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cornerofmadnessHyperion's Son
By D.M. Evans
Disclaimer - Sing the chorus. I don't own them (well, Darts, Misty and Night Rain are mine), Joss does. No harm intended, no money made, thank you for letting us borrow them for a while. Spoilers - All of BtVS S7 and AtS S4
Rating - FRM
Pairing - Buffy/Angel, Gunn/Fred and probably a few others as we roll on
Summary - Ten years after Angel gave up his son, Angel Investigations has a strange new case, one of the young new Slayers training with Buffy in LA has turned up dead just like a half dozen or so street kids leading Angel, Buffy and their friends into a very dark world of hopelessness to find the evil is after one of their own.
Author’s Note – you can find the whole story here I’ll take you to FFN
Chapter Twenty-Three
What makes you go abroad fighting for strangers
When you could be safe at home free from all dangers? – Fighting for Strangers, Steel-eyed Span
Connor waited for the hotel to quiet down before digging out his grungiest clothing, slipping out into the night. He knew he should have gotten an earlier start since it was a long walk back to his old territory. The warm night air felt like home. Even before he had become Angelboy, Connor had felt at home in the dark. Maybe it was because he needed the nocturnal demons to fight or maybe he just liked to escape the harsh red glare of Quor-Toth and night seemed cool and soothing to him by contrast.
Whatever it was, his Angelboy persona slipped back on like skin, a reminder he was little more than one step away from his street life. His head as clear as he could keep it, Connor started the rounds. His old companions seemed surprised to see him and a few even seemed happy to cross his path again. Connor was amused to hear all the various tales of where he had been rumored to have gone. Taken by aliens was his current favorite.
Not many of those he questioned had heard of a ‘tough woman’ making her presence known. Connor figured that bland description would cover both demonesses and rogue slayers. However, his night wasn’t a total loss. While demons might be beyond the realm of belief for most street people, apparently magic wasn’t. He had a line on the bar where Rtaena practiced her craft.
Finding the place took a little doing. It was the kind of dive even Angelboy would think twice about going into. Still, Connor went inside Willy’s Wet Whistle, not at all surprised to see demons made up a large part of the clientele. Figuring not having a drink would make him stand out more, he wormed his way to the bar. There were a few humans in the dark pub, including the bartender who gave him the fish-eye when Connor finally made it to the brass rail.
“What can I get you?”
Connor eyed the dingy mugs the patrons seated at the bar were drinking out of and decided against a draft. “What do you have in a bottle? Beer wise.” He settled for a Bud then found himself a shadowy corner to settle into so he could look around without looking like he was spying.
It didn’t take long to figure out who Rtaena was. Long blue hair with blond streaks – natural or not, Connor didn’t know – barely hid the goat-like horns that curved back wickedly from her head. From his distance, she looked otherwise normal and young. She was holding court back by the pool tables and, even from where he was, Connor’s sharp hearing – under assault by crowd noises and a jukebox playing something screaming and obnoxious - picked up enough snatches of conversation to be sure of her identity.
Grinning at his success in finding Rtaena, he knew he should go back to the Hyperion. Connor felt fairly sure this was her usual base of operation. He knew enough to know his strengths. Even if he wasn’t weakened with drugs as he was now, his physical prowess wouldn’t do him much good against magic. Draining his beer, Connor got up to go.
A pretty Asian girl crossed his path. She caught his arm and smiled sweetly. “Going so soon, cutie?”
“’Fraid so,” he replied, keeping his face placid. For once, he wasn’t bemused at a woman’s interest in him. This time he understood perfectly.
“Too bad. Well, I guess it is getting late. Could you walk me to my car? It’s ugly out there.” She favored him with another pretty smile.
He offered up the dopey grin of the totally clueless, figuring that was his best bet. “Sure.”
She locked arms with him as they headed for the door. “What do they call you?”
“Angelboy.”
“That’s sweet.” She snuggled up close to him as they left the bar. “Angels? How would you like to meet some?” Her voice went gravelly, her fingers digging in as she hauled him closer.
“Met one. He’s annoying.” Connor slipped the stake out of his pocket, slamming it home. “Takes more than you to make me meet another,” he told her dust. “As if I wouldn’t know a vampire when I see one.”
Brushing dust off his shirt, Connor headed home, pleased with himself for a change. It was nearly dawn by the time he made it back to the Hyperion. To his surprise, a light was on in the lobby and Angel sat under it, reading a book. “Please tell me you weren’t waiting up for me?” Connor grumbled.
“Not really. I am a night owl, after all.” Angel smirked.
Connor didn’t believe him since his father could have read his book in his suite’s living room but decided not to push it. “I haven’t forgotten.”
Angel closed the book. “Why didn’t you ask me to go with you tonight?”
“I thought Angelboy might fit in a bit better than some scary brute.” Connor mirrored his father’s smirk.
Angel snorted, a hint of pride in his eyes. “And did he?”
“I found Rtaena,” Connor said proudly, puffing up a bit, seeing the look on Angel’s face. “And staked a vampire so I say it was a good night.”
“You found her where?” Angel tossed his book aside and got up to clasp his son’s shoulder.
“At a place called Willy’s Wet Whistle.”
“Willy’s?” Angel made a face. “Nah, can’t be.”
“Can’t be what? I saw her, watched her for well over an hour.” Connor bristled. Why did Angel never believe him?
“No, I don’t doubt that.” Angel crossed his arms. “I meant there was a human named Willy in Sunnydale who owned a demon bar. He was a real tool.”
“Human bartender here, too, but doesn’t mean it’s the same guy.” Connor cocked his head. “Does it matter?”
“Gives us some leverage, possibly.” Angel smiled. “Excellent work, son, but I wished you would have told us where you were going.”
“I can take care of myself, Dad, but okay, next time,” Connor said, figuring it wasn’t an entirely unreasonable request. “Guess I should get up to bed.”
“Good night, son,” Angel said. “And good work, thanks.”
Connor went upstairs and nudged Ratter off his pillow. The cat complained about it then settled down next to him. Feeling happy with himself, Connor drifted off.
X X X
“Hey, Gunn, it’s been a while,” Anne’s voice rang out in the library as Spike ushered her in.
“Found her and the kids on the stoop,” Spike said, returning to his place next to a pile of books.
“Hey, Anne, what brings you here?” Gunn asked, getting up to give her a hug.
“I’d like to say it’s because I missed you but it’s just as much because another certain someone hasn’t been around the center.” She cast a glance at Connor. “He’s had a few people who’ve missed him.” She turned and waved at the doorway. Slowly, as if needing Anne to reel them in with invisible string, Darts and Tin Man came into the room. They brightened up seeing Connor.
“Angelboy!” Tin Man cried, his eyes gleaming.
“Hey,” Connor pushed off the couch, rolling over the back of it. “How are all of you?”
Tin Man tossed his arms around Connor. Darts’ greeting was more reserved. “I’ve missed you guys.”
“Then why didn’t you come for us?” Darts asked coolly.
“Anne said you wanted to but couldn’t,” Tin Man added, nudging Darts.
Connor shot Anne a grateful look. “She’s so right about that. I’m sorry. I got hurt. I’m glad you came. Can I get you something to eat or drink?” Connor noticed their uneasy looks in regards to all the people in the room. “It’s okay. These are all good people,” he assured the kids. “Gunn is Anne’s friend and that’s Spike, the guy who met you at the door. That’s Giles and his lady friend, Lorelei, and lastly that’s Angel. He’s my…” Connor trailed off, wondering what to say next.
“Brother,” Angel supplied smoothly.
“Brother?” Darts asked, a suspicious gleam in her eyes. “You never said you had a brother, Angelboy.”
“Yeah, I have some family,” Connor replied. “They weren’t that involved in life on the street.”
“Are they why you ran away from home?” Tin Man asked quietly, eyeing Angel nervously as he took shelter within Connor’s arm reach. Connor hadn’t forgotten what the boy’s father had done to him.
“No, my family is okay, good people mostly. I’m the one with the problems,” Connor shrugged. “I’m working them out. Everyone here is helping lots.” He smiled at Tin Man and Darts reassuringly, taking stock of how they looked. “So how are you guys?”
“Good,” Tin Man said quickly. “Anne’s been nice.”
“Misty ran off,” Darts added, the heat in her voice like a brand.
Connor sighed. “I’m not surprised.” He wished he was but he had figured Misty had been too damaged by life to trust anyone.
“Old buildings are really cool. Can we see more of it?” Tin Man asked, looking up at the crown molding.
Connor glanced at Angel who smiled. “I don’t see why not. Why don’t you show them around? We’re still doing our work here. We can spare you.”
“Thanks, Angel.” Connor put a hand on the kids’ shoulders.
He took them around the art deco hotel, thrilling Tin Man much more than Darts, who didn’t care much about architecture. Finally, he herded them out into the courtyard. Like him, they were used to being out nights. They needed some sun and time in a green place.
“You look happy,” Darts said at long last, lounging back against sun-warmed grass. “I’m not sure I’ve ever seen you look happy if you weren’t totally high.”
Connor winced at the young, brutal honesty. “I’m sorry about that. I should have been a better example.”
“You were good to us,” Tin Man protested. “You made me feel safe. No one’s ever done that.”
His eyes stung as he blinked rapidly. He hadn’t had time to really think about how much he had missed his kids. “I’m glad.”
“Hey, Connor, I see you have guests.”
Connor’s head snapped up, seeing Buffy and Willow coming into the courtyard.
“Connor, is that your real name?” Darts gazed at him with curious eyes.
“Yes, you can call me that if you’d like.”
She shook her head. “You’re always going to be Angelboy to me.”
Connor smiled. “Darts, Tin Man, this is my brother’s wife, Buffy.” He shot the ladies a ‘play along’ look. “And her good friend, a doctor who has been taking good care of me, Willow. Buffy you’ve already met Darts and Tin Man.”
“Just briefly. Nice to see you again.” Buffy smiled and they mumbled shy hellos. “Connor, thanks for your help last night.”
“We’ll be heading to the bar tonight,” Willow added.
“Will you need me?” he asked.
“We’ll let you know,” Buffy replied then raised her hand, waving at something behind Connor. “Hey Anne.”
“Hi Buffy, Willow.” Anne gestured at Darts and Tin Man. “It’s time to go.”
“Aww,” Tin Man whined but he got up. “Okay, but this would be a really cool place to live, too. Lots of space.”
Connor shot a glance at Buffy then tried to deflect the barely veiled hint about them rejoining Angelboy. “It’s nice but it’s a lot busier here than it looks,” he said, rolling to his feet.
Tin Man and Darts hugged him. As Tin Man let go, he whispered, “My name is Niklas.”
Connor smiled as they left, a tightness in his throat and a stinging pricked his eyes. Feeling a hand on his arm, he turned to face Buffy.
“Those kids care about you.” Her expression said he had just moved up a step in her eyes.
“I’m as close to family as they have,” Connor replied, shuffling his toes over the grass.
“Buffy and I know that it’s like to have to look for family outside the home, or at least family that understands us,” Willow said, looking after Anne and the kids, a wistful expression on her face.
“Until Dawn came, at least,” Buffy corrected. “Come on in, Connor. We’ll talk about tonight.”
“Sure. Did you find out anything useful?”
Buffy held up a hand to hold off the question until they were back inside. Connor was surprised to see most of the team had reconvened while he had been with the kids. “We have some big news,” she said.
“The Wet Whistle really is run by Sunnydale Willy,” Willow said with a grin to the rolling of several pairs of eyes.
“We’ll assume he’s still a slime ball,” Angel said.
“And can be bought for cheap,” Spike added, shaking his fist before slamming it into his palm to illustrate his idea of cheap.
“That’s probably safe to say but I’d rather not involve him at all if we can avoid it,” Buffy replied. “As Connor said, it’s definitely a demon bar. Rtaena doesn’t come in until well after dark.”
“We’re still researching the kind of demon blood she has.” Willow spread her hands in apology. “So we’ll know what to expect.”
“There’s a lead on Leda I was to follow up before I go meet Willow at Willy’s Wet Whistle tonight.” Buffy wrinkled her nose. “Way too many W’s in that sentence.”
“Who’s Red’s back up?” Spike asked. “If you don’t want Willy involved, it gets sticky. If me and Peaches show up along with Willow, Willy is bound to know something’s up. It’ll put everyone’s back up.”
“We thought of that,” Buffy said. “Cordelia and Xander are staying at the school to keep the girls reassured. Gunn, Wesley, Dawn and Giles should be unknown to Willy so they’ll be inside. Faith and Spike can track down Leda, instead of me I guess, leaving Angel and me outside the bar as backup. Fred, you and Connor can do more research here.”
Connor pulled a long face. “I’m not really research guy.”
“And you’re not really in top shape, son,” Angel replied apologetically. “Fred could use back up here in case something goes wrong. There’ll just be her and Joshua here. Lorelei has a night class tonight at the community college. Right now, I’d rather no one is on their own.”
Connor sighed. “Okay, that makes sense. I’ll do it.”
“Any questions?” Buffy asked. No one answered so they all filtered out to get to their respective jobs.
X X X
Connor stretched, trying not to look as bored as he felt. He and Fred had traded places. She did research and he played games with her son until finally Josh went upstairs to bed. It was a solution that made everyone happy. It rankled that he didn’t get to go on the mission, even though Connor knew why. It made good tactical sense to leave him behind. Connor wondered if he could get clean enough to be helpful to anyone ever again. He had avoided cops pretty meticulously. Much of what he had done would have no record of outside his memory but clean or not, no one would give him custody of Tin Man and Darts. He had no past for the last several years. Any investigator would unearth dirt he didn’t want turned over. Still, there had to be something he could do for his young friends.
That thought died as the sound of breaking glass and Fred’s startled cry echoed out of the kitchen. Connor raced for the room. He nearly fell over his own feet, seeing not only the demoness standing in the kitchen but Leda with several hooded people. His heart fell, wrapping around his ankles, nearly tripping him with emotional bonds. The demoness was bad enough but to have her assisted by a Slayer?
The demoness’ long tongue arched out cat-like, polishing her teeth as she eyed Fred. “You took my mate, Balam-Quitze. You die,” the demoness lisped around her fangs.
“Remember, Caha-Paluma, you can’t attack anyone in here.” Leda gave Fred and Connor a wide grin. “That’s what me and these guys are for.” Her hand swept out to the masked men. Leda leapt forward but Connor shocked her by moving faster. She had made the mistake of thinking that he was nothing more than a junkie her one-time friend and later victim, Amaya, had tried to get drugs from. He grabbed Fred and ran with her over his shoulders, moving at a speed to match a Slayer.
“What the hell?” Leda roared. “Get them both.”
“Hang on, Fred. “ Connor made it out of the kitchen and to the staircase. He leapt up to the mezzanine, knowing the humans couldn’t do it. Leda was the one he had to worry about. He let Fred down, holding tight to her wrist, hauling her down the hall out of bullet range.
“Connor, you have to get Josh out of here.” Fred tried to pull him to a stop.
“Let’s get him.” Connor let her steer him to the suite she shared with Gunn. “But hurry. They’re coming.”
Fred didn’t waste energy agreeing, just ran through her suite. “Josh is in bed.” She tore open a chest in the living room. “Get him.” As she dragged out two pistols, Connor ignored her to race in and snag Josh. The hard-sleeping boy sprawled against Connor’s shoulder. “Fred, what are you doing?”
“You can’t save us both at once. Get my son to safety, Connor.”
“But…” He could carry two, maybe. Then again in the shape he was in, probably not.
“Now!” She slapped a clip into the pistol for emphasis.
Connor threw open the window, crouching on the sill. “Stay in here, Fred. I’m taking the shortcut. I’ll be right back.”
Holding on tight to Joshua, Connor stepped out onto the fire escape then out into air. Joshua woke up as they fell. Connor smothered the boy’s cries against his shoulder, making sure they didn’t land on the cast iron fencing that adorned the courtyard wall.
“What’s happening?” the boy asked, his voice a mix of sleepiness and shock.
“Bad people are here.” Connor wasn’t willing to lie to the child. “Listen very closely to me, Joshua. I’m going to hide you. Promise me you’ll stay where I put you. I need to go help your mom but if we can’t find you later, it’ll be bad.” Connor glanced around frantically for a place to hide the boy that wasn’t too far away. Josh wasn’t going to be able to just run from the bad guys. The best he could do was hide.
Joshua held out a pinkie. “I swear.”
Connor hooked his pinkie in Joshua’s. “Good boy.” A feral grin slipped over Connor’s face as he spotted something. It was less than ideal but it would do. He jogged to the dumpster. “I know it stinks but you have to stay inside.”
Joshua’s arms tightened around him. “I’m scared.”
“I know. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
Connor put him in with the garbage. He hoped the smell would cover Josh’s scent. He couldn’t smell the boy now but he didn’t trust that his sense of smell was superior to the demoness’.
His muscles coiling, Connor leapt back up to the fire escape, tossing himself into a window. Fred was no longer in her suite but he could hear her screaming and all but flew down the hall. A gun barked sharply and a man shrilled. Connor rounded a corner and saw Fred running. “This way,” Connor shouted then grabbed Fred’s arm. Bloodied and bruised, Fred held on tight to his hand. “We’re going down the fast way, just like I did with Josh,” Connor said, slamming through a door, intending to go out another window. “Just hang on very tight.”
“I won’t let go. Joshua?” Her huge eyes studied his face for the answer.
“Safe.”
Fred almost collapsed at that news.
“Funny, since that’s the last thing you are,” a gruff voice said a moment before a gun fired.
Connor spun around, the bullet tearing through his arm. Howling, he lost his grip on Fred.
“Damn, missed,” the man said, striding into the room obviously unhappy with just winging Connor.
“Leave him to me.” Leda’s voice rang happily as she sauntered in behind him. “Shoot the bitch but leave enough for Caha-Paluma to play with.” Leda catapulted herself at Connor and he reacted instinctively, charging her.
“Connor, no!” Fred’s voice pierced the fiery rage burning in Connor’s mind, too late to stop him.
The Sanctuary spell slapped him straight out of the window. Connor’s vision dimmed as his head slammed into the window frame. Barely conscious, he couldn’t control his fall. Connor shrieked as the vicious cold spires of the cast iron fencing tore into him. Hearing Fred’s cries, thin and long in the wind above him, Connor tried to grip the slippery wet iron to heave himself off but will and consciousness fled leaving him pinned like a butterfly, bleeding into the hedges below.
By D.M. Evans
Disclaimer - Sing the chorus. I don't own them (well, Darts, Misty and Night Rain are mine), Joss does. No harm intended, no money made, thank you for letting us borrow them for a while. Spoilers - All of BtVS S7 and AtS S4
Rating - FRM
Pairing - Buffy/Angel, Gunn/Fred and probably a few others as we roll on
Summary - Ten years after Angel gave up his son, Angel Investigations has a strange new case, one of the young new Slayers training with Buffy in LA has turned up dead just like a half dozen or so street kids leading Angel, Buffy and their friends into a very dark world of hopelessness to find the evil is after one of their own.
Author’s Note – you can find the whole story here I’ll take you to FFN
Chapter Twenty-Three
What makes you go abroad fighting for strangers
When you could be safe at home free from all dangers? – Fighting for Strangers, Steel-eyed Span
Connor waited for the hotel to quiet down before digging out his grungiest clothing, slipping out into the night. He knew he should have gotten an earlier start since it was a long walk back to his old territory. The warm night air felt like home. Even before he had become Angelboy, Connor had felt at home in the dark. Maybe it was because he needed the nocturnal demons to fight or maybe he just liked to escape the harsh red glare of Quor-Toth and night seemed cool and soothing to him by contrast.
Whatever it was, his Angelboy persona slipped back on like skin, a reminder he was little more than one step away from his street life. His head as clear as he could keep it, Connor started the rounds. His old companions seemed surprised to see him and a few even seemed happy to cross his path again. Connor was amused to hear all the various tales of where he had been rumored to have gone. Taken by aliens was his current favorite.
Not many of those he questioned had heard of a ‘tough woman’ making her presence known. Connor figured that bland description would cover both demonesses and rogue slayers. However, his night wasn’t a total loss. While demons might be beyond the realm of belief for most street people, apparently magic wasn’t. He had a line on the bar where Rtaena practiced her craft.
Finding the place took a little doing. It was the kind of dive even Angelboy would think twice about going into. Still, Connor went inside Willy’s Wet Whistle, not at all surprised to see demons made up a large part of the clientele. Figuring not having a drink would make him stand out more, he wormed his way to the bar. There were a few humans in the dark pub, including the bartender who gave him the fish-eye when Connor finally made it to the brass rail.
“What can I get you?”
Connor eyed the dingy mugs the patrons seated at the bar were drinking out of and decided against a draft. “What do you have in a bottle? Beer wise.” He settled for a Bud then found himself a shadowy corner to settle into so he could look around without looking like he was spying.
It didn’t take long to figure out who Rtaena was. Long blue hair with blond streaks – natural or not, Connor didn’t know – barely hid the goat-like horns that curved back wickedly from her head. From his distance, she looked otherwise normal and young. She was holding court back by the pool tables and, even from where he was, Connor’s sharp hearing – under assault by crowd noises and a jukebox playing something screaming and obnoxious - picked up enough snatches of conversation to be sure of her identity.
Grinning at his success in finding Rtaena, he knew he should go back to the Hyperion. Connor felt fairly sure this was her usual base of operation. He knew enough to know his strengths. Even if he wasn’t weakened with drugs as he was now, his physical prowess wouldn’t do him much good against magic. Draining his beer, Connor got up to go.
A pretty Asian girl crossed his path. She caught his arm and smiled sweetly. “Going so soon, cutie?”
“’Fraid so,” he replied, keeping his face placid. For once, he wasn’t bemused at a woman’s interest in him. This time he understood perfectly.
“Too bad. Well, I guess it is getting late. Could you walk me to my car? It’s ugly out there.” She favored him with another pretty smile.
He offered up the dopey grin of the totally clueless, figuring that was his best bet. “Sure.”
She locked arms with him as they headed for the door. “What do they call you?”
“Angelboy.”
“That’s sweet.” She snuggled up close to him as they left the bar. “Angels? How would you like to meet some?” Her voice went gravelly, her fingers digging in as she hauled him closer.
“Met one. He’s annoying.” Connor slipped the stake out of his pocket, slamming it home. “Takes more than you to make me meet another,” he told her dust. “As if I wouldn’t know a vampire when I see one.”
Brushing dust off his shirt, Connor headed home, pleased with himself for a change. It was nearly dawn by the time he made it back to the Hyperion. To his surprise, a light was on in the lobby and Angel sat under it, reading a book. “Please tell me you weren’t waiting up for me?” Connor grumbled.
“Not really. I am a night owl, after all.” Angel smirked.
Connor didn’t believe him since his father could have read his book in his suite’s living room but decided not to push it. “I haven’t forgotten.”
Angel closed the book. “Why didn’t you ask me to go with you tonight?”
“I thought Angelboy might fit in a bit better than some scary brute.” Connor mirrored his father’s smirk.
Angel snorted, a hint of pride in his eyes. “And did he?”
“I found Rtaena,” Connor said proudly, puffing up a bit, seeing the look on Angel’s face. “And staked a vampire so I say it was a good night.”
“You found her where?” Angel tossed his book aside and got up to clasp his son’s shoulder.
“At a place called Willy’s Wet Whistle.”
“Willy’s?” Angel made a face. “Nah, can’t be.”
“Can’t be what? I saw her, watched her for well over an hour.” Connor bristled. Why did Angel never believe him?
“No, I don’t doubt that.” Angel crossed his arms. “I meant there was a human named Willy in Sunnydale who owned a demon bar. He was a real tool.”
“Human bartender here, too, but doesn’t mean it’s the same guy.” Connor cocked his head. “Does it matter?”
“Gives us some leverage, possibly.” Angel smiled. “Excellent work, son, but I wished you would have told us where you were going.”
“I can take care of myself, Dad, but okay, next time,” Connor said, figuring it wasn’t an entirely unreasonable request. “Guess I should get up to bed.”
“Good night, son,” Angel said. “And good work, thanks.”
Connor went upstairs and nudged Ratter off his pillow. The cat complained about it then settled down next to him. Feeling happy with himself, Connor drifted off.
X X X
“Hey, Gunn, it’s been a while,” Anne’s voice rang out in the library as Spike ushered her in.
“Found her and the kids on the stoop,” Spike said, returning to his place next to a pile of books.
“Hey, Anne, what brings you here?” Gunn asked, getting up to give her a hug.
“I’d like to say it’s because I missed you but it’s just as much because another certain someone hasn’t been around the center.” She cast a glance at Connor. “He’s had a few people who’ve missed him.” She turned and waved at the doorway. Slowly, as if needing Anne to reel them in with invisible string, Darts and Tin Man came into the room. They brightened up seeing Connor.
“Angelboy!” Tin Man cried, his eyes gleaming.
“Hey,” Connor pushed off the couch, rolling over the back of it. “How are all of you?”
Tin Man tossed his arms around Connor. Darts’ greeting was more reserved. “I’ve missed you guys.”
“Then why didn’t you come for us?” Darts asked coolly.
“Anne said you wanted to but couldn’t,” Tin Man added, nudging Darts.
Connor shot Anne a grateful look. “She’s so right about that. I’m sorry. I got hurt. I’m glad you came. Can I get you something to eat or drink?” Connor noticed their uneasy looks in regards to all the people in the room. “It’s okay. These are all good people,” he assured the kids. “Gunn is Anne’s friend and that’s Spike, the guy who met you at the door. That’s Giles and his lady friend, Lorelei, and lastly that’s Angel. He’s my…” Connor trailed off, wondering what to say next.
“Brother,” Angel supplied smoothly.
“Brother?” Darts asked, a suspicious gleam in her eyes. “You never said you had a brother, Angelboy.”
“Yeah, I have some family,” Connor replied. “They weren’t that involved in life on the street.”
“Are they why you ran away from home?” Tin Man asked quietly, eyeing Angel nervously as he took shelter within Connor’s arm reach. Connor hadn’t forgotten what the boy’s father had done to him.
“No, my family is okay, good people mostly. I’m the one with the problems,” Connor shrugged. “I’m working them out. Everyone here is helping lots.” He smiled at Tin Man and Darts reassuringly, taking stock of how they looked. “So how are you guys?”
“Good,” Tin Man said quickly. “Anne’s been nice.”
“Misty ran off,” Darts added, the heat in her voice like a brand.
Connor sighed. “I’m not surprised.” He wished he was but he had figured Misty had been too damaged by life to trust anyone.
“Old buildings are really cool. Can we see more of it?” Tin Man asked, looking up at the crown molding.
Connor glanced at Angel who smiled. “I don’t see why not. Why don’t you show them around? We’re still doing our work here. We can spare you.”
“Thanks, Angel.” Connor put a hand on the kids’ shoulders.
He took them around the art deco hotel, thrilling Tin Man much more than Darts, who didn’t care much about architecture. Finally, he herded them out into the courtyard. Like him, they were used to being out nights. They needed some sun and time in a green place.
“You look happy,” Darts said at long last, lounging back against sun-warmed grass. “I’m not sure I’ve ever seen you look happy if you weren’t totally high.”
Connor winced at the young, brutal honesty. “I’m sorry about that. I should have been a better example.”
“You were good to us,” Tin Man protested. “You made me feel safe. No one’s ever done that.”
His eyes stung as he blinked rapidly. He hadn’t had time to really think about how much he had missed his kids. “I’m glad.”
“Hey, Connor, I see you have guests.”
Connor’s head snapped up, seeing Buffy and Willow coming into the courtyard.
“Connor, is that your real name?” Darts gazed at him with curious eyes.
“Yes, you can call me that if you’d like.”
She shook her head. “You’re always going to be Angelboy to me.”
Connor smiled. “Darts, Tin Man, this is my brother’s wife, Buffy.” He shot the ladies a ‘play along’ look. “And her good friend, a doctor who has been taking good care of me, Willow. Buffy you’ve already met Darts and Tin Man.”
“Just briefly. Nice to see you again.” Buffy smiled and they mumbled shy hellos. “Connor, thanks for your help last night.”
“We’ll be heading to the bar tonight,” Willow added.
“Will you need me?” he asked.
“We’ll let you know,” Buffy replied then raised her hand, waving at something behind Connor. “Hey Anne.”
“Hi Buffy, Willow.” Anne gestured at Darts and Tin Man. “It’s time to go.”
“Aww,” Tin Man whined but he got up. “Okay, but this would be a really cool place to live, too. Lots of space.”
Connor shot a glance at Buffy then tried to deflect the barely veiled hint about them rejoining Angelboy. “It’s nice but it’s a lot busier here than it looks,” he said, rolling to his feet.
Tin Man and Darts hugged him. As Tin Man let go, he whispered, “My name is Niklas.”
Connor smiled as they left, a tightness in his throat and a stinging pricked his eyes. Feeling a hand on his arm, he turned to face Buffy.
“Those kids care about you.” Her expression said he had just moved up a step in her eyes.
“I’m as close to family as they have,” Connor replied, shuffling his toes over the grass.
“Buffy and I know that it’s like to have to look for family outside the home, or at least family that understands us,” Willow said, looking after Anne and the kids, a wistful expression on her face.
“Until Dawn came, at least,” Buffy corrected. “Come on in, Connor. We’ll talk about tonight.”
“Sure. Did you find out anything useful?”
Buffy held up a hand to hold off the question until they were back inside. Connor was surprised to see most of the team had reconvened while he had been with the kids. “We have some big news,” she said.
“The Wet Whistle really is run by Sunnydale Willy,” Willow said with a grin to the rolling of several pairs of eyes.
“We’ll assume he’s still a slime ball,” Angel said.
“And can be bought for cheap,” Spike added, shaking his fist before slamming it into his palm to illustrate his idea of cheap.
“That’s probably safe to say but I’d rather not involve him at all if we can avoid it,” Buffy replied. “As Connor said, it’s definitely a demon bar. Rtaena doesn’t come in until well after dark.”
“We’re still researching the kind of demon blood she has.” Willow spread her hands in apology. “So we’ll know what to expect.”
“There’s a lead on Leda I was to follow up before I go meet Willow at Willy’s Wet Whistle tonight.” Buffy wrinkled her nose. “Way too many W’s in that sentence.”
“Who’s Red’s back up?” Spike asked. “If you don’t want Willy involved, it gets sticky. If me and Peaches show up along with Willow, Willy is bound to know something’s up. It’ll put everyone’s back up.”
“We thought of that,” Buffy said. “Cordelia and Xander are staying at the school to keep the girls reassured. Gunn, Wesley, Dawn and Giles should be unknown to Willy so they’ll be inside. Faith and Spike can track down Leda, instead of me I guess, leaving Angel and me outside the bar as backup. Fred, you and Connor can do more research here.”
Connor pulled a long face. “I’m not really research guy.”
“And you’re not really in top shape, son,” Angel replied apologetically. “Fred could use back up here in case something goes wrong. There’ll just be her and Joshua here. Lorelei has a night class tonight at the community college. Right now, I’d rather no one is on their own.”
Connor sighed. “Okay, that makes sense. I’ll do it.”
“Any questions?” Buffy asked. No one answered so they all filtered out to get to their respective jobs.
X X X
Connor stretched, trying not to look as bored as he felt. He and Fred had traded places. She did research and he played games with her son until finally Josh went upstairs to bed. It was a solution that made everyone happy. It rankled that he didn’t get to go on the mission, even though Connor knew why. It made good tactical sense to leave him behind. Connor wondered if he could get clean enough to be helpful to anyone ever again. He had avoided cops pretty meticulously. Much of what he had done would have no record of outside his memory but clean or not, no one would give him custody of Tin Man and Darts. He had no past for the last several years. Any investigator would unearth dirt he didn’t want turned over. Still, there had to be something he could do for his young friends.
That thought died as the sound of breaking glass and Fred’s startled cry echoed out of the kitchen. Connor raced for the room. He nearly fell over his own feet, seeing not only the demoness standing in the kitchen but Leda with several hooded people. His heart fell, wrapping around his ankles, nearly tripping him with emotional bonds. The demoness was bad enough but to have her assisted by a Slayer?
The demoness’ long tongue arched out cat-like, polishing her teeth as she eyed Fred. “You took my mate, Balam-Quitze. You die,” the demoness lisped around her fangs.
“Remember, Caha-Paluma, you can’t attack anyone in here.” Leda gave Fred and Connor a wide grin. “That’s what me and these guys are for.” Her hand swept out to the masked men. Leda leapt forward but Connor shocked her by moving faster. She had made the mistake of thinking that he was nothing more than a junkie her one-time friend and later victim, Amaya, had tried to get drugs from. He grabbed Fred and ran with her over his shoulders, moving at a speed to match a Slayer.
“What the hell?” Leda roared. “Get them both.”
“Hang on, Fred. “ Connor made it out of the kitchen and to the staircase. He leapt up to the mezzanine, knowing the humans couldn’t do it. Leda was the one he had to worry about. He let Fred down, holding tight to her wrist, hauling her down the hall out of bullet range.
“Connor, you have to get Josh out of here.” Fred tried to pull him to a stop.
“Let’s get him.” Connor let her steer him to the suite she shared with Gunn. “But hurry. They’re coming.”
Fred didn’t waste energy agreeing, just ran through her suite. “Josh is in bed.” She tore open a chest in the living room. “Get him.” As she dragged out two pistols, Connor ignored her to race in and snag Josh. The hard-sleeping boy sprawled against Connor’s shoulder. “Fred, what are you doing?”
“You can’t save us both at once. Get my son to safety, Connor.”
“But…” He could carry two, maybe. Then again in the shape he was in, probably not.
“Now!” She slapped a clip into the pistol for emphasis.
Connor threw open the window, crouching on the sill. “Stay in here, Fred. I’m taking the shortcut. I’ll be right back.”
Holding on tight to Joshua, Connor stepped out onto the fire escape then out into air. Joshua woke up as they fell. Connor smothered the boy’s cries against his shoulder, making sure they didn’t land on the cast iron fencing that adorned the courtyard wall.
“What’s happening?” the boy asked, his voice a mix of sleepiness and shock.
“Bad people are here.” Connor wasn’t willing to lie to the child. “Listen very closely to me, Joshua. I’m going to hide you. Promise me you’ll stay where I put you. I need to go help your mom but if we can’t find you later, it’ll be bad.” Connor glanced around frantically for a place to hide the boy that wasn’t too far away. Josh wasn’t going to be able to just run from the bad guys. The best he could do was hide.
Joshua held out a pinkie. “I swear.”
Connor hooked his pinkie in Joshua’s. “Good boy.” A feral grin slipped over Connor’s face as he spotted something. It was less than ideal but it would do. He jogged to the dumpster. “I know it stinks but you have to stay inside.”
Joshua’s arms tightened around him. “I’m scared.”
“I know. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
Connor put him in with the garbage. He hoped the smell would cover Josh’s scent. He couldn’t smell the boy now but he didn’t trust that his sense of smell was superior to the demoness’.
His muscles coiling, Connor leapt back up to the fire escape, tossing himself into a window. Fred was no longer in her suite but he could hear her screaming and all but flew down the hall. A gun barked sharply and a man shrilled. Connor rounded a corner and saw Fred running. “This way,” Connor shouted then grabbed Fred’s arm. Bloodied and bruised, Fred held on tight to his hand. “We’re going down the fast way, just like I did with Josh,” Connor said, slamming through a door, intending to go out another window. “Just hang on very tight.”
“I won’t let go. Joshua?” Her huge eyes studied his face for the answer.
“Safe.”
Fred almost collapsed at that news.
“Funny, since that’s the last thing you are,” a gruff voice said a moment before a gun fired.
Connor spun around, the bullet tearing through his arm. Howling, he lost his grip on Fred.
“Damn, missed,” the man said, striding into the room obviously unhappy with just winging Connor.
“Leave him to me.” Leda’s voice rang happily as she sauntered in behind him. “Shoot the bitch but leave enough for Caha-Paluma to play with.” Leda catapulted herself at Connor and he reacted instinctively, charging her.
“Connor, no!” Fred’s voice pierced the fiery rage burning in Connor’s mind, too late to stop him.
The Sanctuary spell slapped him straight out of the window. Connor’s vision dimmed as his head slammed into the window frame. Barely conscious, he couldn’t control his fall. Connor shrieked as the vicious cold spires of the cast iron fencing tore into him. Hearing Fred’s cries, thin and long in the wind above him, Connor tried to grip the slippery wet iron to heave himself off but will and consciousness fled leaving him pinned like a butterfly, bleeding into the hedges below.
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Date: 2008-08-11 02:34 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-08-11 03:48 am (UTC)i have the layout maker looking at it. Me and three other people can see if just fine and three of you can't. WEIRD
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Date: 2008-08-11 02:45 am (UTC)This chapter was well worth the wait! So Willie is still out there. Nice to know! Love Connor being clever enough to get some info and also not being taken in by that vampire.
And what a cliffhanger! Please tell me next chapter is on the way.
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Date: 2008-08-11 03:45 am (UTC)I'm glad you liked the chapter at any rate. Yes I've started ch 24 (buggered it up but I started it)
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Date: 2008-08-11 11:40 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-08-12 01:42 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-08-12 09:37 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-08-12 04:09 pm (UTC)