31_days | [October 7, 2008] [BtVS/Angel] Equivalent Exchange

Title: Equivalent Exchange (2/6)
Day/Theme: October 7. double or nothing
Series: Angel/Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Character/Pairing: Angel, Wesley, Connor, Buffy, Fred; Buffy/Angel, Wesley/Fred UST
Rating: PG
Previous parts here

-

"Gunn isn't wrong," Wesley said. From behind where he was standing, staring out the window, Angel could feel Wesley watching him, probably with the same thoughtful expression on his face that he generally wore when he was talking to Angel. "To say leaving Wolfram & Heart won't be easy is an understatement."

"Funny thing," Angel told him and didn't bother to turn around. "I really don't care."

"I can see that," Wesley said, dryly, as walked over to stand closer to Angel. "I just think this a decision you should make cautiously. This will not be something you can back away from if you choose to go through with it."

At that Angel did turn around to face Wesley. "This isn't just something I just decided to do, Wes. There have been a lot of things that have happened lately that made me realize that this isn't the place where I should be."

Wesley's voice was soft when he asked, "How much of you recently learning that Buffy no longer trusted you influence this decision?"

Angel was saved from answering that question by Harmony's voice calling out, "You can't go in there! Boss said he's not talking to anyone today."

"To bad," a familiar voice said shortly before briskly walking into Angel's office.

Angel had stelled himself for Buffy - he rather suspected it would be a confrontation considering Andrew's recent double-cross, even if her voice sounded more tired and worried than angry - but there was no way he could prepare himself for the person walking in behind her.

Connor.

He hadn't even registered his son's scent.

"Wes, take care of this," Angel ordered sharply.

"Of course," Wesley said, probably suspecting Angel wasn't in the mood to deal with Buffy. Angel was, not for the first time, grateful in a guilty way that Wesley's modified memories restored some aspects of their friendship back to the way they were before - before Connor.

However, he wasn't able to make it to the door before Buffy grabbed his arm. "I didn't come here for Wesley."

"Whatever you need," Angel said, brushing her off, "he can help you. I don't have time."

"Angel," Buffy said in a way that made him freeze.

He turned around and looked at her and it was like nothing between them had changed since she was sixteen and innocent and he was foolish enough to think he finally had something he could keep.

"Wes," Angel said, without thinking, "can you keep him busy in your office? We should probably be alone."

"I'm all over that," Connor said, pretending to shutter, and hearing his voice was almost enough to make Angel want to grab him and never let go. "You don't want to see them when they really get started. It's like a melodramatic chick flick if they were known to tone things down."

"I am not without experience of observing their more dramatic interactions," Wesley said dryly as he led Connor out of Angel's office.

When the door closed behind them, Buffy began to pace around the office. "It's Connor," she said.

Unable to keep still with all the fear and anxiety coating her voice and sliding off her body like waves, Angel walked over to her and grabbed her shoulders. "Whatever this is, we'll find a way to fix it." He was close enough now to see that she hadn't been sleeping well and that she was close to tears. He brushed some hair out of her face and, before he could stop himself, added, "Promise."

At that, Buffy took a deep breath and some of the tension in her body melted away. "He's developing powers. And we've ruled magic, demons and possession. The only other thing it might be is related to him being the key - "

Angel dug his fingers into her skin. "They key? What about Dawn?"

Buffy's face twisted into confusion. "Dawn?"

Angel tore his hands away from her and took several steps back. Things were staring to come together but in a way that left him more questions. "Never mind."

Buffy looked like she wanted to hug him as she took a few steps forward. "Are you okay?"

"We need to focus on your brother," Angel said, the last word coming out slightly hesitant, because he really couldn't be sure of the exact nature of their relationship.

Buffy gave him a long look before finally saying, "Yeah." Her features softened considerably. "Thank you."

"It's no problem," Angel said. "I have someone who might be able to give me some answers. But - "

"Solo thing?" Buffy asked.

"Kinda," Angel said. "Harmony can tell you were to find Wes and C - your brother."

Buffy's lips twitched. "Harmony? How did that happen?"

"Long story," Angel said and resisted the urge to rub his eyes.

Buffy closed the distance between them and set a hand on his and said with a smile, "I think it's one I'd like to hear."

-

When Wesley opened the door to his office, the first thing he saw was Fred fiddling with one of his paperweights.

At his entrance, she set it down roughly. "I think that we need to talk about Angel - " she paused when Connor entered the room behind Wesley. "Later." She gave Wesley a look that made him shift slightly before turning her attention to Connor.

"This is Connor Summers, Buffy's younger brother," Wesley said, motioning towards Connor and then he motioned toward Fred, "and this is my colleague, Winifred Burkle -"

"Don't say it like that," Fred scolded lightly as she walked over to them. "Too formal." She scrunched up her face. "Like we're not friends."

Wesley tensed slightly and was about to correct himself, but Fred continued speaking.

"Just call me Fred," she said brightly and held out her hand.

Connor shook it and then said, "Willow's mentioned you a few times."

Fred's smile became even brighter. "Oh has she said anything about sub particle gun I've been designing? I think the science is sound, but I'm not nearly as sure on the magical part." She gave Wesley an apologetic look. "And since Willow is really great at both science and magic, I thought I'd get some advice from her before going to you. I didn't want to waste your time."

"I understand," Wesley and told himself that it would be ridiculous to be jealous of Fred emailing a friend, even if they were flirting some last year. He walked over to his desk and said as casually as he could mange, "However, you should never worry about wasting my time."

Before he ducked his head, he saw Connor give him considering look before he turned back to look at Fred. "Way over my head."

"So," Fred said awkwardly, taking a few steps back in order to lean against Wesley's desk. "Why - "

"Am I here?" Connor asked. "Things are a little weider than normal with me and my sister is freaking out." There was a knock on Wesley's door. "Speak of the devil." He looked down at his watch. "It's only been like five minutes." He looked at both Fred and Wesley, and said, seriously, "This might mean they skipped the kissing and teary speeches about how they can never be together. Scary times we live in."

"How do you know it's her?" Fred asked.

"I can smell her," Connor said as he walked over to the door and opened it.

Fred and Wesley exchanged a look.

"Are you okay?" Buffy asked, setting her hand on Connor's forehead.

Connor brushed her off. "See? This is why I can never take you out in public."

Wesley expected her to snip back at him, but she just took a step back and continued to give him a worried look.

It was mildly concerning. Back when Wesley was her Watcher, he rarely saw the two of them together without bickering. The exception being when Connor was in danger, which honestly wasn't and uncommon event, as it was hardly a secret that the Slayer was protective of her brother, and many foolish demons tried to use that against her.

Wesley couldn't think of a single one who didn't met an ugly and painful death when Buffy got her hands on them.

What became even more concerning was the look on Connor's face when she moved away from him. "Maybe I can tolerate you for one night where no one knows my face."

"You just don't want to pay for your own dinner," Buffy said.

Connor set a hand on the back of her shoulders and began to lead her out of the room. "Speaking of which, I think a raise on my allowance is in order."

"In your dreams," Buffy said shortly. She turned around and told Wesley, "Make sure Angel calls as soon as he gets something."

"I will," Wesley said with a nod.

After Connor shut the door behind him, Fred turned towards Wesley and gave him a small smile. "Speaking of dinner, maybe we should get some too."

"To talk about Angel," Wesley agreed. He picked up his phone. "Perhaps I should call Gunn and Lorne? It would probably be best if we all worked together."

Fred slipped off his desk, causing her shoulders to slump slightly. "Kill two birds with one stone?"

"Precisely," Wesley said, smiling at her before dialing Gunn's number.

-

When Eve walked into his office, Angel shut the door none-too-gently and turned around. Folding his arms, he said, "Sit."

Eve sat down primly. "How can I be of service?"

"You can start by explaining why my son is with Buffy," he walked over to her, slowly, and set his hands down on the arm of the chair she was sitting on. Then he leaned over. "And while you're at it, where the hell Dawn is."

Eve leaned back slightly and grinned. "You know the deal you made with Wolfram and Hart."

"The deal," Angel said, his voice like steal, "was to give Connor a normal and happy life. I don't remember 'brother of a Slayer' being part of that deal." He shifted his face just enough to let her know he was hair away from showing her his fangs, "And I'm pretty sure that I made sure that he wasn't taking anyone else's life when he was given a new one."

Eve's smile shook slightly, but her voice remained cheerfully even. "See, that's the problem with you, Angel. While making sure no one could ever touch him, you gave the Senior Partners all they need."

"If I kept him so safe, then why the hell is he with Buffy?"

"You don't think Buffy can keep him safe?" Eve asked brightly.

"That's not the point," Angel snapped and willed himself not wrap his hands around her neck. She was his only source of information. "I saw him with his new - I saw him. Was that some sort of an illusion?"

"No. The Senior Partners always keep their deals. Until today, your son was Connor Reilly," Eve said and she began to stand up but the look Angel gave her stopped her in her tracks. She licked her lips. "But you didn't. You plan to quit."

"How exactly would putting my son in danger stop me from leaving?" Angel asked.

Eve let out a frustrated sigh. "If they wanted to stop you, Connor would be back in that mall about to kill himself, for starters."

"Then what are they doing?"

"Warning you," Eve said.

While he digested this, Angel pulled away from her and began to pace. "How does Dawn fit into all of this?"

"Being the key, she was easily expendable," Eve said. "And her connection with Buffy made her a perfect target."

"She's not part of this!"

Eve shook her head. "Did you have any idea at all what you were getting into when you took this deal?"

Angel stared her down. "You're not telling me everything."

"I am!" Eve said. "How many times do I have to tell you that I only know what the Senior Partners want me to know before you get it?"

"Do you know how many people I've tortured, Eve?" Angel asked lightly. "I do." Eve froze. "And I think I'm starting to miss it." He shifted into his game face. "Want to help me find out if I do?"

"I don't know anything else," Eve said. "But maybe the warlock who built Connor's memories does."

"Does he have a name?" Angel asked in a tone that made Eve swallow.

"Cyvus Vail."

-

"Angel," Vail said in a wheezing voice. "How very nice to see you in person."

With a hand covered in the blood of the guards he'd killed to get to the warlock, Angel grabbed his throat and squeezed lightly.

"I guess you aren't here for pleasantries," Vail said.

"More in the mood to kill," Angel agreed. "You talking might help with that."

"I made your son twice," Vail said. Angel let go of his neck, but otherwise didn't move an inch. "A shame I had to redo him, Connor Reilly was some of my finest work."

"Tell me what this has to do with Dawn," Angel said. "And keep in mind I already know that she was chosen because she's not exactly human and close to Buffy."

"It takes a lot of power to change someone's memories," Vail said. He waved one hand, and, in front of him a yellow box of light appeared. "And it can easily be broken if this were to be destroyed in front someone whose memory had been altered by magic." He waved his hand again and the box disappeared. "It takes even more power to completely change reality. Power beyond even mine. Power that a goddess would use."

"So you used Dawn."

"Yes," he shook his head slowly. "That was also a shame. She was fine work, as well."

"Can it be changed back?" Angel asked, although he wasn't sure what he could do to both bring back Dawn and keep his son sane yet.

"The power of the key has been transferred into your son to complete the shift in reality completely," Vail said. "That cannot be undone."

"Then give me one good reason not to kill you," Angel said, jerking his hand back to cover Vail's throat and crush his fingers into the flesh of the warlock's neck.

"Because I didn't say that Connor's original memories couldn't be restored," Vail said. He's lips twisted into an ugly smile as Angel dropped his arm. "Or the Slayer's."