You didn't need to be inside the club to hear the bass and screeching vocals of the hot new band from Los Angeles. The Bronze was almost maxed to capacity and people were still continuing to line up to wait their turn to get inside.
Buffy bypassed line and greeted Bruce who occasionally filled in as the bouncer for the Bronze with a smile and a twenty. She walked away as the crowd outside spit angry words at her back for simply walking in.
She felt almost insecure and rather prudish as she took in the crown of barely dressed teenagers that were high off lust and hormones as they gyrated against each other to the horrible noise that was supposed to pass for music.
[Oh boy, I think I'm getting too old for this. Especially when I think the music passes for noise. Retirement home here I come.]
She purposely chose tonight's attire with the idea in mind to look sexy yet unattainable since the Original seemed to enjoy his flirting tactics.
"Two can play that game," She whispered.
She ignored the nagging thought in the back of her mind that kept reminding her that when she put on her nude pumps with her little blue dress she had silently wondered if the Original would approve.
As soon as she walked in she was greeted with Xander and Anya doing some dancing of their own. She couldn't help but smile fondly as Xander shot her a goofy smile and pointed to a table where Willow and Tara were huddled together before he continued with his awkward dance that reminded her of a demented Mr. Roboto.
She made her way deeper into the club as she took in her surroundings her eyes landed on Klaus as he played a game of pool.
Her eyes swept over his lean frame and admired how the shirt he wore clung tightly to his chest and biceps. His plump lips were pursed as he made his next shot knocking several solids into a pocket.
Considering how packed the club was tonight the area around his table was clear of people. She noticed the intense stare he gave to anyone that tried to venture closer to his corner. He seemed to freeze for a moment and then his eyes lifted looking directly at her.
Her skin prickled as his gaze moved down then back up her body as he took in everything from her shoes to the waves in her hair. His back straightened and he greeted her with a small smirk daring her to come closer.
She blinked and suddenly lost sight of him and as she turned to look she stumbled directly into a strong set of arms. Looking up she was lost in a familiar set of blue eyes.
"Klaus," She whispered.
"Hello love."
He held her steady as she straightened herself to her full height which wasn't very intimidating even with four inch heels on. Uncomfortable with the nearness of their bodies she gently pushed his body away from her.
"You look ravishing in that dress." His smile widened when her body was overcome with goosebumps at his words.
"I'm actually here to meet with my friends-," She said pointing in the direction of a small table where Willow and Tara sat in deep conversation with each other.
"From the intensity of their discussion I doubt they will notice your absence. Let me entertain you for a moment and then you're free to go on your way." He put his hand on the small of her back and led her through the throng of people to a secluded spot near the stairs.
He pulled a chair out for her to sit and flagged a waitress down and asked for the highest quality champagne before he settled in across from her.
"You're are used to bossing people around to get what you want." She commented which only caused him to laugh.
"Indeed, blame it on being alive for a thousand years."
She scoffed at his answer, "Humans aren't happy meals on legs strictly here for your entertainment. Try that on me and you'll get another dance with Mr. Pointy."
"I know, that's why I like you."
She felt her face heat up and mentally thanked the gods when the waitress showed up with their drinks and two glasses.
He poured the champagne and offered her a glass. "To an enjoyable evening with the most fascinating and glamorous woman I've have the pleasure of meeting."
"What is this? Is this your way of trying to kill me? Get me drunk with your cheap alcohol and use your charm to seduce me?"
"You find me charming?" He questioned with a raised eyebrow and that annoying little smirk that caused her heart to hammer in her chest.
"Listen, I'm too smart to be seduced by you so let's cut the crap." She hissed and made the move to get out of the chair.
He stopped her by laying a hand on her arm his eyes were serious as he said, "I'm attempting to get to know you. I've heard so many rumors as I made my way through this town and too be honest I'm curious about you."
They stood staring into each other eyes as his hand rested on her arm. She sat back in her chair and tried to calm her racing heart.
"What did you want to talk about?" She asked.
"I want to talk about you. Your hopes and dreams. Your passions and what you crave in this life." He said as he continued smiling at her. The hand he had resting on her arm started to draw lazy circles on her skin causing her to shiver.
She laughed and raised her eyebrows at the smile that continued gracing his features. "Seriously?"
"Fine then, ask me anything!" He exclaimed, "Come on, get to know me!"
"You know we're mortal enemies, right? I was created to kill vampires, demons, and all that other stuff. It's pointless for us to continue this little dance."
"Your ancestors weren't created to kill my kind because I didn't lose my soul to a demon. My family were turned into vampires by a witch." Klaus spat, "Young, old, dead or alive witches are a pain in the ass."
"Why did she change you?" She wondered unconsciously moving her body closer to his.
"A thousand years ago my family migrated here to escape the brutality of the old world and then we were faced with a new danger. Werewolves, and for a time we coexisted peacefully but there was an accident with my younger brother Henrick that caused his death. The witch decided to use a spell to create our line so that we would have an advantage against the wolves." He said looking away seeming to be lost in another life.
"From the little bit that the Watchers Diaries have about you they mention that you and your family were half vampire and half werewolf?" She questioned, surprised that she was genuinely interested in his answer.
"Unsurprisingly they are incorrect, my siblings are the Original vampires, but I'm the true hybrid which lets me turn into a wolf whenever I feel the need. It's rather freeing and comforting to know that I can never be killed."
She scoffed at his answer causing him to raise an eyebrow in challenge. "Trust me I've heard that before. No matter how strong or how much they gloat about my impending death I always end up on top."
"You can be on top of me whenever you like love. All you have to do is ask." He said with a cocky smirk once again letting his eyes wander down her body resting on the bare skin that the hem of her dress didn't cover.
"I didn't it mean for it to sound like a "sex" thing! I just meant that all of you super villains have giant egos and you just can't help gloating about how powerful you are." She sputtered, her face turned a brilliant shade of red. "I think it's how you earn your "I'm a super villain, ask me how" button."
"I'm quite sure I've never received a button. Super villains like myself use minions to carry out my dirty work. Pick up the dry cleaning, slaughter innocents, kill puppies. I think you get the idea." He joked, the twinkle in his eye only got brighter as she burst into a fit of giggles.
For a moment Slayer and Hybrid forgot their places in the grand scheme of things and actually enjoyed being in each other's company. They continued with their light hearted discussion and Buffy nearly forgot her original purpose for showing up at the club. She needed information.
"I'm sorry, it must be lonely to have lived for so long watching the people around you live and die."
"Power replaced loneliness many years ago. Why would I ever want to be human when I'm one of the most powerful beings on the planet?" He said bluntly, causing her to frown at his words.
"Having people around that you love is the ultimate power. It gives you something worth fighting for."
His eyes went to her lips and lingered there for a moment before he met her eyes with a hungry look. She felt the air leave her body as he inclined his head closer to her but before his lips touched her she jumped away from him like she had been burned.
Her sharp intake of breath caused her to twinge in pain as the wound on her abdomen flared to life. Automatically she brought her hand up to protect her injury and immediately brought it down as she tried not to show weakness but his sharp eyes never seemed to miss anything.
"I'm going to assume something nasty got a hold of you last night." His eyes rested on her abdomen like he could see straight through her dress to the skin beneath.
"I should go before my friends send out a search party." She tried to get up from her chair but he used a burst of speed and was standing directly in front of her.
He held his hand up and smiled charmingly at her confused expression, "One dance before you go."
"I really shouldn't, I need to go. "She said quickly as she moved to make her way past him.
"I dare you."
She turned around as he stood there with his hand out and against her better judgement she grasped it saying, "Just one dance and then I have to go."
He nodded and led her to the corner of the dance floor his hands went to her hips pulling her close as she wrapped her hands around his neck resting her head on his chest. They swayed to the music neither talking as they battled with the rightness of the moment.
She pulled back and looked into his eyes and for a moment she forgot everything. She forgot the weight of her responsibilities, she forgot about the pain of losing Angel, and most of all she found herself wishing this moment wouldn't end.
Suddenly she felt shame at her thoughts and she looked to the table where Willow and Tara sat and was faced with the disapproving stare from Willow and the look of disgust from Xander.
Immediately she pulled out of his arms and tried to walk away. "I need to go." She whispered.
"I have a proposition for you." He spoke quickly and moved to stand in front of her blocking her view of her friends. "I want to ask you some questions and I want honest answers. In exchange I'll tell you whatever you want to know."
"How can I trust you to tell the truth?" She asked, she no longer had the strength to continue this discussion with him.
"You don't. You'll have to trust me." He said, ignoring her snort of disbelief.
"Fine. How many Slayers have you killed?" She asked, the spark that ignited between them gone only leaving vampire and hunter behind.
"Several. They have always managed to get between me and something I want." He accented voice was cold causing her to frown.
"Why don't- "She was cut off as he raised his finger to his lips.
"Don't be hasty love. I'll answer any question that you have all in due time." He stood staring at her till she started to become agitated with his silence. "How long have you been the Slayer?"
She looked surprised by his simple question, "Too long. I've been the Slayer since I was fifteen years old."
"Slayers. How did you kill them?"
Klaus wasn't surprised by her next question, but he was reluctant to answer. "You really don't want to know the gory details. It's rather inappropriate for typical date conversation."
"First off this isn't a date. Second, you made the rules. So answer or I'm walking away."
"When you're a thousand years old you learn a thing or two on how to maim and torture. It's in the Super Villain Handbook." He joked, but was unsurprised when she continued staring at him waiting for the details.
"If you insist. The first slayer was quick, I was young and haven't mastered my torture techniques by the time I had encountered her."
"How kind of you." She said sarcastically.
He continued on ignoring her jab at his character. "The second tried to intervene and ruin all I had accomplished trying to break the curse that bound the wolf inside. I killed her slowly, I fed till she was almost lifeless and then I saved her to continue the cycle over again till I tired of her. Then I littered the remains of her body all over the streets of London."
He stopped to let her process the information and then he finished with the worst of his story. "The third tried to kill my brother Kol and though he deserved it I have a reputation to uphold. The third was the most fun. She was a fearsome opponent if you were a regular vampire, but I had taken her down quickly and then I beat her till she held on to only remnants of her life, then I eviscerated her, and stabbed her through the heart with her own stake."
He tried to ignore the look of disgust and horror that stained her lovely face. He wondered if he went too far in telling her the truth.
"You are a monster." She whispered, taking a step back to put distance between them.
"I spent my life running and trying to stay one step ahead of my enemies. You don't know the crimes that were committed against me." He spat at her as he tried to keep the monster inside. "I was taught that the first rule of survival is to not feel and to not care."
"How convenient. Does that help you sleep better at night? Does that help the families of the victims that you kill move on? You're truly evil and I've killed many demons and vampires, but you are the worst." She stopped for a moment as she gathered her emotions. "You disgust me."
He moved forward to grab her arm to prevent her from walking away but she shoved him back causing him to stumble and hit the wall behind him. He looked surprised at her strength, but his face quickly contorted to show the demon inside. His eyes blackened and veins protruded from underneath his eyes and his teeth elongated.
"Stay away from me and mine or I'll make you regret ever stepping foot into my town." She spat at him as the people on the dance floor ran out of the building to avoid another of Sunnydale's mysterious gang related fights.
Willow, Xander, Tara, and Anya ran to surround their friend looking anxiously between the two. Klaus felt anger at himself for allowing this girl to see any weakness in him.
"Alright love have it your way then. Till we meet again."
Then he was gone leaving Buffy and her friends in the middle of the Bronze. She felt sadness that things had to end that way, but she wasn't ready to deal with another Angelus.
"That guy has some serious anger management issues." Xander said shaking his head at Buffy in confusion. "Why do the crazies always get drawn to you?"
"It's better this way Buffy. He isn't a good guy." Willow said pulling her gently toward the exit.
"Maybe we should go tell Giles so we can be on the lookout for danger." Tara said sounding nervous. She spared Buffy a small smile trying to let her know that she wasn't being blamed or criticized for anything.
Buffy nodded and said something that sounded agreeable all the while she ignored the sinking feeling in her heart.
