Inside the Office of Wolfram & Hart
Spotty’s Perspective
Spotty’s smirk deepened as she watched Angelus seethe, every word she spoke hitting its mark. She casually twirled the Gem of Amara between her fingers, its soft glow casting faint reflections in the dimly lit office. Dumber than I look? Please. This one practically paints a target on his back.
With a mockingly sweet smile, she leaned slightly forward, her crystalline blue eyes locking onto Angelus’. “Dumber than I look? I’m not the one who had a ring that made me immortal until a few minutes ago, a small army, and this oversized flunky,” she gestured lazily toward Marcus Hamilton, “and still let the First Evil steal the apocalypse my bosses have been planning for eons.”
Her tone sharpened, though her smirk remained. “By the way, if I understand correctly, Angel tried to screw with the Senior Partners, got his ass kicked, and had his soul destroyed before you stepped in to take over. That about right?” She tilted her head, her smirk growing into a grin. “Oh, and as for what’s in it for you? You get to leave this universe in one piece. Seems like a pretty sweet deal to me.”
Ila’s Perspective
Ila stood with her arms crossed, leaning casually against the doorway. Her amber eyes sparkled with amusement as she watched Spotty verbally dismantle Angelus and Marcus Hamilton in one breath. Red-haired, amber-eyed menace, am I? she thought to herself. She’s giving me a run for my money right now.
When Spotty called Marcus an oversized flunky, Ila couldn’t hold back her chuckle. Her laughter echoed through the room, breaking the tension for just a moment. “You’ve really got a way with words, Spotty,” she muttered under her breath, though loud enough for the others to hear.
Ila’s gaze shifted to Marcus. She could see the tightness in his jaw, the subtle clench of his fists. He’s barely holding it together. It wouldn’t take much to push him over the edge.
Angelus’ Perspective
Angelus’ entire body vibrated with barely contained rage. Every word Spotty said felt like a slap across his face. She doesn’t know when to shut up, does she?
The mention of the Gem of Amara was bad enough, but calling Marcus an oversized flunky—that was the final straw. “You think you’re so clever, don’t you?” he spat, his voice dripping with venom.
But her next words cut even deeper. Angel screwed with the Senior Partners, got his soul destroyed, and left me to clean up the mess? That’s not how it happened! His mind raced, trying to piece together a response that wouldn’t sound like a pathetic excuse.
Angelus sneered. “You don’t know what you’re talking about. The First Evil didn’t steal anything. I’m biding my time.”
Marcus Hamilton’s Perspective
Hamilton’s jaw clenched as Spotty’s words sunk in. Being called an oversized flunky was infuriating enough, but the casual tone with which she dismissed him was what really got under his skin. Oversized flunky? She’s baiting me. I’m not going to give her the satisfaction.
His dark eyes flicked to Ila, whose laughter only added salt to the wound. Laugh it up, little redhead. You wouldn’t be so smug if you didn’t have her backing you up.
Hamilton forced himself to stay composed, though his fists tightened at his sides. He spoke with forced calm, his voice low and steady. “You come into our territory, make demands, and insult us, and you expect us to work with you? You’re bold, I’ll give you that.”
The Exchange
Spotty turned to Hamilton, her smirk unrelenting. “Bold? I prefer to call it honest. Besides, you haven’t exactly given me a reason to sugarcoat things, have you?”
Angelus growled. “You don’t get it, do you? This isn’t your universe. You don’t make the rules here.”
Spotty raised an eyebrow, leaning casually against the desk. “Rules?” she echoed mockingly. “That’s cute. Remind me again, which of us has the fleet in orbit, the ability to walk through your wards like they’re wet paper, and the most powerful, bravest, and craziest all packed in one—oh, and smartest and most beautiful?”
Ila snorted, shaking her head. “You forgot modest,” she teased.
Spotty shot her a playful glance. “Right. Modest. How could I forget?”
Hamilton’s voice cut through their banter. “If you’re so powerful, why do you need us?”
Spotty turned her crystalline gaze to him, her smirk fading into a more serious expression. “Because I’m practical. Your knowledge of this universe, your grudges, and your desire for revenge make you valuable. But don’t mistake that for dependence. If you don’t cooperate, I’ll find another way—and trust me, you don’t want to see what Plan B looks like.”
Angelus’ eyes narrowed. “And what if we refuse?”
Spotty’s smirk returned, sharper than before. “Then I suppose you’ll find out why everyone keeps calling me crazy.”
The room fell silent for a moment, tension thick in the air. Ila finally broke it with a soft chuckle. “She’s not bluffing, you know.”
Spotty’s Perspective
Spotty’s crystalline blue eyes glinted with dangerous amusement as she leaned slightly forward, her gaze shifting between Angelus and Marcus Hamilton. She could see the tension ripple through their postures, but it was Angelus’ smirk that caught her attention. His arrogance was almost endearing—if it weren’t so grating.
As she spoke, her voice was calm, almost too calm, with an edge that hinted at the chaos she could unleash. “What if you refuse?” she mused aloud, her tone laced with mock curiosity.
Then she turned to Ila, her lips curling into a sharper smirk. “I just know you’ve been itching to test out the big boom setting on that 300MT antimatter warhead since I gave it to you. If they refuse, you’ll get your chance.”
Spotty couldn’t help but chuckle as she delivered the line. Let’s see if they have the nerve to test us now.
Ila’s Perspective
Ila’s amber eyes widened in mock surprise as Spotty’s words landed. The corners of her mouth quirked upward into a devilish grin. She let her gaze slide lazily to Angelus and Hamilton, enjoying the flicker of unease that crossed their faces.
She leaned casually against the wall, the massive weapon slung over her shoulder resting lightly in her grasp. “Well, what can I say, Spotty?” Ila said, her tone dripping with playful menace. “You know me so well. I’ve been dying to see what this bad boy can really do.”
Her gaze lingered on Angelus, who had stiffened at her words. “Of course,” she added, her voice soft but dangerous, “it’s not every day you get to leave a crater where an entire building used to be. But hey, I’d rather not waste the ammo if you’re willing to talk.”
Angelus’ Perspective
Angelus’ smirk faltered, just slightly, at the mention of a 300MT antimatter warhead. His eyes flicked to the weapon on Ila’s shoulder, the glowing energy core thrumming faintly. These two are insane.
He quickly masked his unease with bravado, leaning forward slightly as if to challenge them. “You think I’m afraid of a little light show?” he sneered, though his voice lacked some of its usual venom. “Go ahead, blow up the building. See how far that gets you.”
Despite his defiance, Angelus couldn’t shake the growing pit of unease in his stomach. They’ve got the power to do it, and the way that redhead is looking at me… she wouldn’t hesitate.
Marcus Hamilton’s Perspective
Hamilton’s composure was slipping, though he tried to keep his face neutral. The mention of an antimatter warhead—a weapon powerful enough to obliterate entire cities—sent a chill down his spine. These women are reckless, but damn it, they’re serious.
His dark eyes flicked to Spotty, who was watching him with a predator’s gaze, and then to Ila, whose mischievous grin didn’t mask the calculated danger behind her eyes. They’re not bluffing.
“Let’s not be hasty,” Hamilton finally said, his voice steady but laced with caution. “If you’re serious about working together, threatening to blow us up isn’t exactly the best start.”
The Exchange
Spotty tilted her head, her smirk never fading. “Oh, but that’s where you’re wrong, Marcus,” she replied smoothly. “It’s not a threat. It’s a statement of fact. If you refuse to cooperate, this building becomes a very memorable crater.”
Ila chuckled, casually adjusting the weapon on her shoulder. “And believe me,” she added, “we’ll make sure the Senior Partners know exactly who did it.”
Angelus growled, his eyes narrowing. “You think you’re untouchable, don’t you?”
Spotty’s gaze sharpened, her tone growing colder. “No, Angelus. I know I’m untouchable. And if you’d stop posturing for five seconds, you’d realize this is me offering you a way out. Work with us, and you’ll walk away from this with your skin intact. Refuse, and you’ll become a cautionary tale.”
Marcus Hamilton crossed his arms, his voice low and measured. “And if we agree? What’s to stop you from double-crossing us once you’ve gotten what you want?”
Spotty raised an eyebrow, her smirk softening into something more sincere. “Because unlike the First Evil or the Senior Partners, I don’t lie to people I work with. You give me your word, I’ll give you mine. That’s how I operate.”
Ila nodded in agreement, her gaze still locked on Angelus. “It’s simple, really. Trust us, and you might just get a chance to prove you’re more than just a footnote in someone else’s apocalypse.”
The room fell silent for a moment as Angelus and Hamilton exchanged uneasy glances. Finally, Angelus broke the silence, his voice low and begrudging. “Fine. But if you screw us over, you’ll wish you’d used that warhead when you had the chance.”
Spotty’s smirk returned, sharper than ever. “Deal.”