Disclaimer: I do not own Buffyverse or anything else you may recognize
Thank you to everyone who has favorited, followed or reviewed this fic so far.
So I finished Arcane at last and yeah- IT IS FUCKING AMAZING! MASTERPIECE!
I don't even know much about League of Legends, but this show was WOW! The writing quality is on par with the earlier Seasons of GoT, if not better.
The characters, storytelling, animation, etc. is all perfectly done.
All in all, easily the best show of this year. Now sure some like 'Invincible' and 'Squid Game' come close (not seen them, this is based on hearsay) but this show is the BEST!
IMO its right on par with Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Avatar/Korra, if not better, and considering how high quality those shows are, it says something.
Plus the animation is next-level too, and everything else, including writing, is just as good.
And I'm a Vi/Caitlyn shipper, they would be so good together.
I say all of this is as someone who doesn't even know much about League of Legends, so if don't know anything about the game, you'll still love it.
Guest: Thanks for the review. Yes, it would.
Chapter 80- A New World
"Come on", Buffy muttered as she pressed the recording and it came on.
Gunn ran for the weapons cabinet. Groo moved to the side to get a clear shot at Connor, swinging his ax. Angel turned towards them, holding out a hand. "Wait!" Connor launched two stakes at Angel in quick succession as Angel turned back to face him. "No!" Angel turned as the stakes travel through the air, aimed at his heart. The first one almost lodged in his shoulder, but he turned with it and batted the second one aside. Even as the stakes flew towards Angel, Groo's ax flew through the air at Connor, who deflected the ax, mirroring Angel's motion. Both Angel and Conner then straightened back up and resumed their former positions staring at each other, Connor with the stake-launcher once again aimed at Angel, as the last of the stakes clattered to the floor. "Interesting."
"That was close, too close", Willow said, her heart pounding against her chest. If Angel's son had been killed accidentally seconds after his return…she didn't even have any words.
"My god. - It's you. - Connor." Connor launched three more stakes at Angel, who ducked and rolled to avoid them. "Angel!" Cordelia tossed her sword, and Angel caught it out of the air as he rolled back to his feet. Connor tossed the stake launcher aside and swiped at Angel with the blade in his left hand. Angel parried the blow on his sword. Connor did a one-handed cartwheel, then flipped up, kicking both Gunn and Groo in the chest in quick succession before landing on his feet in front of the counter. Cordelia had positioned herself in front of Lorne and Fred, holding another sword in a guard position. Angel started. "Will you just stop for..." Connor spun back to swipe at Angel. Angel spun so that for a moment the two of them were standing back to back, parrying the blade in Connor's left with the sword in his right. "Can't we just talk about this?"
"Holtz clearly made sure he talks less and fights more", Giles said, everyone disgusted at that guy again.
"Really hope something ate him in there", Dawn scoffed.
Connor elbowed Angel in the back, dropping him face first on the floor, grabbed a hold of one of Angel's ankles and sent him sliding across the floor between his own spread legs. As he slid, Angel turned onto his back and caught the down swing of Connor's blade on his sword. "Wait!" Angel kicked both feet up into Connor's face, sending him flying into a backward flip. Connor landed flat on his back, but did a quick kip-up back to his feet. Gunn and Groo were also back on their feet, and together with Angel formed a triangle around Connor as they all shifted positions. "Okay. Everybody just calm down." Groo swiped at Connor and got knocked back into the stairs. Connor turned and parried the swing Gunn aimed at him then spun out of it into a punch at Angel, back around to punch at Gunn. He kept spinning and kicking and punching at his three opponents in turn in rapid succession. Gunn started. "Angel, if Peter Pan here doesn't stop..." Connor jump-kicked Gunn hard in the chest, then moved in for the killing blow. Before he could complete it, Angel hit him on the back of the head with the pommel of his sword, knocking him away from Gunn.
"Damn, he's hardcore", Xander said with a wide eye.
"You don't survive a Dimension like Quortoth by being soft and gentle", Tara said to Xander grimly.
Angel dropped the sword, and straddled Connor, hitting him with a hard right-cross, then forcing the blade strapped to Connor's left wrist closer and closer to his own throat. The tip of the blade started to dig into Connor's throat. Suddenly Angel's eyes widened. He ripped the blade from Connor's arm and tossed it behind him, then slowly backed off, staring at his son. Cordelia, still standing guard in front of Lorne and Fred, watched as Angel slowly offered his hand to help Connor up. But Connor only squirmed back a little, then jumped to his feet and ran up the steps and out of the front doors of the Hyperion. Angel ran after him. Connor came running out of the doors into the courtyard of the Hyperion. He ran from the shadows by the doors out into the bright sunshine. "No!" Angel started to backpedal even as Gunn and Groo reached out to pull him back before he ran out into the sunlight himself. "Connor!" Gunn said. "You're gonna fry out here, man! Come on." Angel watched Connor run out of the gates. "We'll go." Gunn and Groo took off after Connor. Angel stood in the shadows by the door staring after them as Cordelia came running out.
"Got his son back, only for this to happen", Buffy sighed. "Holtz is such a bastard."
"I don't think sunlight was an inconvenience he minded much, but right now he must be hating it", Willow said sadly.
Connor had run out into the middle of the busy street and cars were honking, and swerving in an effort to avoid hitting him. Gunn and Groo stopped at the side of the road, blocked from following by the erratic traffic. Connor had made it to the center of the street and stood on the center line, staring back at Groo and Gunn as cars passed between them, honking. A bus passed behind Connor and he took off running, then scaled up the back of it. Groo and Gunn watched him disappear down the street, crouched on top of the bus.
"There he goes", Dawn groaned. "He is dangerous, scared and confused all at once."
"In a city like that, bad combination", Buffy said, sharing a look with her sister, the two having lived there before coming to Sunnydale.
Later, the rest returned to Hyperion, discussing what to do as Cordelia said this was what she'd seen in her vision, but she'd only seen him. Gunn was skeptical this was Connor but Angel was sure, Gunn finding it weird he was a teenager now after being a baby a few weeks ago. Lorne was more concerned about why he'd come back and Angel said he'd found a way to escape the place, and was now angry and afraid. Fred told Angel the bus's final stop as he ran to the basement with Gunn assuring they'd got it, and Groo said they wouldn't fail him, adding 'man' at the end due to Gunn doing the same, making Gunn look at him.
That brought some chuckles again as Dawn said. "He is so cute."
"Yeah, he is sweet, and his confusion makes him even cuter", Buffy smiled.
"Please don't fight over him again or I'll cast a spell on you both", Willow said, and the sisters immediately shut up as she and Tara shared a funny smile while Giles and Xander chuckled.
Suddenly the air around the Pentagram crackled again as Fred realized the dimensional rift was still open. Cordelia stepped into the middle and holding up her hands, tried to close it but nothing happened. Fred was about to suggest Wesley again but Gunn refused as Lorne said he'd other connections but the guy had like 50 hands. Groo decided to stay and guard due to the cosmic crack overhead, and Cordelia decided to stay with him, and the rest started going as Fred realized Gunn had gone to Wesley for him, and he told her Wesley didn't want any of them knocking again.
"I'm wondering how they came to trust each other again from this", Buffy sighed.
"Yeah, don't know the full story their either", Willow said.
"A cosmic crack overhead, what else could be coming out of there?" Tara asked.
"Any number of things, that place is dangerous", Giles told them.
There was knock on a door as Wesley opened it to see Lilah, saying she'd decided to drop by, and asked if he'd invite her in, but he declined. Lilah pushed past Wesley and walks into his apartment, then looked around as Wesley checked the hallway to see if Lilah brought anyone before turning back to watch her without closing the door. She commented she'd expected to see 'get well soon' cards but Wesley didn't say a word, making her comment his sense of humor had been nicked when his throat had been slit, but Wesley said her being here was quite funny as she was going to offer him a job.
"Okay what?" Buffy asked, clearly not having expected that. "Has he lost his mind or has she?"
"No one has", Willow said. "He is in a bad place, she thinks she can use it."
"He is not going to fall that far", Xander said, shaking his head.
"You never know", Willow told him darkly. "Anything can happen anytime."
Lilah said it was a shame what had happened as Wesley had dedicated his life to a cause, then gotten kicked out by the people he tried to help. Wesley asked her to get the hell out, and Lilah tempted him with their really knowledgeable library, but he didn't care, so she gave him a gift-wrapped book to pass the unemployment time- Dante's Divine Comedy.
"Giving him a gift, what are you? His girlfriend?" Dawn asked in dark humor, not knowing she'd just predicted what was going to happen in 2 recordings.
"If that happens, he would have truly fallen far", Giles said, shaking his head.
Lilah reminded him of everything in the book before asking him who was in the center of the mouth where the Devil was frozen in Hell, and Wesley said it was Judas Iscariot, Lilah saying the worst spot in Hell was reserved for those who betrayed. She then walked past Wesley to the door, then stopped and leaned in close for a moment, telling Wesley not to pretend he was too good to work for them, then walked off after closing the door.
"He's still too good for you people", Buffy said.
"Yeah, his intentions were good, he just messed up in the execution", Dawn said. "Really badly, but yeah."
"Still, considering where he is now emotionally, I would be a little careful", Tara warned the group.
"You think so?" Xander asked.
"I agree with her", Willow shrugged.
"We will see", Giles said.
Connor was crouching on the roof of the bus, staring at the traffic and buildings as the bus drove down the road. He spotted a big video screen, then stared down at a fire engine with its sirens blaring. As they passed another intersection he jumped off the bus. Angel was walking along the sewer tunnels, cell phone in hand, speaking to Gunn as well as Fred who informed he was leaving a trail by being seen, and Angel gave instructions, telling Gunn to keep following the trail and let him know when it cold. Gunn pointed out the alternative to which Angel said his son was alive and would remain alive. Gunn asked if they could do anything else for him and Angel asked to make the sun go down before closing his cell phone and moving on.
"If he could make it go down, I'm sure he would himself", Buffy said. "Connor needs to be found soon, with how he is, he can do a lot of damage if not found immediately."
"I fear it may not be that simple", Willow said grimly.
Connor made his way down beside an overpass before hearing a girl pleading and looked down into a dried up aqueduct, spotting a girl called Sunny talking to someone he couldn't see. A man called Tyke was arguing back as Connor dropped over the side of the railing bridging the aqueduct. Sunny held up 3 CDs for Tyke's inspection but he wasn't interested as Connor walked closer. Tyke then tossed the CDs away and when Sunny tried to flail at him, he grabbed her body and hair, trying to stick her into the backseat of the derelict car when he spotted Connor coming and told him to walk away.
Willow was uncomfortable now due to seeing Sunny, remembering her own addiction issues. Sure, these were real drugs and not magic, but the effects were the same.
Tara noticed and put her hand over Willow's, and Willow looked at her as Tara gave her a reassuring nod.
"This is not gonna end well", Dawn muttered as they looked at what was going on.
Tyke tossed Sunny into the backseat and mocked Connor's clothing, but Connor said these were things he'd killed. 3 thugs then arrived, arranging themselves around Connor as Tyke mocked him and one of the guys behind Connor hit him over the head with a crowbar, even as Connor started to turn to face him and Connor dropped to the ground, not moving.
"I think that was a big mistake", Xander said, everyone tense.
"Those are things he killed", Buffy whispered to herself, again hating Holtz for ruining an innocent life like this.
Tyke ripped off Connor's necklace and asked his men to get rid of him. Tyke walked to the car, taking off his jacket and dropping it and Connor's necklace on the trunk of the car. One of his goons raised his crowbar to finish Connor off, but Connor's eyes popped open. Connor turned enough that the crowbar hit the concrete instead of his head, grabbed a hold of it and kicked the guy wielding it in the stomach. Tyke turned and watched as Connor jumped up and fought the thugs, blocking and dodging their blows while beating them. The one with the crowbar made him fall down but he dodged the crowbar's strikes before tossing him away. He got up and ducked to avoid a swing of another guy before punching him down, and jumping over his back, kicked the other guy on the throat. He then flipped the guy whose back he'd leapt over down once more.
"Well, you have to admit, he is a badass", Dawn commented.
"He grew up in a Hell Dimension and his father is the most infamous Vampire Hunter in history", Giles said matter-of-fact.
Tyke pulled out a handgun and aimed it at Connor, but even as he pulled the trigger, Sunny slammed the car door into this back. Tyke's aim went wild and he shot one of his own guys instead of Connor. Kicking the car door shut, Tyke aimed the gun at Sunny next, but Connor kicked it out of his hand before he could pull the trigger. Tyke struck Connor a few times before he dodged a blow, Tyke's leg going into the car as Connor punched and elbowed him, then jumping on the car, grabbed a hold of Tyke and slammed him down hard on his back on the car roof. Pulling a blade from the sheath on his leg he threw it at one of the goons, burying it in the guy's forearm. As Connor went to retrieve his knife, Sunny jumped out of the car and looked through Tyke's jacket lying on the trunk. She found a roll of money and a bag of drugs. Looking up she saw that Connor is about to slit Tyke's throat, and stopped him. Connor let himself be pulled away, grabbing his string of trophies, then stopped, turned back and sliced off Tyke's left ear. Tyke screamed as Connor held up the ear to Sunny. "So he won't forget me."
Everyone was now disturbed by Connor's brutality.
"He just…" Dawn trailed off.
"The guy's ear…." Xander shook his head, reminded of when he'd lost his own eye.
"Holtz", Buffy growled, wishing to get her hands on him and just beat him up worse than she'd beaten up the Master, Angelus, Faith, Glory, soulless Spike (when they were in their toxic relationship) and Caleb combined.
"Connor is his latest victim now", Willow growled in rage and disgust.
"I wonder what happened to him", Tara sighed.
Groo stood guard, watching the cracking rift as Cordelia sat on the steps, the two talking about his endurance and Groo also revealing he'd lost his virginity to Cordelia, before Groo tried to talk about Angel though she assured Angel needed her because the last few weeks had been hard for him, and Groo did too. The two then kissed twice, Groo saying he was worried her affection for him had waned when thunder and lightning cracked from the rift above them, knocking the two apart and out.
"What's coming out now?" Dawn wondered in worry.
"Nothing good", Buffy said grimly.
Police cars surrounded the derelict car as Gunn talked to an officer, then went to Fred who informed her what had happened, before going to talk to Angel in the shadows, who said Connor was here because he could smell him. Gunn said one local baddie had been killed, and Connor had been part of the mayhem, having cut off a guy's ear as a trophy, disturbing Fred, though Angel pointed out he was raised in a Hell dimension. He then asked them to return to the hotel as he'd a better chance finding Connor by himself and it was about to be dark soon.
"Well, at least now Angel has no hindrances to stop him from getting to his son", Tara said, a little relieved.
"I'm worried about what happens when they meet again", Xander said.
After sunset, Sunny and Connor arrived at an abandoned motel, Sunny thinking Quortoth was in Mexico. She opened the door to reveal a guy about to light a drug pipe so she moved to the steps of the second floor, asking what Connor used to do for kicks in Quortoth, explaining the word as he said he used to hunt, and then Sunny entered another door after a peek, calling it 'home sweet home' as Connor wondered if this was home and she said it was for tonight, and he could crash too. Sunny then pulled out the bag of drugs, stuffing it in her pockets as Connor picked up a bra, Sunny saying it wasn't his size and wondering if they could get rid of the animal skins.
"Will he though?" Dawn asked.
"She is being nice, so far he's listening to her", Tara pointed out.
Sunny tossed him some clothes and turned around to do her own thing as Connor started stripping. Sunny pulled out a candy bar, wondering if Connor was actually gonna kill Tyke, and he said Tyke was hurting her, though Sunny said it was good he hadn't as cops were worse, while Connor was now wearing other clothes. She then offered her candy bar as Connor took a bite out, then she opened an applesauce cup and bag of chips, Connor finding a burnt looking spoon, calling it a 'tool for eating', and was about to eat applesauce with it but Sunny took it away, saying it wasn't for food, and held up white powder.
"Those", Buffy groaned, and Willow was uncomfortable again, taking deep breaths, while Tara grasped her.
The rest didn't make any other comment.
Sunny called the drugs as medicine which helped when she was sad, even if she wasn't, and then offered Connor a bite of moon pie which he took as they smiled at each other.
"He has got a friend now", Tara said.
"Problem is for how long", Xander wondered.
Fred and Gunn returned to the Hyperion, talking about Connor and what he was capable of before finding Cordelia and Groo unconscious on the floor. Sunny asked Connor why he'd come to LA and he said to find his father while she said she'd come to get away from hers, and said parents should have to take a test or something before they could have kids, so if they were drunks or idiots or evil they should be sterilized.
The line hit the Scoobies where the heart was. Buffy and Dawn thought about Hank, while Willow, Tara and Xander too thought about their families (specifically the men in the family in Tara's case).
Hank was a deadbeat, Xander's dad was a drunk, Willow's parents were just apathetic while Tara's dad and brother were definitely evil, abusive bastards.
There were many amazing parents in the world (Joyce and Tara's mom being among them) but some were so bad, and why? Why didn't some parents love their children unconditionally, like they should? And instead treated them horribly.
Just one of the many questions to which there was no clear answer.
Connor said they should be killed for being evil. Sunny sighed, saying she liked how he said stuff. She then tried to kiss him and he leaned back before returning it as Sunny said she'd be right back.
Again, everyone was too uncomfortable to comment. Connor probably didn't even know much of what was happening, it was just human instinct.
Wesley looked up from typing on his laptop and over at the book Lilah gave him, lying on the coffee table beside the computer. He picked it up and opened it to a woodcut of the devil eating Judas. Wesley looked at it for a moment, then snapped the book shut. Connor was asleep where Sunny left him leaning against the sofa. A fire engine honked, and Connor snapped awake, pulling out two daggers in the same motion. The sirens faded as Connor stood up and looked around for Sunny, and slowly made his way across the room. He heard some wood creaking and spun to look behind him, continuing on, and pushed open the door to the bathroom, revealing Sunny slumped against the side of the bathtub. There was a tourniquet around her upper arm and a syringe still sticking out of her forearm. Connor crouched down beside her, briefly touching her shoulder. He reached down and picked up the packet of 'medicine' Sunny showed him earlier, then stood up. Connor turned around to find Angel standing in the door behind him. "Connor."
Willow wanted to just get up and leave, since this was bringing back horrible memories of her own addiction, only reason she didn't was to watch the proper reunion between Angel and Connor.
Tara could sense her discomfort.
"You sure you can watch?" Tara asked her.
"I have to", Willow said, gritting her teeth.
"The father meets the son", Xander muttered. "And the son meets the father."
Angel saw Sunny slumped up and pulled up Connor's sleeve, asking if she'd put this in him, but he pulled his hand free, saying she hadn't as Angel assured they'd take care of this together, but Connor said it was too late, walking past Angel to the main motel room as Angel tried to get him to talk. Connor sniffed Tyke's jacket which Angel took away, asking who he was tracking. Connor tried to grab the jacket but Angel stopped him, and Angel found another pack of drugs, realizing Connor wanted to go after the guy who'd given Sunny this, and Connor wanted to kill him. Connor tried to get the jacket again but Angel stopped him, and then Connor attacked before Angel managed to pin him to the wall.
Buffy for some reason was reminded of when her mom had tried to stop her from saving the world from Angelus. This was that, just amplified infinitely.
"Come on, something", Dawn was muttering, hoping Angel could reach through to his son.
After all the sweetness of Angel and baby Connor, this was heartbreaking to watch.
Connor then slammed Angel against the wall in turn, the let go, retrieving the jacket as Angel again pushed him up against the wall to make him listen. Connor instead clocked Angel across the face, but Angel pushed his face into the wall to stop him from walking out, then let him go and took a step back. Connor attacked again but was tossed down, apologizing and saying Connor didn't understand how this world worked, to which he said he did- Sunny was nice and now she was dead, and also told Angel not to call him 'Connor', his name was Steven now. Angel just looked at him.
"Couldn't even let him keep the name, that bastard", Buffy snarled in rage now, her fists shaking.
"Hating Angel is understandable, punishing an innocent child for what his father did is wrong", Giles said in agreement, both saddened and disgusted, saddened at Connor and disgusted at Holtz.
Cordelia and Groo explained what had happened to Fred and Gunn, and Fred said the beast Connor had killed usually had a mate. Gunn looked at the book as the rift cracked again, and Fred suggested Wesley again without explicitly naming him but Cordelia again pointed out the problem, Groo adding they must respect Angel's wishes as Fred finally decided to call Wesley against Gunn's protests but Lorne arrived with a blue-haired lady in a black cloak, introducing her as Mistress Meerna, and suddenly she was coming down the stairs, Lorne saying this was among the nasty side-effects of specializing in Dimensional magic.
"He definitely knows the most interesting people", Tara simply said, not sure of what else to say.
"Yeah", Willow nodded.
Connor pulled on Tyke's leather jacket as Angel said 'Steven' was a good name if not Irish, and tried to talk again when Connor glanced at the door, Angel begging him not to run away, wanting to know everything as he rambled, apologizing for not being able to find a way in. Connor reminded he'd found a way out, and Angel said he should have tried harder, then asked more, wanting to know it all, but Connor refused, saying his father had told him everything. Angel tried to say Holtz wasn't his father but was hit across the face as Connor told Angel not to say his name or even think it. Angel got back up as Connor said he knew all about Angel, and that he was a Vampire, and knew all about Vamps too, listing it before asking Angel to show him his second face.
"I wonder how much Holtz told him", Dawn wondered.
"Enough to turn him against his real dad", Buffy said in disgust.
Connor then started punching Angel in the chest, roaring to see his face, and Angel then caught his fist. "Looks like this, son." He then morphed into Vamp face as Connor freed his fist and stumbled back, saying this was what Angel was, but Angel said it was part of who he was, and hoped Connor could accept it one day, to which he said. "You'd have to kill me first."
"There was a time this face stopped you from crying", Willow said sadly, everyone remembering that bit from the 10th recording of Year 3.
"Holtz turned him against what he loved", Tara sighed.
"Well, that's a plan." Angel turned to see Tyke entering with some goons and pulled out. "But I've got a better one."
"And there they come with their bad timing", Buffy said as all groaned.
Connor tried to get to Tyke but Angel held him back as Sunny was mentioned and Tyke had one guy check the bathroom for her. Angel told Tyke he was Connor's father one being questioned but Connor denied. Angel tried to diffuse the situation, saying there was no need for violence but Tyke slugged his chin with the butt of his gun, and pointed at his bandaged ear, saying he didn't hear so good anymore. The goon came back, confirming Sunny was dead as Tyke said he'd begged her to get help, and he eventually asked Connor to give the coat back. Connor was angry at Tyke for Sunny's death when a 3rd goon arrived, saying cops were here looking for him.
"Now the situation has gone south real fast", Xander commented.
"And it all had to happen right now", Dawn groaned.
Meerna examined the area above the Pentagram, asking how it had opened as there were no portals to Quortoth, rather a tear in reality, and so something had punched its way through, and she didn't want to meet it. Cordelia then let out a shriek, startling the others as Meerna walked out from behind them and Lorne gave her a metal bowl as she put on safety glasses, and then she chanted with the bowl before tossing the powder of the bowl into the air. A purple, glowing mist formed. The rift crackled, then everything got sucked to a center point and disappeared from view. Meerna put down her hood and took off the glasses while turning to the others, saying it was closed, and if something else had come out, she wasn't sticking around to find out. Then she walked away.
"At least it's closed now", Buffy said as they sighed in relief.
"But something else might have come out", Giles pointed out in a grim tone.
Police were moving around the motel as Tyke aimed at Angel, who said this wasn't looking good for him, before telling Connor why violence always ended up badly, then decked a goon as he and Connor started fighting them, easily overpowering and pushing them around while Connor hit Tyke twice on his bandaged ear, making him fall down with a scream as police were close. Angel took down another goon while Connor was grabbed by another from behind but took him down, followed by another, and Angel took down the last one when Tyke grabbed him as a shield, Angel urging Tyke to use him instead as he was bigger.
"And bullets won't kill him", Xander added, though all were tense now.
"Do something", Dawn muttered.
While Tyke hesitated, the cops started to punch at the door. Tyke spun to shoot. Angel grabbed a hold of Connor and pulled him down on the floor with him as bullets began to fly. One of the goons was shot and fell, but Tyke and the remaining goons kept shooting. Angel looked up at the light shining in through the many holes riddling the walls by now. Another goon was hit and goes down. A stray bullet shattered the glass in the window opposite the door. Angel had Connor run out through that window. The door was kicked open and a cop came in, spinning to aim his shotgun at Connor's back. Angel jumped up and took the bullet full in the back. The cop loaded the next bullet into the chamber but had to take cover as Tyke started to shoot at him. Connor, crouched on the window sill, stared at Angel lying on the floor. Angel raised his head and looked at Connor, asking him to go, then pushed himself up and launched himself at Connor, sending both of them tumbling out through the window, while the firefight continued behind them.
"They're out of that mess now", Buffy said, everyone a little relieved. "But this mess is still a big problem."
"And not one that can be solved just like that", Tara added.
Angel was running hunched around his middle down a deserted street, Connor following close behind. "Do you need to stop?" Angel assured. "I'm okay." A police car with lights and sirens going turned into their street and Angel pulled Connor between two parked cars. "Behind here." The police car passed and Angel let out a groan as he tried to straighten up. "Maybe I do need a second." Angel leaned on the hood of the parked van as Connor said. "What you did..." Angel asked. "Are you hurt?" Connor shook his head. Angel said. "You know, if you want, you can come back to the hotel." Connor stared at Angel for a moment then his eyes look everywhere but at Angel who said. "No pressure or anything." Connor started to move past Angel. "No, uh..." Angel then added. "But if you, you know, if you need a place to stay." Connor turned to look back at Angel. "I have to go." Angel assured. "You're not alone. - You know that, right?" Connor nodded. "Yeah. I know." With that Connor turned and ran off, leaving Angel standing by the van, looking after him. After a long beat Angel slowly, carefully moved off.
"He did it", Dawn said, looking relieved. "He has started reaching out to him."
The others didn't comment.
Connor was running down a narrow alleyway. He slowed and straightened as he came up to a dark opening. After a moment a figure stepped out of the darkness. It was an aged Holtz! "Hello, son", he greeted. "Hi, dad", Connor greeted back. The screen went black.
Everyone was in shock now as Dawn muttered. "I take it back."
"He was the one who followed Connor out of the portal", Tara said in realization.
"Connor still considers him dad, and I don't think he came out here just to stay with Connor", Willow said grimly. "He still wants revenge."
"What more?" Buffy asked in a growl. "The bastard already turned his son against him after abusing him in a hell dimension, what more does he want to do?
"Whatever it is, I fear it is going to be very terrible", Giles said in a grim tone, shaking his head.
"Guess Angel and team still need to watch out", Xander sighed. "Anyone hungry."
"Yeah, we could use some after this", Buffy nodded as they all got up one by one and walked off to the dining room for lunch.
Well, this episode made me sad about Connor. He is not the worst Buffyverse character, that's Kennedy, not even a contest there.
But he definitely is the one with the most wasted potential. I mean, dude was a literal miracle child of 2 Vampires, there was so much hype and all that around his birth, he made followers as well as enemies before his birth too, and he was destined to kill a Demon like Sahjhan.
And after coming back from Quortoth, there was a lot that could have been done with him.
But only time they got this Connor right was in the last 2 episodes of Season 4, where we finally saw how abused, broken and traumatized he truly was, and felt for him and all that. Before that for the whole Season he was written to be an annoying jerk who deserved a spanking in the face from daddy and aunty Faith.
I think the problem was they tried to show Connor as this broken, abused but dangerous boy and also as a whiny, annoying brat, and these 2 images really didn't mesh at all.
Anyway, hope all enjoyed and see you all next time with another chapter. Stay safe from the coronavirus ya all!