Cool, I've just seen covers for Angel After the Fall issues 11-13. They look pretty cool. Also saw covers for Spike After the Fall issues 1-3. The cover of the third issue has Spike and Illyria embraced in a passionate kiss. I think they're gonna be awesome. Can't wait to get my hands on them. Okay, my excitement is over now. Onto the next chapter!
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Thanks to Spike's antics, flights had been delayed for at least an hour as the employees tried to sort things out. The guards were tempted to throw Spike, Lindsey and Illyria out, but had been intimidated by the blue-haired demoness and so, left them alone. Now the trio were on a flight to Rome, along with Angel, Cordelia and Connor. Turns out they had moved to New York and Cordelia wanted to go visit Rome. Angel agreed and now they were together on the same flight
"Why could you have caught the next flight?" Angel asked
"Because Wolfram and Hart are after us," Spike said, "I'm not hanging around for round two with Gunn and his goons. They'll bring the entire firm for round two"
"And why the hell is he still alive?" Angel asked, indicating Lindsey
"Nice to know you're concerned," Lindsey said with a smile
"Turns out Lorne didn't kill him as much as he thought he did," Spike said
"You tried to have Lindsey killed?" Cordelia asked, "After what he did for you"
"At least someone is on my side," Lindsey smiled
"Shut up, Lindsey," said Cordelia, "I'm not on your side. But Angel sure isn't getting any when we get to Rome"
"What?" Angel cried out, undignified as Spike laughed
"Please, Mom, not like I need to know about your sex life," Connor said
Illyria had remained silent for most of the flight, being not used to flying at all. She was sitting in the middle seat, between Spike and Lindsey, with the former in the aisle seat, nearby Angel, with Cordelia next to him and Connor next to the window
"Well one day, you're gonna have one of your own, mate," Spike said to Connor
"Spike, shut the hell up," Angel growled
"Make me"
"Hey, in-flight movie is starting," Lindsey said suddenly
"About time," Spike said, settling back against his seat
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"They're heading over to Rome?" the CEO asked
"Definite," Gunn answered, "They were at the airport and Illyria was saying something about Rome"
"And why didn't you manage to kill Spike and Illyria? You had a gang of vampires, not to mention a Slayer"
"Some urban cowboy guy showed up," Ava replied, "That and some guy with spiky black hair at the airport"
"Lindsey and Angel, huh?" the CEO said, "What a surprise. Gunn, Ava, pack your bags"
"You're firing us?" Ava asked
The CEO chuckled
"No, I'm sending you on a holiday. To Rome"
"Oh, this should be splendid," Gunn said, rolling his eyes
"Oh come on, you'll enjoy it," Ava said
Gunn growled at her, getting her tongue stuck out at him in response
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"Cheers, thanks"
Angel turned away from the counter and smiled at Cordelia, before helping her take their bags upstairs to their room. They had rented a room together with Connor, while Spike and Illyria were in another room and Lindsey had a room to himself
"Not bad, Angel, not bad at all," Spike said, walking around in his room
Illyria headed over to the window and looked outside, as Spike stayed away from the sunlight, checking out the room and facilities
"I call dibs on having the shower first," Spike said
"Dibs?" Illyria asked
"First turn"
"Oh"
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Lindsey opened his door to see Angel standing before him. Letting out a sigh, he let his rival in, before heading to the fridge and grabbing out a beer
"Got drinks in already?" Angel asked, seeing the beer
"Yeah, I brought them earlier. So, what brings you here?"
Angel walked around for a bit, before looking back at his rival
"How did you survive? I know that Lorne was going to shoot you"
"I didn't, so thanks for the heads-up"
He sat down on the couch, opening the beer and taking a swig, as Angel stood near the window, looking outside and enjoying the sunlight for once
"I guess I was lucky," Lindsey continued, "The bullets didn't hit anything too major. Got a cracked rib. Still do. I barely survived. The Powers had a hand in that"
"Yeah, I'm sure they did," Angel said
"I was given the task of ensuring Spike's survival, as he is the new champion"
"Only because I was forced to give that title up"
"From the sounds of things, you don't like that at all"
"No, I enjoy the…retirement I guess is the proper word"
Angel sighed and sat down on the couch, leaning back as Lindsey took another swig
"I miss the action. But then again, I wouldn't have Cordelia"
"You treasure her," Lindsey said, "And you're gonna have to do that forever"
"I can do that," Angel said with a small smile, "I'm sorry about Eve"
"People die and people move on. Some longer than others, I guess"
No more was said, as the two men sat there together in comfortable silence
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The plane touched down at the runaway and slowly came to a stop, as the door opened up, letting loose the passengers, mostly young men, as Gunn followed them, wiping the blood off his lips, as Ava descended after the vampires, a look of disgust on her face
"Did you have to eat the crew and passengers?" she asked
"Did you have to kill three of my men?" Gunn shot back
"They were in a feeding frenzy and tried to kill me"
"I see no problem in that"
"Stupid vampire"
"Get over it, Slayer"
"Urgh, forget it. We've got a vampire and a demon to kill. Come on"
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Spike ducked under the vampire's leg and delivered an outer crescent kick to the face, followed up by two punches to the chest and a stake to the heart. The vampire turned to dust, as Angel drove his knee into a vampire's stomach, before elbowing him in the back and followed up with the stake. The former vampire turned around to take another vampire, as Spike knocked a vampire down and staked him
"You know, I'm impressed that you're still as strong as you were before you become human," Spike said, taking on his third vampire
"Well, I did drink Hamilton's blood before Cordelia changed me," Angel replied, staking the vamp, "I guess his strength remained"
He punched another vampire, staking him swiftly, as Spike kicked a vampire in the stomach, knocking him down and driving the stake through his heart
"That all of them?" Angel asked, looking around
"Yeah, I guess so. Come on, we'll head back"
They headed back to their hotel in a comfortable silence
"So, how have things been going with you and Cordelia?" Spike asked
"None of your business," Angel replied instantly, "Actually, quite good. Better than I could have imagined"
"And how's the sex?"
"Now that's definitely none of your business. Anything between you and Illyria"
"Okay, now you have completely lost your screws. Anything between the Bluebird and me? Not a chance. Just comrades in arms"
"Oh well, just curious. So, are you going to see Buffy later?" Angel asked
"Maybe. I don't know. Lorne reckons I should"
"You saw Lorne?" Angel asked incredulously
"Yeah, when we were in New York, before the whole airport thing," Spike answered, "He reckons I need to tie up some loose ends here in Rome. I'm guessing Buffy is one of those loose ends"
"Well, at any rate, it should be interesting. Too bad I won't be there to see it"
"Good, cause I don't want you to be there anyway"
"That's good. I can handle that"
"Fine"
Together, they continued back to their hotel in another comfortable silence
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