After any fight, especially after any particularly large battle, when the mind does not work very clearly. The shock of the violence, of the loss, of the insanity of all of it dazes a person.
At that particular moment, I found myself wondering just how much the casino-goers a hundred metres above our heads had felt of the massive altercation occuring below them.
I wandered through the rubble, wiping dust and grime and blood from my eyes, looking for survivors. I found a slim, moving figure nearby, heard it cough, waving the heavy air away.
"Illyria--I'll get you to safety... Willow, or one of the others can find a way to heal you quickly."
Wesley knew the facts as well as I. Although I desperately wished to see my one friend again, there would be nothing she could do to assist me... nor any of the others. "It is mortal," I said simply, wondering at my own choice of words. I was mortal at last.
"It's done. The world is safe for now. We've done it. You've done it."
"I did nothing of the sort," I argued weakly, "although I wished it had been me to finish it. To finish... him." My eyes shut briefly, a small fluttering motion that I had never done before. "As it was... it was most satisfying to see you fight... and survive... since I had been so mistaken before."
I looked back up and realized my head was supported by him now, felt how this was exactly the manner in which Fred had left this reality. I coughed once more, this time feeling and tasting the blood upon my lips
( ... )
I nodded. I didn't want to lie to Illyria anymore, didn't want any more lies between us. Didn't want any lies at all anymore.
"It is. I'm sorry."
"I did nothing of the sort... although I wished it had been me to finish it. To finish... him."
Illyria's eyes began to close, and I shook her gently.
"Illyria?!"
When her eyes regained focus, I let out a breath that I hadn't known I was holding. Something stung my eyes and I wiped at them with the back of my hand.
"As it was... it was most satisfying to see you fight... and survive... since I had been so mistaken before."
And now the tables were turned. I could feel the life slipping from her, the brilliant, bright, violent and unique light that was all her own. The deja vu was a another weight that I could feel still pressing down around us both.
Illyria spoke again, and I could see the effort it cost her.
"How I wished to have truly seen this new world, Wesley... you must... you must care for Spike... when I am gone."I nodded again. The life of this world, in all
( ... )
He shook my form and my eyes opened once more. This frail body that could not contain my true essence could not even support me in battle. And so Fred would die twice.
Wesley would find the peace, the resolution he required once I was gone, and I...
I would be gone. Nothing save a memory, shadows and dust in the wind.
I looked at his face, at the one who had tried to murder me, tried to teach me, stripped me of my powers, and eventually... became the shell that I had been so hoping to escape. Yet now, his eyes shining down upon me with a sense of honor and hope within them?
I had been mistaken. Wesley was not a shell of what he once was; he had merely lost his way. Perhaps... perhaps I could take comfort in the fact that I had reminded him of it? No. No, it was not enough, and as I wiped the blood from my lips slowly, I knew what would be enough.
What I had actually been seeking, searching for, longing for all along.
And it had nothing to do with the rest of the human race and everything to do with...
Comments 7
At that particular moment, I found myself wondering just how much the casino-goers a hundred metres above our heads had felt of the massive altercation occuring below them.
I wandered through the rubble, wiping dust and grime and blood from my eyes, looking for survivors. I found a slim, moving figure nearby, heard it cough, waving the heavy air away.
"Wesley...""Illyria ( ... )
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Wesley knew the facts as well as I. Although I desperately wished to see my one friend again, there would be nothing she could do to assist me... nor any of the others. "It is mortal," I said simply, wondering at my own choice of words. I was mortal at last.
"It's done. The world is safe for now. We've done it. You've done it."
"I did nothing of the sort," I argued weakly, "although I wished it had been me to finish it. To finish... him." My eyes shut briefly, a small fluttering motion that I had never done before. "As it was... it was most satisfying to see you fight... and survive... since I had been so mistaken before."
I looked back up and realized my head was supported by him now, felt how this was exactly the manner in which Fred had left this reality. I coughed once more, this time feeling and tasting the blood upon my lips ( ... )
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I nodded. I didn't want to lie to Illyria anymore, didn't want any more lies between us. Didn't want any lies at all anymore.
"It is. I'm sorry."
"I did nothing of the sort... although I wished it had been me to finish it. To finish... him."
Illyria's eyes began to close, and I shook her gently.
"Illyria?!"
When her eyes regained focus, I let out a breath that I hadn't known I was holding. Something stung my eyes and I wiped at them with the back of my hand.
"As it was... it was most satisfying to see you fight... and survive... since I had been so mistaken before."
And now the tables were turned. I could feel the life slipping from her, the brilliant, bright, violent and unique light that was all her own. The deja vu was a another weight that I could feel still pressing down around us both.
Illyria spoke again, and I could see the effort it cost her.
"How I wished to have truly seen this new world, Wesley... you must... you must care for Spike... when I am gone."I nodded again. The life of this world, in all ( ... )
Reply
He shook my form and my eyes opened once more. This frail body that could not contain my true essence could not even support me in battle. And so Fred would die twice.
Wesley would find the peace, the resolution he required once I was gone, and I...
I would be gone. Nothing save a memory, shadows and dust in the wind.
I looked at his face, at the one who had tried to murder me, tried to teach me, stripped me of my powers, and eventually... became the shell that I had been so hoping to escape. Yet now, his eyes shining down upon me with a sense of honor and hope within them?
I had been mistaken. Wesley was not a shell of what he once was; he had merely lost his way. Perhaps... perhaps I could take comfort in the fact that I had reminded him of it? No. No, it was not enough, and as I wiped the blood from my lips slowly, I knew what would be enough.
What I had actually been seeking, searching for, longing for all along.
And it had nothing to do with the rest of the human race and everything to do with...
Love.
"Let ( ... )
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