Notes: Just a big thank you to those who reviewed – nice to see there are still Doyle fans in this world!
1.
"So you're Doyle?"
"In the - not so corporeal - flesh."
"You're dead."
"Ya don't say? Ah well, happens to the best of us …" Doyle shrugged easily, taking a sip of his whiskey. "Just take a look at yer da …"
"I have no father." Connor said between gritted teeth.
"That so? Hmm … Tall guy? Broods a lot? Risks his life for ya more times than most sane people would? Personally, if ya were mine, ya'd have been grounded for life by now …"
"He is not my father – he's dead to me …"
"He's dead to everyone, kid – get wi' the programme." Doyle smirked.
"And so are you. So get out of my face." Connor practically growled, clenching his fists.
"Simmer down there, bud – ya know, fer someone wi' two vamps for parents, yer awfully judgemental 'bout the less alive amongst us … Now, nice as it is to chitchat, I was sent to mention somethin' a tad more specific." Doyle looked pointedly towards the bed where Cordelia still lay, her sleep undisturbed by what was going on around her.
"Leave her alone!" Connor snapped, stepping in front of Doyle and blocking his line of vision.
"Funny, that was gonna be my line." the Irishman said evenly. "Ya say ya love her, but if that's the case … shouldn't ya be able to see her for what she really is?"
"I do …"
"No way, man – if ya think that's the real Cordelia Chase, yer so far offa the map."
just what we all need -
more lies about a world that
never was and never will be
"I knew the real Cordy – not as well as I'd have liked, but better than some I could mention …" Doyle continued pointedly.
"I know what you're trying to do, but it won't work. He sent you – some little magic trick, but you won't come between us. He won't take her away from me, she's mine …"
Doyle simply stared at him in disbelief and then laughed, "If ya knew Cordy, ya couldn't say that wi' a straight face – she heard ya talkin' like that, she'd kick yer ass five shades of hurtin'. Cordy – the real Cordy – she's her own woman, she don't belong to no one but herself. She ain't yours any more than she's Angel's. Or mine for that matter … If ya loved the real deal, ya'd know that – just like ya'd know this ain't what she's about. Hurtin' her friends, murderin' innocents, shackin' up with a kid? So not her style …"
"And a half-breed demon is?"
"I didn't come here to compare family trees – though I might add, ya got little to gloat about yerself …" Doyle said quietly, dismissing the jibe though the hurt in his eyes was not lost on the angry young man before him. "I'm after settin' ya straight on a few things …"
"She said no one would understand. It's all down to fear, ignorance, jealousy …" Connor said defensively.
"Whatever it is that's taken over the drivin' seat, it's sure got ya well and truly blinded, kid. Like ya said yerself, I'm dead – what have I got to fear? Or be jealous about? Any shot I had wi' Cordy went straight out the window the minute the Scourge blew into town …" Doyle said and, for a second, the piercing blue eyes left Connor's hostile gaze to drop sorrowfully to the ground. Seconds later though, they were fixed on him again and more determined than ever. "As for ignorance – don't ya reckon I got the best seat in the house for this circus? Ringside wi' a helluva view and it don't exactly make for pleasant viewin'. Trust me, if anyone can see what's goin' on here – it's me. Ya don't get it, do ya? What it took for me to be here like this? What's at stake? I'm supposed to be outta the game long ago, yet here I am playin' the messenger again. And it's all down to some kid wi' a crush …"
have you no shame - don't you see me?
you know you've got everybody fooled
"You're as bad as he is! Patronising me …"
Doyle laughed outright at that, holding out his hands as if to apologise. "Oh, sorry, man – but that cracks me up! The lap dog complainin' about bein' patronised! Where'd ya get the sense of humour from? 'Cause it sure ain't from yer da's side of the family!"
"Get out!" Connor seethed, "I won't fall for your lies!"
"Connor, listen to me," Doyle said urgently, all traces of humour gone in an instant. "Forget the messin' about and just … just look at her. Not wi' yer eyes or even yer heart – she's already blinded those. Use yer mind to see her as she really is – a fake …"
"I said GET OUT!" Connor yelled, for once forgetting the sleeping woman. Lashing out with his fists, he sought to rid himself of the vision inflicted upon him – it couldn't be real, it had to be a trick, another one of their magic tricks … "GO!"
"Connor?"
look here she comes now
bow down and stare in wonder
"Cordelia …" Connor and Doyle both said, the former sounding ashamed to have disturbed her and the latter just sounding full of regret for what might have been.
"What's going on?"
to be continued...