(Untitled)

[loaded_gunn_]

((moving onward from hereI watched, confused as Illyria left the lobby, stalking up the stairs like she owned the place... for a moment, I wondered how exactly she knew where she was going, before, with a jolt, I remembered why that would be

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[_wes_pryce_]

To say that I was worried when Angel stalked off like that, would probably be an understatement. I knew he was blaming himself for what had happened to me. My death, and the dire consequences of that. But it wasn't his fault, not entirely. No one put a gun to our heads and forced us to signed those contracts. We should've know something like this would happen. Then again, if we'd had all our memories, would we have signed

[xspikex]

So the poof gone off to do his thing. The big broody, in his bedroom no doubt in the dark. Looks like Liry went after him. Good, maybe the two can have a nice chat about guilt. It's his sodding fault we're in this bloody mess. Percy's dead and in hell, so he still aint got no peace. And the rest of us are tied to that firm for god only knows how long. And since both me 'nd Angel are dead, that may be some time.

"What'd you mean me too?" I blinked at Wes and then glanced over at Gunn. "I didn't sign no contract." But then it hit me. That bloody medalion I'd been trapped in. It musta been more then that. It musta been their way of tying me to the bloody firm. "Bloody buggering hell," I muttered. "The one time you die a hero and you still get buggered over." Bloody rotten luck.

Typical.

[loaded_gunn_]

"When the firm wants something," I said lowly, "They cover all the bases. So you're telling us we still all work for W&H?" I asked Wesley incredulously. What? The firm still wanted us, after we had gone against them, gone against them and won? Well, depending on your definition of
'won' at any rate.

"You'd think that since we'd rebelled against the firm, we'd be, you know, fired," I said. Then, a look of horror coming across my face, "You don't think they're still going to be coming after us, right? Since we're not going back. Right?" I asked, looking at Spike, suddenly worried.

I didn't know exactly why Angel had signed the deal in the first place, but since they had tried to kill us, corrupt us, or both, I assumed we wouldn't go back for all the money, sun-proofed windows, and fancy gadgets in the world. Especially not after the look on Angel's face, when he had heard about Wesley's post-mortem clause... we wouldn't be going back. Right?

[_wes_pryce_]

Sighing, I glanced from Spike to Gunn and shook my head. "They've threatened in a not so round about way that there would be casualties otherwise. They've build up the Wolfram and Hart building again, Gunn. We didn't win. It merely got...postponed." It's frankly amazing and more then a little frightening the way the seem to bounce back on their feet.

They'd called off the demons and I'd been the one that had made certain it would only stay with one casualty. Me. And lord, was I happy about that. No really. I was going to spend eternity in hell. With Lindsey McDonald as my Personal Assistant.

"And I think you know how they can pull you back to the firm, Spike." Not to mention that now that he had a soul, he'd probably felt compelled to stay in order not to risk anyone. Hell, for all we knew they could be going after Buffy or anyone we know. Which, actually, in Gunn and my case...isn't anyone. But Angel, perhaps. But he's in the same boat. Brooding.

[xspikex]

"Bloody hell," I muttered again, shooting Wes a glare. Trust him to zone him on that one. Stupid sod. Looks like we got buggered ten ways from sunday. And in hell at that. He's got the real hell, and we got the hell on earth deal. Not like Angelus and me dont' know that, but it's different now.

Bleeding soul. If I were still the old Spike, and wouldn't have gotten myself a soul for...her. I knew what I'd do. I get the hell ouf of dodge so fast they aint never see me leave. I risked a glance over at Charlie boy who looked even less then happy. Can't blame the bloke there can I?

Out of al of us he was in the most dangerous position. He was the only human and alive one of us. Percy 'ere was dead, as a doornail. Totally morte, tot, dood. Angel and me, we been dead for centuries. "Looks like the grand poofter plan got us on quite a bit of a pickle again eh?" Fishing out my fags from the pocket of my coat, I rummaged through it again for me lighter.

[loaded_gunn_]

Ignoring Spike, I told him absently, "No smoking in here. I'd rather not die from having tar in my lungs." Not to mention, Angel would kick his ass for that... not that that wasn't entertaining enough in it's own right, but I wasn't in the mood for it at the moment.

And from what Wes was saying, I probably wouldn't be for a long time to come.

"So, what, the building is indestructible? Then why did we even bother in the first place?" I asked, starting to get worked up. "If we knew we couldn't destroy them, that they were bigger than we were, why did we do this? It only got you dead, and nearly me!"

Stopping, I took a deep breath, then said quietly, "So we're back to if you can't beat them, join them?"

[_wes_pryce_]

"Calm down, Charles." I glanced at him and then over at Spike. Who of course made no indication of putting his cigarettes away. Instead he lit one up and glared at both of us daring to day anything. Not s if they would bother me any longer. If didn't need to fight of this pull, I'd ask for one myself. I hear they work wonders while trying to relax.

"All we have to do is try and find a different approach in fighting them. I'm about as much on the inside now as I can get." I managed to keep the bitter tone out of my voice, but it was rather hard. Dead and in Hell. Not that I'd expected to wind up in Heaven, but I hadn't expected to wind up in Hell like this. Doesn't one usually get some from of choice? Hell is very confusing to say the least.

I was about to say more, when suddenly the pull became to strong for me to resist. I glanced at Spike and then at Gunn with wide eyes. "Looks as though it's time for me to leave. Tell Angel I'll be- " Which was as far as I got before a tunnel sucked me in and hurled me back toward Hell.

Bloody

[xspikex]

Yeah right. After everything we went through, a smoke's gonna kill him. "Get your priorities straight, Charlie boy," I muttered, lightning up my fag. Oooh, good bloody lord, that felt good. Nice hot shower would feel even better. I'm bloody aching and bleeding all over, need some blood soon too. And Wes may have a point, don't mean I have to agree right away.

"Oy Percy. Don't suppose you can do a bit of healing over here too?" I smirked at him, which soon faded at his words and the odd looking swirl behind him. "What the hell?" I glanced over at Gunn, noticing he looked rather stunned as well. And before either of us could do anything, Wes was sucked in on a momentarily one way ticket back to Hell. Don't envy the bloke.

"Tell peaches what? Bugger, this aint good."

[loaded_gunn_]

I blinked, then looked at Spike. "Okay. Tell me I did not just see Wesley get sucked up by a portal like a vaccuum cleaner from Hell."

I rubbed my eyes, suddenly tired. Today had been a long day... weird, and long.

"I don't know, but I don't want to tell Angel much of anything, the mood he's in. Probably up there brooding about everything... it's been a while since he had the time to brood, so this might last a while." Silence, then I said, "Damn. I need a nap or something."

Shaking my head, I moved over to the fridge we had kept behind the counter, and wondered if we had anything left in there. Then, on second thought, I stopped. Not like it would be any good anymore... if we were going to be here for a while, we were going to need to stock up on food or something.

[xspikex]

"'M thinking that's a very good description for what we just seen. Sure glad I aint in the poor blokes shoes."

And yeah, I'm not gonna tell Angel anything either. Not with that mood of his. Remember...well, no. Don't really remember them brooding day's do I? Why, in our time we'd go out and beat the living shit outta someone, scared them to death and then drained them dry.

"Naps are overrated," I said, flicking away my finished sig. "I need blood, 's what I need." I eyed Gunn up and down. Bloke looked like he was in serious need of some nutrition as well, of only to make up for the blood he lost. "Oy, don't gimme that look. You aint got enough blood anyway," I winked at him. "Why don't you and I look for a bar. We need drink 's what we need."

Leave the poof to himself and his brood. And Liry to whatever the hell she does. And getting a bit hammered might keep us from worrying over Percy and what the bloody hell our future is gonna be like.

[loaded_gunn_]

I raised an eyebrow at Spike, then sighed.

"Yeah, 'cause a drink is the same thing as food," I said sarcastically. "Make it a place that serves edible food, and your on. And paying," I added as an afterthought. After all, not like I carried my wallet with me to go fight the forces of evil.

I pushed myself away from the wall I was leaning against, and glanced up the steps toward where Illyria and Angel had wandered.

"Think we should tell them we're headed out?" Angel probably wouldn't even notice... or Smurfette either, come to think of it. Meanwhile, I needed some food, and soon, too.

[xspikex]

Smirking, I raised my eyebrow at him. "'S the same for me mate." What? It was! Food, for me and he who is upstairs brooding and drink is the same. Not as if you can sit down with a knife and fork and politely carve yer blood now is it

[loaded_gunn_]

I rolled my eyes as Spike yelled up the stairs loud enough to wake the dead. Of course, that metaphor was really over used anywhere near here, so let him do whatever he wanted...

"Yeah, you think I took my wallet to the big fight?" I asked him scathingly. "No. Not to mention, the way my clothes were soaked in blood, I don't think they'd have accepted my money. So, yeah, you're buying." I smirked at him, rubbing my stomach mockingly. I was pretty hungry... fighting the hordes of hell tended to take it out of you.

"Besides," I said casually, "Angel won't be down for a while. We can be back before he even noticed... oh, wait," I said, putting a finger to my lips. "You yelled at him. He knows. Not that he's gonna stop us..."

[xspikex]

"You're quite the funny little bugger aint you?" I gave him a dry look and shook my head. "You shouldn't do that Chuck. I mean that. You should leave humor to the experts like me and...well, me."

Aint no one around here got a good sense of humor. Poof doesn't even know the word, Liry don't know the concept and I doubt Percy has anything to be amused about in quite a while. Poor sod. Wonder when we'll see him again.

Clapping a hand on Gunn's shoulder I pushed him out the door. The longer we stay and dwindle here, the bigger the chances were the big lug would come down and yell at me for no reason at all. "And I aint buying nothing. We're hero's. They can give it for free. Don't worry 'bout it. I'm quite capable of getting that done." What? Done it before haven't I?

"I'll even let you pick out the place," I smirked at him as we made our way outside. Where it was still dark. Which was a good thing, I don't fancy being dust just yet.

[loaded_gunn_]

I looked at Spike suspiciously, wondering what the hell he was talking about. I was pretty sure that people didn't just give food and beer for free... but then, it was Spike. He wasn't exactly known for being... ethical.

I looked at him tiredly, and said, "Man, I don't care where we go. Somewhere close, 'cause I want to get some sleep soon, while we still can."

As we walked out of the doors, I was careful to shut the doors behind me. At least then if anything decided it wanted in, Angel would be able to hear it... He could take care of himself, but messed up as he was, even he could use some warning if any demon decided to try and do something stupid.

After a moment, I offered, "There's a pub/restaraunt just up the street... I think I can make it at least that far," I said with a small smile. "You good?"

[xspikex]

"Sleep's overrated," I muttered. Once we were outside, I fished my fags out of my pocket again and lit one. There's nothing like adding more pollution to the air. What? I can still be bad and not feel guilty. 'S not like millions of others with a soul don't do it as well.

Glanced over at Charlie boy and noticed how tired he looked. Right then. Quick bite and back to the hotel of doom it seemed. Hope they got some workable rooms. I aint gonna sleep in no more dirt holes. I was a hero twice now, I deserved better. And so did Gunn.

"Sound good to me Charlie boy," I nodded and clapped him on the back good naturally. "Don't exactly need any food. But I can get me some blood later. Probably need to pick some up for the blighter as well. Stupid sod." I scowled at myself for that. Blasted soul.

Sighing, I waved my hand into the street. "Lead on McDuff."