Disclaimer: I do not own Buffyverse or anything else you may recognize
Chapter 35- Guise Will Be Guise
"Last for the day", Buffy sighed.
"I know its gonna get worse, but I'm still hoping its not in this one", Xander hoped.
"One can always hope", Tara told him as Buffy turned the recording on.
Wesley walked around the lobby counter, looking at an open file in his hand, and tried to open the top drawer of the file cabinet. It got stuck so he gave a yank and the drawer flew out, scattering papers on the floor. With a grimace, Wesley swung the drawer by its handle so it came to rest on the counter top then crouched down to retrieve the papers. A guy stepped up to the counter, greeting him as Wesley straightened, banging his head on the file drawer sticking out past the counter. The guy wanted to see Angel but he wasn't around, so Wesley offered to help, saying he didn't have special abilities but was a Rogue Demon Hunter so he could handle himself in rough situations, only to slip on the papers and land on his butt as the guy sarcastically called him scary. Wesley got back up as the guy told him Angel should run a business instead of foisting clients off to his secretary, walking out as Wesley corrected it was associate.
"That was embarrassing", Dawn said with a sigh.
"Wesley's clumsiness lost business", Willow agreed with a nod.
"Considering Angel lost some too due to his Darla obsession a recording ago, not really something to call him out on", Xander pointed out to her.
Wesley started gathering the papers as Cordelia arrived and he told her he was knocking things over and driving away business. Cordelia told Wesley she knew where Angel was and they'd to stop him before it was too late, then looked down at the dress she was holding and asked if he'd clothes a man would wear.
"3 guesses to where Angel is", Dawn quipped.
"I think we all just need one", Giles shrugged.
At Wolfram and Hart, a guard checked a basement corridor, then walked on as a grate in the floor was pushed open and Angel climbed out, followed by Gunn. Angel saw a guy and a woman arguing a little ways down the hallway branching off to their right, then told Gunn not to make eye contact. The two of them walked across the hallway and stepped into the elevator. The doors were almost closed, when someone stuck a briefcase between them. The door slid back open. It was the pair from the hallway, and they were Cordelia and Wesley, dressed in lawyer garb. Angel grabbed them and pulled them into the elevator, pushing a floor button asking why they were here, and Cordelia pushed the open button, saying they were risking their lives to save his. Gunn asked how they'd come in and Wesley said they'd used the door, Cordelia pointing out the lawyer garb.
"Listen to them, Angel, you're not being yourself", Buffy said, wishing he saw some sense.
"I think he's getting past reason slowly", Willow sighed sadly.
Angel pushed up as Cordelia pushed open, and the argument continued as Cordelia pointed out they'd Vampire detectors, to which Gunn said they'd a plan, and Angel pushed up saying he'd get to the office before they stopped him, now shocking Gunn who didn't know this was the plan. Cordelia pushed open again, telling Angel he needed help, while he pushed up, saying he wasn't insane or angry. Cordelia pushed open, and this time there was a security guard there, triggering the stake concealed in his nightstick. Angel grabbed a hold of it and stabbed him through the foot with it.
Everyone cringed a little, seeing where he had been stabbed.
"You sure he's not angry?" Xander asked randomly.
"And that doesn't even sound like 12% of a plan", Dawn commented.
The other three found it nasty as the guard was trying to pull out the stick but it went all the way through his shoe and is wedged tightly into the crack between the elevator and hallway. Angel walked past the guard. "Maybe I'm a little angry." The others gave the struggling guard one last look then followed him out, Cordelia muttering a 'maybe'.
"Definitely", Tara corrected.
"Now who can make him see sense?" Willow asked.
"At this point, everyone has failed so far", Buffy sighed sadly, wondering what it would take to make Angel see the light again.
On the stage of the karaoke bar, two Japanese men were singing 'I got you babe' with Cordelia, Wesley and Gunn sitting nearby, as Gunn wondered why he'd never noticed this, and Cordelia quipped the 'ass was weirder' than he thought, and Wesley told Gunn what Lorne could do, Cordelia adding he needed people to sing karaoke. Lorne inquired about Angel's well-being, not convinced he was okay as Angel said he could explode, and would sing too. Gunn was looking forward to it, but Lorne pulled out a notepad, scribbling something and assured Angel he didn't have to sing, which would be a break for them both and Barry Manilow too, giving him the paper.
All sighed in relief.
"It's a break for us all", Giles said.
"Thanks Lorne", Dawn said with a smile.
"He just went up in my book with this", Xander quipped.
"Anyone who has heard Angel sing even once will like Lorne more after this", Willow told him.
"And we've heard him do it more than once", Buffy reminded.
"Unfortunately", Tara added.
Lorne said this was an address in Ojai for a friend, even if he didn't call and write but was a good guy, and was called T'ish Magev, while a man called Ramone handed Lorne a drink who thanked him. Angel knew Magev was a swami, and realized this was his address, and Lorne said he'd do whatever Angel needed him to do. The Japanese guys finished their song as Lorne got up, loving it, and Angel told his team they were going and he didn't have to sing, Cordelia being relieved before noticing his look and adding for his sake since he didn't like it.
"No one does, Cordy", Buffy shook her head.
"Maybe the swami can help", Dawn suggested.
"I hope he can, if he's as powerful as they say", Willow nodded.
"He wouldn't have a reputation like that if he wasn't", Tara pointed out.
Angel drove through a deserted highway while Cordelia told Wesley at the Hyperion the swami could probably zap the obsession out of Angel's head.
"I don't think it'd be that simple", Xander said.
"If it was, it'd be wrong", Willow said guiltily, looking downcast and Tara knew what she was speaking of.
"Hey, I forgave you, remember?" Tara reminded with a genuine smile.
"I know, doesn't mean it was right", Willow whispered to herself as the two held hands.
Cordelia sat on the chair on Angel's desk, spinning and pretending to be him, but Wesley said he didn't spin that much, so Cordelia picked up a book, pretending to read while leaning her head in one hand, and said she couldn't do anything fun tonight to count and alphabetize her sins, and Wesley suppressed a smile while she gave him a big grin, saying she loved Angel but was glad he was headed the other way.
"We all are", Dawn piped up.
"As long as it helps him", Buffy shrugged.
Angel walked up onto the porch of a log cabin situated next to a lake and knocked on the door. The door was opened by a burly guy wearing a blue, plaid shirt over a gray T-shirt. Angel asked for Magev, and the guy said it was him, surprising Angel, while Magev knew who he was, and asked if he was in our out since the bugs were coming in.
"Thought he'd look more….swami like", Xander commented.
"Do not judge a book by its cover", Giles reminded.
At Hyperion, Cordelia closed a curtain when a guy grabbed her from behind, asking for Angel, but she said he wasn't there, to which the guy said she was lying. Cordelia tugged on his arm and he let go as she turned to face him, only for him to point a gun, and then Wesley overheard as he walked to the lobby. The guy said his boss needed Angel so he'd get him or blow her head off, and so Wesley headed back to Angel's office.
"If you blow her head off, he'll rip yours out", Buffy snarled.
"I'm hoping he does, even if he doesn't blow her head off", Willow shrugged.
"Wouldn't mind seeing it myself", Xander agreed with a sneer at the guy.
Cordelia swore she didn't know and the guy was gonna shoot when Wesley arrived, wearing Angel's coat. "I'm Angel." He almost tripped on something but caught himself before the guy spun to face him. "You looking for me?"
"Ummm, no you're not", Dawn said, everyone now shocked.
"He doesn't know", Giles pointed out. "And seems like the only play for the moment."
"As long as it doesn't backfire that is", Buffy reminded.
Angel sat across from Magev who was tying a fishing rod, complimenting his convertible, and asked about the mileage as Angel said he got 12 in the city. Magev commented it was a chick magnet but Angel denied, and then asked if they'd talk of his problems, and Magev said the car was his problem and said a lot about him, pointing out a Vampire living in a city known for the sun was driving a convertible, and asked why Angel hated himself, to which he said he got a deal, and Magev asked why not a personalized license plate with 'irony' on it.
"I like him already", Xander commented.
"Never thought about the car thing the way he brought it up", Buffy agreed too.
"Well, the contents of the book are pretty exciting in that case", Giles said with a smirk.
"Looks like it can work then", Dawn smiled.
"Yeah, he is living up to his reputation already", Tara agreed with a nod.
"Hope it's enough to help Angel out", Willow added.
Angel said top went up, to which Magev said appearance were important, saying Angel risked himself every time he hopped into the convertible to save the day, top or not. Angel said it was just a car so Magev asked about the black layers since it was 80 degrees, and Angel pointed he'd no body temperature, and not the look either since he didn't have a reflection, it was just matching. Magev said he did have a reflection, and was reflected in the people around him, asking what he thought they saw.
"I see a good man trying to make up for all he did when he didn't have a soul", Buffy said genuinely, knowing that's exactly who Angel was.
"Not everyone might see it that way", Willow told Buffy.
The guy had his gun on Wesley's chest who said it wouldn't affect him, so he just asked Wesley to follow, who took a step towards Cordelia, saying he'd no reason to, reminding the gun wouldn't kill him, to which he pointed it at Cordelia, so Wesley put his hands up in a placating gesture, making him lower his gun as Wesley said he won't be cooperative.
"And it has backfired", Buffy said with a sigh.
"So, Wesley posing as Angel, sounds fun and dangerous both", Dawn commented, looking forward to it.
"As long as no one gets killed, yeah", Tara agreed, wondering how this would go down.
"Who knows he might ruin Angel's reputation", Xander said.
"Or, find his inner badass", Willow pointed out.
"Yes, the so-called competent Wesley", Giles shook his head as Willow just smirked.
Later, at a fancy house guarded by robed men, the guy called Benny walked in followed by Wesley, and Benny invited Wesley in who jumped back across the threshold then entered again as Benny motioned him to enter.
Everyone sighed in relief as Buffy said. "That was a narrow save."
"And I have a feeling it was only his first one", Willow added from her side.
Two men entered the hallway, one being Bryce and the other Paul, arguing a little as Paul assured there was no misunderstanding and Bryce said Paul understood him clearly, and Paul walked off, throwing Wesley a look as Benny introduced him as Angel, with Bryce shaking his hand and introducing himself as 'Magnus Bryce'.
"Magnus Bryce", Willow noted as all looked at her. "I used to read the business pages. He was a software businessman, I think."
"So a popular software businessman wants Angel, huh?" Xander asked. "How does he know about him?"
"Perhaps the technological lifestyle lead by them isn't what it seems", Giles noted.
Wesley called Bryce out for being brought here at gunpoint, to which Bryce said he was desperate and wanted to protect someone dear to him. Benny handed Wesley a glass of blood, to which he said he didn't drink, adding in front of humans, but Bryce told him to drink it since it was fresh, so Wesley swallowed hard, lifted the glass and took a drink, then lowered it and pressed his lips firmly together, calling it 'nummy'. He then lifted a hand to his mouth.
Everyone cringed at that, as Dawn said. "Angel owes Wesley big time for this."
"Yeah, I mean, drinking even that much blood, I don't think it'd be pleasant", Tara agreed.
"I'm surprised he managed to drink even that much", Buffy said.
"How will he drink all of it?" Willow asked.
Bryce told Wesley the software was all a front, the money came from wizardry as his great-grandfather had created his first spell in a garage, and it was a tallness illusion, and now it was custom designed to work for the people with right money. Wesley covered his mouth for a burp as Bryce explained more, and Wesley, seeing he was unobserved, dumped the blood in a flower vase, then noticed it was a glass vase so he stepped in the front while the two turned back to him. Bryce also mentioned the Goddess Yeska while saying he had rivals too.
"Really? You can make money off of it?" Xander asked.
"You really don't pay much attention, do you?" Willow asked Xander who sighed.
"If you play your cards right, magic can be used to make money, but it is pretty much always in violation of laws, both human and magical", Tara explained to him.
"What kind of laws do you think they violated?" Buffy asked.
"Well, Yeska is a Davric Demon and requires a sacrifice", Willow told her.
"And I believe Mr. Bryce has it lined up already", Giles noted.
Bryce told Wesley the man in the hall was Paul Lanier and his firm was in wish granting, and said that him or any other enemy was threatening his daughter, there had been letters and calls and even intruders in the house twice. Wesley pointed out he was a powerful magician so he'd know many protection spells, to which Bryce said all had been used up and these guys knew the tricks. Bryce would pay Wesley and he'd protect her.
"If protecting her is all you want, you could have asked nicely", Dawn said.
"Shady people never ask nicely", Buffy shrugged.
Magev told Angel there were 2 of him, the image he created and the real him. Angel then took off his jacket and put it on a chair, saying his persona could be affected. Magev jokingly asked how many warriors slated to fight the apocalypse would use that hair gel, making Angel run a hand through his hair, and told him he'd need to use something he could hold, and to defeat the forces of darkness, he needed to first stop fighting himself, taking 2 wooden staffs off the wall as he tossed one to Angel, who asked if he was fighting himself, to which Magev said they'd find out.
"See, even the swami knows what's wrong with the hair!" Xander said as all laughed at that.
"Angel does seem to be listening to him", Willow noted.
"Perhaps this will help him", Giles said with a nod.
Virginia was in her bed, reading, when Wesley, Bryce and Benny arrived, Virginia noting the Vampire was here, and Wesley greeted her as Virginia quipped her dad could get anything. Bryce said 'Angel' had gone out of his way to help them, to which Virginia said he probably brought him on gunpoint. Wesley chuckled, then walked through before checking his look in a vanity mirror, and then jumped back with a yell, asking to cover the mirror to Virginia's confusion, but she still did it as he said if an attack happened here, he wouldn't want his opponent to know he was a Vampire too soon. Bryce liked it while Virginia scoffed he was anticipating letting attackers into the room already.
All sighed in relief as Buffy said. "He has narrowly saved himself thrice now."
"And this is all before Bryce's enemies come to take his daughter", Xander added.
"She doesn't seem to like her dad much", Tara noted.
"Maybe she doesn't like being locked up like that", Willow said. "In the name of protection."
"Plus, she could tell Wesley was threatened to come here", Dawn spoke up.
Wesley asked to speak with Virginia alone so Bryce and Benny walked out as Wesley told her she was right, and Virginia scoffed that Bryce thought he owned everyone. Wesley then cautioned that she still needed to be protected, while noting her books as she said every time there was a threat, she bought a bookshelf. Wesley said both were stuck so he might as well protect her, and Virginia asked if he thought himself the Vamp for the job, to which he said he wanted to try. Virginia got up to go shopping, and Wesley asked why in the middle of the night instead of the morning, before adding he couldn't leave the house then so they should go at once.
All chuckled and sighed in relief again as Giles said. "Make it four now."
"And they still haven't encountered a proper threat yet", Xander said again.
Wesley opened the door and they walked past Bryce as he said they were going shopping. At Hyperion, Cordelia told Gunn of what had happened, saying Wesley pretending to be Angel was a bad idea, since she could have been Angel as it's a girly name, and Gunn asked where they'd gone to which she said she'd tried to follow but lost them, and then asked him to get Angel from the swami while she tracked down Wesley, and the guy who took him could have a criminal record.
"Yeah, it is a girly name", Xander smirked.
"But I think they knew this specific Angel was a guy, just not what he looked like", Dawn pointed out to him.
"Yeah, that seems to be common knowledge among these people", Buffy agreed.
Gunn decided to get started as Cordelia wondered where Wesley was right now, while Wesley and Virginia walked into a fancy store. There was champagne in an ice bucket on a table and soft classical music in the background. Wesley looked around at the Wizard supplies as he and Virginia chatted, Virginia saying she was getting a 50 th birthday present for Bryce, saying this probably made him twitchy due to a big party and mid-life crisis. Wesley noted she was looking at talismans, and Virginia said Yeska was his favorite creepy deity, asking what he thought of the gold one, to which he said it was attractive but not actual gold as an actual spell would melt it, so he'd go with iron, and Virginia said he sounded like Bryce, getting into this stuff.
"So knowledge from books does help in talking to girls", Xander said with a nod.
"Guess that's why you had no game", Willow said as all chuckled at his expense.
"Let this be a learning moment, Xander", Tara said as he chuckled.
"Now you know why I do not like technology too much", Giles said with a shake of the head as all chuckled again.
Wesley noted Virginia didn't love it, to which she said she used to as he taught her a lot when she was younger, but now he only loved his stuff. Wesley put his hand on a helmet on a counter, assuring Bryce did love her as he'd gone through trouble to protect her, but she said his car was insured too, then looked at his hand, asking if it hurt, and Wesley noted the helmet was topped by a cross, making him pull his hand away as he pretended to be burnt, and then dipped his hand in the ice bucket, the cold hurting him a little too.
"And now it is 5 times already", Dawn said as all sighed.
"But it was a narrow save again", Buffy added.
Then 2 guys arrived to take Virginia away, and she called out to 'Angel', and the guys let go of Virginia as Wesley pulled off his glasses and tossed them onto the counter. "Yes - I am. I'm – Angel, the vampire with a soul - fighting for my redemption with - with - with killing evil demons. That's right. Scourge of the demon world." The guys exchanged a quick look, "don't worry, boys, I don't kill humans - unless I'm angry!" Virginia hurried to stand behind him as one lifted his hand in a placating gesture, saying they were following orders as Wesley told the two to tell Lanier to forget about Virginia, trying to adjust his missing glasses too. They left as Wesley put his glasses back on, telling Virginia it wasn't safe so they should get back, and next time, if it happened, could be much rougher.
"Whoa!" Xander said with a dropped jaw. "He saved her!"
"No, Angel's reputation saved her", Buffy corrected.
"But still, he managed to sell it", Willow added.
"Barely", Tara pointed out.
"You think there will be a next time?" Dawn asked.
"I am very sure of it", Giles told her.
Angel and Magev were staff fighting on the bridge, Magev noting Angel was holding back, and told him to fight him, not himself, but Angel said he'd kill Magev with his demon if let go, to which Magev said the demon was him, and that he spent too much energy trying to conceal it. Angel shook his head, saying he couldn't let it control him. Magev hit Angel's knee hard then hooked the staff behind his legs to drop him onto his back, asking why he thought it didn't control him.
"So he's physically knocking sense into Angel", Xander quipped as he looked at the scene.
"I think he's trying to help Angel find a proper balance", Buffy said.
Later, Magev talked on the phone, holding an ice bag to his head, saying he had no idea how long he could keep up this Yoda gag, as Angel was strong, and could also smell blood. The guy on the other end, Lanier, was confused as Magev said Angel was a Vampire so he'd smell soon where the real Magev's body was, confusing Lanier that Angel was with him, the conversation also revealing that Ramone was responsible for relaying this information, and Lanier wondered who the English guy was.
Everyone's eyes widened in horror as they gulped too.
"The guy is a fake? But I liked him!" Xander snapped.
"He sounded really….genuine", Willow sighed sadly.
"And now Lanier knows Wesley is a faker", Dawn pointed out, increasing their dread.
"This is not gonna end well", Tara gulped.
"Hopefully Wesley can get out when he has the chance", Giles simply said.
"Oh God!" Buffy said, rubbing her head as all looked at her.
"What's the matter, Buff?" Xander asked.
"Like you all said, this faker was sounding very genuine", Buffy said to them all. "So when Angel realizes the guy wasn't the real deal, how do you think it will affect him?"
The implications terrified the others as Tara realized. "It's going to turn him even more cynical now."
"So a business war managed to kill a Swami, and stop Angel from being fixed", Dawn scoffed and added sarcastically. "Great."
Cordelia was looking through mug shots of criminals before eying the magazine nearby and picking up, started flipping for celeb photos before coming across a photo of Virginia and Bryce with Benny behind them, recognizing him.
"So she caught the culprit by slacking off, huh?" Xander commented. "Funny."
"At least now she knows who has Wesley", Buffy said. "And Wesley needs to get out soon."
Wesley walked Virginia to her room, hoping she wasn't intimidated, to which she said she was angry at this whole thing, due to her life being wasted. She waited for her life to start but it never did, with more locks and surveillance cameras, and noticed 2 robed guys nearby, thinking they were bedroom guards. She told them to go away when one grabbed her, and Wesley took off his glasses, telling them to stop as the other held out a sparkling fire in his hand at Wesley, but he grabbed a hold of the guy's hand and folded it closed over the fire before kicking him, then slammed the one holding Virginia on his face before flipping the first over his shoulder. He caught his breath as the two scrambled away and Virginia said. "You were amazing."
"He was", Xander trailed off, now wishing he learnt fighting sooner.
"This time it was Wesley who saved Virginia, not Angel's reputation", Buffy said, impressed as well.
"See? Badass Wesley", Willow smirked.
"Yeah, he sure was badass", Tara nodded.
"I think posing as Angel is giving him a confidence boost", Dawn pointed out.
"And I think you might just be right about that", Giles said, wondering how different things could have been if this was the Wesley who had first come to Sunnydale.
Wesley smiled. "I was a bit." Virginia wondered why he didn't morph into Vamp face, to which he said he wasn't a regular Vampire. Angel and Magev were fishing at the lake, as Angel told Magev that Darla had been returned as a human, and Magev realized seeing her again started the inner struggle. Magev noted Angel was obsessed and wanted to punish her, while also thank her for the gift she'd given him, and then said Angel needed to get over her, asking for a description which Angel gave- beautiful, small and blonde. Magev told Angel to find a beautiful, small, blonde girl, bed her, love her, then treat her like crap and break her heart, saying Angel and his inner demon would thank him for that, and Angel trailed off weirdly.
All shot Buffy a look, who was watching with wide eyes, since Angel had done just that to her, though his intention for breaking up was still good, and not something selfish.
"Shall we continue?" Giles asked carefully.
"As long as we see this faker being beaten up, yeah", Buffy said, not liking the reminder of the painful break-up Magev had given her, and the recording continued.
Virginia was sitting on her bed as Wesley sat next to her, inquiring about her well-being due to 2 close calls, as she said she wanted to be a 24 year old runaway, get her own little apartment and silly job like perfume sprayer or tire store, making Wesley chuckle as he called it wonderful but said Bryce wouldn't allow it, to which she said he wouldn't due to the danger, and she'd be responsible for killing him if she moved out, Wesley saying it was a huge burden to put on her, and Virginia saying she wanted out, leaning her head onto his shoulder.
"Emotional abuse and blackmail", Tara noted as all turned to her. "My dad and Beth made the exact same argument to get me to come back with them, saying how dad and Donny wouldn't be able to do a thing without me."
"I'm sorry, honey", Willow said as they grasped hands.
"So, under the pretext of protecting her, he's basically emotionally abusing and blackmailing her", Buffy scoffed. "Dad of the year."
Then Virginia lightly kissed Wesley on the lips, and then they kissed again lightly but longer, Virginia apologizing due to knowing of the curse, making Wesley laugh and shake his head, not looking at her.
"One day posing as Angel and he's already getting some!" Xander shook his head.
"So you wanna pose as Angel?" Dawn asked with a smirk.
"Hell yeah I do!" Xander said.
"But if she knows about the curse, you wouldn't", Buffy pointed out as he sighed and all chuckled.
At the same time, Angel tried to explain the curse to Magev properly, while Wesley mumbled about perfect happiness and Virginia took off his glasses and nibbled his ear, Wesley telling her the curse was misinterpreted, and was just a hex as the kissing continued. Virginia asked if he was telling the truth, and Wesley decided to be honest but then was muffled by her kisses.
"She doesn't even know who you truly are", Giles told Wesley.
"Yeah, he's not being honest with her", Buffy agreed. "Though, to be fair to him, it wasn't like he thought something would happen with Virginia when he signed on for this."
"Still, it's kind of a tricky slope", Willow pointed out, and all had to agree on that bit.
Gunn's pickup truck stopped in front of the cabin as he walked out, looking for Angel, and was greeted by Magev, who asked if he sought enlightenment, to which Gunn said he sought Angel, and Magev pointed at a dust pile, saying that was Angel before saying it was a joke, and Gunn walked past him inside when Magev hit him hard on the head from behind, then on the chin, knocking him out, before bending to drag the body, and Angel's voice came from the porch. "Which lesson was that exactly?"
"And now you're busted", Dawn said as all watched, hoping the faker got his just desserts.
"Still, poor Gunn", Tara noted and all nodded.
Magev straightened, saying he sensed danger but Angel now knew he was a faker, so Magev grinned and confessed before spreading his arms out, pointing out it was a bright sunshine and Angel couldn't get any closer. As Magev turned his back on Angel with a laugh, Angel picked up a fishing rod and hooked Magev by the upper lip, then quickly reeled him into the shade hand over hand as he screamed. "Ouch! Ow! What are you doing?" Angel, now in vamp face, grabbed Magev by the front of his shirt and pulled him even closer. "Getting in touch with my inner demon."
"You like the demon, you little faker?" Xander asked sarcastically.
"The lip", Willow said, cringing at that as all winced a little.
"Yeah, but he deserved it", Buffy said with zero sympathy, due to his earlier comment on the blonde.
"Yup, so much for the swami advice though", Dawn sighed.
Wesley lay on the bed, watching Virginia sleep, and then walked out, fully dressed, looking down the hallway. He turned to see Virginia standing on the door and kissed her, before turning to walk down the hall, and ran into Cordelia instead, who was here to save him, and said she was let in due to telling the guards she worked for Angel. Virginia then came up behind the two as Cordelia greeted her, and Wesley introduced her, saying she worked for him, and went to get his coat, but she decided to get it for him, and Cordelia tried to get him away but Wesley wanted to stay for his job. Cordelia told him he had delusions of Angel and couldn't do it on his own, and then Bryce arrived with 2 robed guys and Benny, Cordelia greeting them both while saying she remembered Benny from the armed abduction.
Everyone gulped, now knowing what was coming.
Wesley said he had made Cordelia test their defense and they'd just let her in, but Bryce said he'd asked them to so Virginia could hear someone call him by his real name, and Virginia arrived, surprised, with Bryce telling her Wesley wasn't Angel due to a call from an anonymous friend. Benny grabbed Wesley and pushed him to a window as he and Cordelia tried to play him off as Angel, and Wesley tried to cower away from the sun, but nothing happened as pretense was dropped. Wesley now finally told her his true name.
All groaned, knowing this would have happened, but it was still sad to watch.
"I don't think she's gonna trust him now, he lied to her", Tara said, feeling bad for both of them really.
Virginia said. "I talked to you. I trusted you. - You lied to me. - Come to think of it, you actually put my life in danger. I was walking around thinking I had vampire protection. - Here's the funny part: I finally thought I had a friend." She held out Angel's coat to him, and after a moment's hesitation he took it and watched her turn away and walk into her room. Cordelia noted he'd screwed her over as Bryce ordered them out of the house, calling Cordelia a 'piece', and a robed guard pushed them down the hall, with Benny saying Bryce should have let him kill them, but Bryce threw him against the wall, saying him bringing the wrong guy had almost cost the sacrifice, but he wouldn't kill Benny because he needed him now, and walked to an ugly rock step sculpture, saying the sacrifice was a few hours from now, and it would be the party of his life, as well as Virginia's. He picked up a manacle chain attached to the rock while saying that.
"And Wesley is done for", Xander sighed sadly. "Poor guy."
"Poor Virginia too, she got screwed over in all this", Dawn added.
"Something doesn't feel right", Willow said, narrowing her eyes. "The sculpture, I can't make it out."
"Me neither, but it seems familiar", Giles noted.
"Why does he have cuffs?" Buffy asked.
"A sacrifice", Tara realized as all gulped.
"But who?" Dawn wondered.
"Virginia?" Willow half-asked, half-said.
"But that's ridiculous, he's trying to prot-" Xander trailed off, "-ect her."
"For the sacrifice", Tara realized, and all felt disgusted to their core, now putting the pieces together.
"So he's trying to sacrifice his own daughter for more power", Giles snorted in disgust.
"Having a dad who doesn't care about you feels like a good thing in comparison", Buffy scoffed.
"Yeska wants a sacrifice, and its her", Willow said grimly, as all wondered how this was gonna go down now.
Wesley sat guiltily on the Hyperion steps as Cordelia sat next to him, trying to comfort him, and then Angel walked in with a dazed Gunn, Angel telling Cordelia he'd been hit by the fake swami, who'd been hired to get him out of the way, and had killed the real Magev. Wesley asked if Angel had found out who hired him, but Angel said he wouldn't say before noting Wesley was wearing his coat. Wesley realized it was Lanier, realizing it was to keep Virginia unprotected, and when he took out his men, he tipped off Bryce, as a confused Angel asked if he was in Virginia.
"I think he was", Dawn said with a smirk as all shot her looks. "What? I'm just a few months away from being 18. You can't stop me from growing."
"Yeah, we can't", Tara sighed.
"Doesn't mean we like it", Buffy said, patting her head.
"But you must get used to it", Dawn smirked again.
"Unfortunately, yeah", Willow said with a sigh.
Cordelia explained the proper situation to Angel and Wesley realized Virginia would be in danger at the party, mentioning Yeska, but Angel knew her, saying she wasn't a Goddess but a Davric Demon, and Wesley knew those only served humans after getting a sacrifice, and it was usually a girl while they offered a reward to the person on their 50 th birthday, finally putting the pieces together, and Lanier was going to abduct her to prevent Bryce from getting power from the sacrifice.
"So, being abducted would have saved her life?" Dawn wondered.
"But they killed Magev, perhaps he would have murdered Virginia after taking her to ensure no loose ends are left", Giles pointed out to her, and she had to concede.
Wesley told Angel and Gunn to go the front of the house while he and Cordelia took the back, when Angel stopped him so Wesley asked him how to proceed, and Angel lamely asked if he and Gunn could take the back, to which Wesley agreed and walked off as Angel asked for his coat back.
All had a nice chuckle at that.
Benny trailed Virginia at the party as she saw the sculpture, decorated with candles, hoping a girl didn't jump out, and Benny said she wouldn't.
"No, a girl will be pushed in and tied up", Xander said in disgust over Bryce.
Bryce then tapped his glass with a spoon to get everyone's attention, and then gave a speech, saying he'll try to do this right, and then he lit a candle, chanting and calling on Yeska, while Benny grabbed a confused Virginia and pulled her to the sculpture, chaining her up as she begged Bryce to make it stop but he told her to be a good girl, and that this was hard, Benny adding it was tearing him up. Virginia begged for help but no one did a thing, and Bryce dipped a thumb into the basin of water and marked her head, before backing away.
"He's lying, it's not tearing him up at all, he's just saying that to emotionally manipulate her again", Tara said with a glare, and the others were glaring too.
"So many people at the party, none of them are doing a thing to help her", Buffy scoffed in disgust.
"They're all too selfish", Giles told her.
Wesley, Cordelia, Angel, who was wearing his coat again, and Gunn, strode into the party room through the open double doors as Wesley said. "Release her or die." Angel wondered. "Don't I say that?" Bryce called for the guards as the party goers scattered. Wesley and a guard pushed each other down, then both got up as Wesley deflected his blow and smacked him, while Angel took one down. Gunn engaged with another who got him in a chokehold as Cordelia picked up a champagne bottle. Wesley battled another as Cordelia hit the one holding Gunn with the bottle twice, making him release Gunn who took him down. Wesley took his opponent down as Angel beat another, and Wesley ran forward, knocking out Bryce as well.
"And he gets the punch he deserved", Xander said with a smirk.
Wesley then started unchaining Virginia, saying he'd get her out of here. Bryce cowered behind a table and continued his chant, as a wind blew inside, distracting them all. Yeska, and ugly gray skinned demoness with a blonde afro appeared with a flicker of lightning in front of Virginia. She raised her hands at her, but then called her impure and disappeared the same way she'd appeared.
"She looked like a real piece of work", Dawn noted, all disgusted by her appearance.
"Impure", Xander said. "Does that mean-"
"Yup", Willow nodded.
"So Wesley getting some saved a life, funny", Buffy said as all chuckled.
Gunn was confused as Virginia asked. "Why did you come back?" Wesley reminded. "I said I'd protect you." Virginia gave a short laugh and let him help her up.
"Things are fixed on this end", Tara said as all smiled.
"She's impure? - She-she's not a virgin?" Bryce started towards Wesley. "You..." "Woah! That's what impure meant?" Gunn asked. "She slept with him?" Cordelia wondered. Bryce snarled. "You were supposed to be Angel. This wouldn't have happened. That's why I hired him. He's a eunuch."
"Eunuch?" Buffy asked. "That's what they thought the curse was?"
"Oh my God! This is gold!" Xander said, laughing hysterically. "Angel is a eunuch!"
At this point, all were in hysterics.
"How did you two do it?" Dawn asked Buffy with a smirk, who gave her a glare.
"You little-"
"Did you do it like….well….." Willow trailed off.
"Like you two?" Buffy asked and Willow nodded, sharing a smile with Tara.
Buffy's face turned humorless.
30 seconds later, she had both Willow and Dawn in chokeholds with her arms, with Xander on the ground, her foot on his throat, all three wheezing out apologies as Tara and Giles sighed and shook their heads.
"I'm…..sorry…." Dawn choked out.
"Please…." Willow choked out too.
"Never….again…" Xander added, and Buffy let them go as they panted while sitting back in their spots, holding their throats.
"I don't want these mental images", Giles muttered to himself.
Cordelia muttered. "You slept with her." Angel asked. "Eunuch?" Wesley said to Bryce. "Things happen. Two young people, danger..." Virginia asked. "What are you talking about?" Bryce said. "She was a virgin before you got here." Virginia snapped. "I was not a virgin!" Bryce was shocked. "What?" Wesley was relieved. "Oh, thank goodness."
"Guess he didn't want to deflower a virgin", Buffy commented.
"Angel didn't seem to have a problem with that", Xander quipped with a raised eyebrow, and Buffy's face turned humorless again.
5 seconds later, Xander was on the ground with Buffy's foot on his throat again. "I'm….sorry….please….."
Buffy let him go as he sat back up, panting and holding his throat.
Gunn shrugged. "I could have told you she was no virgin." Angel repeated. "I'm not a eunuch." Cordelia snapped. "One day as Angel, one day! - and he's getting some." Bryce asked. "What? How could you. I kept you away from all men!" Angel was rambling. "I mean, the curse isn't even all that clear. Virginia asked. "Daddy, you remember that chauffeur from when I was 16? And the one at 18? I haven't been a virgin for a very long time. - I even dated Rick." Bryce turned to look at one of the robed guards, who hurriedly and quietly made his way from the room.
All laughed hysterically again.
Bryce begged. "Ginny, don't do this! Don't make me angry!" Virginia scoffed."Right. Because then you might do something bad. - You were going to *kill* me!" She hauled back and hit her dad with a hard left, knocking him to the ground. "You are not my father anymore." Cordelia smiled at her as Virginia walked out of the room. Angel said to Bryce still on the floor. "I'm not a eunuch."
"We need proof", Tara said, shooting Buffy a naughty look.
"So, Buffy?" Willow asked.
Buffy's face was now humorless again, and 10 seconds later she had Willow and Tara in chokeholds again with her arms.
"Okay….sorry…" Tara wheezed out.
"Let…go…" Willow added too so Buffy let them go, and they panted while holding their throats.
"Guess Virginia should change her name", Xander then said.
"To what? Nonvirginia?" Buffy asked and they laughed once more.
Next day, Cordelia held out a magazine article to Angel, and he read that Virginia was squired by Wesley, private detective and bodyguard to the stars, wondering who said squired, and Cordelia said he was all over her, Angel saying she was jealous he had attention, and Cordelia agreed, because reflected glory was her thing. Angel told her to get some perspective as she walked out and Angel continued reading. "'Bodyguard to the stars.' Yeah, right! - There is no Wyndam-Pryce Agency." The screen went black.
All laughed again as Xander said. "Okay, my hope ended up being true."
"Yeah, this one was better than the other ones", Tara agreed with a nod.
"Good thing we ended our day with this one then", Dawn smiled.
"Bodyguard to the stars? Wasn't Angel that too when he guarded Rebecca?" Buffy asked.
"The tables have turned", Willow shrugged.
"Yes, this one was quite amusing", Giles shrugged. "Anyway, I think this was last for the day."
"Yeah, now it's time for food, sleep, shower, all that stuff", Buffy said, stretching and yawning.
"Let's go then", Dawn said as all got up, Buffy shutting the TV, and they walked off, before she turned to Buffy. "So, how did you and a eunu-"
"Oh come here!" Buffy said as she rushed Dawn who ran off to the dining room, laughter ringing out.
Nice, fun little light episode with nice character growth for Wesley before things go to hell.
And the 'Buffy's face turning humorless as she chokes everyone over one thing or the other' is going to be a recurring gag from now on, HA!
Anyway, hope all enjoyed and see you all next time with another chapter. Stay safe from the coronavirus ya all!