July 12, 2008
"'Always keep your eyes on your opponent' doesn't mean to loose track of everything but that one opponent. Another enemy could be sneaking up behind you, then it doesn't matter how good you are...you're dead." Angel emphasized to the dozen or so slayers he was currently leading in a training session. "Pair up and take turns watching over your shoulder while sparing on the wall."
The girls nodded and did as he asked, picking a partner and climbing the ladder-like stairs up to the 6 inch wide section of simulation brick that acted as a balance bar for training. It was situated ten feet above the ground, but was surrounded by matting for when someone got in a lucky shot. It wasn't a piece of equipment beginners were permitted to use, each one of the young woman in his class had extensive training on how to keep their balance and how to fall safely if the need came.
Still, he kept a watchful eye from below, dishing out a mix of disapproval and encouragement where necessary. "Watch your feet Jane, good form Marcy, Nancy keep your arms tucked in."
A quick scream snapped his attention up in time to catch a yelping slayer as she fell off the wall.
"Whoa, are you alright?" He asked the freaked looking girl in his arms, her blue eyes big and round.
"Ahh...yeah. I'm...I'm ok." She stuttered, blushing intensely.
"Good." He confirmed, lowing her to her feet and making sure she was steady. "Be careful up there, Marcy. In a real combat situation, someone won't be waiting to catch you." He addressed, wanting to encourage her to try again since he'd knew her skills were higher than some in the room.
She nodded, her cheeks bright red in embarrassment. "I understand Sir...MrSummers...Sir."
"Angel." He corrected, no one had ever refereed to him as ...nor would they if he had any say about it.
She nodded vigorously, "Angel" she repeated, the name flowing off her lips like warmed honey.
Seeing the bedazzled expression in her eyes, he put his hand on her lower back and steered her towards the door. "Ok Marcy, why don't you call it a day. Get some rest and I expect to see you here first thing tomorrow."
With that said, he turned his attention back to the other young ladies sparing on the wall. "Ok ladies, five more minutes."
...
Marcy stared for a moment longer, then walked slowly out in to the hall. 'He's so strong and handsome.' She thought dreamily to herself, replaying how he'd said he was waiting to catch her and how he wanted her to call him by his first name. Barely seeing the empty hall in front of her, she walked misty eyed down the corridor as she remembered the way his arms felt holding her. 'He wants to see me again tomorrow.' She sighed in love-struck awe, already trying to decide what to wear.
...
"How's training been?" Buffy asked as she slipped in beside her husband at the banister, watching him as he watched his pupils sparing.
"Still not sure who gets more of a workout, them or me." He muttered, already feeling his limbs were getting sore from multi-slayer action.
"Someone going to need a back-rub later?" she teased, brushing herself against his side.
"Doesn't sound half bad." He taunted back. "Maybe I can ask one of the girls about getting extra credit." He said with a serious mocking face.
"Hey!" She snapped out, adding a not-so-mock whack to his arm.
He stepped back, a mix of grin and pain in his smile. "Ow, just kidding Beloved. No one gives a better message than you. I promise."
Buffy crossed her arms over her chest, a sharp look in her eyes. "And how exactly would you know that?" She asked, not really thinking he actively received back-rubs from anyone else, but wanting to see what he responded with.
He just smirked, "Trust me, in all my years, you're the best."
"The best huh?" She asked with a innocent smirk.
"Defiantly." He insisted, wrapping an arm around her waist and placing a kiss on her crown of golden hair as they leaned against the railing.
Their bodies spoke to one another in a code only they could understand as their eyes and attentions remained focused on watching the sparing slayers a few feet away.
...
Marcy had doubled back, having forgotten her gym back in the locker room. After retrieving the bag, she'd stop to steal a glance at her man when she caught him with another woman. The young brunette slayer stood in a fuming rage as she watcher the love of her life flirting with that blond hussy he'd had the misfortune to knock up and get trapped in marriage with. She knew Angel was really in love with her. The way he'd smile when she fought or how he appraised her form were more reliable proof than words alone. She'd remembered what his arms felt like around her, the concern for her safety in his eyes. He was hers...even if he didn't realize it yet.
Marcy rushed back upstairs to her dorm and spent the next 3 hours researching Angel...or Angelus as he'd once been known. Putting down her notebook, she realized what it was that drew her love towards the light haired harlot.
He had a thing for blonds. That was all it was.
With that knowledge in her mind, she grabbed her purse and headed out for a box of hair dye...and maybe a little something more personal for him.
...
Once his training schedule was done for the day, Angel made his way up to the offices to spend a little time with his kids while he waited for Buffy to finish her last training session.
The elevator dinged the top floor and he pulled his sore body down the short hall to the daycare room they'd had set up for the kids. Dawn was currently teaching a demon language class so one of the slayers, Jessica he thought, was gaining a little pocket money by acting as baby sitter.
"Daddy!" His ears picked up his daughters happy yell as he entered the room, Jessica looked up and sent him a shy smile as Liam wriggled out of her grasp and joined his older sister in latching on to their father's legs.
"Hi sweetheart." He greeted, pulling Katie in for a kiss before she had time to dodge. "Yucky." She responded as she slipped free and went back to her dolls. Liam echoed his sisters words, but made no attempt to break free as Angel lifted him into his arms and stood.
"Katie refused to go down for her nap earlier, as usual, and I gave them a snack a little while ago since they were saying they were hungry." Jessica explained when Angel looked over to her for a summery.
"Of course she didn't nap." He shook his head, "She's got her mother's stubborn streak."
"She almost sneaked away while I was changing Liam's diaper." The seventeen year old slayer added.
"What else is new." He sighed, putting Liam down when he began to fidget. Once on the ground, the toddler sped over to his toy trucks and proceeded to try and run over his sister's dolls.
"That's not going to end well." Angel cringed, pulling out some cash to pay Jessica for her time. "Thank you for watching them."
She smiled as she snatched up the money, already picturing the new coat it was going to buy her. "Anytime."
'I'm sure.' He thought at the young woman's money widened smile and his thinner wallet.
Jessica had just left when the outraged cry shot from Katie over her little brother's actions.
"It's going to be a long night." Angel muttered as he went to diffuse the situation.
...
Marcy walked the mall, she'd bought her hair dye but was still uncertain about what gift to get Angel. High class weapons and leather jackets were a tad out of her price range. It wasn't like being a slayer paid well...if at all…unless they participated in a case for Angel Investigations and were given a percentage.
Granted they got free food and board while living in the dorms, and the occasional allowance for clothes and equipment.
She sighed and kept browsing when her eyes landed on a familiar girl, another slayer she knew lived on her floor.
"Hi Jessica." She greeted, looking at the bag the other girl was carrying, "What'd you get? Anything good?"
"Hey Marcy." The younger slayer greeted, "Check it out." She said excitedly as she pulled the new coat out.
"Wow, nice." Marcy replied admiring the sleek looking teal coat. "Been working cases?" She asked curiously about how her fellow slayer earned enough to buy something like that.
"Nah, I don't have enough combat experience yet." Jessica was more of the book-worm variety. "Been doing some baby sitting on the side."
Marcy's eyes opened wider, realizing the only babies in the building belonged to her love and that harlot. "Angel's kids?"
"Yeah, they're adorable but a lot of work. I think slaying demons is easier, but it pays well." Jessica admitted.
An idea occurred to Marcy then, seeing how if she were to start babysitting the little brats, they would get used to her and Angel would be more comfortable letting his feeling for her be known.
"How do you apply for that job?" she asked innocently.
Jessica shrugged, "It isn't really an application position, I just help out when Dawn is teaching a class."
"Oh." Marcy exhaled, brain working to find a solution.
"Well I'm heading back to base, see you later." Jessica said while waving good-bye.
Marcy stood watching the younger slayer retreat down the long mall strip, her eyes filling with hate. 'She's an obstacle between me and Angel...I need to get rid of her.'
The older slayer quickly made her way out an emergency exit and into the back alley where she knew Jessica would need to pass to get back to the Angel Investigations building where they dormed. Grabbing a lead pipe, she crouched behind a dumpster and waited.
...
Buffy finished her class and headed upstairs, ready to grab her family and head home for the evening.
She smiled as she opened the door and stood watching in the door frame as her husband sat on the floor with the kids in his lap, failing miserably in his attempt in keeping the finger paint the toddlers were playing with on the paper.
"I'm having no part of bath time tonight." she joked as she came in, already stealing herself to not touch the kids in any way, at least until the paint dried.
Despite her initial thought, as soon as they noticed her and came running over, she grabbed them up and kissed her babies.
"Ok, I guess we're all having bath time tonight." She amended her previous statement as she noticed the green and yellow smears in her arms.
"Could be fun." Angel grinned, going to a far less innocent place in his mind.
His wife sent him a look that had 'after the kids go to bed' written all over it.
"Let's go home." He urged, eager to get the ball rolling on that idea.
...
Marcy walked up the path to the building, eyes watching for any signs of life. It was still early, barely 5 pm yet, but she wanted to get back to her room as soon as possible so she could shower.
She stopped short on the walkway as her love appeared in the doorway a few hundred feet in front of her. Her immediate smile vanished as she noticed the harlot was with him, the two brats too.
He glanced in her direction and her heart hammered to life under her chest, threatening to break free and run in wild circles around her. He raised the hand that wasn't holding his daughters and waved a causal goodbye. The hussy at his side did too, encouraging Liam to wave as well as they made their way from the building and towards the SUV waiting in the parking lot.
Marcy forced her hand to raise, moved her lips to a little smile as the bosses left for the night.
Once they were out of sight, she doubled her steps to get back to her room.
"Hey Marcy." Marie, the slayer in charge of making sure all the other slayers were accounted for on her floor, greeted as she passed the younger slayer in the hall.
"Hi Marie." She replied as light as she could.
"Been to the mall?" The young woman asked, seeing the CVS and Wetseal bags Marcy had clutched in her hand.
"Ah, yeah. Just a little shopping with the money I'd saved." She lied and pulled the stolen coat out to show her superior.
"Nice. Well, see you at dinner." Marie agreed and headed down the hall.
Marcy sighed in relief and slipped into her room, locked the door and sat heavily on the bed.
In an hour or so, Marie would ask if anyone had seen Jessica. She would say she'd seen her in passing at the mall while she shopped, but didn't know where she went from there.
...
Buffy stirred the pan of macaroni and cheese on the stove, a nightly favorite in a house with two children under the age of 4.
"Don't let the cheese burn again." Angel's voice called from the living room where he was entertaining the kids while dinner cooked.
"I won't" She grumbled annoyed, then felt her cheeks tinting as she noticed the cheese was getting brown around the edges.
"Oops." She pulled the pan off the stove and glanced into the oven to check the chicken.
It was also brown...a very deep shade of brown. "Damn it." She cursed as she switched the oven off and yanked on an oven mitt before dinner on her night to cook was once again take-out.
Angel popped his head into the kitchen, struggling to hide the smirk on his lips. "Should I get the pizza menu out?"
"Shut up...it just needs a little more gravy...that's all." She insisted, pouring on a substantial amount to cover over the charring on the edges.
He shook his head, preparing his pallet for yet another semi-edible dinner.
They were just about to sit down to the 'meal' when the phone rang.
Angel sent an annoyed glance to the object delaying his (even if it was a little overdone) dinner, but stood and grabbed the receiver before another shrill noise could stab as his sensitive hearing again.
"Hello?" He asked, careful to mask his annoyance.
"Hey Angel, Sir, sorry to call at dinner time, but we have a missing slayer." Marie's voice replied from over the line.
"Who?" He asked quickly, his mind running though those on patrol duty tonight.
"Jessica Smith." Marie supplied.
"What?" He asked confused, "She isn't even on the active duty roster. Plus I just saw her a few hours ago."
"What's up?" Buffy asked, seeing the concern on her husband's face. He told her.
"Where was she last seen?" Buffy asked when Angel put the phone on speaker.
"Marcy Gibbson said she was at the mall around 4ish." Marie continued, "You think something got her on the way home?"
"Not usually much demon activity until after dark." Buffy answered, looking worried. She hated when anything happened to her slayers.
"You need us to come in?" Angel asked, ready to drop everything if it meant getting the girl home safely.
"No. Faith and Willow are looking into it. I just wanted to let you know...since you said to always let you know when something is going on." The slayer replied over the line.
"Yes, thank you. Call as soon as you find her." Buffy insisted and they disconnected.
Both had lost their appetite, but resumed dinner time for the sake of the kids.
An hour later, they got the news Jessica's body had been found inside the dumpster behind the mall.
Her throat had been torn wide open.
All thoughts of happy adult bath time were lost down the drain for the rest of the week.
...
Buffy stood staring at the recently filled hole in the earth, fresh grave soil filling her nostrils. Slayers didn't die often, not like they used to. Buffy and Faith had worked together detailing extensive training routines for the newbies, their girls were experienced before they ever faced the darkness in the shadows.
The age old method of 'hands on' training fresh from the calling had been put to rest permanently. No slayer ever patrolled if they weren't ready, and none ever went alone.
That was the biggest difference in the new generation of slayers, they weren't alone in the world. They weren't the only girl with power, they were 1 of almost two thousand. They learned how to fight as a group, to protect one another and keep each other safe. Numbers was something slayers never had on their hands before, now it was.
Those that died during battles were often the ones who'd disobeyed the rules, who went out on their own or were uninterested in learning to be a team player.
Basic training was mandatory for all young women activated through the spell during the fall of Sunnydale. Willow had tracked each and every one of them from all over the globe. It was still an ongoing process, but each had their name and general location recorded. Based on space and demand, the girls were transported in groups to Angel Investigations.
Each new trainee was given free board in the dorms until the basic one year training requirements were met, from there, they had the option to stay to learn more, work for Angel Investigations or return home and be normal girls. No slayer was forced into the job, they had a choice, unlike their predecessors.
More often than not, they girls recognized their potential and chose to learn, to embrace the calling. Some didn't, although were repeatedly warned it didn't mean the demons would ignore them if they said no. Most of the ones who refused ended up returning some time later, after being hunted by monsters and fearing for their families safety.
With so many slayers available, they could send teams all over the world. The young woman could work under the Angel Investigations organization and earn money for slaying, even accumulate vacation time. They could rotate on and off duty, and take time to just be normal girls if they chose.
Because of that, the mortality rate of a slayer had dropped significantly.
So as Buffy stood looking down at the fresh grave, her heart really felt the blow this death dealt. She wasn't used to loss. Yes, some did die, like Amanda and Stacey had during a routine mission turned ambush. Angel himself had barely made it out alive. Those deaths had hurt, but they had been out on a mission, it was a possibility they all faced.
Jessica hadn't been out on a mission, she'd been walking home from the mall.
Amanda and Stacey were the reason teams of no less than five slayers were ever assigned to a job. It was far better to have too may girls at a slaying than too few.
They always expected an ambush now.
Jessica's mother had slapped Buffy hard when she'd introduced herself, her father sent her a hateful glare. They knew their daughter's status as a slayer, all the parents did. They'd trusted Jessica under Buffy's care and felt as if she'd lied to them when she assured their only child would be well trained and safe.
Buffy hadn't taken the rejection well.
Long after everyone else left, she stood watching the grave.
Jessica wouldn't rise, they knew a vampire hadn't killed her, but still Buffy kept her steady vigil. It was as if she were trying to make up for not watching her the night she'd died.
Buffy closed her hand around warm skin when she felt Angel's fingers slide though hers, silently letting her know he was there and offering his support. She took a few steps back and leaned against him, grateful for his presence.
"It wasn't your fault." He spoke quietly but with an order of command.
Closing her eyes, Buffy sighed, "I know…but it doesn't make it hurt any less."
He tightened his grip around her and let his gaze fall to the freshly dug earth. "No, it doesn't. It never does." He answered quietly.
They stood motionless beside the gravel for a long time.
...
Marcy was shifting uncomfortably as she waited for her Angel to appear. He was late this morning for training class, and that made her nervous.
He was never late.
Finally she heard footsteps echoing down the hall and sighed in relief that he was coming.
Her relief was short lived as a tall handsome blond man with taunt pale cheeks strolled into the room, her slayer senses flagging him as a vampire instantly.
"Hello ladies." He greeted with a British accent as he stood before them, "Today is your lucky day. Why you ask? Because today you'll be training with a real vampire." At his words ended, his face shifted to reveal the demon hidden within. "So who wants to go first?"
Marcy's heart constricted in her chest, 'What? Why is he running the class, oh god, did something happen to my Angel?' Stepping forward she tried for casual and asked, "Is something the matter with Mr Summer, Mr Spike, Sir?"
When those yellow eyes met hers, she shivered to her core. The face of the beast disgusted her to no end. She couldn't understand how such an accomplished slayer such as Faith could be married to such a creature, the thought disturbed her. At least her Angel's face didn't contort into that hideous demon mask, she shuttered at the thought.
Holding back the age old primal desire to call Angel a lewd remark, he simply said, "Mr and Mrs Summers took the day off." He replied to her and the rest of the class, "So like I said, who's first?" He grinned at them with gleeful hunger.
Marcy's heart clenched at the 'Mr & Mrs' and stood in a battle stance along with her fellow slayers.
'Oh, I hope he's ok.' She thought wearily.
…
Tired and annoyed, Marcy hurried along the sidewalk, eager to arrive at her destination. She'd spent all day thinking about Angel and hoping he was alright.
Finally she found herself standing in front of a large two story white house with black shutters, double car attached garage with a wide driveway. The yard was neatly mowed and a well maintained garden of flowers ringed an oak tree in the front, a manicured shrub every few feet separated by bright blooming flowers decorated the borders of the house.
There were a few scattered toys in the front, following the path to the front door.
She immediately recognized both of Angel's vehicles parked in the driveway, the black SUV and classic convertible car she couldn't remember the name of.
Biting her lip, she eased into the yard, keeping to the edges of the property and scanning the area for any signs she was being watched. After a few moments, she found herself peeking into the windows beside the house, glancing into a well used but currently vacant kitchen. Shifting she looked further into the house, her vantage point letting her glimpse into the living room just outside the kitchen, however she spotted nothing there either.
Grimacing, she slowly slipped from the yard back onto the street, realizing it was still day and she looked too conspicuous thus she could easily be caught spying. Instead, she rounded the block and headed into the thin strip of woods that ran behind the house, figuring she could see the whole backyard from the relative privacy from the trees and shrubs.
Perching between two large tree trunks, Marcy scanned the back yard with piercing blue eyes, immediately being drawn to motion.
One of the children burst out the backdoor and went running in the backyard, the brown haired one, and screaming in that annoying pitching only the very young could achieve. Right behind her, the other toddler ran out from within the house, also screeching.
Her breath suddenly caught in her throat as her love walked out from the back door onto the small porch, casually walking down the stairs and watching the two children running around the yard.
Marcy's heart melted as she watched him smile in the bright evening sunlight, the light making him look like a supermodel or maybe a sun god.
Her breath caught in her chest as his hands grasped the hemp of his shirt and pulled the dark blue cotton up and over his head, leaving him deliciously naked from the waist up.
'Oh, he is so beautiful.' She thought, biting her lip.
Her happy plummeted as the blond hussy appeared on the porch, watching at the two children play for a moment before runner her skanky eyes over Angel's bare chest.
'What the hell is that bitch looking at? Can't she tell Angel loves me and not her?' Marcy fumed, hating Buffy even more than before.
The brunette slayer watched intently as Angel made his way over to the blond, their conversation was too far away to be heard, but from the slump of Angel's shoulders Marcy could tell he wasn't happy.
After a few moments, Buffy shook her head and went back inside, sending a tingle of happy back over Marcy's spine.
Her love looked mope-y for a moment, but turned his attention to the small blond boy when he brought a toy over to him.
Marcy sat back and watched with glee, hungrily devouring the image of shirtless Angel and picturing running her hands down his smooth chest.
Her thought were interrupted as his body language changed, his muscles seemed to tense as he looked up and around, as if looking for something. When his gaze drifted towards her hiding spot, she ducked and froze, realizing he must feel her eyes watching him.
She held her breath, and finally relaxed as he shook his head and turned his attention back down at his son.
'He must know it is only me.' She thought in relief. A few more minutes of basking and she checked her watch, she sighed in annoyance, knowing she needed to check in before 5pm. With one last look at her honey, she slipped though the woods and back towards Angel Investigations.
…
Angel finally herded the little monsters running between his long legs back into the house, and gave the woods one last sweep of his eyes. 'I swear I felt someone or something watching me.' He thought, then turned his thoughts back to his kids. "Hey, I said in the house." He scolded with a grin, grabbing Katie and Liam by their shirts as they tried to duck under his legs and back out into the yard.
With a shrieking laugh, he tossed both toddlers over his shoulders and headed back inside to the welcomed cool of the AC and out of the blistering July heat.
Buffy looked up from the chair in the corner of the kitchen as her husband entered with their children, a small smile escaping itself from her glum mood at the sight.
"Tag!" Katie yelled to her brother as Angel placed her and Liam back onto the floor, immediately they both darted into the living room.
Angel took a few broad steps towards his wife and leaned in to place a chase kiss on her cheek, "Feeling any better?" He asked with worry plainly visible in his dark eyes.
"The truth?" She asked quietly, looking down at her knotted fingers.
"Always." He answered, his hand moving to lift her chin so he could probe her eyes.
Buffy took a deep breath and sighed, "No, not really. Losing a slayer like that…Jessica…it's just..." She trailed, her mind blanking on how to explain the depth of loss she felt.
He leaned in and wrapped his arms around his miserable wife, pulling her close even as she tried to escape. "Mourn beloved, there is no shame in caring." He whispered into her ear.
She settled against him, wrapping her arms around her very own person security blanket. "She was so young." Buffy wept against his neck.
He said nothing, just scooped her into his arms and carried her into the living room so he could watch over both her and the playing children.
…
Marcy stepped in front of the mirror, examining her new look. She brushed her now blond hair, trying to decide on how to style it for the big reveal tomorrow. Anticipation washed over her, already picturing the look of love Angel will send her once he sees her new hair color.
…
Right on time, Angel appeared in the basement training room, his lips set into a hard line. "Ok ladies, for today's exercise, we'll be working on hand to hand training, working in pairs you'll exchange blows, gradually increasing the speed. Pick a partner, one grab boxing mitts, the other will use their hands to absorb the blows."
The young woman quickly paired off, and Marcy saw her opportunity when she realized there was an uneven number. Ignoring Sarah when she asked to pair up, she made a bee-line to Angel. "I don't have a partner, Angel." She smiled sweetly at him.
He looked at her a moment, trying to remember which girl this was, he knew almost all of them. After a second he realized it was Marcy. "Oh, Marcy, you look different."
She smiled at him, twirling her hands in her hair, "You like it?"
'Ahh what?' He thought, "Yes, of course, you look great." He said more or less to get past the awkward question and back to the exercise. Plus, he knew a woman asking a question about how they look was an automatic request for a compliment; he'd learned that over the last few years living with Buffy. It was even more important to say the right thing when said female was a slayer and could whip your ass.
"Focus on my hands, Marcy" Angel scolded as he held his palm up, wanting to get the young woman's attention back on training and out of wherever her happy grin had taken her a moment ago.
Marcy reeled in her excitement and swung, relishing the feel of his calloused skin and strong arms as she built up a steady rhythm punching left and right.
…
Marcy was floating, for the past 15 minutes she was Angel's complete focus.
She was grinning from ear to ear when he said, "Good job Marcy, now switch with Sophie."
Her grin vanished. "What? Switch?" 'Why, what did I do wrong?' popped into her head, but Angel was already moving, his eyes looking over at the other girls in the room.
"Ok Ladies, switch with your partners." He addressed everyone, then coming to stand beside Sophie and Jamie.
Sophie walked over to Marcy and put the boxing gloves on. "Whenever you're ready." She insisted, watching Marcy's heated glance fall on Angel and Jamie.
"Marcy? Hello?" Sophie asked, waving her hand in from of the now blonde's face.
The once brunette shook her head and turned to look at the red head staring at her, "Yeah, ready." She muttered, hoping her hands up.
Every few moments her eyes would dart back over to Angel, watching him like a hawk.
…
"Hold up, Jamie." Angel asked, waiting until the young slayer he was training lowered her arms. "You're doing ok, but you need to leverage your swings better or you lose power." Gently he took his hands and rested them of Jamie's forearms, turning her and letting her feel the difference between striking with just her arms and striking while turning with her hips.
…
Marcy's jaw dropped as his hands touched Jamie's arms, suddenly she found herself on the floor with a bruise forming on her cheek.
"Sorry." Sophie huffed, annoyed her training partners was too busy goggling the boss to be paying attention.
…
Angel looked up and saw Marcy on the ground. He excused himself from Jamie and asked Sophie to resume training with her.
"You ok?" He asked, extending his hand and helping Marcy to her feet.
She gripped his hand tightly, never wanting to let go. "Yes." She exhaled breathlessly as she gazed up at his beauty.
"Marcy." He address the young woman, "I noticed you've been distracted lately, is everything alright?"
She nodded, "Yes Angel, I've never been better." Her hand in his made the world seem so much brighter.
'Right.' Angel thought unconvinced, knowing her mind was obviously busy chewing something over that wasn't training.
Careful to remove his hand from hers, he explained, "Training is no time for daydreaming Marcy, when you are in this room you are fighting for your life, understand? Since you are having trouble focusing we can switch you into another class."
Her heart dropped, "What? No! I'm focused, I swear."
He eyed her suspiciously, "If you need someone to talk to, Sarah is available from 7 to 5 weekdays and by appointment anytime." Sarah, the young woman he'd rescued from vampires after getting drunk in a bar with her, and later offered a job to, was working as a counselor for the girls. Living a tough life and knowing what it was like living on the streets gave her a good perspective for advise. Sarah herself had taken the news of 'monsters are real' very well, especially after her own experience with vampires.
Angel was glad he'd given the young lady a chance to turn her life around, she was an amazing influence on the girls who spoke with her.
Marcy shook her head, horrified and confused, 'Why is he being so cold to me? He loves me. Is this some kind of trick?'
"I'll do better, Angel, I will." Se promised.
Hoping he wasn't making a mistake, he told her, "I know you have a lot of potential in you Marcy, that's why I'm recommending you be transferred to Buffy's classes, Ok?"
'What! He wants me in the hussy's class?' She tried to think how that would help when it dawned on her, 'I can watch how Buffy's fights, so I'll know how to take her out when the time comes. I bet that is what he really wants, wants me to know how to defeat Buffy when he tells her he loves me.'
Slowly nodding at his brilliant plan, "Yes Angel, you're right. That would be best for everyone."
He was a little surprised she'd agreed so quickly, but was satisfied she'd be better focused with Buffy's group. "Ok, Buffy's class starts at 10am tomorrow in Training room 4. I'll let her know to expect you."
Marcy smiled, "I look forward to learning all she has to teach."
Angel nodded, but something about her smile sent a chill up his spine. Shaking it off, he resumed training mode and continued with his class.
...
As Marcy walked into Training room 4 the following day, she suddenly felt like a small fish in a giant pond. Most of the other slayers milling about before class were older than her by at least a year and were further along in their training. They lived on the floor above her, so she really didn't know anyone outside seeing them in the cafe or in the halls. Already she felt like an outsider.
When the blond hussy came into the room, she carried an air around her that intrigued Marcy, the slut had a hell of a power trail.
"Everyone." The eldest slayer addressed, "This is Marcy, she'll be joining us from now on, get to know her and help get her up to speed."
After the introduction, Marcy had the most intense training session of her life.
...
'Holy shit.' The newly blond young slayer thought as she collapsed down onto the floor of the training room and chugged from her water bottle, 'No wonder Angel hasn't told Buffy yet that he loves me, he's too afraid he'll be slayed on sight by his crazy demon wife.' Marcy had never thought much of Buffy as a warrior, she hadn't ever seen her in action. Today she got one hell of a wake-up call, the bitch was good, like scary good.
Faith had come down for a special training session, to help show the advanced classes how in-sync two or more slayers could become. Watching the brunette and blond in a mock fight was thrilling and at the same time intimidating.
They moved perfectly together, Marcy didn't think she could ever achieve something like that.
Class was over and many of the girls had already fled, but she'd needed a few more minutes as a breather.
Her blue eyes traveled across the room to focus on the hussy and Faith speaking quietly to one another. Then her eyes caught movement off to the side, something was lurking in the shadows by the punching bags.
Both Buffy and Faith continued their conversation as nothing was different, but both woman knew they were being watched, and not just by the one student still hanging in the training room. Faith smirked a little, "Now this has the potential to be really fun." She said quietly to the blond slayer in front of her, a matching smirk slid across her lips as she agreed.
Marcy watched in alarm as a blond vampire slipped along the wall until he reached the light switch, then suddenly the room vanished into darkness.
A second later, Marcy realized there were a few emergency lights in the four corners of the room and one in the center, leaving the room dark but providing just enough light to see.
With wide scared eyes, Marcy watched Buffy and Faith as they looked around suspiciously.
"What's wrong Slayers?" A disembodied voice echoed in the room, causing Buffy and Faith to glance around for it's source, "Are you afraid of the dark?"
"The dark isn't much of a problem." Buffy answered into the shadows surrounding her. "It's the things in the dark that are the issue."
"Yeah." Faith continued, "But they tend to be more afraid of us."
A laugh echoed around, "Well let us see about that."
Suddenly the vampire was attacking and Buffy and Faith where back to back, battle stances and fist out.
"Two against one?" Faith asked as she dodged a swing and leaped back as Buffy kicked out her leg. "That's too easy."
"How about I even the odds then." Another male voice called as a dark haired vampire dropped down from the rafters.
"I'm liking these odds better." Buffy grinned as she traded blows with the blond vampire.
Marcy was shocked, Buffy and Faith were practically smiling as they fought for their lives.
The dark haired vampire drove the dark slayer back until her back one once again to Buffy's.
"How about we switch?" She called to Buffy behind her, "This vamp is too warm for my tastes."
"Deal." The blond agreed and she and Faith somersaulted past one another and traded opponents.
"Now this is what I'm talking about." Faith grinned as she bounced on her heels in eager anticipation and slammed into the blond vampire, rolling to the ground and coming back up straddling him.
"Likewise Slayer." The vampire agreed with a vicious smile as he bucked her off and pinned her beneath him.
Buffy circled her opponent, her eyes looking for a weak spot in his defense. "You already know how this is going to end." She threatened with a mischievous grin.
"Probably" He replied with a dark gaze, "But I might get lucky today."
Her grin widened, "Oh I have a feeling you'll get lucky whether you win or lose."
The vampire lunged and Buffy was ready for him.
The blond vampire wiped a bit of blood from his lip, "First blood goes to you, Luv."
Faith winked at him, "If it's blood you want, I've got a whole bunch of veins worth sitting right here." She teased, running her fingers down her neck.
"Count on it slayer, I've have you impaled on there fangs soon enough." He taunted back, coming in for the kill.
Faith rolled and dodged the attack and swung her arm out, catching him in the gut, "Sounds like fun."
He turned and pulled a stake from his coat pocket, "Unless you'd rather I impale you with wood?" He grinned out with a lusty smirk.
"I would actually." She flirted back, as she turned and faced him, she added to throw him off, "But I know you got some better quality hard wood to impale me on than that splintery thing."
The vampire shrugged and tossed the stake aside, "That I do slayer."
They went down again in a tangle of limbs and to Marcy's shock, came to a stop with their lips firmly locked together. 'She's kissing that vampire!' Suddenly Marcy really looked at the demon and realized it was Spike. 'How did she know it was him with his face was all bumpy?'
Turning her eyes back to Buffy and the creature she was fighting, she found the slayer in a battle for her life with the evenly matched demon.
They traded blows at an alarmingly fast pace, perfectly in-sync. 'Wow, and I thought Buffy and Faith moved perfectly together.' She wondered in amazement.
Suddenly the vampire got the upper hand as Buffy crashed to the ground from a un-dodged kick. He was on top of her in a flash, his arms pinning her to the floor and his legs holding hers down, a winning smile stretch across his gruesome mouth, "Now what?" He asked with a sparkle in his eyes.
"This." she answered before pressing her lips against his.
Marcy's jaw almost hit the floor.
The demon was just as shocked as Buffy used her distracting kiss to toss him off and roll on top of him, pinning him and holding her fist as if she'd held a stake against his chest, "And another one bites the dust."
"Cheater." He growled from beneath her, but despite her not having a real stake, made no move to escape.
"And what are you going to do about it?" She teased down at him.
His grin widened, "I could think of a few things."
"I'm sure you'll enlighten me later tonight." She flirted back before leaning down and pressing her lips to his again.
Marcy had seen enough, "Slayers are supposed to kill vampires, not make out with them!"
The other four in the room suddenly stopped and turned to face her, all openly surprised she was there.
"Hey, this is private show." Faith said as she adjusted her shirt after Spike had been foundling her girls out of her bra.
Buffy quickly climbed up off her vampire and Marcy was suddenly floored when his face shifted, revealing her love was the creature all along.
"Sorry, I forgot you were still here." Buffy said sheepishly, giving her spouse a look that said, 'Why didn't you say she was still here, Mr-I-have-demon-senses.'
He shifted and looked away, guilty he hadn't noticed they weren't alone.
"Girl got a good show." Spike smirked, "The other kiddies will be green with envy."
With her cheeks burning from both anger at seeing her love kissing that bitch and from the attention, she grabbed her stuff and hurried out of the room.
…
Marcy was seeing red.
That blond slut still had her claws deep into Angel, keeping him from being able to declare his love for her.
'I need a way to get Buffy out of the picture without anyone knowing.' She steamed, pacing her room and racking her brain for a solution.
'Dying my hair wasn't enough to make me look like her, so maybe I need to do something more radical?'
That body she had moved so gracefully, her skills were unmatched, her fame legendary...how could she compete with that?
She paced, feeling like a caged animal as she wrought with her brain on how to claim Angel as her own.
Suddenly she paused, thinking.
'That will work.' She thought, remembering seeing a spell in a book a few months back. 'Now I just need to set the stage.'
...
TBC...