Tick-tock...

[rogue_lawyer]

Here’s a fun test: try sitting still and not doing a single damn thing for one minute. Just sit and count, slow and proper, one-Mississippi, two-Mississippi, right up to 60. Boring, huh? Think you could do it for five minutes? How about 45? There are 60 of those shockingly long minutes in an hour, 24 of those hours in a day, 7 of those days in a

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[rogue_lawyer]

I’ll admit the word indefinitely has some weight behind it, especially in the W&H sense of the word. But the clueless lunk probably doesn’t even know about some of the more unique technical/mystical storage areas the boys upstairs can cook up at his request. He may be a big player, but he’d do well to remember that he’s on a whole new board now. I frown at his mention of Eve … he wouldn’t dare drag her back into this, would he?

Then again, I honestly didn’t think he was going to cut off my hand either…

“Leave her out of this. She’s harmless now.” Not entirely the truth, but I don’t think he even heard me. Super-powerful vampire hearing; selective listening skills. He continues, and it sounds like the liaisons are the hot topic of the day. Champ’s missing the mark completely on that line of questioning, and I’m trying to figure out how to tell him that in the meanest way I can without driving my only entertainment away…

"Oh, and if I ever I need you to get my rocks off, I'll let you know. But I wouldn't hold my breath."

I heard him wrong. He didn’t just say that. He’s smirking… oh yeah, he just said that. I shoot him a dubious stare, eyebrows raised. “You may be rich now, but I’m telling you … there ain’t enough money in the world.” He’s still slowly pacing in front of my cell, idly scanning the rows of baddies like I’m the least interesting thing on the planet, and it’s making me mad. I get to my feet, sauntering over to stand just out of range, struck by the sudden idea that a Holy water squirt gun would be a fun toy to have right about now.

“The liaisons,” I begin, going slow so I don’t lose him somewhere, “are the least of your worries. They’re created to be professional middlemen, which alone should tell you you’re barking up the wrong dark power. But if you really want to know about them, I’m your man.” Okay, in light of his earlier comment, that wasn’t the best possible phrasing. “Can’t think in here, though. It’s too cramped … let me out of here, and I’ll tell you everything your wee brain can hold.”

[_keep_me]

At his frown, I know I’ve hit my mark. Eve. It’s tempting to go for the jugular with it, but this looks like a card to hold for later.

“Harmless? Right. A snake is still a snake. I don’t see her in here with you, standing by her man...but she’s not really my concern at the moment.” I deadpan it and turn away.

I take a glance around at the others we have down here, letting him work himself up. Nothing works better on Lindsey than ignoring him, Darla certainly got him wrapped around her finger that way. Not enough money in the world... Well, well. Not exactly the denial it could be. Enough loopholes and I don’t even need a lawyer to see that. Interesting. I turn back around in time to see him trying to put up a front, see if he can talk his way out of this.

I’ll tell you everything your wee brain can hold

My hands shoot out automatically towards his throat at the comment. He thought he was far enough away, but as always the boy underestimates me. “I’m sorry, Lindsey, did you say something about tiny brains, because it looks like you’re the one locked behind some bars, and I’m the one about to kick your ass. And let you out? I think I mentioned the word indefinitely, didn’t I?”

I look him over, long and slow. Give him time to maybe change his mind, and breathe...just a little. “Oh, and my man, Lindsey? Maybe you want to rephrase that? How about my next meal.” I lean in close to the bars and bare some teeth. That should give him something to think about.

“Never learn, do you Lindsey. Maybe next time you won’t insult the person you’re trying to get a favor from.” I scratch my thumbnail along his jugular, just to see if he’ll shiver. “I think I should let you sweat it out a little longer, until your attitude gets a little more... submissive. You need some more alone time, I can tell.” I can’t help the evil smile that creeps onto my face. I drop him and drift away from the cage. I start to walk away, thinking this was a huge waste of time I don’t have. But I stop and say over my shoulder:

“Unless you can convince me I should even bother believing that you’re telling me the truth.”

[rogue_lawyer]

Sonofabitch … my attempt to dodge out of range comes about a half-second too late, and he’s got me by the throat. Always the throat with him. I lock my hands around the bars to keep from slamming into them when he yanks me forward, and it’s like struggling with a freight train. A very grumpy freight train, with vise-grip hands and a not-entirely-comforting look in its dark eyes.

If I could speak, I’d say something about the piss-poor timing of his sermons. “Oh, and my man, Lindsey? Maybe you want to rephrase that? How about my next meal.” It’s impossible to curse at the moment, but I manage a sneer as the edges of my vision fizzle into gray. He drags me closer despite my white-knuckled grip on the bars, nose-to-nose. Nose-to-chin, anyway. Hulking bastard. My lungs are going into painful spasms, mimicking the motions of breathing without actual air, trying to comfort my panicking brain. He’ll let go, he’ll let go, just a few more seconds, he won’t kill me … it’s not time yet. Instead, his nail tracks a stinging line down my throat, and I can’t gasp, but my vision blurs out of focus with the sensation.

What is he playing at?

“You need some more alone time, I can tell.” I draw in a grateful gasp of air as my knees collide with the cement floor, and my hand goes to my throat instinctively as I start to cough. The room shines too bright for a moment, but I can make out of the dark smudge of his jacket as he walks away from me.

“Wait,” I croak, swallowing hard and trying again. “Wait, goddamn you!” He’s not around the corner just yet, hesitating, still toying with me. Going to fucking roll in his ashes someday… but for now, I force myself to my feet, dragging myself up and trying to ignore the way my knees shake. “I don’t do submissive … should know that by now, champ. But I’ve got nothing to lose by telling you the truth, do I?” Short and to the point, mainly because my throat feels like it’s tearing at every syllable. “Make you a deal; I give you a preview of what I got on the liaisons … you like what you hear, let me the hell out of here, and I’ll tell you the rest.” Any desperation in my voice has to be covered by the rough rasp of being strangled, but I just can’t stop myself from the final jab that always seems to do me in. “Seems to me that CEO of Wolfram & Hart should know how to wheel and deal by now.”

[_keep_me]

I’m just about to the end of the hall, when he finals coughs up something worth my time, but, God, the bastard just can’t resist the last word. Ever. Maybe that lack of oxygen made him dumber than I thought.

I turn to listen to his pathetic attempt at brokering a deal. His voice is raspy and not exactly steady. Neither are his legs apparently, because I can see a few tremors run through him and he’s sweating this a little. Almost losing consciousness will do that, I guess. His game face is firmly in place as usual, but his body is telling a different story. This used to be my enemy? Angelus would have had this guy for breakfast. For a week. Probably would have kept him tied up too... Ignoring the image that conjures, I glare at Lindsey, but keep my distance. Maybe if he still thinks I’m leaving, he’ll loosen his tongue a little.

“Seems to me, I don’t deal. Me vampire, you lawyer. You play “Let’s Make a Deal,” I’ll go run this place. But you go ahead and tell me what you know, and I’ll continue to keep you in your place...in that cell.”

[rogue_lawyer]

His logic is just … nonexistent. “Why the hell would I tell you a thing if I’m not going to get anything out of it?” I exclaim in disbelief, my fingers tightening around the bars, wishing it were his neck. Not that strangling a vampire is the smartest move in the book, but it’s the principle of the idea that matters. And the important thing right now is the fact that my only possible chance at getting out of this pit, even for a few minutes, is starting to walk around the corner, out of my line of vision. The walls close in around me with a force far greater than his hands, and the words are spilling out before I can stop them, bargaining chips be damned.

“Eve was the prototype.”

I’m selling out the girl who loves me because I can’t bear my mortal (immortal?) enemy walking away from me, yet again. My soul feels dirty, and I close my eyes, resting my forehead against the cool metal of the bars and speaking into the echoing silence. Hell, he’s probably long gone by now anyway.

“Like the name implies, she was the first of her kind … a liaison for the everyday guy. Someone who walked and talked like us. What the boys upstairs didn’t bank on was the fact that if you give something enough human traits, they’re gonna start acting like a human. Stupid, sensitive, back-stabbing, just like the rest of us. She had the ability to believe she was in love … and the free will to betray them.” The thought makes me smile, remembering the look on her face when we decided we were going to do the impossible, and tear the Senior Partners down from their unholy thrones. Pity our grand plans ended up with me stuck in yet another basement. “They didn’t see us coming.”

[_keep_me]

Paydirt. Knew he had it in him. He'd sell out his own mother if it meant getting what he wanted. I walk back toward him; no need to shout this down the hall. Boy’s already at his wit’s end if he’s broken down this quickly so calling him an idiot in front of a bunch of...oh, who am I kidding they’re nobody and this is Lindsey, I like making him look like an idiot. But still we should probably keep this all between us. I casually dip my hands into my pockets and wander towards him. He looks...a little broken, head bowed like that... He’s still got his eyes closed by the time I get back to the bars. I start to reach out to nudge his chin up to look at me, but his eyes flick up quickly and I have to abort the motion and pretend like I’m running a hand through my hair. Was I really just about to be nice to lawyer boy?

“Okay, so the design’s flawed, not helping here, Lindsey. I’ve got a very large pain in my ass upstairs, I’ll venture to say even larger than you, literally and figuratively, and you’re going to stand there and tell me that he’s human? I’ve been dealing with you fucked up evil lawyers for long enough to know that that doesn’t help me, or give me any guidelines. Besides, Eve betrayed them for you. I doubt Marcus will be so easily swayed by romantic attachments.” I look away too quickly.

I start pacing again, and then look at my watch. Shit.

Stupid, sensitive, back-stabbing, just like the rest of us. The thought niggles at me that I'm playing right into his hands, but there's no way I'm leaving him alone now. Senior Partners will be on him in a second after this little conversation and I still need more information.

“Alright, Lindsey, I have a 2 o’clock. You’re coming with me.”

[rogue_lawyer]

The rustle of material gives him away when he finally returns and when I look up he's nonchalantly fixing his hair. Don't know who he's trying to impress. Nobody here but us baddies.

"I doubt Marcus will be so easily swayed by romantic attachments.” The statement is accompanied by a funny little dart-away glance, and the thought the Angel's master plan may have included trying to seduce Marcus Hamilton makes me smirk. The thought that it might've included making me try to seduce him is a whole different matter, and a hell of a lot less amusing.

"I'm not saying he's human." The zip of a key-card through the locking mechanism on the door is enough to make me leave off the 'dumbass' I might've tacked on otherwise. "I'm telling you Hamilton's just the latest design in a long line of upgrades the Partners have been working on practically since Eve set foot in this dimension. What I'm telling you, Angel, is that he's not invincible."

The barred door swings open and I have to stamp down the urge to sucker-punch him in his Armani-clad stomach and bolt like a skittish horse. He'd catch me in two seconds, and I'm not sure I want to try him on this 'indefinitely' idea of his.

Here comes the fun bit: if he decides to make use of the W&H-issue manacle looped neatly beside my cell, he’s admitting he hasn’t got perfect control over this ex-attorney just yet. And if he doesn’t, I’m spared the pleasure of steel cuffs mystically enhanced to fit the wearer a half-size too small. Either way, I win. And I really don’t intend to be tactful about this. Dropping my chin and looking up at him through my eyelashes in a travesty of the submissive manner he’d demanded earlier, I offer my wrists without a word and wait for him to squirm.