beer_good_foamy: (Default)
beer_good_foamy ([personal profile] beer_good_foamy) wrote2008-01-17 11:04 pm

After the Fall fic: In the Land of Moab

I didn't think I was going to fic the After the Fall comics, but #3 just gave me this angsty-silly plotbunny that jumped out at me and shrieked "WRITE ME! WRIIIIIITE MEEEE!" in this sort of high-pitched, vicious voice that didn't take "no" for an answer. So this is based on two of the frames in #3, which means SPOILER ALERT. (If you haven't read them, what you need to know is basically that (highlight) LA was sent to hell following "Not Fade Away", and Angel was made human. That, and the dialogue in the two panels included at the end of this fic.)

Title: In the Land of Moab
Author: Beer Good ([livejournal.com profile] beer_good_foamy)
Rating: PG13
Word Count: 600
Fandom: Angel: After the Fall comics
Disclaimer: These characters are the property of Joss Whedon. If I make money off of them, I'll go to hell.
Warning: Character death (and rebirth)
Summary: You know how time fades away?

In the Land of Moab

Angel's head sags. The blood loss and the pain finally prove too much for what is, after all, just a human body – and not a young one, anymore. All those years of fighting to make up for what he did, to restore Los Angeles to its right dimension... And he'd actually seen it happen, seen HellA flicker and fade, seen a glimpse of it being returned to its normal sunny self. Without him.

But time passes differently in hell. As far as anyone on Earth knew, LA was hit by an earthquake and all communications were down for an hour or so. In hell, Angel remains, an old man nailed to a wall with knives through his hands. So very tired. His hearing is almost gone, and he doesn't notice her approaching until her shadow falls on him and he has to use the last of his strength to look up.

Didn't think I'd see that face again.

"Angel." Illyria doesn't kneel before the dying man, but there's a hint of respect in her eyes.

"So..." he rasps, his throat too dry to speak properly. "You stayed behind too, huh?"

"This world suits me. Let the humans have their brief lives, I prefer things that last."

"And Spike?" Too tired to even inject any venom in the name. It's strange, but he thinks it seemed important once.

"He went with them. He received..." Illyria hesitates, as if she almost said too much, then changes the subject. "You paid the highest price. This is the mark of a true warrior. Yours is a good death, however difficult."

"Yeah," Angel coughs, "feels great." He frowns, as if trying to remember something from long ago. "I have caused thee to see it with thine eyes, but thou shalt not go over thither."

"What is that?"

"Just... another prophecy... I guess." Funny, he spent so many years without having to breathe, and now it's getting so hard. "Illyria... pull out the knives. I don't... want to die... like this."

"You will bleed out."

He smiles, teeth biting down hard in anticipation of pain. "Wouldn't be the first time."

With superhuman speed, she yanks the knives out. Angel slumps forward into her arms, feeling his life drain away into darkness



and opens his new eyes, blinking against the bright light, still in shock. Dark, warm gone. A jumble of memories seem to run through his chubby fingers and down into half-forgottenness. He's still too confused to even start putting words on things when he feels strong hands lift and cradle his tiny, newborn body.

"Look at him," a familiar voice pants. "I can't believe... he's ours. We made him."

"Yeah. Hard to comprehend, ain't it? Wanna hold him, pet?"

He's handed over to another pair of arms, slimmer but just as strong. His mother holds him close, gently, as if afraid she'll break him. "He's... perfect." She sobs with joy. "I feel like I'm the luckiest woman in the world. Just nine months ago you get the shanshu, and now this... Oh, Spike, I love you so much. Both of you... all three of us."

Her husband settles into bed next to her. "Me too, Buffy. Me too. And don't you worry about a thing; I'm going to keep this little nipper safe with every breath in my body. I've been through too much to muck this up." He leans closer, caressing the baby's head and peering into his eyes with a proud smile. "Hear that, little man? You just get used to me, 'cause I ain't letting you out of my sight for the next 18 years."

The infant's eyes finally adjust to the bright light of the delivery room and focus on the smiling faces of his two blonde parents. And Angel opens his mouth and screams.

[identity profile] firefly-124.livejournal.com 2008-01-17 10:17 pm (UTC)(link)
Wow. That's quite a spin you put in there! I'll bet he'd scream bloody murder, begging to go back to that other, far more pleasant hell.

[identity profile] beer-good-foamy.livejournal.com 2008-01-17 10:25 pm (UTC)(link)
Especially since if Spike keeps his promise about not letting him out of his sight, that probably means they're going to put the crib right next to their bed, giving him a ringside seat... ;-) Thanks!
frogfarm: And a thousand gay men wept. (Default)

[personal profile] frogfarm 2008-01-17 10:20 pm (UTC)(link)
Shades of Craig in "Being John Malkovich".

[identity profile] beer-good-foamy.livejournal.com 2008-01-17 10:26 pm (UTC)(link)
You know, I was just saying the other day that I ought to rewatch BJM; haven't seen it since it was in theatres. There might be some subconscious memory going on here. Oh well. Thanks for reading! :-)
ext_15284: a wreath of lightning against a dark, stormy sky (Default)

[identity profile] stormwreath.livejournal.com 2008-01-17 10:21 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh God. :-) I'd thought the baby might be Angel being reborn as a human, but making him their baby was an inspired twist.

Also, you wrote Spuffy baby!fic. I'm afraid there's no coming back from that...

(Although I do think Buffy should have said "Isn't he perfect, Spike? He's our little angel!")

[identity profile] beer-good-foamy.livejournal.com 2008-01-17 10:29 pm (UTC)(link)
Thanks!

Also, you wrote Spuffy baby!fic. I'm afraid there's no coming back from that...

But it's a victimless crime!

(Although I do think Buffy should have said "Isn't he perfect, Spike? He's our little angel!")

I think Buffy would be very careful about mentioning the A word around Spike. He gets all weepy and stuff. ;-)

[identity profile] slaymesoftly.livejournal.com 2008-01-17 10:22 pm (UTC)(link)
You have an evil, evil mind. I love that in a kid. :)

[identity profile] beer-good-foamy.livejournal.com 2008-01-17 10:31 pm (UTC)(link)
I blame my parents. ;-) Thanks!

[identity profile] http://users.livejournal.com/woman_of_/ 2008-01-17 10:25 pm (UTC)(link)
I was determined not to be spoiled, but had to read! LMAO, oh yes, what a hell that would be for Angel. Loved it!

[identity profile] beer-good-foamy.livejournal.com 2008-01-17 10:32 pm (UTC)(link)
And it's inches away from being canon now! ;-) Thanks!
shapinglight: (Comic book Spangel)

[personal profile] shapinglight 2008-01-17 11:35 pm (UTC)(link)
Aww! Poor Baby Angel! I forsee terrible ructions with daddy during his teenage years.

Great stuff, as always, from you. Angel's death scene was very poignant.

[identity profile] beer-good-foamy.livejournal.com 2008-01-17 11:53 pm (UTC)(link)
Thanks! And let's not forget that Angel is now Spike's biological son - imagine him at 12, looking in the mirror and realizing he's starting to look like him... ;-)

Glad the death scene worked. I love to set up a big angsty thing only to turn it around...
deird1: Fred looking pretty and thoughful (Default)

[personal profile] deird1 2008-01-18 01:16 am (UTC)(link)
Very fun!

I haven't read ATF yet, so I'm slightly clueless about what it's based on, but it was definitely worth reading anyway...

[identity profile] beer-good-foamy.livejournal.com 2008-01-18 08:32 am (UTC)(link)
Thanks, nice to hear it worked anyway!

[identity profile] zoesmith.livejournal.com 2008-01-18 04:38 am (UTC)(link)
Mwahahaha!! Oh evil! Evil!! He really can't win, can? Being Spike's son, seeing Buffy and Spike together... Spike the overprotective dad... *hehehe* I feel sorry for him. I really do!

[identity profile] beer-good-foamy.livejournal.com 2008-01-18 08:35 am (UTC)(link)
Yeah, me too. People have been so down on Angel since #1, I figured he deserved some sympathy. :-) Thanks!
ext_2333: "That's right,  people, I am a constant surprise." (Default)

[identity profile] makd.livejournal.com 2008-01-18 07:02 am (UTC)(link)
imaginative twist. Love it!

[identity profile] beer-good-foamy.livejournal.com 2008-01-18 08:37 am (UTC)(link)
Thanks!
goodbyebird: Batman returns: Catwoman seen through a glass window. (Spike Angel tease)

[personal profile] goodbyebird 2008-01-18 08:34 am (UTC)(link)
Oh, how deliciously evil! Grinning from ear to ear here. Great fic, memming.

[identity profile] beer-good-foamy.livejournal.com 2008-01-18 08:43 am (UTC)(link)
Hehe, thanks! It feels good to be bad.
ext_15210: icon created using Leonardo da Vinci portrait of "Lady with ermelline" (Spike)

[identity profile] cyradis.livejournal.com 2008-01-18 12:18 pm (UTC)(link)
This story is really perfect! Poor Angel is granted his "human again" after all, but I don't think that this was what he had in mind.

[identity profile] beer-good-foamy.livejournal.com 2008-01-18 09:01 pm (UTC)(link)
Thanks a lot! I never get tired of making Angel miserable... ;-) Let's face it, he's no fun when he's happy.

[identity profile] shinodabear.livejournal.com 2008-01-18 10:13 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh, yes! You've definitely figured it out. :) Love it.

[identity profile] beer-good-foamy.livejournal.com 2008-01-18 10:26 pm (UTC)(link)
I thought it was pretty obvious. :-) Thanks!
ext_1124: (a_s holdmy hand by extraflamey)

[identity profile] rainkatt.livejournal.com 2008-01-20 02:28 pm (UTC)(link)
Hahahahaha!!! LOVE it! That is just perfectly evil!

Hi, I'm Rainkatt, and I abuse exclamation points. :-)

[identity profile] beer-good-foamy.livejournal.com 2008-01-20 06:24 pm (UTC)(link)
Being evil is its own reward, but exclamation-point-loaded reviews are a very welcome bonus. :-) Thanks!

[identity profile] athenamuze.livejournal.com 2008-01-22 02:03 am (UTC)(link)
Oh wow, I love, love, LOVE this! You can't imagine. I'm so entertained.

[identity profile] beer-good-foamy.livejournal.com 2008-01-22 08:36 am (UTC)(link)
Looking at your icon, I think I can imagine! :-) Thanks!

[identity profile] sl-podcast.livejournal.com 2008-02-22 07:57 am (UTC)(link)
you are a sick, evil man whom I love.

[identity profile] beer-good-foamy.livejournal.com 2008-02-22 09:59 am (UTC)(link)
Haha, thanks! Right back atcha!

[identity profile] pellamerethiel.livejournal.com 2008-03-25 08:16 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh my God, how much I loved this one! Seriously, brilliant plot twist! But now I can't read this comic without killing myself with laughter. Great job :DDD

[identity profile] beer-good-foamy.livejournal.com 2008-03-25 11:37 pm (UTC)(link)
Haha, thanks!

[identity profile] brunettepet.livejournal.com 2008-06-10 05:56 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm not reading ATF, but this is an excellent spin of the frames shown. You captured the dark bleakness of an aged Angel and your Illyria voice is excellent. The idea of Angel being raised by a doting Spike and Buffy gives me a huge smile, especially because he's retained his memories. It's going to be torture!

[identity profile] beer-good-foamy.livejournal.com 2008-06-10 07:54 pm (UTC)(link)
Thanks! I think Angel's terrible twos are going to be quite the nightmare for everyone involved... :-) "I hate you! You're not my daddy! I'm YOUR daddy! And mommy is my... my... WAAAAAAAAH!"

[identity profile] rebcake.livejournal.com 2010-01-11 12:45 am (UTC)(link)
Hee! Oh, delicious! The possibilities for Angel torture are endless! He's just doomed to having daddy issues on every try, isn't he?

I really hope his eyes are blue, because I'm evil that way.