Gunn stood up, surveying the face of young woman who saved his life. For half a moment he thought Faith had pulled of some sort of magic, being in two places at once. Then as the haze from the latest blow faded he realized that this was not the second most experienced slayer who'd come to his rescue. He stood their silently, unsure if this new one was safe.
"Thanks, that was... close." He said catching his breath as the rain began to tapper off. "Names Gunn, Charles Gunn. You got a name?" He asked plainly, as he recovered his short sword from his truck.
"This the Slayer we were lookin for?" Faith asked, "Cho-Ahn?"
"You know her?" Gunn asked curiously.
Faith nodded silently saying surprisingly little, especially for her.
"A little slayer reunion...it touches the heart really." He quipped sarcastically.
"So... you're the armed and dangerous Ms. Chu called about. You got folks mighty scared around here. Come back to the office, we'll talk about getting you setup." Gunn said plainly.
There were many slayers now, but somehow, two of them randomly finding each other in the big wide world, still felt like some sort of destined occurrence. It made him think of yet another meeting, one that he was just as ill-prepared for.
---
Months Earlier: Angel Investigation's - Downtown Office
"I actually had the very same book in my possession back in the late 1800's. I can be very helpful to you Mr Gunn. So what do you say? You in?"
"Whoa... Ms. English, slow down." Gunn said as he slid the book back on to the shelf, and turned back around. Leaning against the desk. Gunn gave the girl another once over. Now inside the warm and dry office, she took on new dimensions. She looked young, attractive, but all travel worn and experienced. There was a certain way that she moved and talked gave him a sense that she was much older then she let on. He clicked the button on a cheap coffee maker in the corner, and turned as he grabbed a coffee cup with the words. "World's Best Rogue Demon Hunter" he'd given to Wesley years earlier and gotten out of storage when he opened the new place.
"I'm going to have coffee...then we talk, you know, like humans?" Gunn asked calmly, it was midnight after all, and it was clear she needed his full attention.
"Now, I'm always up for work, and it's true I could use a job. Between rent, bills, and a very temperamental fish, I need cash. But I need a few more detail first." Gunn said as he folded his arms and continued. As he prepared a second cup for surprise guest. This cup had the words "My Other Mug Is in Another Dimension." the hot black coffee had tendrils of warm steam curling off the top, and smelled columbian. He handed it to her and sat down in an adjacent chair. After a few sips, he spoke.
"First off, I don't do blood sacrifices, or rituals that involve raising the dead without a waiver first. Got flat rates for dealing with vamps, and I charge extra for demons 'cause you never know what little surprises they have in store. Now if you need an ingredient, I might know a few places, but you clear the details of the spell with me first, or it's the door." Gunn said plainly, speaking with all the experience and training a former lawyer for big evil, and a current professional demon hunter had at his disposal.
"So, you wanna tell me why a powerful..." he paused, sizing her up a little more "I'm going to say sorceress... needs the help of wee bitty human like me?" He said as took another sip and waited for the woman to give a more then just a name and a serial number.
---
As the storm clouds died down the occasional roll of thunder was still present, and now he saw another face in the distance. This however was a familar one. Gunn did a double take.
"Spike? Well if it ain't the blond British bomber himself... You look..." He paused, taking stock of the blonde vampire with a soul.
"Exactly same. You know if it wasn't for the whole losing a soul and become evil deal, being a vampire would make a hell of an infomercial." he quipped sardonically, and with a smile as he gave a fist bump to the only other vamp with a soul.
It was then a small pillar of black smoke appeared in front of the group. It grew larger until it was about the size of a small humanoid, then solidified into the shape of a man. The same white haired stocky stranger that had confronted Gunn moments before.
"Eh bien, merde... I have to admit, I did not see this coming. Monsieur Gunn, Madame Faith... eh Spike... petite fille Cho-Ahn you all have a knack for survival that is not an exaggeration. My name is Mr. Fantoma', I'll be killing you all today. If you have any prayers, now would be the time." He sighed and took a puff from a large french cigarette in the corner of his mouth.
"Ok, silver sorcerer, or whatever you think you are... you done messed up now. You wreck my truck, and you speak french? I'm so killing you." Gunn prepared to charge, just as Faith was too, but the man said some words loudly in latin, and Gunn felt his body freeze unnaturally in an attack pose. Faith too groaned as she tried to move her supernaturally strong body against clearly strong paralyzing magic. All present were frozen in place, as the main in white, with the white hair continued to speak.
"Yes... two dark slayers, a noble vampire, and a brave but weak human, crusaders all. It is a pity to have to kill you all ... as you look so... how do the Americans say? Heroic? Still, I suppose it is better this way. Au Revior!" The magician raised his hands and channeled what looked like red lightning...it arced through the air, crackling with the smell of ozone, and radiated immense heat. Gunn looked on helpless as the man seemed to revel in the power he was summoning, preparing to fry them like so many chickens on a grill.
((OOC.... Next Post Goes to our resident magic user...Second Hand Slayer your up!))
