A Place in Heaven - Part Nine
Title: A Place in Heaven (Part Nine)
Fandom: Angel
Characters: Wesley/Faith
Prompt: 22 - Reckless (for ships50 - view table)
Word Count: 1,480
Rating: PG
Warnings/Spoilers: through Time Bomb
Summary: Faith must help Wesley send Illyria back to the deeper well before she destroys the world.
A/N: Sorry about the wait on this one, everyone. My Faithsley muse took a break for a while, but it's back with a vengeance, so look out :-P Again, This story was inspired by this beautiful banner by marvelgirl_art.
Previous parts are HERE.
“Come again?” Faith’ eyes narrowed suspiciously at the red demon. “Did you just say-“
“In order to save the world, you must let Illyria destroy it,” Cyvus Vail repeated, examining his fingernails as he spoke, as if bored of the subject already.
“I don’t understand,” Wesley interjected. “Are you saying that we should let her essence break free?”
“Oh, I think we both know that that will happen no matter what, don’t we Mr. Wyndam-Pryce?” A sickening smile spread across Vail’s features. “But since you are so particular, yes, that is what I am saying. When Illyria breaks free from the little containment spell that you’ve conjured up, you must be ready. You must harness the power of her essence to open the gateway to the ancient Vahla ha'nesh. All it should require is a simple portal opening spell. I’m sure you’ve dealt with such spells, Mr. Wyndam-Pryce, with your watcher training, yes?”
Faith looked to Wes anxiously. She didn’t like this demon - not one bit. It seemed to know more about her ex-watcher than she did - not that she really even knew him that well. Still, there was something about the way Vail spoke that raised her hackles; indeed, made the very hair on the back of her neck stand to attention. How could they trust him?
“I’m sure I can come up with something,” Wesley replied, stone-faced. “Thank you for your time, Mr. Vail…but I believe we should probably be going. Time truly is of the essence, I’m afraid.”
“Indeed,” Vail agreed.
“Yes…well, goodbye then,” Wesley bowed slightly, then grabbed for Faith’s hand, motioning toward the door. Reluctantly she followed him, gazing back behind her shoulder at the demon once more.
“How do you know we can trust him?” she whispered loudly as they made their way through the front of the mansion. “He’s evil, Wes. I know it, I can feel it.”
“Be that as it may, I’m afraid we have little choice in the matter, Faith.”
Faith stopped dead in her tracks, refusing to move another step, and yanked her hand out of Wesley’s. The ex-watcher turned around, confused.
“Faith?”
“Look, I can’t take this anymore Wes. I can’t take knowing how you’re feeling right now, and the possibility that you’ll do anything to make it all stop,” she rambled, running a hand nervously through her hair. Wesley raised an eyebrow, completely mystified as to what she was going on about.
“I need to know that this isn’t some kind of suicide mission,” Faith clarified. “’Cause I see the path that you’re headin’ down, Wes, and it’s…it’s reckless.” Her voice was starting to raise, causing Wesley to raise a finger to her mouth.
“Faith, please,” he spoke softly. “You have to trust me.”
“Trust?” Faith laughed spitefully, shoving his hand away. “How can you trust him?”
“He may be evil, Faith, but I don’t believe he relishes the thought of this world ending any more than we do. Now come on. Let’s get out of here.”
Wesley led the way out of the building to his motorcycle, seemingly anxious to get away from the place. Faith followed behind a little sullenly.
“I’ll need some things before we go back to the law-firm,” he said, matter-of-factly. “A few books that are at my flat. We’ll stop by there on the way.”
“Don’t you have books at Wolfram and Hart?” Faith asked.
“Yes…mystical texts, actually, that are supposed to call forth anything you need. The trouble is, I’m not quite sure I can trust them anymore. I know that the spell we need is in a book that’s at my flat. We just need to hurry.”
“Yeah, sure. Whatever,” Faith said gloomily, taking the helmet that Wesley offered her. “Not like I’m all that anxious to have the energy sucked out of me by the blue bitch goddess again.”
“It will only be for a short while longer, Faith. You’re strong; I know you’ll be alright.” Wes mounted the bike, reaching down a hand to her to help her on as well. As she settled in behind him her arms wrapped once more around the warm expanse of his torso. Funny how just being near him, just touching him in this simple way made her feel safe. Well, safe, and…other things. She let out a relenting sigh as the engine began to roar.
“I trust you,” she mumbled into the back of his jacket; but he didn’t hear her.
***
Wesley’s flat looked more or less the same as when Faith last saw it, right down to the half empty bottle of scotch on the kitchen counter.
“Probably a different bottle though,” she thought morbidly. The place brought back all sorts of memories from the time that they’d taken down Angelus together: the same feelings of hopelessness, of being lost, powerless. Yet she never could forget how gentle Wesley had been with her, offering to clean her wounds and all. Hell, it was kind of sweet, really. Too bad it hadn’t made her feel like anything less than a failure for almost getting killed by the Beast. Plus, there had been much less gentle times…like him getting all up in her face about how she would never be anything but “an animal.” Sure, maybe he just said those things to get her riled up…but the words still played out in her head from time to time. She wondered sometimes if he really meant them.
After all, why wouldn’t he, after what she did to him?
Luckily a sudden growl from her stomach brought her back to the here and now before she could truly start to wallow in the past.
“Mind if I go through your fridge?” Faith asked. “Haven’t eaten anything since I got here.”
Wesley looked puzzled, as if the thought of eating had never occurred to him.
“Guess it wouldn’t, from the way he looks,” Faith mused silently, taking in his gaunt frame. Hell, he probably hadn’t eaten in ages either. Too busy babysitting Blue back at Wolfram and Hart.
“Of course, go ahead,” he said. “But make it quick…we do need to hurry.”
“Yeah, yeah; not like I was gonna whip up a pot roast or anything,” she grinned, opening the refrigerator door and peering inside as Wes went to his bedroom to get some books.
“God Damn, Wes! You got anything in here that resembles food?” She crinkled her nose as the smell of something particularly nasty wafted toward her, and she shut the fridge quickly.
“Guess we’ll see what’s in the cupboards.”
Too short to reach the cabinets, she hopped up onto the counter so she could look inside.
“Marmite?” she opened the small round bottle and sniffed. “Ugh.”
Wesley entered the room again, his arms filled with books that he dropped unceremoniously on the table.
“Yo, Mrs. Hubbard…your cupboards are seriously bare,” Faith laughed. Wesley looked up from the books and scowled at her.
She was starting to like pushing his buttons. Seeing him all pissy like this was kind of adorable.
“Yes, well you can stop climbing around my kitchen if you’d like. We’ll pick something up. McDonalds…or whatever it is you like.”
“Sounds good to me,” Faith hopped down from the counter. “So, we ready to roll, book man?”
“Please don’t call me that,” he said lowly, his shoulders visibly tense.
Faith looked at him strangely.
“What the hell is his deal?” she wondered silently.
“Sorry, Wes…I was just jokin’ around.” She couldn’t quite manage to keep the hurt out of her voice.
The lines in his weary face softened. “Yes…of course,” he sighed. “I’m sorry, Faith. I imagine I must be terribly difficult to be around right now. I didn’t mean to snap at you.”
Their eyes met, and slowly Faith started to smile again, as did he.
“Kay, I’ll forgive you this time,” she said flippantly, heading over to the table where the books lay.
“I’m honored by your graciousness,” he replied, still smiling.
The low vibration of Wesley’s cell phone sounded.
It was Angel.
“Hello?” Wesley answered, looking through the books on the table for the spell he needed. After Pylea he had done more research on the phenomenon of portals…had even bought books on the black market, just in case Fred somehow disappeared again.
It was ironic really.
“Wes, you gotta get over here,” Faith heard Angel’s voice loudly over Wes’ phone.
“What’s happened?” Wesley dropped the book he was holding.
“Laser light show, all the works…Illyria’s gonna blow any minute.”
“I’m on my way,” Wesley replied, closing the phone.
“I’m taking it I’ll have to take a rain check on that Big Mac, huh?”
“What? Oh yes, sorry,” Wesley looked about frantically at the books. “Of course, here it is,” he picked one up out of the bottom of the pile, quickly sifting through it to make sure that the spell he needed was there.
“Let’s go.”
TBC
Fandom: Angel
Characters: Wesley/Faith
Prompt: 22 - Reckless (for ships50 - view table)
Word Count: 1,480
Rating: PG
Warnings/Spoilers: through Time Bomb
Summary: Faith must help Wesley send Illyria back to the deeper well before she destroys the world.
A/N: Sorry about the wait on this one, everyone. My Faithsley muse took a break for a while, but it's back with a vengeance, so look out :-P Again, This story was inspired by this beautiful banner by marvelgirl_art.
Previous parts are HERE.
“Come again?” Faith’ eyes narrowed suspiciously at the red demon. “Did you just say-“
“In order to save the world, you must let Illyria destroy it,” Cyvus Vail repeated, examining his fingernails as he spoke, as if bored of the subject already.
“I don’t understand,” Wesley interjected. “Are you saying that we should let her essence break free?”
“Oh, I think we both know that that will happen no matter what, don’t we Mr. Wyndam-Pryce?” A sickening smile spread across Vail’s features. “But since you are so particular, yes, that is what I am saying. When Illyria breaks free from the little containment spell that you’ve conjured up, you must be ready. You must harness the power of her essence to open the gateway to the ancient Vahla ha'nesh. All it should require is a simple portal opening spell. I’m sure you’ve dealt with such spells, Mr. Wyndam-Pryce, with your watcher training, yes?”
Faith looked to Wes anxiously. She didn’t like this demon - not one bit. It seemed to know more about her ex-watcher than she did - not that she really even knew him that well. Still, there was something about the way Vail spoke that raised her hackles; indeed, made the very hair on the back of her neck stand to attention. How could they trust him?
“I’m sure I can come up with something,” Wesley replied, stone-faced. “Thank you for your time, Mr. Vail…but I believe we should probably be going. Time truly is of the essence, I’m afraid.”
“Indeed,” Vail agreed.
“Yes…well, goodbye then,” Wesley bowed slightly, then grabbed for Faith’s hand, motioning toward the door. Reluctantly she followed him, gazing back behind her shoulder at the demon once more.
“How do you know we can trust him?” she whispered loudly as they made their way through the front of the mansion. “He’s evil, Wes. I know it, I can feel it.”
“Be that as it may, I’m afraid we have little choice in the matter, Faith.”
Faith stopped dead in her tracks, refusing to move another step, and yanked her hand out of Wesley’s. The ex-watcher turned around, confused.
“Faith?”
“Look, I can’t take this anymore Wes. I can’t take knowing how you’re feeling right now, and the possibility that you’ll do anything to make it all stop,” she rambled, running a hand nervously through her hair. Wesley raised an eyebrow, completely mystified as to what she was going on about.
“I need to know that this isn’t some kind of suicide mission,” Faith clarified. “’Cause I see the path that you’re headin’ down, Wes, and it’s…it’s reckless.” Her voice was starting to raise, causing Wesley to raise a finger to her mouth.
“Faith, please,” he spoke softly. “You have to trust me.”
“Trust?” Faith laughed spitefully, shoving his hand away. “How can you trust him?”
“He may be evil, Faith, but I don’t believe he relishes the thought of this world ending any more than we do. Now come on. Let’s get out of here.”
Wesley led the way out of the building to his motorcycle, seemingly anxious to get away from the place. Faith followed behind a little sullenly.
“I’ll need some things before we go back to the law-firm,” he said, matter-of-factly. “A few books that are at my flat. We’ll stop by there on the way.”
“Don’t you have books at Wolfram and Hart?” Faith asked.
“Yes…mystical texts, actually, that are supposed to call forth anything you need. The trouble is, I’m not quite sure I can trust them anymore. I know that the spell we need is in a book that’s at my flat. We just need to hurry.”
“Yeah, sure. Whatever,” Faith said gloomily, taking the helmet that Wesley offered her. “Not like I’m all that anxious to have the energy sucked out of me by the blue bitch goddess again.”
“It will only be for a short while longer, Faith. You’re strong; I know you’ll be alright.” Wes mounted the bike, reaching down a hand to her to help her on as well. As she settled in behind him her arms wrapped once more around the warm expanse of his torso. Funny how just being near him, just touching him in this simple way made her feel safe. Well, safe, and…other things. She let out a relenting sigh as the engine began to roar.
“I trust you,” she mumbled into the back of his jacket; but he didn’t hear her.
***
Wesley’s flat looked more or less the same as when Faith last saw it, right down to the half empty bottle of scotch on the kitchen counter.
“Probably a different bottle though,” she thought morbidly. The place brought back all sorts of memories from the time that they’d taken down Angelus together: the same feelings of hopelessness, of being lost, powerless. Yet she never could forget how gentle Wesley had been with her, offering to clean her wounds and all. Hell, it was kind of sweet, really. Too bad it hadn’t made her feel like anything less than a failure for almost getting killed by the Beast. Plus, there had been much less gentle times…like him getting all up in her face about how she would never be anything but “an animal.” Sure, maybe he just said those things to get her riled up…but the words still played out in her head from time to time. She wondered sometimes if he really meant them.
After all, why wouldn’t he, after what she did to him?
Luckily a sudden growl from her stomach brought her back to the here and now before she could truly start to wallow in the past.
“Mind if I go through your fridge?” Faith asked. “Haven’t eaten anything since I got here.”
Wesley looked puzzled, as if the thought of eating had never occurred to him.
“Guess it wouldn’t, from the way he looks,” Faith mused silently, taking in his gaunt frame. Hell, he probably hadn’t eaten in ages either. Too busy babysitting Blue back at Wolfram and Hart.
“Of course, go ahead,” he said. “But make it quick…we do need to hurry.”
“Yeah, yeah; not like I was gonna whip up a pot roast or anything,” she grinned, opening the refrigerator door and peering inside as Wes went to his bedroom to get some books.
“God Damn, Wes! You got anything in here that resembles food?” She crinkled her nose as the smell of something particularly nasty wafted toward her, and she shut the fridge quickly.
“Guess we’ll see what’s in the cupboards.”
Too short to reach the cabinets, she hopped up onto the counter so she could look inside.
“Marmite?” she opened the small round bottle and sniffed. “Ugh.”
Wesley entered the room again, his arms filled with books that he dropped unceremoniously on the table.
“Yo, Mrs. Hubbard…your cupboards are seriously bare,” Faith laughed. Wesley looked up from the books and scowled at her.
She was starting to like pushing his buttons. Seeing him all pissy like this was kind of adorable.
“Yes, well you can stop climbing around my kitchen if you’d like. We’ll pick something up. McDonalds…or whatever it is you like.”
“Sounds good to me,” Faith hopped down from the counter. “So, we ready to roll, book man?”
“Please don’t call me that,” he said lowly, his shoulders visibly tense.
Faith looked at him strangely.
“What the hell is his deal?” she wondered silently.
“Sorry, Wes…I was just jokin’ around.” She couldn’t quite manage to keep the hurt out of her voice.
The lines in his weary face softened. “Yes…of course,” he sighed. “I’m sorry, Faith. I imagine I must be terribly difficult to be around right now. I didn’t mean to snap at you.”
Their eyes met, and slowly Faith started to smile again, as did he.
“Kay, I’ll forgive you this time,” she said flippantly, heading over to the table where the books lay.
“I’m honored by your graciousness,” he replied, still smiling.
The low vibration of Wesley’s cell phone sounded.
It was Angel.
“Hello?” Wesley answered, looking through the books on the table for the spell he needed. After Pylea he had done more research on the phenomenon of portals…had even bought books on the black market, just in case Fred somehow disappeared again.
It was ironic really.
“Wes, you gotta get over here,” Faith heard Angel’s voice loudly over Wes’ phone.
“What’s happened?” Wesley dropped the book he was holding.
“Laser light show, all the works…Illyria’s gonna blow any minute.”
“I’m on my way,” Wesley replied, closing the phone.
“I’m taking it I’ll have to take a rain check on that Big Mac, huh?”
“What? Oh yes, sorry,” Wesley looked about frantically at the books. “Of course, here it is,” he picked one up out of the bottom of the pile, quickly sifting through it to make sure that the spell he needed was there.
“Let’s go.”
TBC