Title:Chess Pieces

Author: Roxy

Ship: Buffy/Angelus

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"You killed them."

"Who is it this time?"

"I told you to leave them be. They were innocent humans."

"No such animal." He turned the page of the ancient manuscript he'd been going through, mindful of its fragility and value. "Do you have selective memory, Buff? She called you a whore." He shrugged carelessly. "It was disrespectful."

"To me or you?" She retorted, not even trying to conceal the oozing sarcasm.

"You don't really care. It's just reflex talking now, darling."

"She was my aunt. My last living relative."

"Well, now she's a generous donation to the city's sewer system. She wanted to be foul, now she is. "

Buffy scoffed at his sick rendition of justice. "And her husband and son, what of them?"

"Guilty by association."

She gritted her teeth until she swore her jaw would shatter."She didn't deserve to die."

"Neither did she deserve to live." He slowly glanced up for the first time. "A well adjusted person would have been grateful, you know."

She mimicked him childishly, helpless in doing anything else. "A well adjusted person wouldn't have turned a dinner party into Gettysburg."

"What can I say, I'm twisted."

"Well, no thanks, Angelus."

He sighed mournfully. "Just when you think the credits are about to roll..."

"You are so very good at a game that I don't wish to play."

He laced slender fingers across his abdomen, undeterred. "Even the pawn that chose inactivity was not spared. It's your move, babe."

"I'm out."

His lips split into a toothy grin."Checkmate."

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R&R :)