Chapter 6 Teenagers
A/N: Sorry for the wait life gets in the way sometimes. This was always a favorite episode in season 3 because it was funny with some darkness in it. My version stays pretty true to the episode of course with some differences but loved typing this chapter. Also the song it has nothing to do with the chapter except it's a fun song because this is a fun chapter so enjoy it.
Hey, Macklemore! Can we go thrift shopping?
What, what, what, what...
Bada, badada, badada, bada...
Bada, badada, badada, bada
Bada, badada, badada, bada
Bada, badada, badada, bada
Bada, badada, badada, bada
Bada, badada, badada, bada
Bada, badada, badada, bada
Bada, badada, badada, bada
Bada, badada, badada, bada
I'm gonna pop some tags
Only got twenty dollars in my pocket
I - I - I'm hunting, looking for a come-up
This is fucking awesome
Nah, Walk up to the club like, "What up, I got a big cock!"
I'm so pumped about some shit from the thrift shop
Ice on the fringe, it's so damn frosty
That people like, "Damn! That's a cold ass honkey."
Rollin' in, hella deep, headin' to the mezzanine,
Dressed in all pink, 'cept my gator shoes, those are green
Draped in a leopard mink, girls standin' next to me
Probably shoulda washed this, smells like R. Kelly's sheets
(Piiisssssss)
But shit, it was ninety-nine cents! (Bag it)
Coppin' it, washin' it, 'bout to go and get some compliments
Passin' up on those moccasins someone else's been walkin' in
But me and grungy fuckin it man
I am stuntin' and flossin' and
Savin' my money and I'm hella happy that's a bargain, bitch
I'ma take your grandpa's style, I'ma take your grandpa's style,
No for real - ask your grandpa - can I have his hand-me-downs? (Thank you)
Velour jumpsuit and some house slippers
Dookie brown leather jacket that I found diggin'
They had a broken keyboard, I bought a broken keyboard
I bought a skeet blanket, then I bought a kneeboard
Hello, hello, my ace man, my Mello
John Wayne ain't got nothing on my fringe game, hell no
I could take some Pro Wings, make them cool, sell those
The sneaker heads would be like "Aw, he got the Velcros"
I'm gonna pop some tags
Only got twenty dollars in my pocket
I - I - I'm hunting, looking for a come-up
This is fucking awesome
I'm gonna pop some tags
Only got twenty dollars in my pocket
I - I - I'm hunting, looking for a come-up
This is fucking awesome
What you know about rockin' a wolf on your noggin?
What you knowin' about wearin' a fur fox skin?
I'm digging, I'm digging, I'm searching right through that luggage
One man's trash, that's another man's come-up
Thank your granddad for donating that plaid button-up shirt
'Cause right now I'm up in her stuntin'
I'm at the Goodwill, you can find me in the (Uptons)
I'm not, I'm not sick of searchin' in that section (Uptons)
Your grammy, your aunty, your momma, your mammy
I'll take those flannel zebra jammies, second-hand, I rock that motherfucker
The built-in onesie with the socks on that motherfucker
I hit the party and they stop in that motherfucker
They be like, "Oh, that Gucci - that's hella tight."
I'm like, "Yo - that's fifty dollars for a T-shirt."
Limited edition, let's do some simple addition
Fifty dollars for a T-shirt - that's just some ignorant bitch (shit)
I call that getting swindled and pimped (shit)
I call that getting tricked by a business
That shirt's hella dough
And having the same one as six other people in this club is a hella don't
Peep game, come take a look through my telescope
Tryna get girls from a brand? Man you hella won't
Man you hella won't
(Goodwill... poppin' tags... yeah!)
I'm gonna pop some tags
Only got twenty dollars in my pocket
I - I - I'm hunting, looking for a come-up
This is fucking awesome
I wear your granddad's clothes
I look incredible
I'm in this big ass coat
From that thrift shop down the road
I wear your granddad's clothes ('kay all right)
I look incredible (now come on)
I'm in this big ass coat (big ass coat)
From that thrift shop down the road (let's go)
I'm gonna pop some tags
Only got twenty dollars in my pocket
I - I - I'm hunting, looking for a come-up
This is fucking awesome
Is that your grandma's coat?
Thrift Shop sung by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis Ft. Wanz
Angel sat on the ground at the graveyard with a book in his lap. The fall semester of school was in full swing, the college applications were being submitted and the Seniors were getting even more hyped up about graduation. Homecoming was early this year because Sunnydale High had more away games than home games. Senior night would be here soon too even though traditionally it's not until November. Homecoming was in early October when it's usually towards the end. But right now something was coming for the slayer.
"And on that tragic day, an era came to its inevitable end. That's all there is." Giles finished reading and Angel listened closely. Giles fixed his glasses a little and then looked to Angel. "Are you ready?" Giles asked his slayer.
"Hit me." Angel answered and Giles nodded. To an onlooker this could be seen as two people reading out of a magic book or trying to do something in the dark arts.
"Which of the following best expresses the theme of the passage?" Giles asked, no this wasn't dark magic not even a séance this was SAT preparation maybe even scarier than calling the dead. "A, violence breeds violence. B, all things must end," Angel sighed, he wanted to take this seriously but he was exhausted right now. "C,"
"B, I'm going with B," Angel announced filling in his answer sheet. He should try to care as he's about to take the SATs soon but right now he could careless. Angel looked up as Giles didn't look at all happy. Angel didn't even let him finish the rest of the choices. "Haven't had a B in long time." Angel stated and Giles sighed and then Angel sighed.
"Angel, it's the SATs not connect the dots." His Watcher informed him.
"I know that," Angel was a little testy at the moment mostly from lack of sleep and being hungry.
"Pay attention ok, a low score could seriously harm your chances getting into college." Giles informed him but Angel already knew that and to be told again it irritated him.
"Thanks dad, that takes the pressure right off." Yes Angel was testy tonight. Giles wanted his slayer to do well on this. He was already proud of Angel's grades and if he focuses the way he should he'll score very high. But if he's doing what he is doing now then GPA doesn't help him.
"This isn't meant to be easy you know. It's like…a right of passage for you." Giles explained and Angel nodded but it was an absent nod.
"You think it's to late to join a tribe where they pierce something or cut something off?" Angel asked meaning he was done. Once he starts to act like this it means he's had enough. Angel's been prepping for the SATs since he got back into school. Giles looked to his slayer and the look meant shut up and focus.
"Angel," Giles scoffed but Angel jumped up and Giles moved out of the way as a vampire came after him. While studying this was also patrolling. Angel punched the vampire once then kicked him. He left the stake and crossbow by his books but realized he had a pencil and pencils are made from wood. He stabbed the vampire he was dust. But now he didn't have a pencil anymore because he broke it. Guess it means he can go home.
"Alright, enough for one night," Angel headed to his books and then Giles held out a spare pencil. Angel looked very mad but sighed taking the pencil. They stuck here for a while now.
"C, all systems tend towards chaos." Giles gave the correct answered and Angel sat back down again scoffing. The sooner he takes this SAT the better.
Angel walked into the mansion and the living room was done and it looked…it looked like a picture out of a catalog. He then heard something from the kitchen and walked in seeing Buffy on a chair putting a light in or at least she was trying.
"Here," Angel offered and she looked down and climbed off the latter and Angel climbed up it. Buffy then started to hand him the pieces needed and he finishing it.
"Thanks," Buffy added and he looked down at her with a quick smile and went back to work. "So, how was studying?" Buffy asked and handed him a screwdriver.
"How do you think?" He asked and answered. Buffy smiled a little watching him finish the light.
"Woo, won't have to work in the dark no more." She commented as Angel finished and climbed down the latter and began to fold it up and set off to the side and then Buffy went to flip the switch. "And the Lord said," She then flipped the switch. "Let there be light," The light went on and she smiled. "Thank you." She pleased with her turnouts of the mansion so far.
"Let me help you fix all this up you're still a little weak." Angel offered.
"I'm ok, keeps busy and from going bat crazy." Buffy did like that wanted to help but she could tell he was exhausted by the time he stopped by during the night. By now he's had a full day of school, training, homework and studying and slaying. He doesn't have much room for anything else. Buffy decided when he comes here she won't make him do anything and just let him relax and listen to his day. "Hungry?" Buffy asked.
"Starving," Angel answered as he sat at the counter and Buffy went to fix him something easy but it'll have a slight gourmet style. Angel was taking a liking coming over and just not doing anything. He wasn't sure about their relationship yet so far there was no bad blood yet. But the reason why is because they've been busy and there hasn't have been enough time to talk. After he eats he'll take off and Buffy doesn't do anything to stop him. They didn't want to talk about it but if they keep waiting then what will happen when it all surfaces.
"Well, it's just you, Giles and me up this late except the undead." Buffy commented as she fixed macaroni and cheese but it was all homemade and she adds spices to it and it gives it a flavor that Angel has never had. Once she was done and he started eat he wondered how she could cook.
"Vampires don't eat," Angel started as he was inhaling the food. He was hungry but it was so good. Buffy smiled as she poured him a glass of lemonade and he sipped but then realized something. "This is real lemonade?" He asked and she nodded. "I think I'm going to move in." He then went back to eating.
"Vampires don't eat food not all the time. I can eat and I can taste but it won't sustain me it's like drinking a coke doesn't do anything." Buffy answered and Angel nodded understanding.
"Being on a liquid diet you know how to cook, this is really good." He complemented her and she smiled.
At the Mayor's office Trick sat in a chair. After the failed SlayerFest the Mayor thought Trick had the right idea but didn't have the right people. The Mayor has the people of the town so Trick maybe able to get something done that needs to be done.
"I appreciate you coming," The Mayor started as he circled Trick. "I realize it is early for you but I think you'll agree that this matter is urgent." Trick stood up nodding to him. "This is also very delicate, needs to be handled properly or we can have serious issues on our hands." The Mayor warned him as he started to walk the room and Trick remained standing there. "The slayers can't get in the way especially Angel, Faith not worried about her. This Angel has a pair on him and he needs to dealt with accordingly for this to work."
"I assure you sir I got the man for the job." Trick started. "This will throw the scent off the Lurconis, they can do their ritual and the slayer will deal with what I have planned."
"Third party source not sure if I like this." The Mayor sounded doubtful. "This is a big year and if I am going to please my fellow demons and gain their trust this ritual has to go through." Trick understood the importance of this and nodded. "Good, now how about some Brandi?"
Angel was at school walking away from his locker but when he saw Willow and Oz in a heated make out session he kept walking to leave them alone. He decided to wait for them in the cafeteria before going off campus. He was tempted to just go off campus and head to the mansion but Buffy is asleep right now and she needed to rest. Angel then saw Willow and Oz walking up to him.
"Excited for the SATs, they're coming." Willow smiled at Angel. Angel was sick of the SATs and he hasn't even taken the test yet.
"Oh, I did well on the SATs, it's not that bad. There's actually a pattern to answering the questions." Oz entered the conversion as Cordelia and Xander joined up with them.
"I'm going to fail the SATs." Xander came in.
"Nice go to attitude," Willow deadpanned.
"Not the smartest and what does SAT stand for anyways?" Xander asked as they started to walk away heading to the parking lot to get food.
"Standardized Aptitude Test." Angel and Willow said at the same time and Xander had that dumb look on his face.
"Oh," He then looked to Cordelia who was smiling. "They should just call it Suck Ass Test am I right?" Xander held up his hand for a high five to Angel but Angel ignored it.
"Well, I'm looking forward to it. I do very well on standardized tests. " Cordelia chimed in and Xander looked at her like she was crazy. "What? I can have layers." She defended and then just before they could make a break for it Snyder was at the doors passing out boxes of chocolate.
"Where do you think you're going?" He asked the group.
"Well, sir," Angel started. "Uh, we are Seniors and it is lunch time so we're heading off campus." Angel sounded sarcastic but Snyder wasn't going to have any of it. He picked up a few boxes and handed it to them.
"Band candy, sell them to make money so the band can get new uniforms." Snyder explained.
"We're not in the band though," Willow added as Snyder picked up another box giving it to a random student. Angel sighed rolling his eyes leading his group out of the building.
Giles blind folded Angel and it was just a little too tight. Angel loosen it while Giles grabbed a ball off the table.
"This is to do…what?" Angel asked and Giles gave him a ball. "You've run out of training ideas haven't you?" Angel asked.
"This is to test your awareness in the dark. When one sense is cut off the others will be heighten." Giles explained and Angel sighed. "So, I want you to count to five and then strike me with the ball." Angel sighed again and in his head counted. At five he turned around and Giles smiled. Angel threw the ball at the wall. "See not so," But he spoke to soon and the ball bounced off the wall and his Giles in the head and pretty hard too. Angel purposely threw it hard for that reason. "Ok, you've mastered that skill."
Angel took off his blindfold and grabbed his stuff. Giles looked confused as he started to leave.
"We've barely started," Giles added.
"I know but mom wants to spend the evening with me, if I can I'll do a sweep later, night Giles." Angel then left the library and he knew something wasn't right.
Angel did go home but he didn't want to. This was for show. Angel and Joyce were at the dinner table eating dinner together. But Angel really wanted to go to Buffy's place. Tonight he was supposed to go and study with Willow for the SATs but he blew her off so he can go to Buffy's place later.
"Really what am I going to do with forty candy bars?" Joyce asked as she took a bite of her food. Angel shrugged eating he just knew he had to sell it.
"Pass them out at the gallery, a dollar a bar." Angel answered and then checked his watch and stood up and grabbed his glass of lemonade that was not homemade like Buffy's and he wish it was and finished it. "Gotta go, sorry to eat and run."
"It's what you live for." Joyce sounded disappointed.
"Well, more training time so be back later." Angel then bent forward and kissed his mother's cheek and headed off. Angel headed to the mansion as the sunset.
Angel walked in with a bag and then he saw Buffy in the training room. She had a belt wrapped around a pole that was hanging and with one hand she pulled herself up doing single hand pull-ups. Angel watched her as she was getting stronger again. Buffy let go of the belt and stood for a moment and then finally noticed Angel.
"Hi," She greeted him and he held up a bag.
"Dinner or…breakfast…food." Angel stated and she smiled a little and started to him but he lunged to her and caught her. "Easy," She grabbed onto him as they walked to a bench and sat down. "You're over working yourself." Angel then sat next to her.
"What else can I do?" She asked. "Been stuck here, can't sit still so," She then quiet down and Angel noticed something.
"Are you counting?" He asked and she looked up at him confused.
"No…" Buffy answered.
"Seemed like you were." Angel added and handed her the bag and she looked inside. She wanted to drink but she wasn't going to do it in front of Angel.
"Aren't you supposed to be patrolling?" Buffy asked.
"Had to get away, Giles and my mom have been demanding most of my time." Angel answered and she nodded.
"Playing hooky then." Buffy suggested and he shrugged a little. "Living dangerously now aren't we?"
"Oh, you have no idea." He added sarcastically.
Angel returned home and his mother was at the front door waiting. She had that look that you're in big trouble look. He doesn't get in trouble often and when that look happens it meant it was bad.
"Where were you?" Joyce asked.
"Training with Giles." Angel stated his alibi and then Giles came from the kitchen. "Oh, shit," He mumbled, he was in court now.
"You lied to us and making us into your alibies and that's just playing us against each other and that's not fair." Joyce sounded upset as she opened up a candy bar Angel brought home that day.
"I also called Willow, you lied to her as well." Giles reminded Angel. Angel didn't want to hear it right now. He was tired and these demand his time that he barely gets any to himself. He was heading for the stairs to lock himself up but they needed to talk.
"What was so important that you had to lie to us?" His mom asked and he wasn't going to answer right now. "I can take your car away." Joyce threatened.
"And I can just get on a bus." Angel shot back.
"Angel," Joyce was not having that.
"Ok, let's not freak out," Giles stepped in and that threw Angel off a little. "I'm not your parent but I am responsible for you and don't talk to your mother that way." Giles scold him like a father would to his son.
"You're acting rather immature right now." Joyce pointed out as she split the chocolate bar with Giles.
"Fine whatever I'm being a child but maybe if you two stop treating me like one I'll stop acting like one." Angel suggested. "You're overscheduling me and I have a full plate as is. I'd like to make a few decisions on my own."
"And that happened and looked what happened, you ditch us." His mom added and now he was getting a little angry that was brought back up.
"And guess what I took care of myself." If they were going to play that way then he'll play too.
"You really think you can use this summer as way to justify making choices on your own?" Joyce asked and Angel wasn't going to deal with this. He was going to go shower and then go to bed. And he left them standing there as he went upstairs for the night. Joyce sighed and walked to the couch and sat down and Giles followed as they finished the chocolate bar. "He drives me crazy but I just want to protect him. Just don't know what to protect him from."
Buffy was in her mansion and she was finishing organizing her kitchen and everything was neat, in order and some things were even color coordinated. She then started to fill a bucket of water and poured some bleach in it. Once it was full she carried it and set it down. She reached for some gloves and put those on and then grabbed a hand bristle scrubber dumped in the bleach water and started to scrub her floors.
Angel came back to mansion a little upset at his mom and his Watcher. He was fine with training, he was fine with slaying, he was fine with having dinner with his mom, he was fine studying. But everybody wanted him to do it all at the same time. He's a super hero but he can only be in one place at a time. He walked into the mansion and saw Buffy cleaning.
"Don't come in, just cleaned it," She didn't even look up at him as she continued to scrub. "These floors are so dirty might have to replace them." She stated and Angel looked around and smelt the bleach and then it him. This place was spotless, everything was in order. Her apartment was the same way but the bleach smell is what made it make sense.
"You have OCD don't you?" Angel asked and Buffy looked up at him and didn't answer. "My grandma was like that, she'd scrub her floors with bleach all the time and everything was so shiny and in a place." Buffy then stood up and wasn't sure if she should take offense or not.
"I don't have OCD," She stated as she went back to cleaning.
"Didn't realize it until earlier tonight even when we were dating didn't realize it but you count…a lot. You count to make sure your steps are even and your seconds to make sure they are even." Angel pointed out and he could tell he was right by Buffy's attitude.
"What I like even numbers?" Buffy brushed it off.
"So if you only had three pencils to put away that won't drive you crazy?" Angel asked knowing he was pushing her buttons.
"Shouldn't you be in bed?" Buffy asked and he shrugged.
"Shouldn't you be resting?" Angel countered and Buffy scoffed.
"You're not my dad." She added.
"And you're not my mom and you do have OCD, explains a lot." Angel knew he was really pushing her but it was kind of fun.
"You need to go home." Buffy stated taking her gloves off tossing them aside and didn't like to talk about being extremely organized. She did it because it was way to pass time when she was young and just stuck.
"So if I step on your clean floors you won't freak out?" Angel asked testing her. Buffy held her serious stands trying to show him no it won't. Angel then took a step on a clean spot that was still a little wet. He came in from the garden so he tracked in dirt. Buffy didn't wear shoes inside because it tracks dirt and now the once clean spot was dirty. Just to push her a little more and dug his feet in. She pushed that aside knowing she could clean it later. "Just admit you have OCD, it doesn't bother me, its kind of cute."
"I don't have OCD." Buffy wasn't going to give in.
"And I'm not the slayer." Angel added.
"You want to go little boy?" Buffy asked and he smiled a little knowing what she really wanted and he wanted it too.
"You're not up to full strength," Angel pointed out.
"Oh, so you can't," She was going to play his little game. Angel then charged at her and she backed flipped and they went into the training room for a little sparring. Angel needed to let some frustration out from his mom and Giles and Buffy while still recovering she had some pinned up energy that she needed to get out. Also fighting a nearly two hundred and fifty year old vampire will help his skills a little.
School came around the next day and Angel was in biology with Willow. They were lab partners and they were making lab notes at the moment. The class was getting antsy as their teacher wasn't here yet. Angel could tell Willow was a little off; she's been like that since homecoming like something was on her mind. There was something on her mind well someone and his name was Xander. Could she confide in Angel about that?
"I heard if the teacher isn't here in ten minutes we can leave." A student spoke up and Angel wasn't sure if that was true or not.
"Isn't Giles watching study hall today?" Willow asked Angel and he nodded. Angel rather not see Giles today after last night though. "Where is he?" That was a good question Giles is never late and that meant something wasn't right. Just then the door opened and it wasn't Giles.
"Hey!" The teacher clapped getting everyone's attention and Angel looked to Willow. "We're all stuck here," She began and that came out not what they expected at all. "Now, let's just sit quietly and pretend to read until dirt bag Snyder is really gone." She suggested. "Then we're all out of here."
"What the hell?" Angel muttered as everyone seemed about the arrangements.
All day at school the teachers seemed…relaxed they gave the students choice to do whatever they wanted. Most of the student if not all of them like it. Angel didn't mind either but he knows enough by now that something was strange.
After class Angel went to Giles' place to make sure he was ok and something seemed even more off seeing his mom's car here. Angel knocked but got no response and opened the door a little. He saw Giles on the ground looking at his albums and Angel walked in and saw his mom sitting on the couch.
"Oh, Angel come in," Giles insisted but Angel didn't know what was going on.
"You weren't at school." Angel pointed out.
"I called in," Giles added.
"Mister Giles and I thought about last night," Joyce stood up. "And we took to heart what you were trying to do. And yes we're over scheduling you and we've decided to…come together and discuss some options." His mother finished.
"We're setting up a schedule so you'll have enough time to do what you need to do." Giles added and Angel nodded slowly.
"Structure, sounds awesome," Angel didn't sound thrilled about.
"Well, how about you head on home and I'll see you later sweetheart." Joyce suggested and you didn't have to tell him twice this was weird. Angel left and Joyce let out a sigh. "You think he noticed anything?" Joyce asked as Giles put a cigarette in his mouth and lit it up.
"Not a clue," He answered and took a huff and blew out some smoke.
Angel headed to the Bronze as night was here and after the Bronze he would visit Buffy. He should take it easy tonight because he had the SATs tomorrow but he couldn't study anymore. If he saw one more SAT type question he was going to lose it. Angel left his house and something wasn't right. His mom wasn't home yet from Giles unless she went to gallery.
Joyce was still at Giles' place and their look changed. Giles was in jeans, boots and a t-shirt and he was smoking. His old records were playing and the one song on now was Tales of Brave Ulysses by Cream. Giles laid on the ground smoking enjoying his music. Joyce sat on the ground chewing gum like a teen girl would looking through Giles' collection.
"Angel has these albums." Joyce said and Giles nodded. He knew Angel's taste in music and he wasn't going to lie his slayer had great taste. Giles lit another cigarette and handed it to Joyce and she took it. What Angel doesn't know is what kind of teenager his mom was back in the sixties. She was a cheerleader, prom queen type girl and liked bad boys. You wouldn't think that seeing her now but she was.
"So how come they call you Ripper?" Joyce asked blowing some smoke into the air. Angel would freak seeing his mom smoke. Giles sat up smiling.
"Wouldn't you like to know?" Giles got up and ran his fingers through his hair. He had long ditched the glasses and proper English look. He was rocking out to the song and smiled.
"Want to watch some TV?" Joyce asked and she shook his head no grabbing a pack of cigarettes.
"No, let's go out and some fun." His true English accent came back and then he and Joyce left.
Angle got to the Bronze seeing Willow outside waiting for him and they went in but something was completely wrong. The place was full but of adults. Angel and Willow looked around adults kissing and dancing and chugging beer.
"Maybe there's a reunion in town?" Willow asked as they walked around seeing the adults and it was so uncomfortable. Then they saw one of their teachers walk by. She was older lady and usually well-mannered but she was holding a red cup looking sloshed.
"Misses Barton?" Angel asked and she smiled seeing them.
"Hey you two." She sounded sloshed too. "Willow? Willow is a tree." She then laughed.
"Oh my god, she's trashed." Angel commented as misses Barton drank from her cup and walked away.
"This isn't normal." Willow added and Angel had that 'well no freakin' duh' look.
"Hey! Gang!" Snyder then came up to them putting his arms around them. Angel now knew something was totally wrong if Snyder was like this. "This place is off the chain, the music, the people," Angel looked scared now and Willow agreed. Then a techno song came on and everyone cheered. Willow and Angel came here to get Oz, he had a gig earlier and they were going to head to the Denny's for a snack and just relax before tomorrow but something was wrong. Snyder started to dance smiling. "I love this song!"
Angel pulled Willow aside and they looked around seeing the adults dancing and caring on. Was Angel not feeling well, did the adults have too much coffee? Was this some weird dream? He then saw the gym teacher grinding on the art teacher and he swore he just threw up a little.
"Maybe they're tripping on acid?" Willow suggested and then they saw Snyder dancing if one could call it that. Then Oz came over looking just as confused as them. He knew Angel would protect him at least he hoped he could.
"What's happening?" Willow asked and she got the look from them meaning they don't know. "They're acting like, like,"
"Us," Oz finished looking around.
"I do not act like that." Angel protested.
"Ok, maybe not us, us but us, teens in general." Oz corrected himself. "Sobering mirror to look into huh?" Angel didn't like it.
"But why?" Angel asked and that was the real question. Why would adults act like this? Then Snyder came back looking at Angel and Oz and smiled.
"You both got great hair." He commented and that was it something was really wrong.
"Alright we got to figure out what is going on." Angel then started to leave with Oz and Willow following him and Snyder started to follow too.
"We're we going?" Snyder asked and Angel ignored him. "Alright let's bounce! You know Angel you are so cool, ever tell you that, you got the hair and the, the dark look, the walk, anyone ever tell you that you look like Batman?" Snyder asked and then saw Angel's car and his eyes widen. "Sick, it's a sick car bro," Angel cocked an eyebrow and he needed to fix this. Angel opened the door and Oz opened the other side as Snyder crawled in.
"You sure he should come?" Willow asked sitting next to Snyder as Oz got into the front seat. Angel started the car and they were off not answering. As long as Snyder said nothing then he was fine. Angel drove and Snyder had a huge smile.
"You're bad ass Angel! Love this car!" Snyder stated. Ok maybe it was a bad idea to let him tag along.
"Let's find Giles he'll know what to do." Oz suggested.
"He could be sixteen again too." Angel added. "Mom hasn't come home either, they were together the last time I saw them."
"Then let's go to his place. Besides Giles was put together when he was sixteen right?" Oz asked and Angel remembered that no Giles was not.
"Not really, he was more of a love rock and roll, damn the whole world, play with dark magic back in his day. He went by Ripper." Angel answered.
"Great," Oz deadpanned. Angel drove and saw adults everywhere and they were all acting like teenagers.
Giles well now Ripper and Joyce were walking together down the streets. They were armed and armed as Giles smoked another cigarette. Joyce was dressed in boots, shorts and a t-shirt with her hair up. Giles still had his boots, jeans and white shirt and a flannel shirt tied around his waist.
"Must be exciting being from England," Joyce started.
"Not really," Giles added as they walked. "You cold?"
"Not really, I feel special you know. Like I'm waking up. It's like getting married and having a kid was just a dream." Joyce talked she had a Valley Girl voice as she talked. "Now things are the way they're supposed to be." Then she looked into a window seeing a coat. "Wow, that is like so cool, very Juice Newton."
"You fancy it?" Giles asked taking another drag.
"Yeah but the store is closed." Joyce explained and Giles picked up a garbage can and threw it to the window. "Ripper," Joyce smiled as he took the jacket and a hat and the put the jacket on her.
"Hey," A voice said and they saw a cop with a gun to them. Giles smiled and took his hat off.
"Oooo," Giles wasn't scared. "What are you goin' to do abou it?" Giles asked and then grabbed the gun and kneed the cop in his stomach and then face. Joyce smiled again at Giles as he stuck the gun in his belt. She ran to him and they started to kiss. He then picked her up and placed her on the hood of the cop car and she giggled.
Angel pulled over and got out of the car and looked around. Oz and Willow got out to. Angel looked around seeing more adults but the ones he saw were sitting on the monkey bars getting high.
"There are no adults." Angel stated and Willow Oz looked around too seeing it. "They're just teens everywhere and no adults."
"What does that mean?" Willow asked.
"There's no vampires either." Angel added. "Tons of people out but no vampires and no adults."
"Everything is defenseless right now and no vampires." Willow added.
"Something is wrong." Oz added. "But what made them like this?"
"The candy," Angel answered. "They've been eating the chocolate." Angel then went back to his car and looked in the backseat. "Snyder, the chocolate you know where it comes from?" Angel asked and Snyder nodded. "Oz, Willow you guys get Xander and Cordelia and go to the library."
"Candy curses?" Oz asked.
"Disturbing second childhood?" Willow asked not knowing what to look up.
"Don't give damn just look." Angel then got into his car with Snyder following. "You two be careful. Rat man and I will go to the source." He stated them and they both nodded as Angel was off.
Snyder had Angel drive to a warehouse where people were throwing the candy at the crowds. Angel parked the car and took his keys out and headed to the crowds. Snyder got out to follow like a little puppy on Angel's heels. Angel came up to an older couple kissing and rolled his eyes but then realized who they were.
"Mom? Giles?" He sounded confused and completely disgusted.
"We're busy," Giles mumbled and then Angel got in between them and then faced his mom.
"What the hell are you doing? Where did you get that coat?" Angel demanded.
"I'm you're mom you don't like talk to me that way." She said but her whole demeanor was different.
"Oh my god my mom was a valley girl." Angel sounded so lost and he hoped to just wake up. Then he felt someone grab him.
"Hey, back off," Giles sounded made and Angel turned to him.
"Might want to think twice about that." Angel was serious, he's hit Giles before and he'll do it again. Giles let go and started to light another cigarette and Angel turned to his mom. "Mom, look at me," She was twirling her hair. "You know who I am?"
"You're Angel duh, look candy," She smiled.
"You don't need candy you need to go home." Angel was now the adult here and Joyce didn't like his tone.
"As if, I can have candy if I want." Joyce wasn't going to be bossed around by her son. "Like screw you," Angel just stood there and never thought she would say something like that to him. "You want to slay stuff so like I want candy."
"Oh, let your mom have her sodding candy," Giles took Joyce's hand and that was it. Angel pulled Joyce away from Giles and got in front of him.
"That's enough!" Angel yelled.
"You listen to me!" Giles pointed at Angel talking with the cigarette in his mouth. "I'm your bloody Watcher, you do as I say now sod off!" Giles demanded then Angel took the cigarette from Giles' mouth tossing it away. "You want to go?" Then Angel got real big and got in Giles' face.
"Take-her-home," Angel had enough if his Watcher tries anything then he will knock him out. Angel then headed to the crowd of people and forced his way through. Giles didn't listen to the slayer and followed pulling Joyce along. Angel saw the man handing out the candy and he jumped up to him and tossed him aside and went in.
Angel looked around to the boxes and then saw a man on a phone. Angel made his way to him and when the man turned around he stopped in his tracks.
"Oh you've got to be kidding," Angel muttered as Ethan Rein was there. "Thought I kicked you out of my town?" Then Giles came up behind Angel seeing his former friend. Angel didn't give Ethan anytime to respond and punched him. Ethan started to run and both Angel and Giles perused him. Ethan ran away more from Giles knowing the Ripper side of him.
In the library the rest of the A-Team was researching trying to find this out. Xander was snacking on the chocolate while reading.
"First it was fun you know, thought they understood me but now it's weird." Cordelia added.
"Wonder why it hasn't worked on me, eaten a ton of these." Xander commented looking at the chocolate.
"It makes you immature." Willow answered as she read. She didn't find an answer to how the chocolate works but from what she's seen it turns you immature and Xander is already immature. Xander then set the chocolate bar down and was quiet. But as always they couldn't find anything on the candy or anything that makes a person regress into their youthful days.
Ethan kept running but with Angel and Giles behind him he wasn't going to get away. Ethan looked behind him and they weren't there but it meant they could be anywhere. Ethan rounded a corner looking around and then thought he heard something. He then saw Giles charging at him and Ethan went down another row of boxes but as he was about to round another corner Angel tackled him.
Giles stopped running seeing Angel had it under control at the moment as he pulled Ethan up and shoved him against the wall. Giles came up to him huffing and puffing for air.
"Bloody hell," Giles took in a deep breath.
"Smoking does that." Angel commented and looked to Ethan. "What's happening Ethan? Better just tell me because we both know I'll find out and I'll give you another black eye."
"You don't scare me Angel," Ethan bluffed and then Angel punched him hard in the stomach and he went down to the floor. Angel knelt down to the floor too and the grabbed him.
"What did you do to my mother?" Angel had him by the collar of his shirt. "What did you do to my town?"
"This wasn't my idea, just getting paid its Trick you want." Ethan stated.
"Saving your own ass nice." Angel half bought it because he knew Trick well enough to know he wanted him dead and Faith too.
"He's lying," Giles was getting wounded up wanting a fight.
"He's not, you lie you get a little nasally." Angel said.
"Just here to help to collect a tribute once that's done I'm gone." Ethan added.
"He's lying." Giles said again and Angel really didn't like this teen version of Giles.
"Shut up," Angel asked.
"You're my slayer now knock his teeth out." Giles ordered, from what Angel was picking up Giles wanted blood.
"Giles!" And that meant to be quiet. "Not another sound,"
"But," He was about to protest and Angel shot him the look and Giles backed off. Angel then turned his attention to Ethan.
"What demon?" Angel could only assume it was a demon in the works.
"Can't remember." Ethan answered and that was the wrong answer and Angel punched him.
"Yes!" Giles jumped in excitement. Angel decided to ignore it, pick your battles and Giles wasn't going to be one.
"Ah, now I remember, demon name Lurconis." Ethan answered not wanting to get hit again. Angel then turned to Giles and his Watcher shrugged.
"You're useless," Angel muttered.
"They wanted their tributes to be left alone, unprotected." Ethan continued on knowing that was the next question.
"You're the distraction," Angel added and he nodded.
"More than that. This tribute is big; they said the people wouldn't allow them to take it. And then when the candy wears off the people will feel responsible." Ethan finished.
"Where's Trick so I can stake him?" Angel asked.
"I don't know," Ethan said.
"Hit him again." Giles spoke up and Ethan held up his hands in defense.
"I really don't know I promise." Ethan didn't want to get hit again.
"You tell me the answer to the next question and you can keep your teeth, what's the tribute?" Angel asked and Giles was punching the air hoping Ethan will lie so he would get his teeth knocked out.
Angel called the library to give them information but somehow he got a feeling they would be there all night. Once he hung up he dial another number and turned his back to everyone. Giles, Joyce and Snyder were talking while Ethan just stood there.
Buffy was the couch reading and her phone went off. No one had her number except one person. She reached over to the little table and picked up the phone.
"Hello?" She asked.
"Hey, it's me," Angel was talking in a low voice and Buffy knew something was wrong.
"What's going on, are you ok?" Buffy asked putting her book down and ready to find him.
"We're all ok, fine, now, fine, how are you?" He asked feeling stupid as he was wasting time. "Look, don't answer that I've got the A-Team looking it up but they won't find it in time, I need your help."
"What is it?" Buffy asked willing to help.
"I need you to look up a demon called Lurconis," Angel started and Buffy grabbed a piece of paper and pen and wrote the name down. "It's about a tribute but I don't know what, source is all tapped out." Ethan was literally tapped out.
"He whipped you good," Snyder smiled at Ethan.
"Also there's a spell on the adults that they ingested that has them reverted back to being immature teens. Find that spell or potion if you can only if there's time."
"I will, uh how should I contact you?" Buffy asked.
"I'll call don't worry," Angel assured.
"Angel, be careful."
"You stay inside ok." Angel warned her.
"I will," Then there was a click. Buffy got up and headed to her own library of books and started her research. She started with a book about demons that have tributes to demon gods or other things they worship.
Angel hung by the phone for a moment and he repeated in his head what was going on. He had both the A-Team and Buffy on this so hopefully they'll find out what's happening. Just as he stood there Ethan was going to sneak up on him with a crowbar but Giles beat him to it and pulled out the gun he took from the cop. Ethan was on the ground with Giles pointing the gun to him.
"Hand it over." Angel demanded holding his hand out. Giles looked to the slayer and did just that. Angel took the making sure it was disarmed and turned the safety on and put it in his belt for safe keeping, maybe it'll come in use with the demons. Just then the phone rang and Angel picked it up.
"Good, you haven't left," It was Buffy's voice and star sixty-nine worked. Angel got to the wall as everyone was focused on Ethan again. "Found it," 'Damn, she's good,' Angel said to himself.
"That was fast," Angel commented.
"Lurconis is a demon and a nasty one, its tribute is made every thirty years and it's a ritual feeding. This is the part I don't like, the tribute are babies." Buffy finished.
"Thank you, I'll call back as soon as I can." He assured her and hung up.
"Who was that?" Joyce asked because Angel answered it pretty quickly.
"Friend, come on," Angel grabbed his mother.
"What about that man?" She asked and Angel looked down seeing Ethan was out.
"Tie him up with something." Angel answered.
"Uh," Joyce sort of smiled reaching behind her and pulled out a pair of handcuffs. Her smile was a guilty one as Angel slowly took them.
"I don't want to know." Then went to the Ethan and put one cuff to a pole and another to his wrist.
Angel, Giles, Joyce and Snyder went to the hospital to the mother/infant ward but they were to late. The nursery was empty and Joyce looked like she was going to cry as Angel leaned against one of the little beds seeing the name above one of the little beds, Isabella.
"They're going to eat those babies?" Joyce asked but Angel said nothing.
"That's just sick." Snyder added but Angel was lost in his own mind. Like last year when the monster ate the sick children and boiled his blood. Nothing should ever hurt children let alone newborn babies who are completely helpless and defenseless. Giles came back over after talking to a nurse looking even more disappointed.
"Says she didn't see anyone take them, lazy cow." Giles sighed and Angel stood up little. If those babies die its their blood on his hands. "Well, we know who did this so let's find them and kick the shit out of them."
"That's what happens now?" Snyder asked.
"If I knew where they were yeah." Angel started to pace and then headed to the nearest phone. Maybe Buffy found more on the demon.
Buffy waited by the phone and as soon as it went off she picked it up.
"We're too late, babies are gone." Angel started and Buffy felt awful. "Please tell me something."
"It's a riddle and I don't do riddles but it says Lurconis draws beneath the city filth to filth. That's it, I can give you how he came to be, the ritual but not where to look." Buffy finished and she was disappointed.
"You did amazing work on your own. I'll see if the A-Team found anything else but doubt it. If I can I'll come by tonight ok." Angel offered.
"Ok, Angel, if this tribute happens, it's not your fault. Also the potion used is harmless it'll wear off once they stop ingesting it." Buffy found the potion but that wasn't important. "Be careful,"
"Night," Angel hung up and quickly dialed the library. He heard the phone pick up. "Anything?"
"We just found it," It was Willow and they just found it when Buffy found just minutes after he first called her. "The demon Lurconis needs a tribute,"
"I know and it eats babies where does it live?" Angel asked.
"We don't know it doesn't say." Willow answered.
"Keep looking," Angel then hung up but if Buffy didn't find then they wouldn't either. He then walked to Giles. "All it says is Lurconis draws beneath the city filth to filth." Giles nodded and started to think and whispered back to himself. This was happening all before the SATs and he knew it was going to get worse.
"I know this," Giles spoke up and Angel looked to him. "Oooo, I do ok Lurconis means Glutton," Giles was onto something. "And we'll find it…in the sewers."
"Sewers?" Joyce asked. "That's so nasty."
"Ok, Snyder you go home, Giles we're going to sewers we don't have a lot of time." Angel ordered and they all filed out.
Down in the sewers the Mayor and Trick waited. The babies were all line up as vampires in black hoods chanted blessing them for the fest.
"Lucronis adventet. Lucronis satietur. Lucronis vetustate milliorum daemonum novus alitus carne novorum," They chanted as the Mayor waited. This was important to his next step of ascension and this needed to be guarded and well. "Potens alitus presibus potentium. Lucronis hodie epuletur et clemens nobis utatur." They continued to chant. "Lucronis existat ut dona nostra edat illaque in carnem suam vertat. Lucronis adventet." The Mayor then pulled out his cellphone and made a call.
"Ah, yes Carol, call Dave on the public works committee, we need to redo the sewers." The Mayor said, if he was going to own this town them might as well make it look nice above and below. Just then both Trick and the Mayor heard something as Angel jumped down.
"Hi," He greeted them and Trick looked pissed. The Mayor went to get away while the four vampires that were chanting ran to stop Angel. Giles jumped down as Angel punched one away. He didn't have his crossbow or a stake. He had a gun but guns didn't do anything to vampires. But it wouldn't hurt so he took it out and fired a few rounds. Joyce rolled the babies out of the line of fire and waited. The gunshots would slow the vampires down. Angel kicked one vampire away and it landed in water and then the sewers started to shake.
Then out of the wall a huge snake came out and hissed. Angel killed a giant snake before but he doesn't have a sword like the last time. The snake grabbed the vampire and ate him and went back in its hole. The vampire drew him out though. Angel went to find Trick but he was gone but a vampire holding his shot side would work. Angel grabbed the vampire and Giles helped as they tossed him in the water and Lucronis was making his way back out.
There were two torches by the fire and the sewer was full of gas and Angel knew what to do. He looked up seeing the pipe line and jumped up grabbing it and Lucronis came back out to feed and then Angel moved the pipe so the sewer gas blew on the torch and now became a flame thrower and it hit Lucronis and the vampire went up in flames too.
Angel let the fire burn the demon as the snake hissed in pain. It went back into its hole still screaming and the flames would kill it. Joyce ran to Giles to kiss him and Angel ignored it checking on the babies and they were ok.
"Got the SATs, need to get home." Angel said meaning the ordeal wasn't over.
Angel knew she might be asleep but his brain was fried from the SATs. Giles seemed to be avoiding him all day too, probably because he acted like a fool and made out with his mom. His mom was avoiding eye contact for the same reason. Angel walked through the mansion and Buffy came downstairs.
"Not tired?" He asked and she shrugged.
"Hard to keep regular hours." Buffy answered. "So…SATs?"
"Rather fight demons." Angel answered meaning it went horrible or at least he didn't like it.
"Thank god I never had to do those." Buffy commented.
"Lucky," Angel added as she to the foot of the steps to him. "Got any food?" And she smiled a little.
Back in the Mayor's office Trick was about to get reprimanded about what happened last night. The slayer intervened and how did that happen. So if the Mayor couldn't sleep neither will Trick.
"This is costing me my ascension," The Mayor started.
"One less demon to pay tribute to when you do ascend." Trick tried to make up for what happened.
"I want that slayer dead, he was kicked out of town and came back, he was kicked out of school and came back." The Mayor was frustrated. "We might even have a bigger problem than two slayers. Something happened that has never happened before and it better just be a rumor." The Mayor sounded nervous.
"What?" Trick asked.
"Rumor is going around that Buffy came back from hell, it's impossible but if she is back and decides to side with the slayer again, we're going to have bigger problems on our hands." The Mayor answered.
"What do we do about her?" Trick asked and the Mayor didn't even know.
"Right now its just rumors and unless I see her then so far we're safe. But if she was brought back I want her to fit in my ash tray." The Mayor then left his office in anger, things were not going so well for him and if this was the work of the Powers That Be then he'll need to call in the big guns, he'll need the First. Fight fire with fire.
Ooooo, things have changed haven't they I've introduced us to the First and it's not even the Amends chapter yet. It shows how connected the world is that the Mayor knows not only about the First, who Buffy is but he knows about the Powers That Be. This means the good and evil fight is beyond the mouth of hell in Sunnydale. It means more things that I won't say yet.
So this is the longest chapter yet with some interesting things in it. There's a break down in the forum for you guys along with another sneak peak, well two sneak peaks. One is another look into chapter 7 and then a tease of something for Book 4. Ooooooo, better check it out. Don't forget about my bio polls and vote and TheBuffyAngelWhedonVerse forum for more info and more places to ask questions. Thanks for reading; comments and reviews are most welcomed.
Translation of the Lucronis chant:
Lucronis come near. Lucronis be seated. Lucronis with the age of a thousand demons, kept young by the flesh of the young, kept strong by the devotions of the strong. Lucronis feast this day and treat us with mercy. Lurconis emerge to consume what we offer and make it of his flesh. Lucronis come near.
Chapter 7 Out
"Kill the demon. Both slayers on full watch and a coordinated hunt. The Glove is buried in a tomb and must find it and before him and destroy it." Gwendolyn answered. "We should head for the cemetery."
"Which one?" Angel asked and she looked up at him.
"How many are there?" She asked and he shrugged.
"Twelve and I'm good at doing sweeps but twelve in one night, can't not even with two slayers." Angel answered.
"Then we'll go through them all one by one and if there's anything useful in your books to pinpoint the exact location then start looking but I won't ask for miracles." Gwendolyn sounded really snobby and Giles looked annoyed. "We will begin tomorrow at sunset, Faith, come with me," Gwendolyn order.
"Post," Angel looked to the woman and she looked back. "We'll work together but on one condition," She looked interested. "Pull the stick out." Her face then looked upset as she turned away and Giles smirked a little. Faith got up to follow her Watcher and once out the door Giles sighed. "I can kill her if you need me to." Giles thought about it.
"No, that's a no, no and it's frowned upon by the Council." Giles said and Angel leaned back in his chair. "We'll…deal as you say."