Disclaimer: I do not own Buffyverse or anything else you may recognize
Chapter 20- The Ring
"So here's to hoping this one is less brutal than the previous ones", Buffy said.
"Here, here", Xander said as the recording came on.
Cordelia checked out a program on the computer, seeing a title called 'Demons, Demons, Demons' and sarcastically saying how a lot of thought was put into this title, and Wesley pointed out it was Demon Database, so Cordelia said they could have named it that, and then wondered why Wolfram & Hart weren't there, as Wesley reminded they were lawyers, not Demons.
"What's the difference?" Dawn asked.
"As for the title, Cordy, you need eye catching ones", Willow said.
Cordelia noted the high number of species, with a dozen being indigenous to LA County as Wesley noted the Vigories of Oden Tal were absent. Cordelia joked there should be an intra-demon dating base for the lonely and slimy to connect as Wesley looked at her and she asked when was the last time had a dating base. Wesley said he led a rich and varied social life.
"About as varied as the shade of my eyepatch", Xander said, making everyone chuckle. "Come on Wes, no shame in admitting that you like working here."
Cordelia joked about all the stuff Wesley did as he said it may not be as intoxicating as a life built on high fashion pumps and a push-up bra, and then Cordelia said that only Angel would be wearing those just as he walked in, asking if they needed a counsellor as she said she was too single for it.
"How does she know what he wears inside?" Buffy wondered. "Not that he does."
"Probably a mystery", Willow shrugged.
Wesley and Cordelia argued when the door opened and a beat-up guy in a suit arrived, Angel stopping the two by calling them children. The guy wanted Angel and introduced himself as Darin McNamara, swaying as Angel and Wesley caught him and helped him to the couch. He offered Angel a white jewelry box, saying he'd found it in the mailbox after his brother Jack had been abducted, and Angel opened it to reveal a severed finger. Angel asked if he knew the people who'd done this, and Darin said he came here because they weren't people.
"Not human people", Tara corrected.
"So there's the new case for the day", Dawn said.
Darin showed Angel photographs of Jack while saying he had done something with his life while Jack hadn't, and had a gambling problem due to which he'd called last night, and was arriving with a bookie called Ernie Nellins, but he'd told Jack to go to hell without knowing what would happen, though Wesley assured it wasn't his fault.
"Siblings are hard, aren't they?" Buffy asked in a pointed tone.
"Tell me about it", Dawn said, the two remembering their strained relationship after her resurrection, then after the Battle of the Hellmouth too. But when they were on the same page, their bond was unbreakable.
Darin said he'd felt guilty to so he'd gone to see him only to see creatures dragging him away and couldn't stop him, not having heard anything since then, saying he was ready to do anything to get him back. Angel assured they'd help out while asking Darin to write all he saw while Angel would talk to the bookie.
"With his fist", Buffy piped up.
A bunch of guys and a girl were playing poker as Angel arrived, asking Ernie if he could play but Ernie said it was 'invitation only', Angel saying in that case Ernie could invite him, and he was a bit rusty due to not playing. He then put Jack's pictures in front of Ernie, saying he still knew his Jacks beat Ernie's pair, and as he tried to pull out a gun, Angel grabbed his hand, saying he wasn't looking for a fight, just Jack, taking the gun away.
"That was a flawless victory in a game of poker", Willow said. "Angel did the impossible."
"This looks a bit too easy", Giles noted.
Ernie walked out as Angel followed him with the pictures, and they arrived in an alley, Angel saying he was Jack's friend, which Ernie was skeptical about since Jack didn't have friends, just people he didn't owe. Angel assured Darin would pay all of Jack's debts, but Ernie said they were going to make Jack an example, and though Angel asked, Ernie said he didn't know. He put a cigarette in his mouth. Angel seemed to be lighting a match for him but when the guy bent down he saw Angel was actually holding up a folded hundred-dollar bill shielded by his hand instead of a match. Ernie glanced up at Angel, then both ways down the deserted alley. He touched his cigarette to the bill and palmed it with his other hand, saying Jack was in a place under Beechwood Canyon. Angel then arrived at the place and started pulling a manhole.
"So it took paying off", Buffy muttered. "I was expecting a fist or something."
"Not everything is solved by violence. Sometimes a little diplomacy is needed", Tara counselled.
Cordelia was looking for the Demon on her computer while Wesley gave the description, Cordelia saying stuff like this was why she didn't wager, and by the end of it after some arguing they got it- a Howler Demon.
"So Demon is found too, guess this is going to be solved", Willow said.
"Yes, but like Giles said, it looks a bit too easy", Xander reminded. "When nothing is."
Angel climbed down a ladder into the sewer with a flashlight, seeing some bloody human parts. Then 2 Howler Demons attacked, grabbing him as he fought them off. One grabbed him in a chokehold as the other punched him away and the previous one smacked his back, sending him down. Angel picked up his flashlight and used it to deflect one's blows before pushing him back and beat the other one too. He managed to take one down and pinned the other to the wall with his flashlight, inquiring about Jack and who they'd sold him to.
"Here I thought flashlights could only be used to see stuff", Dawn commented.
"When you're a fighter, anything can be a weapon", Buffy told her.
Angel later noted a fancy couple and some other people getting into a building via tickets. He then saw a barred basement window and tested its strength with his hands, and making sure no one was around, broke in. Inside the club a lady picked up her drink while pushing her ticket over the edge as Angel caught it, the lady calling him quick as Angel looked at the stuff written on the ticket but she took it back, thanking him. The lady glanced at Angel as he walked off.
"Who's this picture?" Xander asked.
"There is something about her", Giles noted.
"Yes, the way she looked at him, it's not just a passing attraction, there is something more", Buffy said, narrowing her eyes.
Angel walked to another room where people were cheering around a pit as two Demons fought each other. One of them threw the other to the bars before leaping and kneeing his neck, and throwing him down, beat him so he didn't get up, and the crowd chanted at him to kill the other one, one guy beside some doors throwing the Demon a knife which he used to cut the downed Demon's throat to cheers and applause.
"A Demon Fight Club?" Buffy said, surprised, like the rest. "It's just like the normal ones."
"Only with Demons instead", Willow summed up.
"I have heard of some, but from what I've heard, the Demons are usually captured and used against their will", Giles said.
"That possible?" Buffy wondered. "I mean, they're Demons. Sure, there are good ones but-"
"That does not mean humans can't use them in this way", Tara said and Buffy was silent, pondering.
An announcer announced the winner was Tom Cribb who waved as the announcer said this was his 7 th career kill, and then another Demon called Val Trepkos came in when announced as the crowd cheered again. Angel saw a blonde guy being led through the crowd and matched him to pictures of Jack.
"Well, Jack has been found", Buffy said, deciding to ignore the little topic from a few seconds ago.
Angel followed them through a corridor and Jack said he'd made it as a blinding light shone down, and Darin arrived, telling Jack to be careful due to how Angel had beat the Howlers. Angel realized he'd been set up.
"So they are the ones running this show!" Willow realized. "And Angel is their latest victim."
"Bastards", Buffy snarled, ignoring her own statement from a minute ago, since now it was Angel in danger.
Jack wanted to see Angel's teeth and tried to grab his face but was thrown into another guy, but then the rest kept hitting Angel with cattle prods till he fell unconscious as Darin reminded his warning to Jack who said this one would be a crowd pleaser.
"Now they've got him", Dawn groaned. "And he will be used for fights."
"Unless someone rescues him, or something happens", Tara said.
Later, Demons were shown locked in cages as Angel got up, now in his vest with a thick silver bracelet around his left wrist bearing a XXI, and there was a red line marking off an area in front of the cages. Angel said to the Demon sharing his cage that he'd asked for a room with a view but the Demon didn't understand English, or Italian or Russian so Angel sarcastically said they'd have a lot to talk about during the winter nights.
"Doesn't he know any Demonic language or something?" Willow asked.
"Maybe not the one this specific species of Demon use", Giles told her.
Jack walked in, using a button to open the cells, and Angel started walking to him when he pointed at the red line, and said the only way out of here was if the band was taken off, and that'd happen after the 21 st kill. Angel said he wouldn't kill anyone but Jack said in that case he'd die and fans would still get their money's worth.
"These people's lives are the price paid for the money", Willow said sadly. "Traffickers are just horrible, no matter who it is they're trafficking."
Wesley put the phone down as Cordelia asked if Kate hadn't talked to Angel, and Wesley said she didn't sound like she cared either, and Cordelia said they could file a missing persons, though Wesley reminded he'd only been gone a night. Cordelia reminded he hadn't checked in with them and now it was daylight as Wesley countered he could just be stuck in a tunnel waiting for nightfall but Cordelia said something was wrong, especially since their client was missing too.
"If only he gets half of her brain", Giles said. "And I can't believe I am calling a former cheerleader smarter than a Watcher."
"And just saying, missing persons isn't filed after 24 hours, it is filed whenever you feel something is wrong", Xander said as all shot him looks. "Hey, I know stuff too!"
Wesley put on his jacket, telling Cordelia to track Darin down while he'd follow in Angel's footsteps, including meeting the bookie who was the last person who saw Angel. Cordelia reminded it was dangerous so Wesley opened the drawer and pulled out a tangle of weapons, scattering them all over the floor.
Everyone chuckled as Buffy said. "Angel is doomed."
In the Demon barracks, a guard dished out brown slop and slid the bowls and a piece of bread on trays across the red line on the floor. The Demons sat around, eating, as Angel sat down too, though he didn't have a bowl. Angel said this looked like good gruel as Cribb mocked him. The Demon across Cribb was about to take a bite out of his bread piece when Cribb's tongue shot out and snagged it, annoying the other Demon called Malish, and Cribb took his bowl of gruel too.
"What a jerk", Dawn said. "I mean, none of them are free, and he's treating the others like crap."
"They're Demons, what do you expect?" Giles asked.
"Not all of them are bad", Dawn pointed out and Giles didn't respond.
Angel told Cribb to give it back as the two had a verbal spat as some guards arrived with cattle prods, Angel using the opportunity to give Malish his bowl back as Cribb walked off.
"Looks like Angel might have made one friend", Tara said.
Later, Malish approached Angel, angry that Angel had tried to help him since he could fight his own battles and had 2 wins, and warned Angel didn't want a piece of him, and told Angel to not rock the boat as this was life and death here.
"The words you're looking for are 'thank' and 'you'", Willow said to Malish. "Are all Demons here jerks?"
"Yeah, they look like it", Buffy agreed.
"And the humans doing this to them are even bigger jerks", Dawn popped up.
"He's angry because Angel standing up for him made him look weak, it has happened to me too", Xander reminded as he and Buffy exchanged a look, realizing what he was talking about. "It's a feeling of insecurity, ya know?"
Jack and Darin then arrived, making fight plans and said Trepkos will fight Malish, making Malish drop his bowl as Cribb commented it was an execution, but Jack silenced him by calling him 'slave' and whispered to Darin that after Malish is killed Trepkos will be put against Kafka, and Malish bravely told Trepkos he was the one who'd walk out this night.
"Brave sentiments, buddy, but I don't see you making a dent on that guy", Xander said.
"He is afraid of all his surroundings, and that's why he is behaving this way", Tara noted.
One of the Demons then launched across the room as Angel tried to stop him but he jumped past the red line, disintegrating while the bracelet fell down as Jack was angry due to having paid good money for it but Darin assured they'll find a good replacement, and Jack looked at Angel, calling him 'Captain America' and decided he'd be a good one.
"Damn! So that's what the line is for", Willow realized. "They did take a lot of measures. Now if only they'd used this much brain in doing something good."
"Well, it did end a Demon", Buffy muttered, and for now, Willow and Tara didn't comment.
"And Captain America? I think we can all agree he's Batman!" Xander said.
Ernie was beating up a guy held by others when Wesley arrived to stop him, introducing himself and saying he was going to ask questions about his employer who'd been looking for Jack McNamara. Ernie said he'd talk if he was paid money, but Wesley said his employer meant a great deal to him, so he wouldn't pay a single cent, rather beat it out of Ernie. The 3 men with Ernie laughed as Ernie mocked Wesley who then pulled out a crossbow, being called Robin Hood by Ernie in response who took out his gun but Wesley shot it out of his hand, the metal dart pinning his hand to the wall as the gun slid across the floor and Wesley picked it, aiming it at the 3 goons while telling the beat up guy he could go.
"Wow!" Buffy said, not because she was awed by the move, many could do it, but because of who had done it.
"He is…..not useless", Giles said, clearly surprised himself.
"So, this the badass Wesley you were on about?" Xander asked. "He's not too bad."
"This does seem more like the badass Wesley from later", Willow agreed.
"So this is his start then", Tara realized.
"Well, we were bound to see badass Wesley sooner or later", Dawn said with a smile, everyone impressed by him very much.
The man ran off as Wesley kept the 3 goons covered and walking to Ernie, twiddled the dart in his hand, making him moan as he asked about Angel's whereabouts.
"Go Wes!" Xander said.
"Yeah, didn't expect that", Buffy said, though she was a bit uncomfortable he was torturing a man, even a bad one.
"Well, if we're gonna get to see more of this Wesley, I can't wait for more", Dawn smiled.
"No can do, Dawnie", Willow said.
"Yeah, he has a cool air about him too", Tara noted.
"I can wait", Giles muttered, feeling threatened that Wesley was going to become more competent than him over time.
In the ring, the announcer made the announcements as the dark-haired woman from the bar talked to Darin, saying she'd heard the Vampire had a soul, and eventually, the made a bet which the woman liked while Darin laughed and walked away.
"How does she know he's a Vampire with a soul?" Buffy asked.
"She can't be a random spectator if she knows that", Willow agreed. "So there is more to her."
"And nothing good", Xander added.
Angel leaned against a wall as the other Demons warmed up as Malish gave Angel a tip on how to beat his opponent, though Angel wasn't going to kill anyone, to Malish's shock.
"So this is his way of paying Angel back", Tara noted. "Well, he isn't too bad in that case, if insecure."
"So he did say 'thank you' in his own way", Dawn smirked.
Jack walked in as it was showtime, and later Angel walked into the ring, the announcer introducing him flamboyantly. As the bell rang, Baker spin kicked Angel against the wall before bouncing back as he just blocked or ducked Baker's blows before being spin-kicked back again. The other Demons and the dark-haired woman watched as the fight continued, Angel leaping up to avoid Baker's sweeping kick.
"So he's not going to kill other Demons, even if it's for his own freedom", Buffy commented.
"They may be bad Demons, but in this case, all are victims", Willow said. "And Angel wants to save them all."
"It's a noble sentiment actually", Tara said, feeling a bit disappointed in Buffy due to her belief that Demons couldn't be victims of humans.
Cordelia in a fake fur coat and Wesley were outside, noticing a couple, though Cordelia had forgotten her badge. They walked to the couple as Cordelia introduced herself as 'Detective Andrew' and Wesley as 'Detective Yelsew', and asked Wesley to show his badge. Wesley just took out his wallet and waved it very fast in the air so they couldn't get a good look, while Cordelia asked him to write their license plate numbers. The man threatened them due to his high position and friendship with the chief but Cordelia was undeterred and asked for the tickets, which he gave them and said he'll take legal action, but Cordelia said they had tickets to an unlicensed sporting event, Wesley threatening them too. The man was undeterred till Cordelia said something was going to happen at the place tonight, Wesley saying something was going down with the man tonight, as Cordelia kicked him. The couple concluded it might be a raid, so they agreed to go on home, thanking the two, and then she elbowed Wesley for almost blowing it due to his line of something going down with the man tonight, though Wesley said he'd saved it.
"Now I'm wondering why she fails to get any roles", Buffy said. "She's a great actress. Even Wesley isn't too bad, though not too conspicuous either."
"Guess the people running the auditions can't tell good acting from bad acting", Xander muttered.
"I hate to say it, but their team is more efficient than ours", Dawn said.
"Hey!" Willow said.
"Oh come on! You people can't even keep a secret properly, since I figured it out, they managed to fool strangers with their act", Dawn pointed out and the whole gang sighed, realizing she was right.
Angel was pummeled by Baker as Cribb reprimanded him while the crowd yelled for Angel to fight back but he only defended himself. Cordelia and Wesley arrived, noticing Darin, and then the fight, as Wesley explained their history and when Cordelia asked about the bracelets, Wesley said anyone crossing the red line while wearing them would disintegrate, to her surprise. Darin had a man throw down a knife as Baker picked it and sliced Angel's shoulder. Angel morphed into Vamp face as the crowd cheered for a kill. Angel deflected some more blows then grabbed a hold of Baker's knife hand and twisted it into his own chest, the crowd chanting his name as Baker dropped dead while Angel looked at his blood covered hand in shock.
"He killed him", Dawn said, not in a judgmental tone, rather sad and concerned one. "And he didn't want to."
"Baker gave him no choice", Willow sighed. "At least he tried."
"Yes, but if he truly wants to help the Demons, then all of them must be on the same page as him", Tara pointed out.
"As things stand, doesn't seem likely, they're all out for themselves", Xander shrugged.
The announcer promised more kills from Angel as the dark-haired woman watched with a smile while Angel walked back inside and Wesley and Cordelia watched in shock. Later, Jack arrived to get Trepkos and Malish. Angel told Trepkos no one would die if they didn't fight, annoying Cribb who said he was alive, Angel pointing out Baker wasn't. Cribb said one kill didn't make him an expert and Angel said Baker wasn't his 1 st or 21 st .
"You're talking to the guy who'd have given Ted Bundy nightmares", Xander said to Cribb.
Jack asked Trepkos and Malish to come, and Angel begged Trepkos to follow his plan, but Trepkos just promised to kill Malish quickly. A guard hustled Malish up the pit as Jack smiled at Angel. The announcer made his announcement and then Trepkos was hit by Malish in the head. Trepkos then grabbed his arm, twisted it, grabbed his neck with his other arm and broke it.
"He really didn't have much of a chance", Buffy commented.
"As long as they don't do what Angel is saying, none of them do", Willow said. "I seriously have doubts that they would actually let any of the Demons go after 21 kills."
Cordelia told Wesley they needed to call the police but Wesley found it a bad idea as the McNamara brothers could kill the fighters before police came around, and Wesley said they needed a key to one of those cuffs, which were forged by ancient sorcerers. Cordelia told him to get an ancient key, and Wesley said he could make one if they got one of those cuffs, and Cordelia procured one which she'd swiped earlier, making Wesley compliment her.
"Go Cordy!" Xander said.
"See? More efficient", Dawn said and all sighed, since there was no way they could disprove her.
At the barracks, Jack taunted Angel by reminding him of his kill as he walked to the red line, and Jack said Angel was no different from the other Demons, they just knew their place. Angel said him and Darin needed to know their places too, and Jack said someone would show them, but not Angel and not today. "Why put off until tomorrow what you can do today?" Angel's left hand shot out and grabbed Jack by the throat. Energy was crackling all along Angel's left arm, but he didn't disintegrate since the bracelet was only over but not on the other side of the red line. He pulled Jack across and held him in front of him as a shield, one arm wrapped around his throat.
"Now he'll get his", Dawn smiled, everyone hoping this worked for him.
Angel warned the guards not to come closer and asked Jack if there was a key, telling Cribb and Trepkos to check him but they made no move so he decided to do it himself, making Jack taunt him as Angel told the guards to get his brother, and taunted Jack when Darin arrived with 2 guys who'd cattle prods, looking pretty unconcerned about this all. Angel said there was only one way this could play out since Jack wash is brother, but Darin took out a gun and shot Jack thrice, killing him while one bullet his Angel in the right shoulder, staggering him back as Darin said now he was his dead brother, and the guards hit Angel with the cattle prods till he was out again.
"What the-?!" Buffy said, horrified, definitely not having expected that.
"His own…..brother?" Giles muttered.
"He is worse than any Demon he's forcing to fight for him", Tara said.
"I thought he was a bastard, but he's a fratricide committing bastard", Willow snarled.
"Now I'm really hoping he had been taken through the line instead, though then Jack might have shot him", Xander sighed.
"Let's just agree they are all horrible people and need to be punished', Dawn said, disturbed by Darin killing his brother like that in cold blood. Did he care about money that much more than his own blood?
"Don't worry, I won't kill you for money", Buffy assured in a comforting tone. "I love you too much for that."
"I know, but this is just…." Dawn trailed off as Buffy wrapped an arm around her.
Angel woke up in a leather chair in a nice office with the dark-haired woman watching him, and he recognized her as she said. "We didn't get a chance to meet. I'm Lilah Morgan." Angel commented she was a fight fan, and looking at her bookshelves, realized she was a lawyer too- for Wolfram and Hart.
"And now they've shown up too, to make it worse", Xander commented.
"I knew there was something more about her", Giles said.
Lilah said she'd convinced the McNamara brothers to sell his contract to the Partners, so now he was free, and Angel knew the deal was as long as he pretended this ring didn't exist. Lilah said this was a big city and many needed his help, but Angel was unconvinced, while she said this was actually picking the battles one could win, and there was not one reason they couldn't work together. Angel said she was right, then took a sip, and said there were a thousand. Lilah said this was his only chance, but Angel thanked her for the champagne. The guards charged their prods but Angel was ready to go back peacefully.
"Why wouldn't he take it?" Dawn asked.
"For one, he would owe Wolfram and Hart of all people, for the other, he still thinks his idea of the Demons uniting can work", Tara said.
"Okay, I get not wanting to be in debt to them of all people, which has also changed now, but would his idea really work?" Xander asked.
"I doubt it", Buffy said.
Wesley was working on the bracelet, a little annoyed by Cordelia's quips, who was annoyed by his slow progress, and then Wesley touched a wire to the cuff as an explosion of sparks threw him back, Cordelia running over to him in concern as he said he needed something that conducted a little less electricity.
"What would that be?" Buffy muttered.
Angel was lead back into the barracks as Trepkos and Cribb mocked him behind his back as Darin locked the bracelet over Angel's left wrist, saying he wouldn't get any help this time either, and said now he would fight Trepkos and be his 21 st kill, walking out as Angel and Trepkos looked at each other.
"That guy is very strong, and dangerous", Willow said.
"And clearly not interested in the plan", Xander added.
Wesley's attempts were failing again, to Cordelia's annoyance, as Wesley said they needed something supple enough to thread the locking mechanism but strong enough to spring the release, and Cordelia realized horsehair would do it. She then took out a strand of it from her bracelet, left behind by her palomino Keanu before the IRS had taken him. Wesley decided to use it. There was a short zap and the cuff sprang open.
All sighed in relief as Buffy said. "Go Cordy!"
"Yeah, horsehair would have worked, she keeps proving she is smarter than any of us thought", Willow said.
"Clearly, I misjudged her intelligence", Giles said, impressed.
"Now they just need to help Angel get free", Dawn said.
"I still don't think he'd go without the other Demons", Tara pointed out.
"At this point, it's just stupid", Xander told everyone bluntly.
At the arena, the sign was displaying the fights while Lilah was shown betting on Trepkos. The announcer welcomed both Angel and Val Trepkos to cheers, the two confronting each other as Angel said he'd have paid for his freedom by 21 lives, and even if he was freed, he'd still be their slave, but Trepkos just promised to kill him quickly, which Angel was doubtful about. Trepkos stepped back as the fight began, Trepkos spin kicking him back. They fought, Angel remaining defensive but he was beaten down while Cribb said he'd get his head ripped off or heart torn out. Angel was thrown down, bleeding from his mouth's corner, but eventually got back up.
"Fight back!" Buffy begged.
"He won't", Tara shook her head.
Cordelia walked down a dirty hallway to a guard, distracting him by saying she needed to find the ladies room as Wesley darted around the corner past the guard. Trepkos continued beating up Angel, while Cribb was at a barred window where he met Wesley on the other side. Wesley inquired about Angel but Cribb said he'd be dead in 20 seconds, so Wesley held his key, saying they could help each other out, saying if Cribb helped him get Angel, he'd get them all out, but Cribb used his tongue to take the key away, walking off.
"Why did you have to show it, you idiot?" Xander said. "To another captured Demon of all things!"
"So he is back to square one, why am I not surprised?" Giles muttered.
"Now the situation just got worse", Dawn sighed.
Angel and Trepkos fought and Darin made a man drop two wooden staffs into the arena, Trepkos catching one while the other dropped down. He charged Angel who vaulted out of the way, picked the other one and rolled back to his feet as the fight continued. Angel leapt to avoid Trepkos' swing and dodged some more blows, flipping to avoid another, and blocked more before Trepkos smacked him. They clashed more and were in a deadlock before Trepkos pushed Angel back while Wesley came back up, informing Cordelia one of the Demons had taken his key.
"Why did you hold it up?" Buffy asked, annoyed.
As Trepkos beat up Angel, Cordelia said they needed to do something now, and Wesley looked at Darin, saying they would. Angel had lost his staff as Trepkos had him in a bind with his own. Angel managed to throw Trepkos against the wall, but Trepkos bounced back, stabbing Angel through the gut with his staff. Angel hit the staff breaking it in two, one half still stuck through his side, caught Trepkos' wrist as he tried to hit Angel with the remaining piece and kicked his feet out from under Trepkos. Trepkos landed hard on his back. Angel pulled out the piece stuck in his side and pressed the pointy end against Trepkos' throat.
"Is he going to do it?" Dawn wondered.
"No", Tara shook her head. "He won't."
Cribb unlocked his cuff and hearing Angel's name being chanted, went to look. Angel got off Trepkos, threw the stick and walked off as the crowd booed. Trepkos got back up and kicked Angel in the back. The crowd cheered for him to kill as Trepkos beat Angel up, who wasn't fighting back anymore.
"I think you should have just killed him", Buffy said.
Wesley pulled Cordelia over to Darin while Trepkos pulled his fist back to hit Angel again, and they stared at each other. Then Trepkos lowered his fist too, staring up at the stands as the crowds quietened. He looked back at Angel and turned away as Angel collapsed while Trepkos scanned the crowd. Darin told guards to punish them both as they raised cattle prods but Wesley held a gun to his head, threatening him to call them off. The doors to the pit burst open and Cribb and the other demons stormed the arena. Darin grabbed Wesley's gun hand as he was distracted and the two of them struggled. The demons were beating up the guards as the crowd ran for the exits.
"People can surprise you", Willow said to Buffy, who clearly looked surprised at this, and so did Xander and Giles.
"Well, the Demons did listen to him after all", Dawn said with a smile.
"Better late than never", Tara said too.
Buffy, Xander and Giles were left speechless from being proven wrong.
Cribb bent over to Angel, unlocking his cuff and jokingly called him 'loser'. Lilah was the last one to leave. The Demons had killed the guards and most ran back out through the doors in the pit. Darin managed to get the gun away from Wesley and beat him down, aiming to shoot when Cordelia pushed him over the railing into the pit with a metal stand. Cribb was supporting Angel as Darin angrily pointed the gun at Trepkos, who pivoted so Darin's back was to Angel and Cribb. Angel pulled Darin's hand down as he shot, then Cribb locked a bracelet around his left wrist, and threw him to Trepkos who threw him up into the stands where he disintegrated due to passing the red line around the pit. The bracelet landed on the floor between Wesley and Cordelia, the only two people left up there. Cribb unlocked Trepkos' cuff as Angel's knees gave way but Trepkos helped him, the two agreeing it was a good fight with Angel joking he could have taken him.
"They killed him", Buffy noted.
"Well, he doesn't really qualify as human to me", Xander said, not feeling much sympathy for him at least.
"Right you are", Willow agreed with a nod.
Wesley and Cordelia helped Angel out of the club. Angel thanking them for finding him in time as they assured they wouldn't let anything happen to him, and both actually complimented each other on the roles they played, Angel complimenting them both too as he said they'd done a good thing tonight. Wesley agreed, saying they'd set the captives free, and Cordelia realized they were Demons, making Wesley lamely say yes as the screen went black.
"Yes, they did free a bunch of Demons", Giles said.
"This was last before break then", Buffy said. "Wesley and Cordelia did great."
"Which is why I find them more efficient than our team", Dawn said again.
"Well, we can try to improve", Xander shrugged.
"It's time for lunch, right?" Willow asked, looking at Buffy, Xander and Giles who nodded.
"Well then, let's go, and have some talk", Tara said, exchanging a look with Willow, knowing exactly what kind of talk was to be had.
They got up and left the room.
Now look, I love Buffy and she's my 7th favorite character in this verse, but she has a thing about not taking human lives, and is a hypocrite about it too. I mean, she believed that someone like Warren didn't deserve to die either (what he actually deserved is to be brutally tortured by Deadpool and Lucifer Morningstar in Hell, like in my 'Heroes, Vampires and Slayers'), and was against Dark Willow killing him, but was perfectly fine in wanting to kill Faith when she hurt Angel. It's not about whether Faith deserved it or not (FYI at that specific point I think Faith deserved what Buffy did to her), but don't preach what you don't practice.
Xander and Giles, on the other hand, aren't uncomfortable with taking human lives (Giles killed Ben to stop Glory, which Buffy couldn't do, and Xander was completely in favor of killing Warren) but they are bigoted against Demons.
Willow was like that in the start but her own experiences with darkness have given her a better understanding of grey stuff, while Tara is just not a judgmental person in general, so she would understand everyone's POV, and Dawn is young and has shown different beliefs from her sister too IMO, so she would have a different, fresh and better perspective in mind.
So next chapter, prepare for Buffy, Xander and Giles to be called out for some stuff, not harshly though, rather reasonable.
Also, anyone notice that the first episode Lilah shows up in is the first one where Wesley does something badass? What a coincidence! And stuff like this is why Wesley/Lilah is my OTP. Plus I've noticed both Lilah and Fred bring out the best and worst in Wesley simultaneously.
Anyway, hope everyone enjoyed and see you all next time with another chapter. Stay safe from the coronavirus ya all!