Suite 518/520, Monday morning

[demonbelthazor]

Homecoming had gone off without a hitch. Almost. After picking up Veronica, he'd ordered flowers for Phoebe. Willow and Hermione had provide the pumpkin coach. He'd borrowed Old Man from Pippi to pull it. And Isabel had transformed Phoebe's shoes into glass slippers. He'd left a note for Phoebe along with the jewelry he'd bought her to go downstairs, where her horse-drawn carriage had taken her to dinner, and then to the Homecoming dance. There were pictures and dancing, and Phoebe was having the time of her life.

Then he'd run into Logan at the punchbowl which ended in a fight that fortunately for Logan had been interrupted by walter and the Doctor. Another few minutes and he might have killed him, and strangely that thought didn't bother him as much as it should have.

Saturday he'd had detention that Phale had given him after he threatened Joxer in Prophecy. The moron had it coming, though; Bel refused to back down from that. Hence...detention. It wasn't a bad detention, since there was fighting, then Dr. Wilson had talked to him over lunch, and then more fighting. He still bore the injuries from that fight, knife slashes across his arms and chest. But fighting felt good.

Then he'd gotten a message from Angel to meet him at J,GoB. He debated not going, figuring Angel was just going to be pissed about the fight with Logan, and he didn't have much to say to him anyway. But he went. He'd felt angry and defensive, and when Angel made him promise to call if he was having difficulties, he wasn't sure he'd actually do it. Where before he'd wanted nothing but Angel's approval, now he just felt bitterness.

The next morning, he'd gone to Luke's for breakfast and ended up accidentally punching Cally in the face. He felt bad about it and took her home, but part of him worried that maybe it hadn't been an accident. Maybe he hit her on purpose.

Finishing up the weekend had been running into Piper in the park and taking Veronica home -- who had proceeded to try to get him to talk to her about what was gonig on. How could he tell her that everything was spinning out of control? The only one thing he was sure of anymore was his love for Phoebe, and from what he'd been seeing of the future, maybe that wouldn't even be enough to save him.


[ooc: Open for the girlfriend or anyone who wants to knock on the door, otherwise just a linkdrop.]

Comments

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe could tell that things were really bothering Cole and she wasn't sure exactly how to help. She had woken up awhile ago, but had laid there, deciding to feign sleep and stay cuddled up close with her boyfriend.

Finally, she opened her eyes and tightened her arm around him.

"I love you."

[demonbelthazor]

He snuggled closer to her, taking comfort in her embrace. "Love you too, sweetheart," he said.

[sensethevisions]

"How can I help?"

She wasn't going to be stupid and ask Is something wrong? when there so obviously was. She'd skip the small talk crap and go directly to the important part.

[demonbelthazor]

"I don't know," he said. "I...I'm scared."

[sensethevisions]

"Talk to me, sweetheart. Tell me what's happening?"

[demonbelthazor]

Cole was silent for a long moment. "What do you think...about stripping my powers?" he said finally.

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe blinked. That was unexpected.

"Why do you ask?" she said slowly.

[demonbelthazor]

"Then I wouldn't be a demon anymore, would I?" he said, reaching out to gently stroke her hair.

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe was silent for a moment as she thought about what he was saying.

"I don't know if losing your powers would mean you weren't part demon any longer," she said honestly. "Is this something you want and what are the reasons why?"

If this was something he truly wanted, she'd do research and find an answer for him. However, she wasn't going to allow any changes to him that came from fleeting thoughts.

[demonbelthazor]

"I wouldn't be able to...hurt anyone anymore," he said. "Right?"

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe took a deep breath.

"I don't know, love," she said again. "I'm not entirely sure how these things work. If your powers are stripped from you, it could mean that you were now completely human and not have some of the issues that you're struggling with. On the other hand, it could make you a demon with no supernatural powers and that could make things worse. Not all creatures who hurt people have powers. Humans hurt other humans, too."

[demonbelthazor]

"I know," Cole growled, tightening his arms around her as he thought of the mugger.

He signed and tried to relax. "I just feel like I'm losing control," he said quietly. "The demon part of me...it wants to hurt. It wants to kill."

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe stroked his hair as he talked to her about this.

"Is there any specific situation or actions that trigger this?"

[lovechildblair.livejournal.com]

Blair felt like he needed to check in with Bel and make sure he was okay. He knocked on the door quietly, just in case the occupants were still asleep.

[demonbelthazor]

Bel gave Phoebe a kiss and got out of bed, pulling his pajama bottoms on and running his fingers through his hair before he answered the door. "Hey, Blair," he said, blinking at the light from the hall. "What's up?"

[lovechildblair.livejournal.com]

"Hey, man." Blair blushed a little. "Sorry. Did I wake you up?"

[demonbelthazor]

Bel grabbed a sweatshirt and threw it on. "Nah, we were kinda awake," he said. "Have to get up for class soon anyway." He waved Blair inside.

[lovechildblair.livejournal.com]

Blair nodded and stepped inside, bouncing a little. "Yeah, I wanted to talk to you before class. Are you okay?"

[demonbelthazor]

"What makes you ask that?" Bel said evasively.

[lovechildblair.livejournal.com]

"Uh...I talked to Cally last night." Blair shrugged. "She told me what happened."

[demonbelthazor]

"It was an accident!" Bel exclaimed. "I didn't mean to hit her!"

[lovechildblair.livejournal.com]

"Whoa, dude, I know." Blair waved a hand. "Calm down. That's what Cally said."

[demonbelthazor]

"I feel bad about it," Bel said. "Here I was telling her how I kicked Logan's ass, and I smack her."

[lovechildblair.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, I told her she should make you shimmer across the globe for really good food." Blair teased.

"Besides feeling bad, how are you doing? This is another hurt human. Or another two counting Logan."

[demonbelthazor]

"Logan deserved it," Bel said crossly. "He's a jackass."