Chapter Two
Buffy/Troy/(Highlander) x-over
I own nothing but my rock collection so please don't sue.
I have no beta so any error in grammar or spelling is my own.
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"The gods envy us. They envy us because we're mortal, because any moment may be our last." - Achilles (Troy)
Buffy smiled woodenly as the ring manager shook her hand and congratulated her on her victory. Beyond that, she ignored him, focusing instead on the crowd. She knew she had seen something…someone that had caught the attention of the Slayer, the primitive part that warned her of possible dangers. Skimming the mob beyond the ropes of the ring, the Slayer's eyes snagged on a man.
The subject of the young blonde woman was standing near the edge of the crowd, yet he stood out from the Greeks and tourists around him: his body-builder build tucked neatly into a black Armani suit, his shoulder length golden hair, and his aloofness. He stood in the crowd but was not a part of it as he surveyed the people surrounding him with the look of a bored predator – the possibility of danger but only if disturbed or hungry.
As if feeling the weight of Buffy's gaze, the stranger turned to face her. Blue eyes clashed with hazel and the Slayer inside the petite blonde roared a challenge. Buffy tensed, dropping the Valley-girl charade and allowing the Slayer to come to the forefront. The man easily noticed the shift in the girl, not at all surprised after seeing her handle the giant with such ease.
Buffy raised the tip of her sword to slightly about parallel to the ground, issuing a silent challenge. The golden strange simply nodded in response as he began to move through the crowd. As he moved, he removed his black and silver striped tie, tucking it into his inner coat pocket before also removing the black sport coat. Having reached the ring, the man folded the coat over the topmost of the ropes before easily vaulting the three-foot barrier with the help of the nearest fencepost.
Unbuttoning his collar and cuffs, the man addressed the manager in crisp English colored by an exotic accent that Buffy couldn't place.
"Bring your best shields and blades so that I might arm myself."
Impressed by the obvious wealth of the newest combatant, the manager hurried towards the armory tent, calling out for one of his friends to assist.
Back in the circle, the two blondes took the opportunity to study one another more closely. Buffy slipped her shield from her arm and lowered to the ground, leaning it against her left knee. Her hazel eyes glided over the man before her, taking in his solid figure and easy movements. As the stranger unbuttoned and rolled up his sleeves, he returned the favor; his cerulean eyes never leave the petite female form before him. The almost casual perusal of her form halted for a moment as his eyes snagged on the leonine pommel of the blade still held loosely in her right hand. A strange smile, somewhere between taunting and teasing, appeared on the man's lips but didn't reach his icy orbs as he addressed Buffy in a slightly mocking tone.
"I see you have an affinity for lions."
Buffy had no idea why, out of everything he could have said, her opponent had decided to make that specific comment. She frowned her confusion.
"Mostly I have an 'affinity' for a good blade."
The man simply nodded and turned his attention to rolling up his sleeves. Suddenly Buffy flashed back to her vision quest for the First Slayer and the lion that had led her. True that it had been an American mountain lion and not an African lion but…
"Well…"
The stranger looked back at Buffy when she started to speak again.
"Now that I think about it, I guess I do have a thing about lions."
The man flashed the petite blonde a feral smile in response in response but said nothing as the ring manager and his assistant returned carrying the requested blades and shields. The manager also held an unadorned black leather breastplate. He held it out to the new competitor.
"I…I thought this might fit you, sir."
The stranger cocked his right eyebrow but took the piece of armor for the man, examining it closely. He gave a single jerked nod indicating his approval before handing the breastplate back to the manager to hold.
The tawny man unbuttoned the top 4 buttons of his of his steel grey dress shirt before pulling it up over his head. The removal showed off an even golden tan, the rippling muscles of his back and shoulders, as well as a well-defined chest and abs. After pulling the piece of clothing over head, the now half-naked stranger shook his slightly mussed gold lock back into place while pulling the sleeves down well-tanned arms.
Every woman in the crowd (and a few of the men) in the crowd sighed and/or drooled at the display. Even the Slayer was not unaffected.
As Cordy would say 'Hello salty goodness.'
The stranger tossed his shirt towards the edge of the ring where his jack hung before turning back to the manager for the breastplate. Taking back the piece of armor, he strapped is on with surprising ease. As he was tightening the laces, the man seemed to feel the heated gaze of the armed girl opposite him. He paused and glance sideways at Buffy through a thin veil of hair – the gaze contained a heated challenge, the promise of not holding back, and…something more, something buried deep, something the Slayer couldn't identify.
Buffy physically started as she realized that this man was no more fooled by her act then she was by his. They both knew just how dangerous, how predatory the other was.
By this time, the stranger had finished with his armor and was testing the swords. He swung several around, testing weight and balance; not bothering to hide is expertise with a blade from his feminine opponent. He settled on a Greek-style short sword; a little longer then Buffy's and unadorned but still well made. His bronze shield was crafted similarly to Buffy's – simply but masterfully – round, three feet across with 3 raised concentric circles near the circle.
The stranger fixed the blade to his back and place the shield on the ground as the assistant and manger turned to leave the circle. Suddenly, the manager halted, handed the things he was carrying to his assistant, and did an about-face, again approaching the two combatants. Both had already slipped into battle mode and as they both watched the manager approach, he shivered under the weight of their combined predatory gazes. He stopped in front of the man who was pulling his hair back with a leather thong from one of his pockets. The Slayer was following his example and pulling her hair back into a ponytail. The manager addressed the man, barely keeping his voice from shaking and the now even colder blue eyes pierced him.
"I'm sorry, sir, but you have forgotten to pay and to sign the release."
The manager pulled a folded release and pen form from his pocket and held them out to the man. After simply looking at him for a moment, the male combatant took the release and, using the palm of his hand as a brace, signed the piece of paper. After handing the form back to the manager, he reached in to his pants pocket and pulled out a wad of bills, tossing them to the ring manager, whose eyes widened as he caught the it.
"Sir! This…this is too much! Much too much! You need only pay…"
"In addition to the fee, it is for the weapons and the armor of the lady."
Both the manager and his opponent looked surprised. Buffy nodded a silent thanks as the manager hurried out of the ring, forms and cash in hand.
"Just because you bought me nice things doesn't mean I'll go easy on you."
The Slayer hefted her shield and began to circle. Her opponent nodded and settled his own shield on his left arm, drawing his blade. As he began to move, he gave Buffy the first genuine smile she had seen him make.
"I would not expect you to, little one."
Buffy let the pet name slide as the two blonde warriors circled - studying, waiting. Then, as if at some unseen signal, they both leapt.