Halls of Fandom High, Friday Night

[demonbelthazor]

Bel wandered aimlessly through the halls, avoiding...everyone. Phoebe wanted her grandmother and oldest sister to meet him this weekend, and he still wasn't so sure about that. And he really didn't want to see all the happy reunions of parents and children that other people were having. Jealousy, he knew. After all, he didn't have a loving mother or father who wanted to see him. His father was dead, his mother was (thankfully) dead now, and the rest of the Underworld thought he was dead.

He sighed, his hands stuffed in his pockets, his head down as he rounded a random corner.

[ooc: for those who know who they are. If you have a desire to jump in, please to be pinging me on AIM first.]

Comments

[http://users.livejournal.com/_raynor/]

Raynor just happened to choose that very moment to shimmer into the hallway. How convenient. "Belthazor."

[demonbelthazor]

Bel's head snapped up at the familiar voice. "Oh, fuck," he said, the words escaping before he could censor his shock.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_raynor/]

Raynor smirked. "Imagine my surprise when I received an invitation to Parents Weekend. You must have forgotten to mention faking your death to the school administration."

[demonbelthazor]

Bel took a nervous step back. "I...I can explain," he said lamely, trying desperately to think of an excuse to give his foster father that would let him get out of this situation alive and intact.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_raynor/]

"Oh?" Raynor said. "Well then, by all means, please do."

[demonbelthazor]

"I-I was going to tell you I didn't get vanquished," Bel said. "But, uh...things just kept happening here and I, um, couldn't get the time away from school."

Oh yeah. Realy smooth.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_raynor/]

"Seems you have much more to explain," Raynor said calmly after searching Belthazor's thoughts for a moment. "Like working with witches and a vampire to vanquish your mother, betraying the Underworld."

He shook his head in disappointment.

[demonbelthazor]

"It's not like that!" Bel protested. Even though it clearly was.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_raynor/]

Raynor gave him a look of pure disgust. "You allowed a Charmed One to kill her. And then you faked your death? Taking the coward's way out."

He shook his head again. "I'm here to remind you of what you really are. I haven't given up on you. Yet."

[demonbelthazor]

Bel took another step back. "No," he said, trying to keep his voice firm and resolved. "I...I'm not going back."

[http://users.livejournal.com/_raynor/]

Raynor glared at Belthazor, not expecting this at all. "I'm not giving you a choice."

[demonbelthazor]

Bel shook his head. "You can't make me."

[http://users.livejournal.com/_raynor/]

"I think I can," Raynor spat angrily before grabbing him by the throat and slamming him against the wall. "I won't let you forget what you are. You're meant to serve the Underworld and obey the Source."

[demonbelthazor]

"I think she's with her family right now," Bel said. "I'm not sure if she was going to come back tonight or not. She wants them to meet me, but...." He winced again. "Not like this."

He started to try to get to his feet and looked from Wilson to Phale. "Thanks," he said quietly. "If you hadn't come around the corner when you did...."

[dr-jwilsonmd.livejournal.com]

Wilson shared a quick look with Phale, then reached to put a steadying omg!not dirty hand on Bel's elbow.

"Bel, come back to the apartment for tonight. Crash in the spare room. We'll fix up the damage so it's not such a shock for Phoebe tomorrow and you're guarunteed a safe night's rest."

[a-phale.livejournal.com]

"That's an excellent idea, James love," Aziraphale quickly agreed. "Belthazor, you know the shields on the apartment are open to you, so anytime you need a safe place to rest..."

He wasn't about to say 'a safe place to hide', because it was doubtful Belthazor would ever choose to even hide from things he probably should avoid."

[demonbelthazor]

Bel nodded shakily. He was still dizzy from his earlier impact with the wall. "Yeah, that sounds like a good idea," he said. "I don't want her to see me...like this. Especially not with her family here."

[dr-jwilsonmd.livejournal.com]

Setting a supportive hand against the small of Bel's back, Wilson gave his young friend an understanding smile.

"Come on, let's get you back to the apartment."

As he started to take a step forward, Wilson stopped and looked back at Phale.

Err...angelic taxi service?

[a-phale.livejournal.com]

Aziraphale's lips twitched into a smile at the obvious request in Wilson's expression.

"Really, my dear," he replied dryly. "I ought to start charging for this. If you feel up to it, Belthazor?"

He held out a hand toward the young man.

[demonbelthazor]

"Yeah, okay," Bel said, reaching for Phale's hand.

This was going to be different. But he was still a little too shaken up to shimmer by himself yet.

[dr-jwilsonmd.livejournal.com]

"Wing preen." Wilson promised softly and steadied his hand around Bel's elbow for the trip.

[a-phale.livejournal.com]

Raising an eyebrow in a pleased sort of way at the offered bribe, Aziraphale nodded. Getting a good grip on Bel's hand, and wrapping the other arm around Wilson's waist, he took them quickly back to the apartment.

As soon as they were inside, the wards were activated. Just in case people got ideas about hunting Bel down while he was recovering.

"I'll make us some tea," he said, in the time-honored tradition of all Brits.

[demonbelthazor]

Bel sank down wearily on the couch. "The school sent him an invite to Parents Weekend," he said. "I didn't realize it...."

[dr-jwilsonmd.livejournal.com]

Ducking into the hall closet, Wilson withdrew his medical bag and walked over to the couch. Pulling the coffee table up close, he sat down on it, facing Bel and then began to dig into the bag for guaze and antiseptic.

"That was...unfortunate." He said about the invite. "Err...I was right, that...wasn't your biological father? That was your...handler?"

[a-phale.livejournal.com]

Aziraphale was back in very short order with tea all around, although he had half a mind to spike it with a bit of brandy, figuring they could all use it.

In fact, he did just exactly that.

"I have to say, the school really ought to reconsider such a blanket policy on issuing invitations. We can assume, then, that you weren't expecting him?"