1Title- Slipping Away
Rating- Now PG, but will get bad
pairings- B/R (Not 4 long); B/A(us); W/O
Disclaimer- I own nothing, sadly, because if I did there would have been NO A/C, B/R or B/S in the show.
Summary- This takes place somewhere in the middle of the fourth season. Warning: I've changed a lot. Since Angel left Buff she has been fighting, a losing battle, with the Darkness in herself. Colors have slowly been slipping away leaving Buffy in a dull world of black and white. Worse, her ability to feel regular human emotions went south with the colors, leaving her fighting the Slayer with only her shear will. But unbeknown to Buffy there's a new 'big bad' in town, his been searching for her, stocking her in her dreams. Tempting her with the darkness she's been fighting so hard to stifle. Since leaving Sunnydale Angel has been fighting the things that go 'bump' in the night in hopes of filling the void leaving his one true love and mate behind. A mysterious blue women comes and binds him to Angelus, making his soul permanent.
Author's Notes- Hey guys, I hope you READ THIS. Ok, first Buffy's thoughts are Italicized. The slayer's thoughts are bold and italicized. Angel's thoughts are bold. Feedback is appreciated. I love knowing what you guys think about the story.
Chapter 1
Music throbbed, pulsating through the throng of sweaty, gyrating bodies on the packed dance floor. The Bronze was unusually packed for a Tuesday night, it seemed the youth of Sunny Dale had decided not to wait until Friday to bring out their dancing shoes.
Buffy sat with her friends at one of the few circular tables scattered in the darker corners of dimly lite, smoky club. Willow was sitting next to Oz talking with Xander about how to slay the latest 'Big Bad'.
Just as always. They discuss ambush tactics then send in the 'big guns' to do the actual work. Buffy thoughtas she brooded into the congregation of people moving together almost as one, living, breathing organism. Interesting.
She watched as if in a trance, her mind caught up in that nights' post-Bronze activities, until she felt a tap on her shoulder snapping her back to reality.
"Huh...what?" Buffy asked looking at her friends for the source of the interruption.
The tap came again and Buffy turned her head around and found herself staring at the shirt clad chest of a fairly tall male. Now what? Buffy sat back and lifted her head to look up at the intruder.
Oh great, Captain Cardboard. The slayer huffed. Just what we need to make our night. Your new human boyfriend. Nobody asked you for commentary. Buffy pointed outwearily.
Riley was tall, with blonde hair and blue eyes. Dressed in tight denim jeans, a gray/blue shirt and a light California golden tan to top it off. Buffy caught the faint smell of cheap cologne and sweat, and cringed mentally.
Why do you put up with this? Put up with what? Buffy asked with staged ignorance, fighting her body not to flinch as Riley bent down the kiss her ,chastely, on the lips. Him. The slayer growled. Buffy mentally rolled her eyes.
What about him? 'What about him?' look at him. He smells funny, his lips are chapped, and he's overly warm. He's human, Exactly. The Slayer exclaimed, cutting Buffy off mid-thought.
"So how 'bout it?" Riley's question brought Buffy back into the present. "Huh?" Buffy asked, then at Riley's hurt look quickly added: "I'm sorry. My minds else where at the moment."
Riley smiled. "I just asked you if you wanted to dance." Buffy looked back toward the dance floor, the massive congregating had diminished down to a handful of couples swaying to the slow tempo of the song.
A slight wave of unease pricked Buffy as the lyrics filled the room. The same song, the last song she and Angel had danced to at prom before he abandon her. Buffy turned back to her, now watered down cherry coke.
"Sorry Riley, I'm not up for it right now." Buffy fought off the reaction to stiffen as Riley placed his hands on her shoulders and bent down till his hot breath brushed her ear. "Are you feeling ok?"He asked concern coloring his voice.
Yeah like he cares. The Slayer sneered. The sad thing is he dose. Buffy thought callously. It isn't his job to care. If not his then who? Angel? Buffy gave a mental snort. Yes Angel. I'll be sure to tell that to him next chance I get.
Buffy was brought violently out of her thoughts when Riley's lips skimmed over Angel's scar. She serged to her feet forcing Riley back several steps. "Buffy are you alright?" Willow, who had been silent through her and Riley's exchange, asked alarmed.
Kill him. Kill him now. The slayer said with deadly calm. Buffy shuddered, barely suppressing the impulse to do just that. "Y-yes," Buffy took a deep breath, trying to calm the Slayer's bloody rage, before finishing.
"I'm fine. I've just been tired and edgy lately, so I think I'll just go patrolling now and hit the hay."
Before Riley or any of them could protest Buffy disappeared out of the Bronze. "Well, that was weird." Willow said uneasily noticing the hurt and confusion on Riley's face.
"Have you guys noticed she's been acting, oh I don't know, strange lately?" Riley asked sitting down, absently, in Buffy's vacant seat. Willow shot Xander a nervous glance. "Not just lately," Xander said stiffly.
"She's been acting weird for weeks now." Xander explained seeing the confused glaces Willow, Oz, and Riley gave him. "You don't suppose she misses Angel, Do you?" Willow asked cautiously.
"She doesn't give a damn about dead-boy anymore." Xander stated emphatically. Willow didn't looked convinced. "He was her first love, it's kinda hard to just push that aside." Oz said evenly. Xander glared at him.
Riley cleared his to get their attention. "Um, guys I don't mean to break this up, but who is Angel." Immediately all eyes reverted to him.
Willow gaped at him. Oz's eyes widened slightly, giving away his surprise. "Don't tell me she didn't tell you." Xander exclaimed, not completely hiding his disgust. Riley shook his head watching their reactions.
Willow snapped out of her initial shock seeing Xander about to spill the beans. "Xander." She warned disapprovingly.
"What? He deserves to know Will." Xander defended. "It's not our place." "We'll someone please tell me what's going on? Who is Angel?" Riley asked failing to mask his frustration. "You wanna know? Well get comfy 'cuz this could take awhile."
Despite Willow's objections Xander told Riley everything. By the time he finished Riley's face was completely drained of color. He picked up his soda with a shaky hand and gulped down half the contents.
"Don't look so glum." Xander said sitting back in his chair looking smug. Riley glared at him. "You just told me my girlfriends not only in love with a vampire, but screwed him as well,"
"she's not in love with him anymore." Xander cut in. "And he that he's the one who put that 'puppy bite' scar on her neck before he left." Riley continued as if Xander hadn't interrupted.
"Well yeah, but she's over him now." Willow said squirming in Oz's lap. Sensing her distress he tighten his arms around her, and brought one of her hands up to his lips. Willow immediately calmed with a sigh.
Riley didn't look convinced. "So you think her attitude in because of him?" He asked. "Yes." "No." Willow and Xander answered in unison, then glared at each other. "So, which is it?" Riley asked exasperated.
"Yes." "No" They chimed in again. Riley heaved out a sigh. "So what do we do now?" He asked. Willow, Xander, and Oz shared a look. "Giles." They said. Riley pushed out of his chair, standing. "Giles it is."
The night was clear and the stars were shining like diamonds scattered on black silk. It was cold and the breeze carried a bite, discouraging most from venturing out.
The Slayer had no problem with the cold, she lived for the night. Stalking through cemeteries looking for her next victim was the ultimate rush, something to relish in. And she did. Every night.
From the top of the mausoleum she could see perfectly despite, the fact there was no moon to give even the slightest bit of light. If she focused, she could see each individual vain on every leaf, and blade of grass.
She could hear the rustle of the trees, the trickle of water from a storm drain half a block away, and the twig snapping indicating her pray was within proximity.
The air carried the light sent of night blooming oleanders and jasmine, entwined with the sharp odor of death ,both old and new. The odor was so faint human senses couldn't pick it up, but slayer senses could.
Death gave the blooming flower scent a very faint overlay of decomposing flesh, stale perfume, and pine cleaner.
Buffy was studying a beautifully carved, marble statue of the 'Madonna' when she saw the vampire come out of the shadows into the open. Tensing, she jumped soundlessly to the ground melting into the shadows. Fledgling. The slayer observed. Punch. Kick. Stake. Nothing to it. Buffy agreed.
Before the vampire could realize he was now the hunted, instead of the hunter, he was flying back into a headstone turning it to rubble. Buffy stood motionless waiting for the vampire to return her attack, every muscle drawn as tight as a bow string, ready for any move the vampire might have.
Her body giving the illusion of being completely relaxed, while power spued from her very pores charging the air around them.
The inexperienced vampire roared in rage and charged her. Buffy laughed out loud side stepping him at the last minuet. "That all you got?" Buffy taunted knocking the vampires feet out from under him.
"Gee and here I thought this was gonna be tough." Buffy gave an exaggerated sigh. "Well as much as I'd love to keep this up." Buffy pulled out a stake and drove it home. "I have better things to slay." Buffy said as the vampire turned to ash.
Looking around, Buffy dusted herself off. Don't they even try any more? The slayer complained as Buffy was walking out of the cemetery. Your quiet tonight. What gives?
Thinking. Wow, aren't we talkative. Buffy let out a frustrated sigh. You'd be talkative to if your world was slowly going to shades of black and white along with your emotions. You forget we happen to share the same stellar body. Any thing that happens to you happens to me.
Buffy mentally rolled her eyes.Great to know I'm not suffering alone. If you'd just give in. Just let the darkness take over and give me control,
The answer is 'No' just as it has been for the last three months. Buffy interrupted her alter egos tempting thought. It's only a matter of time, and guess what sister, your 'control times' almost up. The slayer stated matter-of-fact-ly, sending Buffy a mental picture of her smug Know-it-all smile. Don't I know it. Buffy admitted turning into an ally and disappeared into the inky blackness.
Two hours , four vampires, three incredibly ugly, mucus-y demons, and a steaming hot shower later Buffy strolled into the dorm room her and Willow shared. She bit her lip when she saw that Willow wasn't there. Then shrugged Probably at Oz's house. So let's go back out and hunt.
Ignoring her alter ego's suggestion, Buffy plopped down on the bed and notice a note in Willow's loopy hand writing. She read it, balled it up and through it out the window.
Growling in frustration she went to her closet and changed from her black silk pajama pants and matching baby-T to a pair of jeans and a white fuzzy sweater.
She grabbed her black leather jacket before closing the door behind her Buffy moved quickly down the hallway to the exit.
Come to Giles's. Well there goes my sleep. Buffy thought. We don't sleep at night. We're nocturnal, you know like our pray. Her alter ego pointed out.
No we'd have to actually sleep during the day to be nocturnal, we don't even get sleep at night nine and a half times out of ten the time. Buffy countered. Speak for yourself. I sleep just fine through the day. "Good to know one of us is." Buffy said aloud.
TBC