After the Storm
Chapter 23
By Vixen
It had been going so perfectly, Willow's spell casting had been flawless. She had not expected the two demons to enter their world however. The witch jumped up, abruptly ending the spell, sealing the portal permanently. Grabbing the only thing of any worth that had been used in the spell, a silver chalice she regularly used while working with magick, she backed away from the glowering demons, suddenly feeling useless and ill prepared.
Angel stood up, facing one of the demons. He watched as the demons moved forward, separating them into two groups, dividing their ranks. Spike, Illyria, Willow, and Gunn on one team, leaving Angel, Connor, and Faith on the other. They would each be capable enough to take on two measly demons, hopefully.
As the demons circled them, Connor recalled how he himself had entered Los Angeles a few years ago followed by a demon he stated, "I really hate Deja Vue." The hairy demon rushed at him when Connor opened his mouth to speak. He instantly regretted saying anything as the demon's tail swung out and hit him in the stomach, sending Connor smashing into the wall of the building behind him.
"Connor," He heard his father call out to him. "Are you okay?"
Connor nodded his head a little, through the dazed confusion that followed the blow he still managed to cough out, "Don't worry about me, just kill that thing already."
As Connor tried to get up, leaning against the wall for support, he watched Faith and Angel take on the demon. They were true fighters, trained to be champions. One vampire with a soul, and one slayer, both champions for the common good. He wasn't like them; whatever strength he possessed, it hardly mattered. He didn't belong there.
As he watched the battle ensue, the nagging doubt at the back of his mind grew. They knew what they were doing, who they were, and yet Connor was still floundering around in life, still unsure of which route to take.
He watched as his father kicked the demon in its stomach, knocking it down. Though, the thing managed to take out Faith on its crash to the floor, giving her one last punch before it fell. The slayer tried to duck, but the blow hit her squarely in the head, hard enough to make her black out.
When the demon got to its feet, facing the only opponent it had left, Connor sighed knowing he was going to have to go help his father. Through the still numbing pain from the last blow, he managed to walk back into the fray, and without a word took up the battle beside his father. It felt like the fight with the agent at Wolfram and Hart on the last day Connor had seen his father. This time though, he wasn't going to walk away from it.
They worked like a team; each knowing what move the other would make before it was made. Perhaps it was the bond of a father and son, or maybe it was just because they had fought each other so many times in the past, they knew by now how each maneuvered in a fight.
Angel looked over at him, after throwing a punch at the demon that had begun to look a little ragged. Connor's eyes were dark, unreadable, almost like he had been back when he first came to Los Angeles. Angel worried for his son, he had never wanted him to get back into the champion-gig; it wasn't him. He was supposed to have gone home that night, Angel had sent him back to his parents, and by now Connor was supposed to have gotten over that fateful day and on with his life.
As good as it was to be back in Los Angeles and know that Connor cared about him at least a little, Angel knew it couldn't last. He deserved so much more than this life, he deserved something normal, a nice normal human family. Not this.
Preoccupied with his pensive thoughts, Angel didn't see the demon lash out with its tail unexpectedly. It threw him off his balance, careening to the ground. The vampire struggled to get back up, involuntarily going into game face.
However, before Angel could reenter the fight, Connor had gone berserk on the demon. Throwing a torrent of rampant moves at the soon-to-be defeated creature; the boy took over the whole fight, not even allowing Faith to intervene when she tried. Turning towards her, blocking her punch, Connor smiled devilishly, "He's mine."
The boy and the demon wrestled to the floor, each of them fighting to the death. Connor rammed his fist into its flesh, taking out his frenzied anger on whatever part of the demon he could injure next. He placed his hands on either side of its head, gripping it tightly, and twisted it. Bones snapped underneath, it's neck broken in two with the force of Connor's inhuman strength.
That didn't stop the boy though, he continued to pummel it. His punches slowed though, the energy leaving him as he felt Faith's hands on his shoulders.
"It's over, Connor, you can stop now," She pulled him off the carcass of the dead creature. At first he resisted her touch, confused by the world as it suddenly came back to him. When he was fighting, it had just been him and the demon. All else was forgotten, now though as he struggled to his feet, it felt like the whole world was watching him.
The other group had finished their own fight, the second demon lay at their feet, defeated. They had just enough time to kill their foe and see Connor destroy his demon mercilessly. The spotlight was beginning to make him feel rather awkward. Most of them went back to celebrating their victory. They had only wanted to make sure that the first demon was destroyed, Connor realized, they had not been starring at him. He relaxed a little, brushing off Faith's concern with a laugh. "You called me Connor, see you're learning. Good girl," He patted her on the head with a condescending grin.
"There's always a first, and last, time for everything, kid," Faith smirked, crossing her arms.
He gave her a mock-pout, and looked over as his father came over. Connor saw how troubled Angel looked, the worried glance people had been giving the boy over the past week now firmly fixed in Angel's own stare. The boy wanted to shrink away from that look, the slow cautious movements his worried father made towards him.
"Connor," Angel stared down at the demon his son had killed in his fit of tumultuous violence. He was more than happy to see it die the death it deserved, but seeing his son revert to his old no holds barred fighting style, coupled with the dark Angel had seen in Connor's eyes, was unsettling. He shook his head, looked up at the boy, and for the second time that night asked, "Are you okay?"
That question was starting to wear on his nerves, everyone seemed to ask it of Connor lately, whether in words, actions, or worried frowns. It worse with his father however, because Angel knew how Connor had been years ago. He'd seen it up close and personal. He'd been locked in a box and sent to the bottom of the ocean by the Destroyer Connor had been and feared he would become again if he wasn't careful.
It was too much to deal with, so Connor did as he had done in the past and put on his pretend smile, ignoring the drama that seemed intent on playing out, "Just glad to get you guys back." Turning away from his father, he asked, "How about ordering some dinner, Faith? We can bring it back to the hotel."
"I'm game. After that fight, I'm starved, I could eat a horse," Trying to help ease the growing tension, she wrapping a friendly arm around his shoulders and leading him out of the alleyway.
"I'd settle for some chinese food," Willow added as she joined their conversation. Although fighting didn't make her hungry like it did to Faith, she was still famished after the last spell she had done. It took a lot of energy out of her to work the magicks, and she looked forward to relaxing with some food back at the hotel.
"Did someone say chinese food," Gunn grinned ear to ear, "I could so go for some of that."
"Eggrolls all around," Willow did a little celebratory dance, laughed, and grabbed Gunn's arm, "Come on, you look like you're a wanton man, am I right? Oh, we can get fortune cookies and read our fortunes." She turned back towards Spike, Illyria, and Angel, "Are you guys coming?"
Angel nodded, absently, "We'll be right behind you."
"So, that's your boy," Spike asked, coming over to the older vampire, "Hell of a fighter."
"You saw that?"
"Couldn't miss it," Spike commented, "Half expected him to vamp out. He's quite the little psycho." With a smirk he added, "Just like his old man." He clapped Angel on the back, a little roughly. It wasn't enough to shake Angel from his brooding reverie though. They moved forward, catching up to the rest of the group at the end of the alleyway.
Illyria walked beside Spike, casting a derisive glance down at the two creatures left dead in the alleyway, "This fight, it does not end. It will keep going on until the last day you beings walk upon this earth. You seek to continue it now that you are back, do you not?"
"It's what we do, Blue. Fight the unbeatable fight," Spike shrugged, "Possibly get killed in the process, but you can't tell me that it isn't fun. Besides, can't stop now that the game has started."
Connor overheard their conversation as they joined the rest of the group. Spike was right in one regard, it was an unbeatable fight. The forces of darkness would always be out there, preying on the weak, killing any that opposed them. Beating the Black Thorn had stopped nothing, forgetting his own past had fixed nothing, the fight continued endlessly.
Connor wanted off the constant roller coaster that was a champion's life. He wanted to go back home, be normal, at least for a little while. Time enough to get his head together. He just hoped that his father would understand, but doubted he would. He didn't even know how to bring it up. He really didn't want to have that conversation, explain why he was leaving, again.
Connor glanced over at his father, but quickly his gaze darted away when he thought he had been seen. He didn't want to hurt him again, didn't want to abandon his father, but knew he'd only sink deeper into his old persona and life if he stayed. It would eventually destroy everything he had worked to change; everything that had been sacrificed to give Connor his happy life would be meaningless as he went back to his old behavior patterns.
Torn between two worlds, Connor continued to walk on, in silence.
........................................................ was having technical difficulties yesterday. Grr.. argh..
Also, why does the word count not match that in Microsoft Word? This annoys me.
Chapter 23
By Vixen
It had been going so perfectly, Willow's spell casting had been flawless. She had not expected the two demons to enter their world however. The witch jumped up, abruptly ending the spell, sealing the portal permanently. Grabbing the only thing of any worth that had been used in the spell, a silver chalice she regularly used while working with magick, she backed away from the glowering demons, suddenly feeling useless and ill prepared.
Angel stood up, facing one of the demons. He watched as the demons moved forward, separating them into two groups, dividing their ranks. Spike, Illyria, Willow, and Gunn on one team, leaving Angel, Connor, and Faith on the other. They would each be capable enough to take on two measly demons, hopefully.
As the demons circled them, Connor recalled how he himself had entered Los Angeles a few years ago followed by a demon he stated, "I really hate Deja Vue." The hairy demon rushed at him when Connor opened his mouth to speak. He instantly regretted saying anything as the demon's tail swung out and hit him in the stomach, sending Connor smashing into the wall of the building behind him.
"Connor," He heard his father call out to him. "Are you okay?"
Connor nodded his head a little, through the dazed confusion that followed the blow he still managed to cough out, "Don't worry about me, just kill that thing already."
As Connor tried to get up, leaning against the wall for support, he watched Faith and Angel take on the demon. They were true fighters, trained to be champions. One vampire with a soul, and one slayer, both champions for the common good. He wasn't like them; whatever strength he possessed, it hardly mattered. He didn't belong there.
As he watched the battle ensue, the nagging doubt at the back of his mind grew. They knew what they were doing, who they were, and yet Connor was still floundering around in life, still unsure of which route to take.
He watched as his father kicked the demon in its stomach, knocking it down. Though, the thing managed to take out Faith on its crash to the floor, giving her one last punch before it fell. The slayer tried to duck, but the blow hit her squarely in the head, hard enough to make her black out.
When the demon got to its feet, facing the only opponent it had left, Connor sighed knowing he was going to have to go help his father. Through the still numbing pain from the last blow, he managed to walk back into the fray, and without a word took up the battle beside his father. It felt like the fight with the agent at Wolfram and Hart on the last day Connor had seen his father. This time though, he wasn't going to walk away from it.
They worked like a team; each knowing what move the other would make before it was made. Perhaps it was the bond of a father and son, or maybe it was just because they had fought each other so many times in the past, they knew by now how each maneuvered in a fight.
Angel looked over at him, after throwing a punch at the demon that had begun to look a little ragged. Connor's eyes were dark, unreadable, almost like he had been back when he first came to Los Angeles. Angel worried for his son, he had never wanted him to get back into the champion-gig; it wasn't him. He was supposed to have gone home that night, Angel had sent him back to his parents, and by now Connor was supposed to have gotten over that fateful day and on with his life.
As good as it was to be back in Los Angeles and know that Connor cared about him at least a little, Angel knew it couldn't last. He deserved so much more than this life, he deserved something normal, a nice normal human family. Not this.
Preoccupied with his pensive thoughts, Angel didn't see the demon lash out with its tail unexpectedly. It threw him off his balance, careening to the ground. The vampire struggled to get back up, involuntarily going into game face.
However, before Angel could reenter the fight, Connor had gone berserk on the demon. Throwing a torrent of rampant moves at the soon-to-be defeated creature; the boy took over the whole fight, not even allowing Faith to intervene when she tried. Turning towards her, blocking her punch, Connor smiled devilishly, "He's mine."
The boy and the demon wrestled to the floor, each of them fighting to the death. Connor rammed his fist into its flesh, taking out his frenzied anger on whatever part of the demon he could injure next. He placed his hands on either side of its head, gripping it tightly, and twisted it. Bones snapped underneath, it's neck broken in two with the force of Connor's inhuman strength.
That didn't stop the boy though, he continued to pummel it. His punches slowed though, the energy leaving him as he felt Faith's hands on his shoulders.
"It's over, Connor, you can stop now," She pulled him off the carcass of the dead creature. At first he resisted her touch, confused by the world as it suddenly came back to him. When he was fighting, it had just been him and the demon. All else was forgotten, now though as he struggled to his feet, it felt like the whole world was watching him.
The other group had finished their own fight, the second demon lay at their feet, defeated. They had just enough time to kill their foe and see Connor destroy his demon mercilessly. The spotlight was beginning to make him feel rather awkward. Most of them went back to celebrating their victory. They had only wanted to make sure that the first demon was destroyed, Connor realized, they had not been starring at him. He relaxed a little, brushing off Faith's concern with a laugh. "You called me Connor, see you're learning. Good girl," He patted her on the head with a condescending grin.
"There's always a first, and last, time for everything, kid," Faith smirked, crossing her arms.
He gave her a mock-pout, and looked over as his father came over. Connor saw how troubled Angel looked, the worried glance people had been giving the boy over the past week now firmly fixed in Angel's own stare. The boy wanted to shrink away from that look, the slow cautious movements his worried father made towards him.
"Connor," Angel stared down at the demon his son had killed in his fit of tumultuous violence. He was more than happy to see it die the death it deserved, but seeing his son revert to his old no holds barred fighting style, coupled with the dark Angel had seen in Connor's eyes, was unsettling. He shook his head, looked up at the boy, and for the second time that night asked, "Are you okay?"
That question was starting to wear on his nerves, everyone seemed to ask it of Connor lately, whether in words, actions, or worried frowns. It worse with his father however, because Angel knew how Connor had been years ago. He'd seen it up close and personal. He'd been locked in a box and sent to the bottom of the ocean by the Destroyer Connor had been and feared he would become again if he wasn't careful.
It was too much to deal with, so Connor did as he had done in the past and put on his pretend smile, ignoring the drama that seemed intent on playing out, "Just glad to get you guys back." Turning away from his father, he asked, "How about ordering some dinner, Faith? We can bring it back to the hotel."
"I'm game. After that fight, I'm starved, I could eat a horse," Trying to help ease the growing tension, she wrapping a friendly arm around his shoulders and leading him out of the alleyway.
"I'd settle for some chinese food," Willow added as she joined their conversation. Although fighting didn't make her hungry like it did to Faith, she was still famished after the last spell she had done. It took a lot of energy out of her to work the magicks, and she looked forward to relaxing with some food back at the hotel.
"Did someone say chinese food," Gunn grinned ear to ear, "I could so go for some of that."
"Eggrolls all around," Willow did a little celebratory dance, laughed, and grabbed Gunn's arm, "Come on, you look like you're a wanton man, am I right? Oh, we can get fortune cookies and read our fortunes." She turned back towards Spike, Illyria, and Angel, "Are you guys coming?"
Angel nodded, absently, "We'll be right behind you."
"So, that's your boy," Spike asked, coming over to the older vampire, "Hell of a fighter."
"You saw that?"
"Couldn't miss it," Spike commented, "Half expected him to vamp out. He's quite the little psycho." With a smirk he added, "Just like his old man." He clapped Angel on the back, a little roughly. It wasn't enough to shake Angel from his brooding reverie though. They moved forward, catching up to the rest of the group at the end of the alleyway.
Illyria walked beside Spike, casting a derisive glance down at the two creatures left dead in the alleyway, "This fight, it does not end. It will keep going on until the last day you beings walk upon this earth. You seek to continue it now that you are back, do you not?"
"It's what we do, Blue. Fight the unbeatable fight," Spike shrugged, "Possibly get killed in the process, but you can't tell me that it isn't fun. Besides, can't stop now that the game has started."
Connor overheard their conversation as they joined the rest of the group. Spike was right in one regard, it was an unbeatable fight. The forces of darkness would always be out there, preying on the weak, killing any that opposed them. Beating the Black Thorn had stopped nothing, forgetting his own past had fixed nothing, the fight continued endlessly.
Connor wanted off the constant roller coaster that was a champion's life. He wanted to go back home, be normal, at least for a little while. Time enough to get his head together. He just hoped that his father would understand, but doubted he would. He didn't even know how to bring it up. He really didn't want to have that conversation, explain why he was leaving, again.
Connor glanced over at his father, but quickly his gaze darted away when he thought he had been seen. He didn't want to hurt him again, didn't want to abandon his father, but knew he'd only sink deeper into his old persona and life if he stayed. It would eventually destroy everything he had worked to change; everything that had been sacrificed to give Connor his happy life would be meaningless as he went back to his old behavior patterns.
Torn between two worlds, Connor continued to walk on, in silence.
........................................................ was having technical difficulties yesterday. Grr.. argh..
Also, why does the word count not match that in Microsoft Word? This annoys me.