Doyle
She didn't run.
That was the first thought to penetrate the shock dulling my brain. I had been expecting her to run away. Or possibly stake me. But she didn't. When faced with my *other* face, she stood her ground.
Of course, she wasn't rushing over to give me a hug either. But give me a break. I was trying to be optimistic here.
Not one to play the meek, silent type for long, Buffy began to ask questions. She started with the most obvious one, of course. "What are you?"
"Well, my ma was 100%, grade A, top quality human. But my da… he was something else entirely."
"A demon."
"Well, I prefer the term 'supernaturally enhanced' but…"
"This is serious, Alan."
I don't think she noticed how she'd unconsciously slipped back into the habit of using my first name. I wasn't about to point out her slip of the tongue.
"Trust me, lass. No one's more serious about all of this than me."
I was ready to have my human face back again. Letting the demon out just… bothered me. It always had. With an effort - ever since the Quintessa and my subsequent resurrection, it had been getting harder and harder to keep the demon under control - I forced the spikes back down and was glad to feel my human face reassert itself.
"I think we should go somewhere and talk about all of this, Buffy. It's a lot to deal with at once and I've still got more to tell you."
She raised one eyebrow. "More? You mean there's more than this?"
I shrugged helplessly. What was I supposed to say to that?
The truth seemed like a good place to start.
"Yes."
She sighed. "Nothing in my life is ever easy."
"Tell me about it," I replied with a hint of my old, carefree grin crossing my face. I began to make my way outside to my car. It was an old, pea- green Jetta with plenty of dents in the body and chips in the paint. It was the only car I could afford.
I slid into the driver's seat and put the key in the ignition. It took three tries before the blasted car would start, chugging to life with a loud bang. Buffy sat down in the passenger seat gingerly, almost as if she was afraid to sit there for very long, lest the car explode. I gave her my most charming grin, hoping to lighten the mood just a bit. "Hey, this baby and me, we've been through a lot together. She may not look like much, but she'll get us from point A to point B or my name isn't Alan Francis Doyle!"
Obviously, I'd said the wrong thing, because Buffy's face fell. It took me a moment to realize why. By bringing up my real name again, I'd just unwittingly reminded her of the lie I'd told her and my former life with Angel.
Angel.
Everything always went back to him. It was enough to drive any sane half- demon to drink. Of course, I already *did* that, so my options were starting to dwindle. If I wasn't careful, I'd start to take up smoking or some other mouldy habit.
Before I could sink into an even deeper state of depression, there was a loud pop and then a sputter as the car engine died.
Just great. This was all I needed right now!
I tried to get the car started again, but it was no use. My Jetta was dead. I'd have to call a tow-truck or something, not that I had the money for that.
"Well," Buffy spoke up, plastering an overly bright smile on her face. "Looks like we're on foot."
She didn't run.
That was the first thought to penetrate the shock dulling my brain. I had been expecting her to run away. Or possibly stake me. But she didn't. When faced with my *other* face, she stood her ground.
Of course, she wasn't rushing over to give me a hug either. But give me a break. I was trying to be optimistic here.
Not one to play the meek, silent type for long, Buffy began to ask questions. She started with the most obvious one, of course. "What are you?"
"Well, my ma was 100%, grade A, top quality human. But my da… he was something else entirely."
"A demon."
"Well, I prefer the term 'supernaturally enhanced' but…"
"This is serious, Alan."
I don't think she noticed how she'd unconsciously slipped back into the habit of using my first name. I wasn't about to point out her slip of the tongue.
"Trust me, lass. No one's more serious about all of this than me."
I was ready to have my human face back again. Letting the demon out just… bothered me. It always had. With an effort - ever since the Quintessa and my subsequent resurrection, it had been getting harder and harder to keep the demon under control - I forced the spikes back down and was glad to feel my human face reassert itself.
"I think we should go somewhere and talk about all of this, Buffy. It's a lot to deal with at once and I've still got more to tell you."
She raised one eyebrow. "More? You mean there's more than this?"
I shrugged helplessly. What was I supposed to say to that?
The truth seemed like a good place to start.
"Yes."
She sighed. "Nothing in my life is ever easy."
"Tell me about it," I replied with a hint of my old, carefree grin crossing my face. I began to make my way outside to my car. It was an old, pea- green Jetta with plenty of dents in the body and chips in the paint. It was the only car I could afford.
I slid into the driver's seat and put the key in the ignition. It took three tries before the blasted car would start, chugging to life with a loud bang. Buffy sat down in the passenger seat gingerly, almost as if she was afraid to sit there for very long, lest the car explode. I gave her my most charming grin, hoping to lighten the mood just a bit. "Hey, this baby and me, we've been through a lot together. She may not look like much, but she'll get us from point A to point B or my name isn't Alan Francis Doyle!"
Obviously, I'd said the wrong thing, because Buffy's face fell. It took me a moment to realize why. By bringing up my real name again, I'd just unwittingly reminded her of the lie I'd told her and my former life with Angel.
Angel.
Everything always went back to him. It was enough to drive any sane half- demon to drink. Of course, I already *did* that, so my options were starting to dwindle. If I wasn't careful, I'd start to take up smoking or some other mouldy habit.
Before I could sink into an even deeper state of depression, there was a loud pop and then a sputter as the car engine died.
Just great. This was all I needed right now!
I tried to get the car started again, but it was no use. My Jetta was dead. I'd have to call a tow-truck or something, not that I had the money for that.
"Well," Buffy spoke up, plastering an overly bright smile on her face. "Looks like we're on foot."