“I’ve heard the name before, yes,” Buffy answered cautiously.
Belial frowned. “I see that my reputation has preceded me. Why don’t you drink your water?” he indicated the bottle. “It’ll help your headache and your mood. Don’t worry—if I wanted to kill you, I could have done so long before now. I wouldn’t bother with poison.”
Still keeping an eye on him, Buffy took the water and began to drink.
“It’s not really a fair reputation, you know.” Belial continued. “I’m just a representative for the opposition. I make sure we get our say, our day in court. That our voices are heard. Is that so wrong? Is it my fault that I’m convincing?” When Buffy failed to respond, he fixed her with a look that seemed to see straight past all of her defenses and into the truth of her. “Don’t you know what it’s like to be stuck with a reputation that you don’t deserve?”
“Oh, yeah.” Buffy answered, surprising herself. “I go out every night, risking my life to defend people. I save the world repeatedly, and God only knows how many lives, just to get grounded and treated like a juvenile delinquent. Sometimes—“ She stopped herself. Why had she said that? Sure, it was a speech she’d wanted to give for years, but she’d never let even her closest friends in on those feelings. That resentment for the people it was her destiny to protect. Why was she telling a True Devil?
He nodded sympathetically. “I, more than anyone, understand how you feel.”
“But Angel never showed up,” Buffy said hastily, changing the subject. “Did you have anything to do with that?”
“Why would you think that? Are you sure that Angel is quite trustworthy? He’s broken promises to you before.”
“Yeah, promises to stay away,” she said bitterly. “If he had the slightest excuse he’d have been there.”
“That’s true,” Belial agreed. “In fact, I did have to arrange a little delay for him.”
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