Never Fade Away
I'm VERY sorry this is so late... I got a little delayed and couldn't manage to squeeze any work in. Thank you to all of you who reviewed.
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Chapter 3: Lorne- The Last Act
It was Angel's idea. Of course, Lorne didn't question much about the reasoning, because it was Angel's idea. Angel was the leader and fighter, and Lorne was at a loss at what else to do in such situations. The vampire knew what had to be done.
"Those guys were chumps," Lindsey commented, cleaning his hands at the sink.
"Now they're chunks," Lorne replied automatically, glancing over the bodies strewn haphazardly about. "Demon strength or no, you're quite the master swordsman."
"I couldn't have done it without that high note in MacAuthur Park."
"Slays them every time." Lorne's mind was elsewhere, so his voice came out sounding flat and emotionless. He couldn't believe he was here. What kind of job was this for him? He would have gladly traded it in for the bells on his shoes again. He should have never complained about his part on the team, because things changed and he liked that far less.
"Heard anything from the rest of the team?" Lindsey inquired.
"For all I know, we are the rest of the team. I haven't heard squat."
The human gave a short laugh. "You know, it's strange."
"No call?"
"No. I mean me saying team- and meaning it. I kind of like the feeling." He started to dry off his hands now that they were clean. Of all the things for him to say now.
"Yeah, today." To a degree, Lorne was still trying to convince himself that this had to be done, even though he had agreed to do it already.
"You really done with them?"
"It isn't my kind of work anymore. It's unsavory."
"Gee. I think it was just getting interesting." That's because Lindsey was a fighter, like Angel and Gunn and Spike and Wesley and all the others.
"Yeah, I bet you do."
"You don't trust me? What, you don't think a man can change?"
"It's not about what I think. This was Angel's plan." The last was a bit of an apology on Lorne's part. He reached into his pocket. The gun was resting there, no longer as cold to the touch as it had been at first, but now warmed from being concealed in his pocket. His hand closed around it, his finger gently touching the trigger. There was a sort of lump in his throat and tightness in his chest. He had never actually killed anyone before.
"Come on! I could sing for you," Lindsey offered.
"I've heard you sing." Before his mind was even really made up, Lorne pulled out the gun and fired twice. It would have been impossible to miss, and, if he had, Lindsey probably would have been able to access the sword.
"What? Why'd you–" He sounded confused, shocked. Lorne was still as empty as before.
"One last job. You aren't part of the solution, Lindsey. You never will be."
"You?" Lindsey stumbled back, hitting the wall and sliding down against it. He was breathing heavily. "A flunky? I'm not just... Angel kills me. You– Angel–" Whatever else he was trying to say never got said. His head turned slightly to one side and his body stilled.
Lorne stood there for a moment, amongst all the carnage, with the gun still in his hand. It felt heavier, somehow, as if blood had weighed it down. He let it fall from his hand.
"Goodnight, folks."
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I just know that the fonts aren't going to show up...
Imzadi (1st Chapter): Um... Well, here's Lindsey's story. There are two more chapters that have him as a central character. I'm afraid I'm not going to do any AU's for this story (so far), but thanks for your ideas. If only... As for Angel, I have no idea. I'd have to really explore my own morals for that. But to be honest, I'm pretty certain that he himself doesn't think that's enough redemption.
Imzadi (2nd Chapter): Thanks! I'm actually fond of Illyria myself. She's very interesting.
lightning bug: I'm having fun doing this, I'm glad you like reading it!
Tariq: Thank you!
candlewick866: What I can't stand about my writing is the fact that I write short chapters. I'm terribly sorry. I tend to write fanfiction as inspiration (a.k.a., when I have Writer's Block), since usually I focus on my own stories. I'll try to make one long for you, okay? I don't know how well I'll succeed, but I'll try. Thanks for reading.
Everyone is so great. You guys make my day.
Jade
I'm VERY sorry this is so late... I got a little delayed and couldn't manage to squeeze any work in. Thank you to all of you who reviewed.
------
Chapter 3: Lorne- The Last Act
It was Angel's idea. Of course, Lorne didn't question much about the reasoning, because it was Angel's idea. Angel was the leader and fighter, and Lorne was at a loss at what else to do in such situations. The vampire knew what had to be done.
"Those guys were chumps," Lindsey commented, cleaning his hands at the sink.
"Now they're chunks," Lorne replied automatically, glancing over the bodies strewn haphazardly about. "Demon strength or no, you're quite the master swordsman."
"I couldn't have done it without that high note in MacAuthur Park."
"Slays them every time." Lorne's mind was elsewhere, so his voice came out sounding flat and emotionless. He couldn't believe he was here. What kind of job was this for him? He would have gladly traded it in for the bells on his shoes again. He should have never complained about his part on the team, because things changed and he liked that far less.
"Heard anything from the rest of the team?" Lindsey inquired.
"For all I know, we are the rest of the team. I haven't heard squat."
The human gave a short laugh. "You know, it's strange."
"No call?"
"No. I mean me saying team- and meaning it. I kind of like the feeling." He started to dry off his hands now that they were clean. Of all the things for him to say now.
"Yeah, today." To a degree, Lorne was still trying to convince himself that this had to be done, even though he had agreed to do it already.
"You really done with them?"
"It isn't my kind of work anymore. It's unsavory."
"Gee. I think it was just getting interesting." That's because Lindsey was a fighter, like Angel and Gunn and Spike and Wesley and all the others.
"Yeah, I bet you do."
"You don't trust me? What, you don't think a man can change?"
"It's not about what I think. This was Angel's plan." The last was a bit of an apology on Lorne's part. He reached into his pocket. The gun was resting there, no longer as cold to the touch as it had been at first, but now warmed from being concealed in his pocket. His hand closed around it, his finger gently touching the trigger. There was a sort of lump in his throat and tightness in his chest. He had never actually killed anyone before.
"Come on! I could sing for you," Lindsey offered.
"I've heard you sing." Before his mind was even really made up, Lorne pulled out the gun and fired twice. It would have been impossible to miss, and, if he had, Lindsey probably would have been able to access the sword.
"What? Why'd you–" He sounded confused, shocked. Lorne was still as empty as before.
"One last job. You aren't part of the solution, Lindsey. You never will be."
"You?" Lindsey stumbled back, hitting the wall and sliding down against it. He was breathing heavily. "A flunky? I'm not just... Angel kills me. You– Angel–" Whatever else he was trying to say never got said. His head turned slightly to one side and his body stilled.
Lorne stood there for a moment, amongst all the carnage, with the gun still in his hand. It felt heavier, somehow, as if blood had weighed it down. He let it fall from his hand.
"Goodnight, folks."
------
I just know that the fonts aren't going to show up...
Imzadi (1st Chapter): Um... Well, here's Lindsey's story. There are two more chapters that have him as a central character. I'm afraid I'm not going to do any AU's for this story (so far), but thanks for your ideas. If only... As for Angel, I have no idea. I'd have to really explore my own morals for that. But to be honest, I'm pretty certain that he himself doesn't think that's enough redemption.
Imzadi (2nd Chapter): Thanks! I'm actually fond of Illyria myself. She's very interesting.
lightning bug: I'm having fun doing this, I'm glad you like reading it!
Tariq: Thank you!
candlewick866: What I can't stand about my writing is the fact that I write short chapters. I'm terribly sorry. I tend to write fanfiction as inspiration (a.k.a., when I have Writer's Block), since usually I focus on my own stories. I'll try to make one long for you, okay? I don't know how well I'll succeed, but I'll try. Thanks for reading.
Everyone is so great. You guys make my day.
Jade