A/N: Thanks so much Readingmama for another amazing beta!

Behind These Eyes

Chapter 3

When Buffy walked back into her room a few minutes later she found Angel, in her body, standing in front of the mirror. He was fluffing his hair and looking at himself critically. He tugged at his top, adjusting the strap and making sure it sat right, Buffy raised her eyebrow amused as she silently watched as he ran his hands down his sides.

"Like what you see?" she asked dryly, quirking an eyebrow.

He jerked around, his eyes opening wide and he stumbled slightly as he pulled his hands away. "What, no…I." He paused as Buffy continued to stare at him, sighing he looked down "Do these pants make my bum look big?" he asked softly, blushing slightly.

Buffy's mouth popped open "What?" she gasped, "You're worried about how you look? You!" she giggled softly.

He glared. "Yes…" He shifted on his feet. "It's just something about this body that makes me want to look good."

Buffy rolled her eyes. "Well it is a female thing," she mused

Angel glared and huffed; crossing his arms over his chest. "Fine, just forget I said anything," he told her turning back to the mirror. Buffy sighed, walked over to him and gently turned him around so she could look down into his narrowed eyes

"Angel," she whispered, "My bum doesn't look big." Her eyes narrowed "Ever"

He paused, glancing up at her through his lashes. "Are you sure?" he asked softly.

Buffy's eyes narrowed even further. "As if I would buy anything that didn't look good," she told him honestly. She smiled, took a step back and clapped her hands together. "Now, we have more important things to do."

Angel's eyes widened in alarm as she pulled a pair of four inch heels from the closet. He baulked and took a hasty step back. "I'm not wearing them!" he snapped angrily

Buffy pouted, looking offended. "Why?" she snapped. "I love these, they make me look good!"

Angel cocked and eyebrow and pointed at the shoes. "They're hot pink!" he pointed out.

Buffy made a face, rolled her eyes and sighed dramatically. Angel cringed. "Don't you have any black shoes? And do I have to wear heels? That's just crossing a line… and after that there is no hope of going back!"

"Angel if you go to the Bronze in anything less then 4 inches you're going to be crushed, it's not a pretty sight." She turned back to the closet and fished around at the bottom. Finally she pulled out an absolutely gorgeous pair of black-satin peep toe heals and handed them to Angel with a flourish.

He looked terrified as he slowly took the shoes, gave her a withering glance and muttered, "I'm going to have nightmares about this," before sitting down and pulling the shoes on.

He stood up and stumbled slightly, teetering as he tried to find his balance. Buffy reached out and gently steadied him with a hand on his shoulder. Angel raised an eyebrow, the top of his head was now at the same level as her shoulder, it was a big improvement, and he grinned. Buffy laughed at the look on his face and glanced down, admiring his legs. "The heels look good on you," she told him earnestly. Angel rolled his eyes and shook his head.

"Can we go now?" he asked, "I need a drink, a strong one."

Buffy shook her head. "Just one more thing," she told him. Angel frowned as she snuck out of the room again and returned a few seconds later. Buffy held up the tube of lippy in one hand and the mascara in the other. "Sit." Her voice was firm and her expression left no room for argument.

Angel felt his heart sink, his eyes going wide with horror as he backed up and slowly lowered himself into a chair, knowing instinctively that there was absolutely no point in arguing. He sighed dramatically, now this was torture.

xxxxx

A newly beautified Angel stumbled across the grass in his heels as Buffy sauntered behind him, her hands stuffed in her pocket as she watched his ass wiggle as he walked. She was impressed; she never realised how hot she looked, and this body was responding to hers in so many ways. Buffy shook herself hastily, trying to relax and walked around the car to get into the passenger seat. Angel had even more trouble with the car now that he was in heels, they kept slipping off the pedals and he kept stalling the car. He cursed and grumbled while in the passenger seat Buffy continued to smirk, watching him out of the corner of her eye.

Angel glanced at her and glared, daring her to laugh. Buffy smirked shifted in her seat leaning forward and started taking off her large, heavy duster. Angel frowned at her.

"What are you doing?" he asked suspiciously

Buffy smirked. "Well, I can't really go into the club wearing this when you're all dolled up now can I?" she asked with a smirk. She threw the coat into the back seat, raised her hands and smoothed her hair. Then she tucked her black shirt into her black pants and undid the top button, re-arranging the collar and exposing a few more inches of her muscled chest.

Angel just glared. "What the hell are you doing now?" he snapped angrily

Buffy rolled her eyes. "Just relax," she snapped. "The girls will love you."

Angel flickered his eyes over her chest. "I'm not worried about the girls," he told her honestly, causing Buffy to raise an eyebrow in amusement.

They drove the rest of the way to the Bronze in silence, each of them casting swift glances at the other. Angel was feeling a little flushed, while Buffy struggled to control herself as she heard Angel's heartbeat speed up.

They parked a street away, and then walked to the club. Buffy reached out and slipped her hand in Angel's as he led them towards the pulse of music. Her ears pricked up, she had never realised just how loud the music was here, she could feel it thumping though her body, a steady beat of life. She liked it, and bopped her head a few times. Beside her Angel glanced up and gave her a strange look, raising his eyebrows.

The bouncer looked Angel over carefully before he let them inside. Angel squirmed under the man's critical gaze and Buffy glared in response, having an old guy check out her body was just gross! She took Angel's hand in hers again and pulled him protectively against her chest, giving the bouncer a steely gaze. The bouncer smirked. "I'd keep an eye on that one mate, she looks like a pistol," he told her.

Angel glared. "She is," he snapped, raising his head defiantly and stalking into the club, Buffy on his heels, the bouncer giving them a strange look as they walked past.

It was only a Thursday night, so it wasn't quiet as busy as a weekend, but there was a band on the stage and a few people were dancing or playing pool. They walked across the room and sat in one of the couches in the corner of the room, in a place where they could observe the rest of the club. Buffy picked up a menu card and flicked threw it "What do you want to eat?" she asked him softly. "They have this cool flower onion things, or they have fries and burger." she looked up at him expectantly.

Angel shrugged "I don't know… what do you like, I have you're taste buds after all," he told her seriously.

Buffy paused, then shrugged. "Well, you can't pass up a bowl of french fries; they're an American tradition, and Xander and Spike are always going on about those onion things…"

His eyes narrowed. "Spike! Why is he still around?"

"I honestly don't know, but he helps, for a price …he can hurt demons, he is a good fighter."

Angel rolled his eyes. "I hate him, arrogant little bastard, he always has to do things his way."

Buffy chuckled. "You're nothing like that!" she mocked

"I'm nothing like him!" he snapped, his hazel eyes flashing in anger.

Buffy leaned back and raised her hands in mock surrender. "Ok…ok. Sheesh." she snapped. "You really have issues with his don't you?" she asked.

"He annoys me," Angel grumbled.

Buffy nodded in agreement. "Oh yeah, he annoys me too." With a sigh she got up and looked down at him. "Do you want a drink too?" she asked.

Angel nodded as he reached into his pocket. "Whisky, on the rocks," he told her, frowning as he realised his wallet wasn't in his pocket.

Buffy smirked, reached into her coat and pulled out his wallet. She smirked as he rolled his eyes and laughed. "Ok, wait here…I'll be back."

Angel watched as Buffy moved easily through the crowd, her height and bulk enabling her to push her way through to the bar. Angel looked around; the music was good, and not nearly as loud as he remembered. He found he could enjoy it now that his ears weren't throbbing in pain. Picking up a car magazine from the stack next to him and flicked through, whistling softly when he noticed a picture of a '75 mustang, an absolute beast of a car. He felt the couch shift as someone sat down beside him and raised his head expecting to see Buffy. Instead it was some random bloke. He was average height, with a medium build and blue eyes with wavy, light brown hair. Angel couldn't be entirely sure but he figured women would find this man attractive. He scowled. "What?" he snapped.

The man blinked, startled at his hostile tone but smiled slightly, "Hey. I'm Rob," he said as he held out his hand.

Angel cocked his eyebrow and snorted. "Oh, you've got to be kidding me," he snapped rolling his eyes.

Rob looked a bit affronted and paused, his hand lowering slightly. "I'm sorry?" he muttered it like a question.

Angel sighed, put the magazine down and turned to face Rob, placing his palms over his knees. "Look, I'm sure you're a nice guy and all, and don't take this the wrong way…but your really not my type," he told the other man solemnly, his eyes wide and pleading.

Rob sighed and pulled his hand away. "Oh," he sighed. "I'm sorry, I just…well I didn't expect a woman who looks like you would go for that kinda thing you know.." he shrugged. "Guess times have changed huh?"

Angel nodded solemnly "You have no idea," he told him honestly.

At that moment Buffy walked over carrying a tumbler full of amber liquid and a fancy glass full of bright orange liquid, fruit on the side, and a pink umbrella sticking out over the top. She handed Angel his Whisky, glanced at Rob then sat down as she took a sip from her cocktail. "Umm…" she muttered raising her eyebrows and wiggling in delight. "These are so yummy." She took another sip

Angel risked a swift glance at Rob who was looking positively shocked at Buffy's actions, with her dark attire and half opened shirt he could just glimpse her strong chest. "Buff…this is Rob," he introduced them.

Buffy glanced up, looked embarrassed and then smiled. "Hey," she grinned looking Rob up and down and then smiled. Rob stood up abruptly.

"Um…I just…gotta go," he managed to say before he eased around the table and practically ran towards the door.

Angel took up his drink and gulped it down frantically, looking stressed. Buffy frowned, bent her head and sucked on her straw. "What was that about?" she asked him softly once she had swallowed the sweet alcoholic drink.

Angel just shook his head "I told you not to wear your shirt like that," he deadpanned.

Buffy frowned. "Why? Your chest is totally hot!"

Angel sighed and closed his eyes briefly. "Buffy, he thought you were gay."

Buffy looked shocked then she chuckled, "Oh." She paused and then her eyes widened. "Oh my God, did he think I was hitting on him?" She looked around in horror.

Angel chuckled. "I think he feared it," he murmured. Then he shrugged. "He hit on me too," he offered.

Buffy smirked and then laughed. "Awesome, I've still got it!" She took another sip. Angel continued to glare at her as a young waitress walked over and placed a bowl of fried chips and a plate of 'onion flowers' in front of them before walking away. Angel stared at the food, leaning forward and sniffing the food delicately. His tummy rumbled slightly as the tantalizing smell of fried potato reached his nose. He closed his eyes and smiled slightly.

He opened them again, glanced at Buffy who was watching his reaction intently and very slowly reached out and plucked a long thin, golden chip from the pile and put it in his mouth and took a small, delicate bite. He chewed slowly, rolling the chip around his mouth and slowly savouring the fluffy savoury, salty taste. He paused and swallowed slowly. Then he looked up at Buffy to find her smiling at him, he grinned in response.

"This is amazing," he told her before he quickly finished the rest of the chip and plunged his hand back into the bowl and continued to eat with gusto, occasionally dipping the chip into the ketchup or mayonnaise that the waitress had set before him.

Buffy smiled as she watched Angel eat, it was amazing, and for some reason made her feel incredibly happy to see him doing something so normal, so human. She paused and slowly raised her hand to brush over her forehead, she was feeling the beginnings of a headache. Her ears were ringing from the loud music, the steady thump-thump of the drums pounding in her ears.

The overwhelming crush of humanity, the smell of their flesh, the sound of their hearts were also causing her grief, but for entirely different reasons.

She grabbed the bowl of flower onions and shoved them towards Angel. "Try these," she snapped at him, suddenly feeling annoyed, and on edge. Angel glanced up at her, his eyes wide at her tone, a frown of confusion on his face. When he looked into her eyes he paused, going still and eyeing her in sympathy.

"Buffy," he whispered, "Are you ok?"

Buffy glared. "I'm fine," she snapped. "Just swell!"

Very slowly Angel pushed the now empty bowl of chips away, placed his hands in his lap and fixed Buffy with an unblinking stare. "Don't lie to me," he told her softly "You're not very good at it."

At first Buffy was angry, her eyes flashing golden, but then she realised Angel was right so she started to relax. Sighing loudly she glanced away and stared out into the dance floor. "I think I'm getting hungry," she whispered, her voice low and filled with shame. When he didn't answer she turned her head and found him staring at her with a look of horror on his face.

"Oh Buffy, I'm so sorry," he told her

Buffy shook her head. "It's not you're fault," she told him earnestly. "I just need to deal."

A few people walked past, chatting animatedly and laughing. Buffy paused and gasped as their tantalizing scents reached her nose. Angel saw the change in her and frantically lunged forward, inclosing his small hand around her wrist in a vain effort to restrain her. Buffy froze, coming back to herself instantly and jerked in her seat, frantically turning her head away and burying her head in her hands in embarrassment.

Very slowly Angel got up, walked around the table and then sat on the armrest of the chair she was sitting in. He ran his hands through her hair soothingly, murmuring softly and when she raised her head he smiled. "It's going to be ok," he told her. "You just have to hold on until dawn."

Buffy eyes flickered past to a group of humans shimmying on the dance floor. "I don't think I can," she whispered. Angel paused, continuing to stroke her forehead as he pondered over the dilemma.

"You shouldn't have to do this," he answered her softly.

Buffy glanced down "You deal, I can too…"

"Buffy…"

"No Angel. I can't wait; I can't hold back these…urges. I don't want to hurt anybody!" she pleaded to him. She shivered and glanced at Angel.

"I can feel him whispering to me," she breathed

Angel's eyes widened. "Who?" he asked, though he had a fair idea who it was.

Buffy's eyes looked down. "Angelus," she whispered softly, her voice filled with shame and apprehension. Angel paused looked down and very slowly wrapped his arms around her.

"I know," he whispered. "He talks to me to, mostly urging me to kill…" He bit his lip and Buffy nodded silently, burying her face in his shoulder and sniffing slightly.

"He keeps telling me things." She shivered

Angel paused and eased away, putting his finger under her chin and raising it so she could look into his eyes. "I can help you," he whispered

Buffy looked at him curiously. "How?" she asked, raising her eyebrows curiously.

Angel leaned back and very slowly reached up and pulled his hair away from the side of his neck, exposing the permanent moon-shaped scar on the side of his neck. Buffy's eyes widened and she gasped, pushing Angel away and frantically scrambled to her feet. "No Angel! No…" she backed away, her eyes wide.

Angel staggered to his feet. "Why not?" he asked shaking his head as she looked at him in horror. "So you can help me, but I can't help you?" He tilted his head to the side and raised his eyebrows. "Now how does that work?"

Buffy sighed. "I can't risk hurting you?" she whispered. Angel just shook his head.

"You won't, come on!" He reached forward and took her hand in his. Very slowly he pulled her down the hallway and up the stairs to the rooms above the club.

Buffy swallowed thickly as Angel dragged her down the hall, it was quiet. The music still drifted through, it was soft with a steady beat. He knocked on a door and then pulled her into a bedroom. He closed and locked the door behind them, moved to the other side of the room where he turned a lamp on and then guided her to the bed. She perched on the edge, shifting nervously as Angel sat down beside her. He pulled his hair back from his neck again, and tilted his head to the side while smiling encouragingly.

Buffy swallowed thickly and nervously reached up, brushing her thumb across Angel's cheek and down his neck. She took a deep sniff; her eyes closing momentarily as his sweet scent reached her nostrils. The sound of his blood pumping through his veins were almost overpowering, she could feel her whole body tingling with need and hunger. The demon was inside, rattling at his cage, telling her to tear, rip and kill. To sink her fangs into his flesh and drink deep. It took all of her strength to keep herself under control.

She licked her lips, and with a swift glance at Angel leaned forward, put her nose to the side of his neck and breathed in deep. Angel gasped softly and raised his hands to wrap in Buffy's hair. His heart was pounding now, he knew Buffy could hear it, but he didn't care.

Buffy sighed, wrapped her arms around Angel's small waist and pulled him closer. She kissed the side of his neck, extracting a small moan from the blonde and slowly licked the scar on the side of his neck. She felt Angel shudder in her arms and found she couldn't hold back any more. Very slowly she let her face shift, feeling the muscles move as the bones on her forehead grew, she felt an added weight on her teeth and knew they were now pointed into a set of fangs, her eyes were also a brilliant shade of yellow as they flashed in the lamp light.

She took another deep, unneeded breath and before she even registered what she was doing she bit down, feeling her fangs slide into the side of his neck and puncture the vein. Blood flowed into her mouth and down her throat, coating her tongue with a sweetness she had never experienced before. The demon inside growled in satisfaction, Buffy snarled softly and jerked Angel closer.

She continued to drink, losing any sense of time as the fog in her brain became even more pronounced. Dimly, she heard Angel's heartbeat become weaker as his small hands pushed at her shoulders.

Angel grunted softly, trying to push Buffy away from him as he realised he was getting light-headed, finally in desperation he pulled a hand up and slapped her across the face.

Buffy jerked back startled and snarled. Her eyes gleaming, she blinked as she saw Angel and raised a hand gingerly to his neck wincing slightly. She was breathing hard. "Oh Angel," she whispered. "I'm sorry…I didn't…."

He shook his head. "Its fine, you didn't take all that much." He didn't want to worry her. He took a deep breath to steady his racing heart and frantic breathing. "I'd just forgotten how arousing that can be…" he muttered softly.

Buffy blinked and noticed for the first time Angel's flushed face and the way he shifted restlessly, a sweet musky scent tinged the air. Buffy growled softly, feeling her body respond.

She leaned forward, grabbed Angel roughly by the shoulders and pulled him against her body, her lips finding his in a frantic passionate kiss.

A/N: Yay! Another chapter. I had so much fun writing this. Just picturing Angel's face at the prospect of lipstick and mascara just cracks me up! Oh and I totally want those heels *drool* hehe…

I hope you all enjoyed this, please, please review if you liked it!

xoxo

Lia