Hybrid Boys

Chapter 1: The Bloody Puff

Angel sat in his newly acquired leather chair, and -comfy though it might have been, was proving it's self to be less of a comfort then he had hoped. Sitting across from Angel was a half demon half human that answered to the name of Max. Max was the strangest man Angel had ever encountered - and had encountered quite a few in is ever-expanding life time. Max wore blush, dark eye make-up and dark red lipstick. As if that wasn't odd enough, the man's attire consisted of a black top hat and a sort of dark plum colored suit coat with very long tails. His pants too, were black and were very tight; Angel wasn't sure how this man managed to move in them. He had on a pair of large military issue black boots and had painted his finger nails to match. Angel smirked slightly to himself as he remembered the glam rock phase of the seventies, and how perfect this 'Max' would have fit in.

"Well?" Max asked, feeling a bit uncomfortable with the silence.

Angel shook himself, he wasn't really concentrating. Max was to be a part of the new crew, and was waiting for approval from Angel. Lorne had read him just this morning and, after listening to Lorne ramble about what an amazing talent this Max was, Angel managed to learn that he was in fact a good demon-slash-human…thing. But here was Angel drifting off into la-la land instead of giving Max the good news. It really wasn't Angel's fault. He did have a lot on his mind, what with ghosty-Spike showing up a few weeks ago. What was he going to do with that Billy Idol look-a-like anyway?

"Angel?" Max called again.

"Oh, Max-yeah. Sorry. I was just um…thinking…." Angel started to fade again.

"Whoa, whoa, Angel…stay with me."

"I'm sorry, Max. It's just the new job and the whole Spike…thing…"

"So, am I in…or what?"

"Yes, you're….you're on the pay roll. Congratulations." Angel extended a hand to Max, who took it while shaking his head.

"You, Mr. Angel, need to relax." He took a puff of his cigarette. "See ya around."

Max walked out the door, and just as he left Spike faded in.

"Spike, leave."

"What, don't I get to meet the new employee?"

"He's just down the hall; I think you might be able to catch him, if you leave my office now."

"Nah, think I'll skip out this time. Looks like a bloody puff, that one."

Angel raised an eyebrow. "What do you want Spike?"

"Nothin', hauntin' you's proving to be pretty fulfilling at the moment."

"I don't have time Spike."

"Oh, right. Busy running you're evil empire and all."

"Spike, get --" Before Angel could finish his sentence, Spike began to fade away. "Finally."

Angel sat back in his chair and closed his eyes, at last able to catch a quick nap.