Summary: Conner runs into Willow and begs for help
Pairings: W/A
Disclaimers: I really do not own Angel or Buffy. Suing me will get you my multiple cats and then I will cry loads.
Distribution: redssoulmates.com and any others who ask
Feedback: Reviews would be nice, even flames are good. I can’t fix it if I don’t know what I’m doing wrong. Enjoy
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
~Part: 1~
Willow listened intently as the sounds of the pursers started to die away. The young man that she was pressing into the shadows shifted slightly and she turned her focus on him. Her hand remained pressed firmly over his mouth, her body shielding his in the shadows where they hid. Once she was certain that the two of them were completely alone, she removed her hand. Willow’s eyes were black as she took a step back from him, finally releasing him.
When she had first seen the boy running and had felt his fear, Willow had reacted instinctively to save him. She had thought that he was being chased by demons and had taken steps to shield them both from discovery. It wasn’t until she had him pressed against the wall and the voices had been close enough to recognize that she realized who the pursers were.
His breathing had slowed since she had first used her magic and strength to press him back against the wall and his eyes had lost the fear and apprehension that had been in them. Willow kept a firm hold on her magic as he took a step towards her while rubbing his hand over his mouth. He took another step forward, raising dust in the deserted building, his dark eyes never leaving hers.
“Why did you help me?” His voice was harsh and raspy.
“It seemed like a good idea at the time,” Willow told him carelessly, her own voice cold and uncaring. “You were being chased and I know what lurks in the night. You were also leaking fear everywhere,” Willow gave a careless shrug and turned away. “Now that I’ve helped you, I’ll continue on my way.”
“Wait!” His voice was desperate and his breathing sounded loud in the silence of the deserted building.
“Why?” Willow questioned as she turned back to him. By this time her hair was as black as night and the air crackled with the magic she was holding at bay. Willow’s black eyes took in his outstretched hand before meeting his eyes and reading the confusion there.
“I’m not from this dimension,” he explained as his hand dropped to his side. Conner knew he should be afraid of this woman that radiated evil and yet he felt completely safe with her.
“Not recently,” Willow admitted as she took in the energies swirling around him. “But you were born here.”
“One of my pursers killed my father,” he told her furiously, as his fists clenched and unclenched. “I need help,” he spat the words out like they were distasteful and then pressed his lips into a thin line.
Willow observed him silence for a long moment. She took in the anger, grief and fear that were swirling on the surface. When she looked deeper she saw the same insecurities she lived with and knew that she would help him. Hidden behind all the surface emotions, she saw a boy who had grown up with the belief that he didn’t deserve to be loved. She knew that feeling. After all that was what had brought her here to LA. With a sigh, she released her magic and knew that her eyes were back to green and her hair its normal shade of red.
“Willow Rosenberg,” her voice was soft in the silence.
“What?”
“My name, it’s Willow,” she told him with a smile. She held out her hand and waited. Her green eyes watched as he first stared at her hand and then into her eyes, battling his own fears and mistrusts. Her smile got bigger and her eyes softer as she watched the play of emotions cross his face. “And until you don’t need me anymore, you’re stuck with me.”
With her statement some of the tension eased from the boy and he placed his hand in hers, gripping her fingers tightly. His brown eyes shimmered with unshed tears as he stepped closer to her and laid his head on her shoulder. “Conner. My name is Conner,” he whispered into her ear.
Willow wrapped her arms around him, rocking him gently as his arms slipped around her waist and he relaxed against her. “It’s a pleasure to meet you Conner.”
~~~*~~~
Angel and the rest of the AI gang stood silent in the Hyperion Hotel. After preventing Conner from dumping Angel into the ocean, it had become a chase. Angel didn’t want Conner hurt but he did want him caught. That boy must be my child, Angel thought wryly. He can escape from almost any situation. Once they had hit the warehouse district, the gang had lost him. It was like Conner had simply vanished into thin air. Angel felt a clenching in his gut as he remembered what had happened the last time that Conner had disappeared into thin air.
He wouldn’t let himself consider losing Conner completely again. Conner simply had a escape route planned in case anything went wrong.
next | back