He wasn't sure why it was that Doyle bothered him so much now. Gunn liked to believe that he had grown a bit. That his being a demon wasn't that big of a deal anymore. He could only really hope that it was because he had never really actually told Gunn out loud that he was demon that made him upset. Made him hesitant to trust the man he had no problem trusting just a few months earlier.
Gunn knew he used to be a little more intolerant before he met Angel and his crew. With good reason frankly. Vampires and demons had done quite a number to his neighborhood before he and his crew decided to do anything about it. He hadn't met any that were actually doing good. They were more of a "spread the hate and destruction" type of demons where he came from. After he was introduced to Angel- a vampire actually working against other vampires and demons- a vampire doing his best to make the world a better place, he had a different view on his once black and white world. His sister's death made everything clearer. Between the two options he'd rather have things like they were if it meant having her back, though.
Seeing the gray made him feel worse off, so maybe that was why this revelation about Doyle made him feel strange. He was a good guy in every other way. Loyal, friendly, entertaining to say the least, especially when he was around Cordelia and trying to get her to notice him. There was really no reason to dislike the guy.
And yet every time they were alone at the offices unwarranted irritation and anger rose inside him. He would legitimately be surprised if Doyle hadn't noticed the change in him. Things were just not good for the man right now. Their latest client was a good acquaintance of his from back when he ran his crew. It seemed like a lifetime ago that he knew Anne. She ran a shelter for runaways he frequently visited. Sometimes for those kids who got themselves in trouble, sometimes just to chat with the woman. She was having problems with kids being roughed up by the police. Hardly a surprise, but usually the kids tended to provoke the actions of the cops. It was becoming apparent that this was not the case this time.
His distrust in Doyle had begun to spread to the whole team, who had obviously known and never bothered to tell him about his colleague, and because of that he chose to go to his old crew after he heard about Anne's troubles. It didn't last long, though. He thought the case Wes' girlfriend brought them about the girl with the extra eye would distract them enough for him to go it alone for a little while. It wasn't a permanent move back to independence, he was fairly certain, but rather something he just needed to do. Unfortunately for that need, he and his crew were now side by side with Wesley and Doyle.
Apparently, after they had cracked the other case they became more concerned with Gunn's whereabouts. It would have been touching if he weren't so annoyed by them at that time. Now he walked trying to keep a slightly quiet profile as they group searched for a few police officers to antagonize. Of course, the two were a little to busy bickering for that plan to work.
"Wes just drop it." Doyle said, annoyed, much like Gunn.
"I just think it would have been more prudent to have one of us stay behind with Cordelia in case something happens there with Anne and the teens." Wesley said in protest.
"Then why didn't you just stay," Doyle offered between gritted teeth.
"Because she didn't ask-"
"Alright how 'bout we just deal with the fact that we're all here, right?" Gunn interrupted.
The duo's constant bickering has grated on Gunn's nerves for a long time. He couldn't believe the two actually worked together, let alone were around each other for most of the day without killing one another. Lately thought Wes had been far more annoying to Doyle. Always trying to pry out information concerning why it was he and Cordelia were acting so strangely towards each other. Something neither wanted to really talk about.
"How about I call her right now, let her know we found Gunn and the others?" Doyle asked.
"That's a good idea," Gunn managed to say as politely as possible to the man. Or demon, now, he supposed.
He walked ahead of the others to make the call in slight privacy. Suddenly the question that had been bugging him so much about Doyle gnawed again. He wanted answers. The group was clearly getting nowhere on the finding police front. He made his way towards Wesley. He, too, was not exactly someone he enjoyed chatting with, but he also knew he was the one guy around who could help him.
"Hey, Wes. What's up with Doyle?" He asked as casually as possible.
"What, his stubbornness? I have no clue what-"
"Nah, I mean about his being half demon and all." He corrected, trying to be casual and not let the others hear. He already had gotten a lot of guff from them for his allegiance with Angel, another demon would probably just make things worse. Unfortunately Wes just looked a but startled and confused by the question.
"What do you mean?" He asked, slightly put off by Gunn's question.
"Well, when did he tell you? I mean, I didn't know up till that night with Lindsey..."
"Oh! Well, to be honest he never really told me. I found out from Cordelia when he was still in a coma.
"How long did he know her before he told her?"
"She figured it out the first time he changed in front of her. By accident if I'm not mistaken. Come to think of it he never really told any of us. A-Angel just picked up the scent." For some reason this made Gunn suddenly feel a wave of pity for the demon. He was ashamed of it, being a demon. He didn't want any of them to know, they all just found out his little secret.
"He dangerous or anything?" Gunn asked hesitantly. He didn't want to make it obvious he didn't trust the guy, but some things he just had to know if they were going to work together.
"No. Not really. His breed is peaceful. Brachens very rarely seek out fights. Of course there are always exceptions. His father, from what I can tell. Brachen's tend to heal much faster and better than humans. I suspect he'd have been stuck permanently in that wheelchair had he not been. Or far worse, dead. Stronger in demon form too."
"You ever seen him morph?" Gunn asked. He could tell there was a tinge of defense in the man's voice as he continued to answer.
"Once or twice since he joined us on the street. On accident, when he can't control it in a fight he'll change. But he changes back immediately. Doesn't fight in demon form as you've plainly seen." Wesley said.
"Thanks, just wanted to know." Gunn offered to his wary partner as Doyle rejoined them.
"She's still on the line, wants to talk-" Doyle started, handing the phone over to Gunn.
"Hands against the wall. All of you." Finally, the voice of a police officer interrupted them.
"Why?" Gunn asked after a quick glance to Rondell, one of his gang, to make sure the camera they had was on and filming.
"Hands against the wall!" The officer shouted once more.
"I just want to know what-" Before Gunn could finish the officer took out his gun and took aim.
"Oi" He heard Doyle shout as Wes foolishly moved towards Gunn.
"Officer this is-" Wesley was cut off by the sound of the gun and a bullet in his side.
Thinking quickly Gunn lunged onto the police officer, knocking the gun out of his hand. They continued to wrestle but Gunn finds himself outmatched. Soon he found himself on the ground, a gun once more pointed at his chest. Then, once more he was spared a bullet. This time it was Doyle who fearlessly jumped atop the man and wrestles away the second gun. One on one Doyle, too, was the underdog, but before Gunn could rejoin the fray he watched as Doyle morphed into his green, spike altered state and took on the obviously inhuman police officer. For a flickering moment Gunn found himself unsure of what to do. Then, from behind, he heard George, his other companion.
"What the hell is that?" He asked, looking straight at Doyle. Gunn looked down and saw he was in fact also holding one of the officer's guns. Quickly he raised it and took aim at Doyle.
"No!" Gunn shouted. Confused George paused and looked to his leader."The officer, not Doyle!" He shouted desperately again at his companion. Pushing through Doyle's assault the officer moves towards the others. Not knowing what else to do George moved his gun in position and fired at the cop. Gunn moved toward his shocked man, trying to tell him he did the right thing. It was self-defense. Before he could even take a step the police man stirred. He was definitely dead, and yet he was rising. Things were obviously not as they seemed.
"We gotta get out of here." Doyle said as he caught up to Gunn, now human again, "Wes needs a hospital quick or he won't make it."
Without another word Gunn motioned for them all to follow him. He found a familiar alley and led the way through a hole in a fence to the safer side, out of the officers line of sight. Quickly he instructed Rondell to call and ambulance and went to work alongside Doyle and a reluctant George in helping Wesley. A rage within him rose as he watched his discomfort around Doyle. However all he could think was that he probably looked the same way.
"Dude's not gonna make it." George said, interrupting Gunn's deviated thoughts.
"I have an idea, either of you guys have a knife?" Doyle asked frantically.
"What are you planning?" Gunn asked, still reluctant at any of his actions. He cursed at himself inside. The man had just saved his life. Before Doyle could explain he simply handed over a pocket knife. Wordlessly yet obviously upset Doyle took it and without hesitation cut his own hand deep. Gunn could only watch as Doyle's injured hand worked his way to Wesley.
"What are you-" He tried to ask again.
"I tried this with Lindsey the other night. My blood...it...I heal fast. Turns out it works on others too. It's not gonna do the trick, though. He's still gonna need a hospital." Doyle explained calmly.
"It's on its way," Rondell said, reappearing, his eyes not leaving the demon in their mist. Now, though, they were the only ones with looks of distrust upon them. Thankfully, both he and Doyle could see that.
-----
Their night was hardly over after that, however. After the ambulance arrived they were once again facing the wayward police officers. This time much more outnumbered Gunn could only just barely push his way through them and head toward the teen center where Anne and Cordelia were anxiously waiting. Unbeknownst to them the cell phone remained on throughout the fight with the original cop and Cordelia had worked herself up into a frenzy wondering who had been shot.
They had barely made it through the door when she was on them with a barrage of motherly questions. A quick expression of relief crossed her features as she realized Doyle wasn't the one who had been shot and allowed herself to hug him intensely for a moment
"I'm okay...I'm fine" Gunn could hear Doyle mumble as he returned the touch. As much as he probably wanted the embrace to continue he whispered, "Wes...he needs a hospital." To which Cordelia, slightly embarrassed and ashamed broke from his and turned her attention to Wesley, who was being tended to by Anne and the others.
"We tried to get him to the hospital, but those cops..." Gunn offered.
"He really needs to get to their pronto. I think we should move out again." The paramedic who had joined them proclaimed. Cordelia was already moving to the door as Doyle helped the paramedic with Wes' body. Gunn stood by, trying out numerous words of comfort to the man. He heard Cordelia gasp before he saw the sea of blue uniforms before the door.
The fight was endless. No matter how many times he knocked one of the zombie offices down they continued to rise over and over again. It gave them the allusion of multiplying, but really they were just unkillable. Time was working against Gunn and the others as they were trying desperately to get Wesley to the hospital. Twice more Doyle had found the time to mix his blood with Wes' in an attempt to give him more time, but opportunity and its effectiveness was wearing thin. Exhaustion was quickly settling in in everyone. Gunn tried to fight through it, but he noticed he was landing less punches and taking a lot more. Suddenly, as if for no reason, the fighting stopped and the newly corpsified police fell gracelessly to the ground.
Without losing a second to rejoice or celebrate, let alone allow their bodies a moments rest they moved out at top speed to the hospital, willing Wesley to recovery. That speedy move helped them endlessly. Before long Gunn found himself finally comfortably resting in a chair beside Wesley. They exchanged quick banter every now and then before long their companionship suddenly felt stronger than it had ever been. Gunn smiled to himself at the thought of this as he allowed Wesley to rest in his bed.
He looked around to where Doyle and Cordelia sat, right outside of Wesley's room. Contentedly he watched as she patched up his now several times cut hand, refusing the help of nurses or doctors that passed by. They quietly whispered things to each other, apparently their rift suddenly erased that night. He then watched Angel of all people walk through the doors, a look that mildly conveyed concern on his face. Slapping Wesley's hands in a brotherly shake he moved out of the room to join the others, apparently uninterested in Angel's arrival and telling him so. They instead left him on his own.
The were all cut and bruised from the fight, but they were stronger than they ever had been before. With a smile Gunn rejoined the team he belonged to now.
This was my first time writing primarily around Gunn, let me know how it was. I may change the end a little, nothing major though, I was kind of in a rush when I wrote it so I'll reread later and make a decision. Please Review!