Not Obligated

Disclaimer: An idea I had involving Connor and as far as I can remember, he was stated as going to Stanford University in the new happy life Angel gave him. Though it was never said what he was studying there for. Set a few years after both shows.

Summary: A couple of figures from his biological father's past comes into Connor's life.

"Soo… What do you say?" Asked one Buffy Summers cheerfully to one Connor Reilly, whom is the son of her ex, Angel, the Vampire with a Soul.

And boy did the concept of the kid's origins weird her out a bit but hey, she could roll with the punches! After all, Dawn's origins were along the same lines of being out there considering she once was the mystical Key and all. Connor could only stare in an incredulous manner at the Blonde while the one eyed guy with her stayed silent as music played around them. Music that was part of his set as a late night radio host for a radio station he'd gotten a job at following his time at Stanford. Where he had studied in Communications, Electrical Engineering, and later, Biology after gaining his memories of his original life back. He'd been surprised when his dad's ex and her Pirate looking friend had shown up and that surprise only grew once they'd introduced themselves and explained why they were there. Namely, to recruit him for their evil ass kicking organization after Faith and Willow had apparently remembered him and thought he'd make for a great recruit. "Hmm… Well… I think I'm gonna have to say no." Connor told Buffy in the same cheerful manner as her.

Shocking her and the Pirate considerably in the process! "Uhh… Could you run that by us again? 'Cause I'm not sure I heard you right." Pirate Man told him in a shocked manner.

Which made Connor want to roll his eyes. "You heard me right, the answer's no."

"But… But why? You're Angel's son! You have powers!" Exclaimed Buffy, stunned that her ex's son would say no!

"And I acknowledge both of those things, but I'm also Laurence Reilly's son too."

"Yeah, 'cause Deadboy decided it was better to be in bed with the bad guys." Pirate Man said scornfully.

Earning himself a glare from Connor in return. "You really don't know the full story there, Mr. Pirate Man, so I would suggest keeping your mouth shut on things you know nothing about." He told Xander coldly.

Were the situation not so serious, Buffy might have been amused by the name Connor had called her long time friend and so would have Xander as well. But at that point in time, neither were. "And besides… Why the Hell would I want to join a group that basically turned their backs on Angel and his friends? And even if it wasn't for that happening on more than one occasion, at the end of the day I'm not obligated."

Both stared at him, having trouble comprehending this unexpected turn of events! "There, there was extenuating circumstances." Buffy told him.

However, it sounded a bit weak to not only her own ears, but to Connor and Xander's as well. "And 'not obligated'? How the Hell are you not obligated, kid? You have powers thanks to your creepy and very unnatural circumstances! 'With Great Power comes Great Responsibility'."

"Yeah, but I'm not Spider-Man so I'm not obligated to follow that whole thing since I haven't traumatically lost an Uncle due to my own stupid mistakes." Countered Connor, causing Xander to gape at him in shock.

"And insult me one more time, and I will knock you on your ass, Pirate Man."

Xander, knowing and hearing a warning/threat when he hears it and if whether or not it would be followed up on, had no trouble believing the kid would do it. "But…" Started a shocked Buffy.

Causing Connor to sigh in aggravation. "Dad, Angel, he wanted me to have a happy life, free from the kind of life you guys live in. He even sent me a video to reaffirm that and that I had the choice if I wanted to be part of that life, which I obviously don't. I'm honoring his request and you two should do that as well. Though, given the past and all, I could see that being hard to do." He said somewhat sarcastically and coldly towards the end.

Making both flinch and for him to feel a sense of satisfaction from that. "Now, you two can see yourselves out. I've got a show to get back too."

Quietly, the two did so as he resumed his focus back on his work. Each of them regretting how things had been handled and as well as wanting to have a strong word again with not only Giles but Andrew as well for their own involvement in things.

Author's Notes: I actually had a more confrontational scene in mind where he got kidnapped for this talk and Giles is part of it. But thought this was a better way to go.