Started out as a response to TV100 LJ community's challenge of Prompt Suggestions, using two prompts:
-ashes, broken shoelace, photograph
-bells, tendrils of smoke, crunch
Chapter 1
by Zzilly14
The ashes took to the air, the wind picking them and carrying them to the other side of the cemetery, where they gently fell over an unnamed grave.
"Stupid vampire. He ruined my new shoes!"
The blonde Slayer bent down to examine her now-dirty sneakers. One of the shoelaces was somehow broken.
"Mom's gonna kill me!"
"Unless she doesn't know about it."
It was like a black and white photograph she had seen once upon a time - a tall figure leaning up against a headstone, arms crossed, face obscured by the darkness.
"Angel," she sighed breathlessly. "Can you clean shoes?"
...
The two climbed up to Buffy's bedroom, not noticing the tendrils of smoke drifting around the tree outside.
"So... how can we fix these very expensive Sketchers?"
Angel scratched his head. "Wash them?"
"With what? Soap?"
"Uh... probably."
"Well, I'm going downstairs to grab some. And a Crunch bar too. I'm hungry. Stay here and... don't touch anything."
As Angel stood waiting for Buffy to return, a familiar scent caused warning bells to ring out. He ran to the window and growled when he saw Spike smoking a cigarette in the front yard.
"What's he doing here?"
"Who's the who?" Buffy wondered as she returned.
"Spike."
She laughed. "Spike? Sounds like he could be a punk singer with acid green hair."
"He's a vampire. Also known as William the Bloody," Angel seethed.
"Okay, let me grab my stake and..."
Angel grabbed Buffy's wrist. "He's dangerous, Buffy."
"I think I can handle vampires."
"Not this one. He's... he's killed two Slayers."
"What?"
"Stay here, and I'll take care of him."
"Oh, so I'm just supposed to stand back and watch you die?"
Angel raised his eyebrows. "It's nice to know you have so much faith in me."
Before Buffy could respond, a loud British voice echoed to their ears. "I know you're up there, Slayer."
"Great, now what?" Buffy wondered. She stepped to the window and stared at the figure below.
He had bright bleach blond hair and a long black leather jacket for contrast. He was exhaling some smoke when his eyes caught a glimpse of the infamous Sunnydale Slayer.
"She's a nice one," he remarked quietly.
"Okay, Spike, is it?" Buffy yelled down. "I've had a rough day. Can we postpone the whole fighting thing until tomorrow?"
He laughed as he put out the cigarette on the sidewalk. "Never said I was wanting a fight, love."
"Of course. You want me to come down there and offer my neck freely so you can suck me dry. No thanks, I'm staying right here."
Spike shrugged his shoulders. "That's fine with me."
Suddenly Angel surprised Spike from behind and pinned him to the tree.
"You're gonna stay away from Buffy," he growled.
"Angelus!" Spike grinned. "Good to see you, friend. How's the soul treating you?"
"Leave town, Spike. And take Drusilla with you."
Spike scoffed, "I never said Dru was here."
"Yeah, well, wherever you are, she happens to not be far behind."
"Dru's not here, Angel. She's off in Brazil. With a Chaos demon, of all things."
Angel attempted to stifle a laugh.
"Laugh all you want, Peaches. I don't care anymore."
...
Buffy watched the situation below her skeptically. Angel was talking to Spike like... like they knew each other.
"What isn't Angel telling me?" she wondered.