[Late Tuesday Night, the Maru, locked to Belthazor and Beka]

[demonbelthazor]

It had been a long, weird day. And the last thing on Belthazor's "to do" list was talking to Beka about what had happened Sunday night. He stopped in his room to check on Phoebe, making sure she was still safe and asleep, then headed out to Beka's ship, where they could have safe, private conversation. He was pretty sure he didn't want to hear what she had to tell him, but he needed to know.

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[valentine-tart.livejournal.com]

"Hey," she said quietly when he arrived. Still not quite ready to meet his eyes, she offered the ominpresent cigarettes and settled on a cargo crate.

[demonbelthazor]

He took a cigarette and smoked in silence with her for several long moments. Finally, he asked softly, "Beka, what happened?"

[valentine-tart.livejournal.com]

"Maybe I should offer you blood and a blowjob. I hear it's all the rage as a way of starting humiliating conversations." There could be no mistaking the bitterness in her tone.

[demonbelthazor]

"Humiliating? Beka, what the hell did I do?" he asked. "I can see you, but if I think about it too much, I start...I start feeling angry."

[valentine-tart.livejournal.com]

"Confirm my working theory first?" she returned. "You went to see Crowley Sunday night, didn't you?"

[demonbelthazor]

"Yeah...yeah, I did," Belthazor said. "He was fucking with you, he was fucking with Tara, and what he said about Phoebe? I couldn't not go."

[valentine-tart.livejournal.com]

That brought her head up, finally, to look him in the eye. "Thanks for that. But you know, you're an idiot. I warned you. Gods I wish you'd listened to me, Bel."

[demonbelthazor]

"He did something to me, didn't he?" Belthazor scowled. "Well, I couldn't just let him sit there and threaten what's mine. That's not the way it works. I don't back down from threats."

[valentine-tart.livejournal.com]

"That's not how I remember it." Hot anger sparked in her. "Backed down just fine when it would've saved your own hide. And damn you anyway with claiming what's yours."

[valentine-tart.livejournal.com]

"Then..." She took a long drag off her cigarette, not looking at him. "Then you asked me if I was done trying to fuck Angelus at the memorial service. Alanna showed up and I managed to warn her off some. I told you to stop, and you asked me if I wanted to play. Said you guessed Angelus hadn't tired me out enough then."

[demonbelthazor]

"You know I didn't mean that...." he protested.

[valentine-tart.livejournal.com]

"Hurt anyway, Bel." She sighed. "I tried to stop you, you hit me, then you said I wouldn't hurt you because I love you. That's probably why I hit you so damned hard with that rock."

[demonbelthazor]

"I...I'm sorry," he said. "You're my friend, Beka -- you know I wouldn't do something like that unless there was something wrong."

[valentine-tart.livejournal.com]

The rest of her anger drained away. "I know you don't apologize, either." She shook her head, rueful. "You were at least partly right, anyhow. I will hurt you if I have to. But I really, really, really didn't like it." Understatement. I hope I never have to keep my other promise to you.

[demonbelthazor]

"Who else was there?" he asked after a moment. "I keep seeing Tara. And Piper and Phoebe. But I know Phoebe wasn't there."

[valentine-tart.livejournal.com]

"Just Tara. You were strangling her and she was crying that she was a dirty witch and even calling you Cole and repeating Phoebe's name over and over barely made a dent. Hence? Rock."

[demonbelthazor]

"Was she saying 'I'll be good'?" Belthazor asked quietly.

[valentine-tart.livejournal.com]

"If that's all you think of me, maybe you should give it a try," he said tonelessly.

Before she could stop herself, she reached out and put a hand on his arm. It would've been his face, but...he wasn't hers. "You know better than that."

[demonbelthazor]

"Raynor knows the Charmed Ones are here," Belthazor said, bowing his head and resting it in his hands. "I tried to make myself believe it wasn't Phoebe and her sisters, but she flat out told me what she was. You don't know how big of a target they have on them now. The Source wants them dead."

[valentine-tart.livejournal.com]

There were no words.

No fireballs.

No cigarettes.

Just Bel.

And Beka.

She raised her hand from his forearm, settling it instead around his shoulders. She didn't pull him to her. He'd come if he wanted. But not trying wasn't an option anymore.

[demonbelthazor]

He didn't flinch from her touch. "I don't know how much time I have. The next time Raynor calls me home, he'll ask if I've found the Charmed Ones. He won't accept no for an answer. He'll know I'm lying. And then he'll kill me. Or he'll make me kill them. Not by my own choice. He has ways...."

[valentine-tart.livejournal.com]

"Maybe Angelus can help," she offered. "You'll talk to him. I'll be with you if you want. Or not. We'll figure this out."

[demonbelthazor]

He nodded. "Yeah, I wanted to talk to him. I mentioned the dreams to him but we were in study hall so I didn't want to go into detail there." He took another drag off his cigarette, let it out slowly, and said softly, "I won't kill her, Beka. I'll die first."

[valentine-tart.livejournal.com]

Oh gods. When he left, there would be tears. A lot of them. Right now, he needed her strong. Still her eyes were probably far too bright when she turned her head to look at him. So close they might've kissed, she spoke instead. "I promise."

[demonbelthazor]

He brought one hand up to his shoulder, resting it on top of her hand. "If I am...if I am trying to kill her," he said shakily, "don't let any feelings hold you back. It's not me anymore. There'd be no Cole, just Belthazor."