Headlights on Dark Roads - Chapter 1 [AtS]
Title: Headlights on Dark Roads
Chapter: 1/?
Author: Nora [remember_nomore/simply_shiny]
Pairing: Tara, Angel, Lindsey [smooshed together at some point]
Rating: PG [Currently]
Word Count: 1,643
Authors Note: I blame chlare for this 1000%. Then again this is just fun to blame on someone. Title from a Snow Patrol song - that’s quite fitting actually.
Nothing in Lindsey’s life was ever going to be easy or uncomplicated ever again; he knew that the second Angel tossed his biggest client to date out the window with a simple nudge of his foot. When Holland handed him his newest case, he had a shimmer of hope that maybe - just maybe - his luck was going to change.
Case File #487-B308557-0
Prospect: Maclay, Tara
Age: 21
Sex: Female
Species: Human
Attributes: Natural Witch
Objective: Long term employment
The more Lindsey read into the file, the more he knew this was going to be far from a challenge. She worked with the reading demon - Lorne - and didn’t have any family to speak of that would hold her back. With the way the rest of her file read Lindsey’s hope turned into something else. It left a bitter taste in his mouth as he realized that Holland and the firm had lost faith in him, they were handing him an easy case just to keep him busy until they decided what to do with his current state of employment.
“Wow,” Lilah looked over his shoulder. “Did they ever hand you an easy case; I guess you pissed in their Cheerios one too many times.”
“Shut up, Lilah.”
“If you say so, but I am getting the popcorn and watching this as it blows up in your face.” With that she turned on her heel and left his office.
He rotated his jaw and threw his scotch glass against the closed office door, his temper getting the best of him until he realized he needed to breathe. The girl was working tonight and he had a plan to get into play. Everyone had it in their head he was going to fail. It only made him even more determined to get this girl and prove them all wrong.
~*~*~
Caritas was packed; it wasn’t unusual for open-mic night. Everyone - and everything - came to get on stage and have a reading. Tara hurried around behind the counter, looking for another bottle of blood as the demon on the other side of the counter tapped his claws impatiently on the bar. “Sorry,” she muttered, pasting on a smile as she held up the bottle and started the task of making yet another real bloody mary for another demon who was likely to leave another lousy tip.
“It’s about time there blondie. If you weren’t so nice on the eyes…”
“You’d do no such thing,” Lorne spoke as he walked up behind Tara and rested his arm over her shoulder. “You’re going to leave this pretty waitress alone and thank her for putting up with you or you’re not getting read here my friend.” The demon mumbled something, slapped a bill on the counter and stalked off with his drink. “How you holdin’ up sugarplum?” He turned to her and smiled.
Tara looked a bit frazzled. “Alright, trying to juggle open-mic night and finals at the same time.” She puffed a lock of hair from her eyes and smiled. “I’m fine, I appreciate the job.”
“You don’t have to keep telling me that. You’re perfect for this job, it’s your place to be here and you aren’t exactly hard on the eyes for the customers.” Affectionately he tapped her nose before making his way past her to refill his sea breeze.
With a heavy sigh, Tara pulled the rag out of her apron and started to wipe down the bar, working her way around until she settled on a pair of arms leaning across the bar and blocking her way. “Excuse me,” She spoke, brushing her hair from her face and looking up at the owner of the human looking arms. “Sir?”
“Oh, sorry, Darlin’.” The corner of his lips curved up as he quirked his brow at her. “Think when you’re all done cleaning you could refill me?” The man tipped his empty glass towards her, giving her a look that has filled his bed many nights before.
“Sure,” she said casually, reaching behind them and picked up the bottle of Jack Daniels and filled his glass again. “Ice?” He shook his head. “Four dollars, or do you have a running tab tonight?”
“I’ve got a standin’ tab here. Lindsey McDonald.” The sudden silence of the stage made him turn his head. “Guess I’m up...”
“Good luck,” she said absentmindedly, restocking the olives behind the counter and not bothering to look up from her task.
He sighed and picked up his guitar, shaking his head as he tried to figure out more about this girl. She didn’t look special or anything and he wouldn’t have any idea why the firm would want her if he hadn’t seen her file. But for the moment he pushed it out of his head, this might be an assignment but the stage was his one guilty pleasure even the firm couldn’t take away.
Lorne patted him on the back as Lindsey made his way on the stage, making careful steps around the slimy footsteps from the demon that was on stage before him. “Go on and bring the house down, cowboy.”
Lindsey snorted and just shook his head, adjusting his guitar strap and shifting under the hot spotlight. Ignoring the barstool as he stood behind the mic, closing his eyes and picturing that he was somewhere else, living another life as he started to sing a Johnny Cash song.
It all began when they took me from my home
And put me on Death Row,
a crime for which I am totally innocent, you know.
The song was predominantly played by piano but with a bit of tinkering, Lindsey had made it his own; keeping true to the Cash sound he grew up on and singing a song that had more meaning than anyone would be able to figure out. His eyes were closed the entire time, everything but the feel of the strings under his fingers and the warmth of the lights that poured down on him was shut from his mind. When he was here and this moment he wasn’t property of Wolfram and Hart; he was free to be himself - the southern boy that dared to strive for a better life - and not the lawyer that was sucked into a web of lies and sold his soul for a five-dollar bill.
When he finished he barely heard the crowd as he slung his guitar to his back and made his way off the stage. Once the spotlight was off his skin it was back to work as usual; he had a client to obtain not only for the firm but to prove to himself that he hasn’t lost it.
Lindsey made his way back to the bar, mentally contemplating his next move as he took his seat back on the stool. “Thought I’d keep you company.” He smiled at her, extending his hand out to the blonde on the other side of the counter. “Names Lindsey…”
Tara smiled politely and wiped her hand before reaching out and taking it. “Tara.” She shifted awkwardly and picked up the bottle of jack under the counter. “Refill?”
“Woman after my own heart.” He smiled and held his glass out to her, setting it down on the counter and looked at her expectantly as she poured the whiskey.
“Would you like something else sir?”
“Lindsey, please. Sir is something you call someone old and tired,” he attempted to make her smile with a joke.
“Okay, would you like something else, Lindsey?” Apparently it was a lacking one.
“Join me for a drink.” It was a demand masked as a suggestion, he needed her to give him her undivided attention if this was going to work.
Politely she shook her head. “Sorry, I can’t,” she told him politely, leaving out the fact that she didn’t drink from him. “I’m working.”
“Ever hear of the customer is always right?” He let a playful smile cross his lips and he turned his blue eyes to hers. “I’m sure you’re due for a break,” he pressed, reaching out and touching her hand for a moment.
Before Tara could answer another demon at the bar came up and demanded her attention. “I’m working,” she repeated apologetically and quickly took off to help the gray sludge colored demon.
His eyes narrowed when she turned away, Lindsey quickly downed his whiskey and got up from his stool. He slipped his guitar in its case and decided to call it a night, he had an early meeting with Lilah and there would be other nights to come hunt his prey.
Didn’t hurt she was easy on the eyes either.
Roughly running his fingers through his hair, he made his way up the stairs to head out to his car. Not paying attention the door swung open and nearly sent him flying back down the staircase. “Hey, watch it!”
A pair of dark eyes burned into Lindsey. “If I had known I would have put some weight behind it.”
“Angel,” Lindsey hissed, his eyes narrowing.
“Are you slumming again, boy?”
“Not enough time to sink low enough for your level.” They stared silently for a moment; if hatred were a physical action then both men would be on the floor. “Why are you here?”
Crossing his arms, Angel cocked his brow and looked down at Lindsey. “I was just going to ask you that.”
“Business meeting,” he said tersely, edging his way up the stairs as if to make himself taller.
“This time of night, with that outfit.” Angel snorted. “Trade your briefcase in for a guitar…”
“Go to hell,” Lindsey snarled, moving past Angel.
“Take you with me.”
“You first.” With that Lindsey turned and left the bar, feeling uncomfortable and in no mood for a verbal - or otherwise - sparing match with Angel. He had bigger fish to fry.
Chapter: 1/?
Author: Nora [remember_nomore/simply_shiny]
Pairing: Tara, Angel, Lindsey [smooshed together at some point]
Rating: PG [Currently]
Word Count: 1,643
Authors Note: I blame chlare for this 1000%. Then again this is just fun to blame on someone. Title from a Snow Patrol song - that’s quite fitting actually.
Nothing in Lindsey’s life was ever going to be easy or uncomplicated ever again; he knew that the second Angel tossed his biggest client to date out the window with a simple nudge of his foot. When Holland handed him his newest case, he had a shimmer of hope that maybe - just maybe - his luck was going to change.
Case File #487-B308557-0
Prospect: Maclay, Tara
Age: 21
Sex: Female
Species: Human
Attributes: Natural Witch
Objective: Long term employment
The more Lindsey read into the file, the more he knew this was going to be far from a challenge. She worked with the reading demon - Lorne - and didn’t have any family to speak of that would hold her back. With the way the rest of her file read Lindsey’s hope turned into something else. It left a bitter taste in his mouth as he realized that Holland and the firm had lost faith in him, they were handing him an easy case just to keep him busy until they decided what to do with his current state of employment.
“Wow,” Lilah looked over his shoulder. “Did they ever hand you an easy case; I guess you pissed in their Cheerios one too many times.”
“Shut up, Lilah.”
“If you say so, but I am getting the popcorn and watching this as it blows up in your face.” With that she turned on her heel and left his office.
He rotated his jaw and threw his scotch glass against the closed office door, his temper getting the best of him until he realized he needed to breathe. The girl was working tonight and he had a plan to get into play. Everyone had it in their head he was going to fail. It only made him even more determined to get this girl and prove them all wrong.
~*~*~
Caritas was packed; it wasn’t unusual for open-mic night. Everyone - and everything - came to get on stage and have a reading. Tara hurried around behind the counter, looking for another bottle of blood as the demon on the other side of the counter tapped his claws impatiently on the bar. “Sorry,” she muttered, pasting on a smile as she held up the bottle and started the task of making yet another real bloody mary for another demon who was likely to leave another lousy tip.
“It’s about time there blondie. If you weren’t so nice on the eyes…”
“You’d do no such thing,” Lorne spoke as he walked up behind Tara and rested his arm over her shoulder. “You’re going to leave this pretty waitress alone and thank her for putting up with you or you’re not getting read here my friend.” The demon mumbled something, slapped a bill on the counter and stalked off with his drink. “How you holdin’ up sugarplum?” He turned to her and smiled.
Tara looked a bit frazzled. “Alright, trying to juggle open-mic night and finals at the same time.” She puffed a lock of hair from her eyes and smiled. “I’m fine, I appreciate the job.”
“You don’t have to keep telling me that. You’re perfect for this job, it’s your place to be here and you aren’t exactly hard on the eyes for the customers.” Affectionately he tapped her nose before making his way past her to refill his sea breeze.
With a heavy sigh, Tara pulled the rag out of her apron and started to wipe down the bar, working her way around until she settled on a pair of arms leaning across the bar and blocking her way. “Excuse me,” She spoke, brushing her hair from her face and looking up at the owner of the human looking arms. “Sir?”
“Oh, sorry, Darlin’.” The corner of his lips curved up as he quirked his brow at her. “Think when you’re all done cleaning you could refill me?” The man tipped his empty glass towards her, giving her a look that has filled his bed many nights before.
“Sure,” she said casually, reaching behind them and picked up the bottle of Jack Daniels and filled his glass again. “Ice?” He shook his head. “Four dollars, or do you have a running tab tonight?”
“I’ve got a standin’ tab here. Lindsey McDonald.” The sudden silence of the stage made him turn his head. “Guess I’m up...”
“Good luck,” she said absentmindedly, restocking the olives behind the counter and not bothering to look up from her task.
He sighed and picked up his guitar, shaking his head as he tried to figure out more about this girl. She didn’t look special or anything and he wouldn’t have any idea why the firm would want her if he hadn’t seen her file. But for the moment he pushed it out of his head, this might be an assignment but the stage was his one guilty pleasure even the firm couldn’t take away.
Lorne patted him on the back as Lindsey made his way on the stage, making careful steps around the slimy footsteps from the demon that was on stage before him. “Go on and bring the house down, cowboy.”
Lindsey snorted and just shook his head, adjusting his guitar strap and shifting under the hot spotlight. Ignoring the barstool as he stood behind the mic, closing his eyes and picturing that he was somewhere else, living another life as he started to sing a Johnny Cash song.
It all began when they took me from my home
And put me on Death Row,
a crime for which I am totally innocent, you know.
The song was predominantly played by piano but with a bit of tinkering, Lindsey had made it his own; keeping true to the Cash sound he grew up on and singing a song that had more meaning than anyone would be able to figure out. His eyes were closed the entire time, everything but the feel of the strings under his fingers and the warmth of the lights that poured down on him was shut from his mind. When he was here and this moment he wasn’t property of Wolfram and Hart; he was free to be himself - the southern boy that dared to strive for a better life - and not the lawyer that was sucked into a web of lies and sold his soul for a five-dollar bill.
When he finished he barely heard the crowd as he slung his guitar to his back and made his way off the stage. Once the spotlight was off his skin it was back to work as usual; he had a client to obtain not only for the firm but to prove to himself that he hasn’t lost it.
Lindsey made his way back to the bar, mentally contemplating his next move as he took his seat back on the stool. “Thought I’d keep you company.” He smiled at her, extending his hand out to the blonde on the other side of the counter. “Names Lindsey…”
Tara smiled politely and wiped her hand before reaching out and taking it. “Tara.” She shifted awkwardly and picked up the bottle of jack under the counter. “Refill?”
“Woman after my own heart.” He smiled and held his glass out to her, setting it down on the counter and looked at her expectantly as she poured the whiskey.
“Would you like something else sir?”
“Lindsey, please. Sir is something you call someone old and tired,” he attempted to make her smile with a joke.
“Okay, would you like something else, Lindsey?” Apparently it was a lacking one.
“Join me for a drink.” It was a demand masked as a suggestion, he needed her to give him her undivided attention if this was going to work.
Politely she shook her head. “Sorry, I can’t,” she told him politely, leaving out the fact that she didn’t drink from him. “I’m working.”
“Ever hear of the customer is always right?” He let a playful smile cross his lips and he turned his blue eyes to hers. “I’m sure you’re due for a break,” he pressed, reaching out and touching her hand for a moment.
Before Tara could answer another demon at the bar came up and demanded her attention. “I’m working,” she repeated apologetically and quickly took off to help the gray sludge colored demon.
His eyes narrowed when she turned away, Lindsey quickly downed his whiskey and got up from his stool. He slipped his guitar in its case and decided to call it a night, he had an early meeting with Lilah and there would be other nights to come hunt his prey.
Didn’t hurt she was easy on the eyes either.
Roughly running his fingers through his hair, he made his way up the stairs to head out to his car. Not paying attention the door swung open and nearly sent him flying back down the staircase. “Hey, watch it!”
A pair of dark eyes burned into Lindsey. “If I had known I would have put some weight behind it.”
“Angel,” Lindsey hissed, his eyes narrowing.
“Are you slumming again, boy?”
“Not enough time to sink low enough for your level.” They stared silently for a moment; if hatred were a physical action then both men would be on the floor. “Why are you here?”
Crossing his arms, Angel cocked his brow and looked down at Lindsey. “I was just going to ask you that.”
“Business meeting,” he said tersely, edging his way up the stairs as if to make himself taller.
“This time of night, with that outfit.” Angel snorted. “Trade your briefcase in for a guitar…”
“Go to hell,” Lindsey snarled, moving past Angel.
“Take you with me.”
“You first.” With that Lindsey turned and left the bar, feeling uncomfortable and in no mood for a verbal - or otherwise - sparing match with Angel. He had bigger fish to fry.