23

An hour later, Nagira got up from the couch and stretched his back.

"If you guys have this under control, I'm going home," he said.

"Alright, good night," Robin said. She got up too and waved to Nagira on her way into the bathroom.

Nagira waved back and headed for the door. He had just grabbed the door handle when he suddenly stopped and called back to Integra.

"I'll see you tomorrow, Buffy," he said, throwing a grin over his shoulder at her.

"Don't call me that," she growled with a smirk.

Nagira's laugh echoed slightly in the empty hallway as he disappeared from the doorway.

When Integra looked back at Amon, he was standing over her glaring.

"What?" she asked, knowing it wouldn't be good.

"Stop playing with him," Amon hissed

Integra chose to ignore his tone for the moment and answered.

"What are you talking about?"

"You know exactly what I'm talking about. It distracts him from the mission."

"Is he your pet that you can tell me to stay away from him? This has nothing to do with the mission. What is it that's really bothering you about this?"

Amon locked eyes with her and said nothing.

"I see," she said with laughing eyes. "It's because he's your brother. Am I like a sister to you? Is that why this thing between myself and him disturbs you so much?"

Amon's face soured. "Leave him alone, Integra."

Integra leaped off the couch and snarled at him. "I'll play with whoever I please. I won't be chased off by a cowardly son of a witch like you."

Amon froze, his whole body tensing up. Integra knew she had crossed a line. But where? And how? Before she could ask, Amon turned away from her and swept out the door. He turned just outside and went straight for the stairwell at the end of the hall. Integra followed him until his footsteps on the stairs echoed back through the doorway. He was going up.

Integra didn't wait long. She jumped to catch the door before it clicked shut and slipped up the stairs. She found the door to the roof propped open and emerged into the night air. She could see Amon crouched on the far edge, looking out over the wide cityscape. She gathered her courage and walked towards him. He had his back to her and he didn't react at all, but she knew he could hear her moving. She didn't stop until she was standing beside him on the edge of the roof. He still didn't acknowledge her. She decided to take a chance.

"I'm sorry," she said blatantly.

Amon said nothing.

"Do you know how many people I've said those words to in my entire life? Maybe three. I've always been too proud to apologize for anything."

Nothing. She could see that he wouldn't accept any ordinary offering. She would have to go to the extreme. A wave of anxiety rushed through her, making her hesitate. Was it really worth that? Of course it was. She couldn't leave things like this.

"You know you're my friend, don't you?"

Amon looked up at her, searching her face for laughter or deception. He found neither.

"Do you know how many people I've said those words to in my entire life? None. When I was a child, I had people I would talk to in school. But I never called them my friends. Walter and Alucard work for me and I trust them implicitly, but I've never called them my friends either. You are the only friend I've ever admitted to having."

Amon kept his eyes on her while she looked out over the city and continued.

"Did I ever tell you how my father died? Lung cancer. It was an aggressive type. I watched him die in slow motion for months. I sat with him at the end. He died almost in my hands."

"How old were you?" Amon asked, finally responding.

"Thirteen," she said.

Amon turned to look at the city again.

"My mother was a witch," he said, making Integra look at him. "My father disappeared before I was born. It was just the two of us. Solomon watched us because we were seeds. But I didn't mind as long as she was there. When she awakened, it was a miracle that we were both unharmed. But afterwards things changed. She wouldn't leave home. She wouldn't speak. She stared out the window for hours at a time. It was like she wasn't there anymore. She lost herself. It took two months, but the STN came for her. I was sent to live with Nagira. And mother... They didn't leave witches alive in those days."

"How old were you?" Integra asked.

"Twelve."

There was a long pause as they both reabsorbed their pain. Finally, Integra spoke again as she pulled a cigar from her pocket.

"That's the fate of those who hunt evil, I suppose. It's the price we pay for fighting back. Perhaps it wouldn't be so terrible if we were Dog Demons. At least it's an explanation."

Amon stood up then.

"Your father died of lung cancer?" he asked.

Integra nodded.

Amon's hand flashed through the air and snatched the cigar from her hand. Before she could react he threw it as far as he could over the next block.

Integra looked down at her empty hands for a moment, bewildered.

"That was my last one," she said. "I'm going to make you pay me back. I hope you know that."

Amon said nothing but he gave her a playful smirk as he turned back towards the stairwell.

When they got back to the room, Robin jumped up from the couch where she'd been sitting and waiting.

"You're back," she said. "Did something happen?"

"No, nothing," Integra said.

"Robin, let's go," Amon said.

Story Notes:

I could have made them hold each other and cry. But who am I kidding? This is Integra and Amon I'm dealing with here. There's more chance of a meteor hitting exactly where they're standing.