CONNOR!"
And Lilah watched, noticing something the others did not.
The W&H executive closed his eyes with a smile as his weapon sunk into flesh and blood splattered onto his face and clothes.
Angel closed his eyes, preparing for his own demise, but quickly opened them as he heard his son scream.
A scream that was too close for his liking.
Much too close.
destroy destroy destroy destroy destroy destroy destroy destroy destroy destroy
(A/N): Next chapter is titled DEATH and u kan guess why, haha, but I hafta update L&F S&S first before anything, so this might take a few days getting out- sorry.
And no worries, this thing has a happy ending! Even tho it starts out... umm yeah.
Thanks 4 the reviews and 2 Angelfirenze: Thanks alot for reviewing and I DONT KARE ABOUT SPELLING WHEN DOING NOTES OR APOSTROPHY THINGIES! AND U SHOULDNT EITHER! IT'LL SERIOUSLY KAUSE U WRINKLES, MAN! WRINKLES! XD
I luv Connor Angel!