Chapter 2
This year's 'villains' on the Hellmouth had turned out to be three geeks with ridiculous plots to try to take over Sunnydale. They were carrying out a campaign of mostly minor harassment of the Slayer, and the town. They're final act was to try to rob a bank truck. Buffy disabled them while Willow and Tara made sure they didn't get away, and the trio was left red-handed with the truck for the Sunnydale Police. They were now in jail for armed robbery.
April 1
Buffy had a busy night on patrol. There had been a rise in the amount of vampire deaths over Spring Break, and now the fledges were breaking ground. She'd also stopped a Ragnaros ritual earlier in the night. She paused to catch her breath after dusting three more vampires.
"Well done, Slayer. You are quite good. It is easy to see why they talk about you."
She looked around, not having sensed anyone's presence, but no one was there.
"Who are you?" she asked suspiciously, ready in battle stance.
"Just an admirer," the voice said. The owner of the voice then walked into view through the wall of a nearby crypt.
"Great, I have my very own ghost stalker," she said sarcastically.
"Oh no, my dear. I am very real." He calmly walked forward, gently lifted her hand, and touched it to his chest. "See? Flesh, just like you," he said softly.
Buffy couldn't explain why she had let him take her hand, much less get close enough to. There was something…mesmerizing…about this stranger, yet she didn't feel that she was under a thrall. She knew what that felt like from her experience with Dracula. He was making soothing little circles on her hand with his thumb.
"Who or what are you?" she repeated.
"A friend, I hope. I'll see you again soon." He backed away and disappeared into a shadow.
"What the hell?"
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"GILES!"
"You bellowed?" Giles answered, coming out of his office.
"I just met a guy in the cemetery that disappeared into a shadow and walked through a wall! What kind of demon can do that?"
"Buffy, maybe you better tell me what happened from the beginning."
"I had just dusted 3 vamps, when I hear this voice congratulate me, but no one's around. Finally, the guy walks through the wall of a crypt to talk to me. I thought it was a ghost, but he was real. He said he was a friend, and that he'd see me again soon, then he melted into a shadow!" Buffy was just a tad freaked out.
Giles jotted down the essential points on his notepad. "Could you describe this being?"
"Tall, good-looking guy in expensive clothes, with a soothing voice. I actually can't remember the details," she responded, confused.
"And how do you know he wasn't a ghost?"
"He…took my hand and placed it on his chest. He felt as real as you or me, Giles."
"You just gave a stranger in a cemetery your hand?"
"Well, not exactly. I'm not sure why I let him get close, only I didn't feel threatened."
"Do you think you were under a thrall?" Giles asked.
"No, not unless there's a different way to feel from when Dracula did it. This guy just gently took my hand in his after I commented on him being a ghost. Are there any demons that look human and walk through walls?"
"Not that I can recall. This calls for research. Call the others when you get home to let them know we should meet tomorrow."
"Yay. Well, good night, Giles." Buffy left The Magic Box. She ran her strange encounter over and over in her mind, but she couldn't remember what he looked like in detail. She would have sworn it was a dream, except it wasn't.
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Buffy felt like she was being watched on patrol the whole rest of the week. She'd finally had it, and decided to call out her stalker and give him a piece of her mind.
"Alright! Whoever you are, come out here right now, and explain yourself! I'm sick of the stalker routine!" she yelled to the cemetery.
Her gentleman from Monday appeared again from around a crypt.
"Good evening, Buffy. Does my presence bother you?"
"YES! It's creepy being followed around everywhere I go. Ever felt what it's like to be watched all the time? Either fight me, or go the hell away!" His nonchalance was making her even madder than she'd been.
He stepped closer, and bowed to her. "My apologies. I simply wanted to observe you, and didn't want to intrude. I have no wish to fight you, Slayer, unless it is just to spar."
"Who are you, and why are you here?" she demanded.
"Sir Sebastian Pierce, at your service. I am between assignments, as it were, and wished to meet the Guardian of the Hellmouth. I'm sure you are aware of your infamy."
"So I've heard, but that still doesn't give you the right to follow me everywhere. Which side are you on, then?"
"The side of goodness and light, dear lady. I've been in service for a very long time. I was wondering, since this is your last cemetery, if I might buy you a cup of coffee?" He stood relaxed and open, hands at his sides. His face held the slightest amused expression as he watched her consider his offer.
Buffy chewed her lip as she studied him, thinking. At first glance, he seemed like any other 30-year-old guy, until you noticed the details. He wore cargo pants cut for movement, and well-worn sturdy boots. A long-sleeve tee completed the look, and now that she took the time, she noticed how it formed to his very defined shoulders and chest. 'Yum! NO, not yum, Buffy. You have a boyfriend! One you haven't seen in two weeks, but still!'
"Okay, but don't try anything funny!"
"Of course. Lead the way. I don't really know my way around town, yet."
Buffy strode off toward the Espresso Pump, keeping her distance from his side, and a wary eye on his body language. Sebastian was amused. Yes, he had heard tell of the tiny blonde who'd had so much success on the Hellmouth, but he had no idea she would be such a firecracker. He hadn't seen someone with such joy in a fight in ages, and she was very beautiful, too. He was pretty sure he was going to like Sunnydale very much.
He held the door open for her when they reached the coffee shop. She looked momentarily surprised, before she walked through the door. Buffy walked straight to the counter and placed her order, getting one of those sweet-smelling concoctions Americans were so fond of these days. Sebastian just got a plain black coffee, which he sweetened himself with a little cream and sugar. He paid the bill before she had a chance to protest, then selected a table to sit at for their chat. He stayed standing until she was seated, earning another surprised look from the Slayer.
"So, what's your story?" she asked, getting down to business.
"I am a Shadow Knight. The name implies our abilities. Our Order has fought against evil for several millennia. I have been in service of the Knighthood since the age of thirty."
"And that makes you how old now?" Buffy asked, before taking a sip of her drink.
"That's a rather impolite question, Slayer," he replied, chuckling.
"If you were a woman, it would be, but you're not. Are you even human?"
"Yes and no. My abilities are an addition to my humanity. Like yours are." They both were keeping their conversation fairly quiet, so as not to be overheard by the other patrons.
"That still doesn't answer the age question."
"Persistent, aren't you?" he countered, blue eyes twinkling.
"When I'm curious about a possible threat to my town? Always."
"I am no threat, dear lady. I've told you my name. Have your Watcher look me up. You will see I speak the truth. As for my age, I will be 160 in July."
"And yet, you don't look a day over 29. Another perk of the job?" she said, brow raised.
"Yes. Deciding to join the Order is not taken lightly. It is a commitment to leave all you were behind to serve the greater good until you are no more," he answered solemnly.
'Wow, talk about job dedication. I don't think I could handle being a Slayer for the rest of eternity,' she thought. Seeing him in the light really showed his features. Crystal blue eyes, chiseled features, and dark hair made this guy gorgeous, with just the right amount of tan to his skin to make him look like a healthy jet-setter. The refined English accent didn't hurt, either. He sounded like Giles, yet it was so much sexier coming out of Sebastian's mouth. The mouth that was now in a slight smirk because she had been studying him too long. 'Say something, Buffy! You don't trust this guy enough yet to be a puddle of drool!'
"I hope you get good benefits," she blurted.
Sebastian laughed. "We do, though I kept my assets from my life as a human, anyway. Enough about me. Tell me something about Buffy Summers." He leaned forward in interest.
"I have a boyfriend. I go to UC Sunnydale. I'm 21, like cheese and frappuccinos, shoe shopping, and I'm the Slayer. It's all pretty boring," she stated with a wave of her hand.
"I highly doubt that. Keeping up with the most active Hellmouth in the world must have its challenges. Watching you fight this week has been a delight," he complimented.
Buffy blushed. She wasn't used to hearing praise just for doing her job, like it was special. Comments that she was a freak, that she was too strong, that people needed her to save their asses again – that she was used to. Giles would pat her on the back and say "good job" sometimes, but he was too British to do much more. Her mom was proud of her, she knew that, and Dawn thought she was cool, when she wasn't having a teenage mood swing. The only other being to compliment her on her fighting style was Spike, and how weird was that?
"Just doing my job," she said.
Sebastian checked his watch. "It's getting late. May I walk you home? A beautiful woman shouldn't have to walk in the dark alone." He extended his hand to help her up.
"O-okay," Buffy stuttered.
He let go of her hand once she was standing, and opened the door for her again. They walked through Sunnydale toward Revello Drive, Buffy chattering away about what she knew of the town to prevent anymore flirting. For his part, Sebastian listened attentively, nodding and making encouraging sounds. They soon reached the house, since Buffy had been walking at a brisk pace.
"Well, this is me," she announced, climbing the steps to the porch.
"It's a lovely home."
"Thanks. Guess I'll see you around…"
"I'll be in touch." He took her hand and lifted it to his lips, placing a gentle kiss on her knuckles. "Good night, Buffy," he murmured, eyes meeting hers.
Her heart fluttered as she said good night, as well. Sebastian walked off and disappeared into the shadows again. She quickly entered the house and locked the door behind her. Buffy gasped in surprise when Dawn opened her bedroom door as she passed it.
"Dawn! You scared me. What are you doing up still?"
"Finishing a paper. So, who was that?"
"Who was who?"
"The major hottie who walked you to the door, that's who!"
"A new ally, I think. I don't know whether to trust him, yet. Go to bed."
"Yeah, yeah. See you in the morning," Dawn muttered.
Buffy went into her bedroom and changed for bed. It was quite a while before she got to sleep. Sebastian Pierce had been pretty open with her, and yet, he still seemed like an enigma, and Buffy didn't like things in her world that didn't fit neatly into place. She was definitely having Giles look him up tomorrow.
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The following day…
The others were starting to filter into The Magic Box, grateful for the air-conditioning. Southern California was experiencing a sudden heat wave, and the day had climaxed at 98 degrees. True, yesterday had been a typical April day, but that's how the weather was around here. It changed on a whim.
Spike took the sewers, even though he had his charm. He'd opened the door to his crypt, and had practically been blinded by the sun, even with his dark glasses on. He came up from the basement as Giles and Buffy were going over his notes.
"So, what was so urgent to require this midday meeting?" Spike asked, spinning a chair around at the research table and straddling it.
"New player in town," Buffy replied.
"Friendly, or not?"
"Not sure. Hence the research. We'll wait to start the meeting until the others arrive. Spike, do be careful with that manuscript! It's very old," Giles said. Heaven help them when there was a bored vampire in the room.
"Hello!" Anya greeted as she burst through the door. "Giles, where are the customers?"
"It's just the lunchtime loll, Anya. Nothing to worry about. It's good to see you and Xander in town for the weekend."
"We couldn't miss out on a Scooby meeting," Xander added, as he walked in. Buffy rushed over to give him a hug.
"Married life agrees with you," she complimented.
Willow and Tara walked in a few minutes later.
"Geeze! It's hot enough out there to fry eggs on the pavement!" Willow exclaimed. "Xander! You didn't tell me you would be up today."
"Hey, Wills. It was kind of a whim. Anya couldn't stand to stay at home and not look in at the shop any longer."
"Hey! I'm just concerned over my investment, as any reasonable person would be. What are we looking up today?" Anya asked.
"I'll fill you in as soon as Kara arrives," Buffy answered.
Anya started inspecting the shelves. The others, minus Spike, grabbed cold drinks from Giles' mini-fridge in the office. Kara came bouncing in, taking off her dark glasses and blinking at the sudden contrast in light.
"Hey, sorry I'm late," she offered.
"No problem. We weren't waiting long. Grab a seat. We're looking for any mention of the Shadow Knights," Buffy said, starting the meeting.
"The Shadow Knights?" Giles, Anya, and Spike chorused. They looked at each other funny after the rare bit of unison.
"Buffy, where did you hear about the Shadow Knights?" Giles asked.
"There's one in Sunnydale this week. I met him while I was on patrol. Do you know about them, Giles?"
"A Shadow Knight here. This is quite an honor. Their Order is very old. Buffy, the Shadow Knights are stuff of legend. They have protected mankind, from demons and themselves, mostly in secret, all over the earth without ever taking credit for their deeds. Stories have been recorded by those who had contact with them, but they were counted as fairytales because of the Order's ability to slip in and out of an area unnoticed. What were the details of your conversation?"
"He said he was curious about me, about the Slayer on the Hellmouth. After showing up on Monday, totally wigging me out by coming out of a shadow, he followed me all week until I confronted him last night. We, um, ended up talking over coffee." She mumbled the last bit, but Kara heard it and looked at her with a brow quirked in interest. "His name is Sebastian, he told me a bit about the Knighthood, was pretty polite. He even told me to ask you, Giles, about the Knights being good guys."
"Well, we have nothing to fear from him, if he really is part of the Shadow Knights. Do you know where to find him, Buffy?"
"Nope. I'll probably see him out on patrol, though. The guy's my new personal stalker."
With no immediate danger to worry about, the group soon fell into chatter over every day things. Giles went searching for a book about the Knights. Anya went back to inspecting the store. Buffy, Willow, Tara, and Xander were catching up. Kara leaned over Spike's shoulder to give him a kiss. She had been standing behind him while Buffy talked.
"Mmm, you smell delicious," he murmured in her ear. Kara walked around the chair and leaned on the table. "Oi, you went out in public in that!"
"What? It's, like, 100 degrees out there! I'm not going to wear a burqa! Don't you like my outfit?" she pouted.
"You know I do, kitten. So will every other male who sees you today," he said lowly.
Kara was wearing a double-layer cami and a very short mini, leaving little to the imagination. She stood up, and said, "I'm going to get a drink." She walked off toward the office, swaying her hips, and turned to wink at Spike just before going through the door.
He glanced around, and noticed the others weren't paying attention to him. He stood, stretched, and walked towards the corridor that Kara had gone through. She was sitting in Giles' desk chair, sipping from a bottle of water. She put the bottle on the desk as Spike silently shut the door.
Ten minutes later, Spike came out of the office, then Kara, gulping down the rest of the water.
Anya gave her a thumbs' up as she passed the counter, and Tara winked at her when she sat down at the table. Kara blushed, hiding her face in the book in front of her. Spike chuckled quietly at her, which got him a kick in the shin. She put the book down and went to talk to Anya about what was new.
"Have fun?" the ex-demon asked once Kara was standing next to her.
"I have no idea what you're referring to," she replied innocently.
"Right. Who do you think you're talking to? Xander and I have pulled that trick dozens of times," Anya teased. "Was it good?"
"Anya!"
"Oooo, that good, huh? I told you vampires were excellent lovers. Aren't you glad you took my advice?"
"I'm not discussing this with you with everybody else in the room. How's married life? Besides the sex, 'cause I don't need to know."
"Very nice. Especially without the nightly threat of death," Anya replied.
"Good, glad to hear it. Have you met any of your neighbors, yet?"
Anya was more than happy to talk about her new home.
