Preparation, preparation, preparation
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The shadows and the light of the moon glisten on ground. The clouds flew over the moon and the light froze for seconds as the darkness took over forests only for while. She ran, weaving in and out of the undergrowth of the woodland laid before her. The slick cold ground unfastens itself to her paws, sprinkling the earth and the vegetation everywhere behind her. Her heart struck at each paw hitting the ground. The mist gave way to her, the predator, the cat. Her shallow breathe saluted as it turn to vapour as she exhaled. She jumped and landed soundless on an upturned tree.
Her tail flicked and her head raised in stillness, a grace that only felines posses. He was sitting on another upturned tree; his eyes were dark as his clothing; all focussed on her. Heated in lust. Her feline features changed as she moved to sit. The hair on her body changed and shortened down revealing beautiful skin that seem to glow. Down her body, her fur shortened to the skin yet the hair on top of her head grew and curled into golden locks. Her front legs shortened to arms as her back legs lengthened with her tail disappearing, changing to a human form. Her face shrank, lengthened into an O-shape yet perfected in her revealing beauty. Last of her eyes, they glowed in a golden oval and when she blinked it bared the colour of hazel-green with soft hints of blue. Feet bare on the soft cold ground, the only thing she was wearing was a red dress clinging to the right curves.
In an elegant way, he stood and walk towards her, like the predator to the prey. Watching her in pleasure that she thought was not possible he swooped into a searing kiss. Her breath hitch, allowing her hands to wander and grip his clothes in need while his brought her closer. Warmth filled every bone in her body, letting his demanding tongue entrance as he deepened the kiss. The passion intensified, clawing into her veins. He pushed her down while she pulled him down with her onto to the now transformed bed from the log as well as her surroundings too; a warm room with candles portraying soft luminosity to their bodies.
"Do you feel the heat?" he lowered his lips to her neck, resting his body on her spearing none of himself as his hard body meshed with her soft one.
She groans in satisfaction, yes she could feel it tingling in every part of her body. Soothing over ever nerve that was possibly there. He lifted the top part of his body away from hers by resting on his forearm, accepting her hands unbuttoning his shirt.
"You're a phoenix" he murmured, sliding down a strap from her dress then kissed her bare shoulder "You were born from the ashes of the fire"
"How do you know?" she asked.
He chuckled at her "You're fire and I need the heat" he smirked "Always been cold without you S199704"
And Buffy woke up. Her breathing harsh against her dark room; quiet and still. With the barely visible moonlight streaming from her blinds Buffy got up from her bed, pushing the covers away as she went and walked to her dressing mirror. Pulling up negligee from her body she turned around and looked over her shoulder to the bottom of her back she saw golden brown leopard markings there for a moment before they faded against the skin colour.
"Well nearly that time of the season" Buffy muttered as she dropped her negligee back down and walked back to her bed.
Angelus came into the meeting room and spots Gunn there with two cups of coffee. Gunn gave him a grim smile when he approached him, this was two in the morning and no one liked late nights. Gunn gave him the coffee when Angelus sat down next to him in a grunt of thanks.
"Can you tell me why we're here" Angelus grumbled.
"Maybe because we have to deal with your case again" a snide voice said.
Angelus turned to the person that pissed him off in many occasions but he never showed "Finn, Forrest"
"Angelus" they both acknowledged back.
"Came to rub in the failures you've had with the slayers?" Angelus said.
"Nah, came here to see what the great duo can do since they haven't done anything-" Riley said.
Angelus yawned interruptedly "Is this speech going to take long? Cause quite frankly since I'm so tired I don't know if I'm talking to your face or your ass since they both spill out shit"
Riley flustered in anger but before he could say anything Wesley came.
"Right ladies" Wesley said, clapping his hands together and rubbed them in anticipation "We have suggestion that the Slayers might take the Vase of Amarra, it will be arriving in five hours time, worth over two million dollars since it was found in the temple of Voluptas, the daughter of Cupid and Psyche"
"So it's pretty old" Gunn said.
"Indeed, which is why we would have to take extra care with it" Wesley said.
"Is it cursed?" Forrest said sarcastically.
"No, w-well if you check your mythology Voluptas was either a goddess or nymph that caused pleasure" Wesley said coolly "So if any of you stick together to guard my advice would guard it with the opposite sex"
There was a nervous chuckle around the men since there were hardly any women sitting there.
"Wes, if we're going to guard this, does this mean that the vase happen to be bait as well?" Angelus said.
"Yes" Wesley said.
"Oh great" Angelus groaned "You realise they're gonna do the same thing with Fishboy and his sidekick Greengiant"
"As you so pleasantly pointed out Angelus it is" Wesley said quickly averting a pissing competition "This time it will be different though"
"How?" Angelus asked and Wesley began to explain.
"Wow B you look like shit" Faith said ever so politely when her sister came in through the kitchen door.
"Thanks Faith" Buffy said sarcastically, sitting down and grabbed the mug of coffee Willow placed down for her.
"And…" Faith took a quick sniff at her "…you had a good night as well" giggling in content.
"HEY!" Buffy yelled then punched Faith in the arm only to make her laugh louder "How many times do I have to say it? No sniffing!"
"Dad called" Kendra said interrupting the whole ceremonious fight in the morning while she fiddled with the newspaper in her hand.
"Is the plane delayed?" Willow asked curiously.
"No, we have a little problem" Kendra said "One of Dad's old acquaintances called up, he wants us to steal something"
"But Dad said-"
"I know what he said" Kendra barked at Willow "But this is different"
"How different?" Buffy asked.
"Seems like if we don't do this we're dead" Kendra said "By Ethan Rayne"
"WHAT!" Willow shouted.
"Guess we're going to have to kill him first" Faith gloomily said.
"But we can't" Willow protested.
"Think about it Will" Faith said "We do this, what's gonna stop Ethan from blackmailing us over and over again? According to Dad it's his style"
"I guess but how about putting him away in prison?" Willow suggested only to get unhappy looks "Okay, maybe not but I can't kill anyone"
"We won't make you Will" Buffy said "Beside we were made and trained to kill, it'll be easier for us"
Willow involuntarily shuddered, remembering what they are sometimes creped her out all the times.
"Whoever gets the short straw does it" Kendra said as she got up and pulled out three straws from the opened draw "Personally I don't want to be the one that dose it"
"Don't think any of us wants to" Buffy said.
Cutting one of them with a pair of scissors she handed them to Willow "Me?"
"Yes you Willow" Kendra said "Got to keep it fair"
"Oh, okay" Willow said taking them, she shuffled them behind her back then brought them back, all at the same length.
Each of them took one and compared them to each other's.
"So how is it going to go down?" Faith asked grimly.
"We steal then kill" Buffy said "Simple plan, when Mr Rayne shows up were ever he want us to drop it off we kill him. End of story"
"What are we going to do with the thingie?" Willow asked "We can't keep it about, Dad stole from Ethan and if we kill him the police would come straight here since Ethan was dead right about him being the 'Ripper'"
"But luckily Dad out smarted them" Faith put in, since every meal time Giles would tell them about his glory days "Sold it quickly"
"But we're not going to do that" Buffy said grinning "What we're going to do afterwards is put it back"
"What?" They all said, looking like she was mad.
"Think about it" Buffy said "The ultimate embarrassment for the police, we steal it and we put it back when they take the 'fake' away"
"Isn't that a bit risky?" Willow pointed out.
"It would be" Faith said then smirked "It also be wicked fun"
"It would definitely be fun, but like Willow said they'll come straight here" Kendra reminding them.
"Not if I hide it in my gallery" Buffy said "Got my vault there"
"Stop tempting us B" Faith said jokingly.
Buffy rolled her eyes at her "More along the lines of the vault with a secret vault that Willow been kind enough to put there"
"Always a pleasure Buff" Willow chirped, getting into the idea.
"Where you keep the fakes" Kendra said knowingly "Except this is were the real deal gonna be"
"Exactly" Buffy said "So do we have time limit on this?"
"We've got a week" Kendra said "Dad's gonna fill us in but it's called the Vase of Amarra"
"I'll do some research on it" Willow said.
"Well I gotta go" Faith said getting up from the island work surface "I have to meet up with a guy"
"Guy?" Buffy asked, a little confused since Faith never meet up guys in the morning, but Kendra and Willow could not help but either grin or giggle at Buffy.
"Well he happens to be a good bouncer" Faith hinted as she left the kitchen "A very good bounce-er"
It took Buffy ten seconds to realise who it was "SPIKE? YOU'RE GOING OUT WITH SPIKE?"
"I still say it would never work" Angelus said as he came in their office.
"I agree with you buddy" Gunn said when they sat into there chairs "But still optimistic about this"
"And I'm still saying this is not going to work" Angelus said turning on his computer.
"Dude, what are you doing?" Gunn asked.
"Gonna do some research" Angelus said "I'm up, I may as well do something"
"That's really bad for you health" Gunn commented.
"Sue me" Angelus growled not taking his eyes off the screen.
"Just looking out for your health man" Gunn said "I really don't Buffy would be happy if your all taunt and shit"
"It's only going to be one day of no sleep, I've handle worse" Angelus pointed out.
"Whatever man" Gunn said shaking his head.
"I don't believe this" Angelus growled at the computer.
"What?" Gunn asked from the other side of his desk.
"The city council has stop all police access to building plans of the galleries and museums"
"You gotta be kidding me" Gunn said as he got up and rounded his desk to Angelus's side.
"Look" Angelus pointed to the screen "They've closed it down because there is a problem on their system"
"No shit" Gunn said as he skim read the notice as Angelus picked up his phone and dialled up the city hall number.
"Good morning this is Detective Liam Angelus" Angelus said when he was through "I'm calling because I can't get to your files of all the buildings, mainly the museums and galleries…uh-huh…really…have you got an I.T. specialist there?…what do you mean they can't fix the system?…this is a new one…how long can they put the system back online?…No hope…writing? What does it say?…really…okay thank you for you time" then place the phone back to its receiver.
"Well?"
"The slayers have left there calling card on the system" Angelus said as he looked at his friend.
"Really?"
"Yeah"
"How do they know" Gunn asked.
"I don't think any hacker would leave 'We've had our fun and played, now your system has been slayed' unless they aren't who they claim to be" Angelus said.
"Another dead end clue, they get in with the city hall files" Gunn said.
"I'm gonna have to make some phone calls before we leave"
"We?"
"Yes 'we', obligation of being my partner" Angelus smirked.
"I hate you" Gunn grunted.
"Oh stop your making me blush" Angelus said sarcastically.
Faith kissed Spike on forehead, groaning in satifaction. They been making out for an hour since Spike had to work later on and he didn't want to be tired and then fired. She liked Spike, he could be fearsome creature and yet if looked underneath it he was just a little kitten waiting to be tamed. She may liked the beast in men but she like sensitivity too, hell she like to talk with them but she wasn't ready for the whole sharing of feelings yet.
"Good?" Spike said, yet knew the answer.
"I had better" Faith teased.
"Vixen" Spike smiled.
"No, your Vixen" Faith joked, then it caught her did she say that?
"My Vixen?" Spike said, liking the idea.
"Well maybe" Faith said, keeping it playful. Commitment scared her "If your good"
"I've always been good pet" Spike smirked.
"But you wouldn't have the 'good' stuff with me" Faith said almost pouted.
"I've got work tonight" Spike stated.
"I know" Faith moaned "But you taste so good baby I just wanna dunk you in my coffee all the time"
"I know pet" Spike grinned. "So what should we do together?"
"I don't know" Faith said.
"How about the movies?" Spike suggested.
"At this time?" Faith said.
"Well no one would be there to hear you scream" Spike grinned wickedly, wiggling his eyebrows.
Buffy shuddered for the hundredth time on the relationship between Spike and Faith as she worked around her gallery on the paperwork with Anya handling the deliverymen, well flirting would be more like it. The 'Spaith' she called it now and she did not like it one bit. She actually wished for soap and a good disinfectant or two for her brain.
"Buffy?" Anya said as she jogged up to her.
"Yes Anya?" Buffy said looking up from her paperwork.
"There's two police officers here that wish to speak to you" Anya said "They look very hot, you should date one"
"I'm already am" Buffy said.
"Oh, well more for me" Anya said with a shrug and went back to the deliverymen.
Sometimes Buffy wondered if Anya was a bunny in her previous life, which ironically she was afraid of them, Buffy came in with a piece of art that had an abstract of them. How she knew what it was made her worry about Anya later in life. Shaking another thought off her mind she got up, away from her paperwork, and to the police officers who were looking at the work. They were wearing casual smart clothing but Buffy could make out a gun on there sides.
"How can I help you" Buffy said behind them.
"Buffy?" Angel said as he revealed himself with his handsome black friend, Gunn.
"Angel?" she said in the same surprised tone.
"Angel?" Gunn said almost confused yet surprised at the same time.
"Gunn I would like you to meet Buffy" Angel said.
"Ooooh" Gunn said, getting it now "So you're the chic that stole the big guy's heart"
"Nice to meet you" Buffy said
"Why do you call him Angel?" Gunn asked.
"He saved my life" Buffy said "Naturally there since the surname is Angelus"
"I see" Gunn said with a gleam in his eye.
Angel could tell he was going to regret letting Buffy calling him 'Angel' since he knew that look anywhere.
"Anyway, I'm only guessing by your surprise looks this is business" Buffy stated.
"Well we phone here earlier on to check the security of this place since it is new" Angel said "this also happens to be in the hotspot for the 'Slayers' and so we have to check"
"Really" Buffy said then asked as she tried to be casual but sounded a little scared "So your dealing with these guys"
"We're working on it" Gunn said almost dismissively "So do you have the files?"
"Files?" Buffy said looking puzzled.
"Didn't your assistant pass on the message?" Angel ask.
"No, I didn't get any messages" Buffy said
"Well your assistant was suppose to let you know that we were here to collect the security plan files on this building" Angel said "Of course she sounded a bit busy on the other side so I guess she forgot to write it down"
"Oh, okay then, if you come back later I'll get you the files but I thought you guys would have access to city halls data base of the buildings" Buffy said.
"Their system has been crashed" Gunn said, fully annoyed of that.
"Crashed?" Buffy exclaimed.
"Apparently the slayers had left something to stop anyone from tracking them" Gunn said.
Oh Willow Buffy mentally scolded her little sister "Well I hope you catch the culprits, don't want my gallery to have these thief's snooping about" Buffy said then added for good measure "Although they won't be able to get in here"
"Really" Gunn said looking at her carefully "How can you be sure?"
"There are no sewer tunnels beneath here" Buffy said "So they can't go under, secondly the air vents are as small as humanly possible so can't go over, thirdly the windows are bullet proof and there are other specialised features here that I will show in the files"
"That is kinda extreme for a small gallery" Gunn pointed out.
"I like to keep my clients art safe" Buffy said "Plus from what I've read in the papers the slayers are not your average thief's, so I guess you have to go extreme"
"I guess you have to" Gunn said "You seem to know quite a lot about the minds of a thief"
If only you knew "I have a degree in psychology and art and with those guys you've gotta keep on your toes" Buffy said back.
"Well" Angel said interrupting there 'interesting' conversation "We've got to go, more museums to go"
"Oh okay" Buffy said almost relieved on the interruption "I guess I'll see you later"
"Right, bye" Angel said.
"Bye" Buffy said then left him with his friend.
"Charles, what was that all about?" Angelus growled at his friend when they were outside Buffy's gallery.
"I don't know, but I know there something not right with her" Gunn said looking very serious "I'm not saying this because I'm your friend, I'm saying this because I'm a detective and I detect something"
"Detect all you like Gunn, just don't talk to her like that" Angelus said.
"Like what?" Gunn said.
"Like she's on the wrong side of law" Angelus said.
"Look I'm sorry talked to her like that" Gunn said "I won't do it again but Liam can't you sense it?"
"Sense what?" Angelus asked.
"I don't know what it is but there something not right about that girl" Gunn said "It's like a little voice in my head telling me this but I can't understand the rest of what's it saying"
"That's not a little voice" Angelus said "That's Cordelia transmitting to you"
"I wouldn't be surprised if that was true" Gunn said thoughtfully "But seriously dude, keep an eye on her and prove me wrong cause other than that there's not a lot of people who can call you 'Angel' without getting either an earful or a black eye"
"So you like her?" Angelus asked.
"A little" Gunn smirked.
After a couple of hours Angel came back through the doors of the gallery.
"Hey, I was beginning to think you'd never come back in" Buffy said as she put something away as he came to a holt at the counter.
"Nothing would stop me to see you" Angel smiled.
"You're such a flirt" Buffy teased.
"Yeah, well, runs in the family" Angel winked.
"Where's your friend?" Buffy asked as she walked around the counter to in front of her with her disk on her gallery, which he took and place into his pocket.
"He went home to his wife" Angel said "I'm sorry about his behaviour"
"No it's okay" Buffy reassured him "Takes a lot to shake me"
"We barely had any sleep last night" Angel said "makes us a bit snappy and susceptible to anything, even annoyance"
"Angel, its okay" Buffy reassured him then a smile crept onto her features "Susceptible?"
"Happens when your tired" Angel said looking a bit wary of her.
"So I can do anything to you and you won't do anything" Buffy said innocently.
"Depends on what your doing" Angel said.
She smiled and grabbed the labels of his and kissed him. His eyes widen in realisation but then closed and rolled back in pleasure. The kiss was like a caffeine buzz, waking him up instantly as he combed his fingers through her hair and brought her closer till their cloths were the only obstacles left in their way. Her hands trailed up from his labels up and around his neck, deepening the kiss. He backed her against the counter, pronouncing every muscle in his body against hers and she jumped on top of the counter in response, opening her legs so there closeness was brought up another notch. As if they were starved of passion and lust, they wanted each other badly. Problem was the caffeine buzz Angel was feeling happen to have woken up his other senses. His logic and desire.
This way too fast
So? Who cares?
Hello, you have just had the first date yesterday!
And? You didn't get laid in a week, a week man! That is not normal!
She began to un-button his shirt as she rolled her hips into his making him groan in approval and want.
Third date rule! You can have fun from then and afterwards
Screw it, that's Cordelia's rule you've got your own, now screw her!
Public place, gallery not a great example presenting if you get caught since you are a detective!
Not open to the public yet remember!
You're taking advantage!
That did for Angel as he broke the kiss and trying to regain his composure he looked softly into her lusty eyes.
"I better go" he said, urging his desire to be extinguished.
"Stay" Buffy moaned in need.
"Want to but can't" Angelus said "Besides I want to know you better before this could take off"
"Spoil my fun" Buffy pouted only to have her bottom lip suck and nibbled by him as he kissed her.
She tried to take advantage of the gentle kiss only to have Angel put a firm grip on hands and hips from moving. He knew what she was thinking and it was frustrating.
"See you tomorrow Buffy" he whispered against her lips before he swiftly left her there, high and dry in lust.
TBC…
Don't sue me! I know I'm little late from updating (dodges incoming brick) but I've been working me butt off for the past weeks so be nice! And I know Buffy isn't upfront when she want some lovin' from a new person like Faith does but if you look back at my other chapters you'd understand why she's this way. Read and Review please! I am begging you!