InsaneJournal

Who: Angel(us), Buffy Summers, Bonnie Bennett, Emma Swan
What: Magic doesn't always work out like you plan
When: Today
Where: Emma's cave
Warnings: Angelus is a warning, but tbd how much he'll need one here.

To say that Angel was nervous about what was about to be done was an understatement. He had confidence in Bonnie's abilities to perform the spell and of Emma to keep him under control - or take him out - if it came to that. That still didn't stop him from second-guessing the decision half a dozen times in the minutes it took the group to arrive at the cave where the spell was to be performed. A magical cave with wards and protection that would keep his other half from being let loose on Goodland.

The gravity of how much this could change his outlook or life going forward wasn't lost on him. Not only his relationship with Buffy but knowing that he didn't have to be cautious with any ounce of happiness that entered his life. Though, Angel knew it would hardly change who he was at his core, nor did he want that to change. It wouldn't change the guilt he felt for his past actions or wanting to make amends for them. A lot would change, but a lot would stay the same.

Once everything was set up and everyone in place, Angel was in place behind Emma's wards and waited for Bonnie to start the first part of the spell. He held Buffy's gaze for a moment before the start, but shortly after the spell began, he soon felt a burning in his chest. The first time this had happened, it had taken him by surprise and jolted him out of his sleep and as a result of the fine print of his curse. He'd once pretended to have a spell take away his soul with Faith and Mayor Wilkins, but this was the first time it had actually taken place because of a spell. The burning was low and dull at first but Bonnie intensified the spell and soon the burn turned into something stronger - like his heart was being ripped from his chest. Angel heard Bonnie's words grow stronger, and the magic whipped around him until he was hit with a final jolt of pain as the soul was torn from him, forcing him to fall to his knees. Silence fell over the cave; the watchers waiting to see if it had work and him getting his bearings. The air settled, and the pain was gone.

Finally.

He didn't say anything at first. He couldn't. Because instead of coming up with a sharp barb, all Angelus could do was laugh. The maniacal laugh echoed throughout the cave and made it clear the spell had worked. He couldn't believe they actually went through with this ridiculous plan. The souled idiot had let his fears get the better of him even though it led to this moment where he was allowed to come to the surface. Desperation led to the dumbest decisions. Lucky for him, Angel's desperation was his gain.

"What do you know," Angelus said after managing to hold in his laughter. "He convinced all of you to go through with this, and you fell for it." He let out an amused breath and popped back up to his feet, feeling light and at ease. He knew they were about to try stuffing him back down in his cage, but that didn't mean he had to go quietly. He smirked in Buffy's direction, so glad to see his favorite slayer again. How he'd missed making her life a living hell.

"Bonnie, Bonnie, Bonnie. My favorite little witch. It makes me all tingly inside that we're finally able to meet properly." The witch seemed perfectly content to ignore him but instead prepared for the second half of the spell, along with that shiny orb. What he wouldn't give to be able to snatch that up and crash it into tiny little bits.

Walking up to the invisible wards, Angelus pressed a hand against the magic that kept him from stepping outside the confined space. He might not have been proficient in magic, but he knew power when he sensed it. And this dark witch? She had power. He gave a glance over to Emma. "We would have so much fun together, you know," he told her. Dark witch with so much power and little emotion to hold her back? Normally, Angelus preferred to steer clear of most witches, but she was like a wet dream come true.

To their credit, Bonnie didn't waste much time before she began reciting the old words for the second half of the process. The only reaction shown was a twitch of his lips. Angel might have been desperate to give this a try, but Angelus didn't want to go back in his box either. He sneered and could already start to feel the magic working, threatening to give the fucking idiot with a soul back the reigns. He didn't say much during the rest of the spell, mostly locking eyes with each of them at different moments until he heard the climax of the spell, and Angelus went to his knee. There was a tickle of that burning pain again but not nearly as intense as it had been the first time.

Magic exploded around them, and Angelus had only a split second to react before there was a crack followed by the sound of crumbling. Angelus held his hand to his chest for effect but stood to his feet. The wards seemed a bit more shaky now, but he didn't test it yet. Emma seemed to be distracted trying to keep the cave from completely falling in.

Concern all over his face, Angelus managed the most helpless look he could muster. "Buffy, it's me. It worked." Rocks began to fall. "You need to get out of here before the place falls in." He then looked to Bonnie. "Please, Bonnie. I promise you that it worked. Didn't you feel it?"

There was another crack at that moment, and a large piece from overhead fell and threatened to bury Emma in her own cave. That was what it took, though, because as he'd been pressing against the wards, Angelus felt them give way and he was free to cross the barrier. "She can't die," he told Bonnie and Buffy. "But you can. We need to go."

Rushing out of the cave, all three made their exit before getting trapped themselves. Angel probably would have tried to help Emma break free or do what he could to pull her out of there with them, but Angelus? Nah. The less witchy types to figure out their shitty plan hadn't worked? The better.

Because now? Now he was free, and he was going to have some fun.