2000 – Part Two
Willow, Xander and Anya walked away from the Dean's residence in silence. Suddenly, Xander broke the silence.
"Well that was a waste of time." He said bitterly.
Anya looked up from her piece of plastic-wrapped pumpkin pie as the trio halted.
"I think he thought we were crazy." Willow said mournfully. No one's ever thought I was insane before. I wonder if he'll put it on my permanent record? Can I have a permanent record in college?
Xander smiled bitterly. "Maybe Anya shouldn't have opened the conversation with 'Everybody got both ears?'" He asked.
"I like his wife." Anya smiled at her pie. "She gave me pie."
Willow barely restrained herself from rolling her eyes. Why couldn't Xander find himself a normal girlfriend. Or, failing that, at least one who acted normal?
"So what do we do now?" Xander asked.
Willow shrugged. "We could stay and stand watch." She suggested dubiously. "But I don't know…" She broke off as Angel stepped out of the darkness.
"Willow…"
Xander jumped. "Angel!" He scowled as his girlfriend looked the brooding vampire up and down speculatively.
"This is Angel." She said predatorily. Angel shifted uncomfortably. "He's large and glowery, isn't he?"
Anya pouted as Xander stepped in front of her, protecting her from Angel. "He's evil again." Xander warned, his body tense, the adrenaline already flowing in preparation for flight or fight.
"I'm not evil again!" Angel protested. "Why does everyone think that?"
Willow rushed to explain. "Angel's here to protect Buffy." She said.
"I haven't been evil for a long time!" Angel continued.
"Buffy's not supposed to know he's here." Willow warned Xander and Anya. "Angel, you have something new?" She asked.
Angel blinked. Focus. He thought. You're here for two reasons. Protect Buffy by updating Willow and Giles and see whether or not Willow's eyes do that flashing thing again. "Yeah." He said. "All the Chumash weapons are missing from the cultural centre. Something's up. Where's Buffy?" He peered at Willow's face.
"Still at Giles'" Willow informed him. "She just sent us to check on Dean Guerrero."
Anya smiled. "He's fine." She said helpfully. "Lots of ears."
"Why the Dean?" Angel asked, frowning as he mentally adjusted his mindset in order to cope with Anya.
"We think he's going after someone in charge." Willow said. "A leader."
Angel shifted uneasily. "He's a warrior." He thought aloud and then realised what that meant. "To a warrior the leader means the strongest fighter."
"Buffy." Xander said, feeling the familiar sense of icy horror slide down his spine.
Angel tried to get a better look at Willow's eyes. If only she'd just move slightly to the left, then the light from that streetlamp would shine right onto her face. "He's formed a raiding party." He told the others.
Willow took a step forward, moving out of the shadow of a tree and into the streetlight. "We've got to get back there!" She said, panicking slightly.
Got you! Angel thought triumphantly as he looked deep into Willow's eyes. Now he actually looked, it did seem as though there was something different about them. About the colour. It's almost as though the green of her eyes is being reflected by polished silver. He dismissed the thought as being ludicrously lyrical. "I'll call her." He said, transferring his attention from Willow specifically to the group as a whole. "You get back fast."
Xander frowned. "How can we…" He stopped the sentence as Angel strode to a nearby bike rack and snapped the lock on one of the bikes. He grinned.