Way Too Fast, Or Much Too Slow
Time slips away
Inevitable path -
Returning to dust
Moment by moment.
Time slips away
Nearing eternity
Moment by moment.
Moment by Moment' by Beth Maryanne
Angelus was in no way sated. Of course. But the act itself had been pleasurably magnified by the audience. His ex and Spike staring in through a window at him screwing Dru, well, the looks on their faces would be enough to keep him snapping necks till Christmas. In a good way. The dainty Buffy had left right at the beginning, couldn't expect her to watch such an act, but Spike had watched the whole magnificent show. Stupid kid, as if Drusilla had ever been his. He was just, taking care of her while Angelus was rediscovering his human side.
Angelus spat against the pavement with disgust, earning some revolted looks from a passing couple of pensioners. He would have killed them, but he was trying to remain incognito. He walked through the busy hordes of people as they milled in and out of shops. Merely metre's ahead of him, though a perfectly placed mass of people obscured them from easy view, was the Slayer and her friends.
They were milling around the street with no apparent direction. But Angelus could tell they were up to something, as they had brought the Watcher with them. He stood out in the crowd full of teenagers. He wondered if she had told them about what she had seen. If she had cried. If her heart had broken. No, she still loved him. He knew, because he still--
***
Spike wandered the crowds, blood smeared his tongue, but it tasted bitter. Maybe that last kill had been a little too old, Spike tried to convince himself, but he knew the real reason. Bloody Angelus. But he couldn't blame him. Well, he could blame him, and bash his head in with a pitchfork, but Dru would have strayed eventually. She was always his.
He slumped down on a park bench, propping one leg up on the space next to him and flung his head back to stare at the non-existent stars. He needed to get out of here, Sunnydale, travel again. Things had always seemed easier when he was on the move, staying in one place long enough to violate and desecrate before starting anew again. But he'd done all of that with Drusilla.
That wouldn't ever happen again, not even if she begged him to take her back. Who was he kidding, he'd take her back in a heartbeat. Metaphorical of course.
***
-- hated her with a passionate vengeance. She had made him feel, and care, and weep, and he would make her scream and cry and plead because of it.
The group in front of him broke apart and went their separate ways, the majority wandered into the movie theatre, but the Watcher walked surreptitiously into the magic shop. And the Slayer headed towards the cemetery.
He stalked after her, figuratively and literally, but always keeping to the shadows.
***
What movie are we seeing anyway? Cordelia asked, clearly bored by the whole cinema-going experience before even entering the theatre. She lowered her voice half-an-octave and continued to Xander, And why do we have to go with them?
Her comment was not missed by either Willow or Oz, but they just smiled indulgently and pretended they hadn't heard the very loud complaining. Willow really didn't know what Xander saw in Cordelia. Well, other than the superficial stuff, but she thought Xander was better than that.
We're going to see, uh...
Black and white re-runs.
Cordelia and Xander stared at Oz with disbelief, causing Willow to jump quickly to his defence,
What?! Its cheaper.
Great. Going to old grainy movies in a theatre with a sticky floor and three geeks who can't even afford to see premieres. I've reached a new level of hell.
Willow shrieked, outraged. Oz held onto her arm comfortingly and pulled her away to the popcorn stand.
Look, Cordy, if you don't want to be here, then leave. In fact, if you don't seriously want to be with me, then leave. Sort out what you want and stop pulling all this spoilt bitch crap, because I know you can be better than that.
Cordelia wanted to answer with another insult, but as she processed everything that Xander had said, all she could manage to do was sigh. She looked into his face, with warm if still a little critical eyes.
You want to be with me seriously?
You know I do! Why the hell would I be wanting to tell people otherwise?
To boast about how you got' Cordelia Chase. Cordelia winced at her bluntness,
Believe me, Cor, you are no way a trophy girlfriend. Xander thought for a second, You're more than that. he supplied to cover his tracks.
A smile rippled Cordelia's face and for once, not caring who saw, she pulled Xander into a steamy kiss right in the middle of the cinema lobby.
Willow watched with envy from across the room, and some icky feelings, but that was to be expected with all the tongue that was being thrust about. Oo, thrust, a bad word. Naughty thoughts.
Oz handed the blushing Willow a large tub of popcorn and with only once glance in Xander and Cordelia's direction, gently guided her further into the cinema.
***
Buffy tagged Giles down the street, carefully staying a step behind him for no other reason than because she could. Sometimes it was nice to just act strangely for the hell of it.
So, does our new big-ugly have a name? she asked finally.
What? Oh. Several.
Well, which one do you think it goes by now?
I really have no idea. Buffy, must you keep doing that, its very annoying.
Buffy kept slowing down and hopping in an attempt to keep behind Giles. She sighed as if he had given her a great burden and moved into line with him.
So, what should I call it? Not that I'm planning on having a conversation and cucumber sandwiches, I just figure I should know its name before I kill it, ya know?
Not really... Well, you could call it Kake.
Giles glared at her and Buffy raised her hands, the defensive perkiness obviously needed to be toned down a little.
Kakeaner. Two separate words placed together, but roughly translating into evil man'.
Well, I thought it was good.
You would. Buffy teased, but as the magic shop homed into view she became serious, I think I'll go and patrol, you don't need me for any of this... she waved a hand dismissively at the shop.
All right, Buffy, but be careful. Angelus is still out there somewhere.
Uh huh, like the truth. Something tells me he's going to be a bit preoccupied to care about me. Buffy muttered before turning off into a different street as a short-cut to one of Sunnydale's many graveyards.
***
Was he really that stupid? As if he couldn't smell the other Vampire from across town. To think that hiding behind a bush would mask his essence. Since when did Angelus hide anyway?
Spike remained motionless on the bench, but inside he tracked the other Vampire, lurking in the shadows. He'd probably come to gloat, good for him, this bench was made of wood and would look good around Angelus's neck.
Suddenly Spike felt the presence move away from him and despite the need for caution he looked up. Angelus was across the street in the Richinfield Cemetery, his back was to Spike and he didn't seem to care whether the blonde Vampire saw him or not. He was not, as Spike had supposed, watching Spike. He was watching his co-viewer. The Slayer.
How was it that Spike could sense a semi-mad Vampire from blocks away, but he could not sense the Slayer. He was lucky that he didn't have a spike through his heart right now, hell, he might go and ask her to stake him for being so stupid and unobservant.
She was beating up on some fledgling Vampire, which was stupid because she could probably have killed him with one move. Girl needed to go to an anger management course. But then again the violence did look like fun, and had she not been the Slayer, and had he not been the enemy, he might have joined in.
Spike pulled himself up off of the bench and walked down the small embankment onto the road. It was quiet and unlikely that any cars would be coming along. He got a better view from here. After ten minutes of her solidly kicking the Vamp's ass, she staked him. The explosion of ashes almost distracted Spike from the other movements in the Cemetery. A few yards away from where the Slayer was standing a Vampire burst from the earth, and closer than that, Angelus begun to walk out from his hiding place.
The Slayer was watching the new Vampire climb from the ground and struggle with its coffin. He saw her lips move, obviously taunting or something. But Angelus was closing in on her. Spike stared at the scene before him with anticipation, he was going to see a Slayer die. He usually liked that. But when it wasn't him doing the killing? When it was at the hands of Angelus? It would probably really piss him off if....
Spike took off at a run towards where Slayer and Master Vampire stood, one oblivious to the other's company. Angelus was closing in on the Slayer, practically a few feet away from her. When he reached the opening to the cemetery he called out, but she didn't respond. Slayer senses his ass.
he yelled, Slay-er! Bloody hell, Buffy!
Buffy dusted the Vampire in front of her with easy and spun around at the sound of both her names being called. The Cemetery was dark and empty, except for one bleached pest that she frankly should have dusted earlier, who was rushing towards her.
(Author's Note: Okay, its 11:30pm, and I've just finished this chapter, so please excuse any mistakes, I'll change them when I can actually open my eyes :-). I promise it'll get better, or rather hope it will. Kind thanks again to my reviewers, yes, I do think of you as my own. In a completely possesive but non-threatening way.)