"Gunn! Over here!"

Charles had barely entered the mall when he saw Buffy coming towards him at full speed. It was like seeing a dolphin in the ocean, or a kid in a candy store.
He smiled in spite of his intentionally gruff demeanor. It was nice to see her so happy for a change.

"Whoa...you know yelling that in a crowded space isn't the smartest move?" Gunn said eyeing the security guard that had looked his way when Buffy had called out. The mall was a typical one, filled with people busy shopping for the Christmas season that was rapidly approaching.

"Well what am I supposed to call you?" Buffy said as she folded her arms jokingly. As she did so the many bags she was carrying flopped about.

"Sir Charles... or if you prefer plain ol' chuck will do." Gunn said jokingly, trying his best to sound british.

"I don't know... I like Charles." Buffy said, smiling in response to the bad accent.

"Fine... so, someone is doing some shopping?" Gunn noticed, his eyes spying the dozen or so bags filled with clothing and items of all sorts.

"Oh can you hold these? I literally can't hold anymore." Buffy said handing Gunn several large shopping bags.

"So spill it... you win the lotto? OR find that money tree people are always talking about?" Gunn said, trying to imagine where the money came from for such expensive duds. Buffy herself was resplident in a new dress, what he assumed were expensive heels, and even new jewelry.

"Better... I got a job!" Buffy said with an exuberance Gunn was not expecting.

"Thought you had a-" He began.

"I mean a better job. I'm slaying and getting paid... well sort of."

"You're slaying again?" Gunn said slightly concerned.

"Yeah... is that not ok?"

"No, it's awesome, I just... I mean it's dangerous right? You got powers, but I guess-"

"You worried about me Charles?"

"No... I mean yes. I -"

"Can we just walk?" Buffy said realizing her new friend was feeling confused.

"That, I can do." Gunn said walking alongside the blonde slayer.

...

"Wow...so they just call whenever they need you?" The tall dark Gunn said as he chatted across the table.

"I know right? I'm like a ghostbuster... accept I get a really nice place, a fat credit card, and I don't live in New York."

"Who you gonna call...?" He responded on que.

"Vampslayers!" Buff tried, causing brief eruption of laughter from the both.

There was a soft pause in the conversation as they sat across from each other, in the surprisingly quiet. Gunn was an odd contradiction to Buffy. He had a directness about him that was refreshing, but also a world weariness, the sort of edge that most have come from surviving on the streets of South L.A.. Yet for all his male bravado, there was a sensitive person there, a kindness that was difficult to ignore.

"I'm happy for you. It's good that you have a chance to... do some good." Gunn said as Buffy noticed he seem to have something else to say.

"I'm sensing a large but coming."

"What? No... well-" Gunn sputtered.

"Well?"

"It's just... I know L.A., it's not a place known for it's kindness to new people in town?" Gunn said as Buffy sipped her latte.

"What?"

"I mean, it sounds great... but it also sounds... too good."

"Too good? I didn't here you complaining when we bought those smoothies." She joked, trying to distract from the point he was coming to.

"Hey, you leave Mocha Cocoa out of this." Gunn said seriously.

"You think they're being too nice?"

"Usually I ask myself a couple of questions when someone wants to do something nice for me. What do they want, and when will they ask."

"I didn't do that to you." Buffy said with a slightly judgmental tone.

"That's what makes you a better person then me. But I'm just worried that they haven't told you about the downside yet."

"Like, there's some sort of nefarious purpose for having me become a better slayer? I can handle whatever there up to... not that they're up to anything."

"Maybe, just start asking questions." Gunn said nonchalantly.

"What will that accomplish? Annoy them into showing there the baddies?"

"My mama always told me, the fastest way to get to the truth is to ask questions. Good guys, don't mind them, because they aren't afraid of the truth. The bad guys however, questions make them uncomfortable. You find a lie? Follow it 'till it leads you to the truth. No matter how dark that truth is." He finished with a dramatic air that was just a little too much.

"Wow... that's wise. Wait did your mom really tell you that?" Buffy said, calling him on his quotes.

"More or less... coulda' been my aunt." Gunn said taking another sip of the smoothie in front of him.

"I just found a good place Charles... can't I enjoy that even a little? Does everyone have to be evil?"

"Maybe you're right. So... you uh called home yet?" He asked and took another sip.

"No. They probably don't want to hear from me.", Buffy replied

"You don't know that."

"Why do you care so much?" Buffy said flatly slightly annoyed.

"I'm sorry, I'm noisy. It's a curse."

"No... I'm sorry. Here I am getting all huffy with first genuinely nice guy I've talked to since...", there was a pause. Angel was there in her mind, smiling at her, pushing into her thoughts.

"You ok?" Gunn said pulling her out of it.

"No... just missing someone... lets talk about you." Buffy said changing the subject.

"Me? Not much to tell."

"Really? You know about vampires, you have a gang, and you squat in houses that aren't yours..."

"Technically...we borrow. It's all very bohemian." He announced roundly.

"It sounds... hard."

"Sometimes. But it's living. Not all of us can be fancy lawyers downtown. Some of us have to fight, everyday, just to make it. But that's life I guess... "

"You never just wanna get out of it?"

"All the time. But I can't... I got Alonna, the guys... they need someone that has their back. I wouldn't be alive if I didn't have a crew."

"Yeah... I get that." Buffy replied, thinking of all the times her crew had saved her. "But if you could run... just get away, where would you go?"

"Hmmm... Japan. Though I'm thinking my height would be a problem."

She laughed, and a moment later Gunn chuckled too.

...

"This was... fun."

"It was. Funny... I always thought malls were the worst." Gunn said aloud.

"Really?"

"Too many people... and I guess it's different when you have money to burn." He mentioned as he looked at the light up cellphone case Buffy had bought him.

"I'm glad you came." Buffy said, making Gunn realize the night was coming to a close as they walked towards the exit of the mall.

"Me to." He replied... There was an awkward moment that Gunn finally broke.

"Buff... you um... you take care of yourself ok? Don't let them make you do anything you aren't about." He said plainly, clearly not sure what else to say.

Buffy hugged him, a deep genuine hug in a moment that he suspected even she didn't expect.

Gunn lingered there, hugging her back, and also somewhat surprised by the strength of the hug. He looked down at her with eyes that seemed to say a million things that couldn't be said.

"I... I have to go." Gunn said after a moment. He knew that Buffy was lonely, and lonely people sometimes did things that they regretted later just to not be alone. He didn't want to be one of those things.

"Next time... lets do a movie?" she asked calmly.

"Alright, your pick... wait." He stopped himself realizing what he might have just agreed to.

"Too late..."

Then it was over, and Gunn walked away, turning back to smile at the girl once before walking off into the night. For a moment he thought he could here someone yelling his name... something in the darkening evening through the hum of traffic in the distance. Then it was gone, along with the blonde girl that was as deep and wonderful a mystery as anyone he'd ever encountered.