So, there was now a mini-Giles in Sunnydale Cordelia Chase mused to herself permanently after interacting with Wesley Wyndam-Pryce at the library. He had been there talking to Giles and Buffy about the Mayor of Sunnydale which Cordelia found odd. Was he evil? Seemed friendly enough when she met him at the golf club that time when Cordy's family attended the charity fundraiser the mayor was hosting. Weird anyway back to Wesley who had almost immediately forgotten about Giles and Buffy and come lovestruck over when she had come in returning a book she had borrowed. The man's attention wasn't unnoticed nor unwelcome as he wasn't massively unattractive. He seemed good looking, sharp dresser wearing his smart suits well, he was charming, polite, mature, and smart. Any other time she would be throwing herself at him as he was very much her type on paper.
But he wasn't Oz.
The small guitarist who she met at the steps of the school suggested they head to the mall as he needed to check on some music equipment and she agreed. The short man just seemed to an air of being at ease or laidback to the point where one would question if it was some immortal living for centuries. Even when Cordelia spotted a new Boutique store had opened and insisted on checking in. She made it her prey and he was happy to go along for the ride. He understood that one doesn't say no to Cordelia Chase. One simply nodded; accordingly, he was good like that.
Even as he waited on a comfortable grey couch watching some people come and go from the store seemingly able to find what they wanted, paid, and left while Cordelia took her time to examine every little detail that the store had to offer. Still, he didn't complain merely accepted that this was going to be a long time. Sighing to himself, he flipped pages of the last Cosmo magazine that had been lying around, no doubt left by some other shopper probably a frustrated boyfriend/husband who had nothing better to do than to read it. Never one to shy away from gaining knowledge he read the copy finding some diet advice, best places to go for the summer and a recipe pavlova. He checked his watch again and waited some more. The problem is that to him he found that Cordelia looked amazing in everything she tried on. Her never-ending quest for clothes seemed so unnecessary to him but then he was a guy. He understood there were some things that were just a mystery to him.
"Thanks for being patient Oz," Cordelia's voice came from behind maroon curtain. "I promise I am almost done. This is the last thing I will try on. Promise."
"Take your time," replied Oz in a casual tone which caused Cordelia to frown a little. He was nice, chilled, and cool about everything… which was somewhat annoying. For someone like a highly strung Willow, Oz would be a calming influence but for someone like Cordelia who required a little back and forth in her life he was sometimes dangerous stoic to the point of flatline. In some ways it was nice as when they went shopping, he wouldn't complain nearly as much as Xander had done. Nor would he refuse to try clothes she had picked out, make up stupid, silly stories about the store mannequins, embarrass her by striking silly poses when he finally did try on clothes only to embarrass her even further by buying some godawful clothes that should have been burnt at the production line. No Oz just let her do her thing as shopping was something she loved and something she had a talent for.
Like just right now when she came out of the dressing room.
She took his breath away looking like a vision of carnal appeal in a black cocktail dress adorned her figure perfectly like it had been created just for her. "Kudos for the dedication," he commented giving her a subtle once over.
"Do you like it?" Cordelia asked smoothing down the side of the dress while examining herself in the mirror.
"I like you," he replied, giving her a small smile as he looked directly into Cordelia's eyes.
Good answer, Cordelia thought to herself. Xander would have probably tripped over himself. She herself decided to that she did look good in such a dress but alas she looked at the price tag and it wasn't to be. Way too high given her current financial status courtesy of her father and his errors in their taxes. She sighed and her shoulders slumped slightly. It had been nice to live in a fantasy for a while but alas reality was now playing in full surround sound in her head. "I don't think I will get this one," she commented before vanishing back into the dressing room.
Oz frowned slightly at her sudden change in demeanour. Others might not notice such a change or question it, but he knows that he is not cold, despite what those around him judge him. He just thinks it's wiser to keep his emotions under control. He is quiet because most people are too transparent for him, and he has seen his opinions confirmed too often in the past. He doesn't think people are stupid, just boring, and uninteresting to him, and he knows that when spoken out loud that thought sounds more arrogant than he actually means it. When she comes back out, he is standing waiting for her. "Not buying that one?" he asked her.
"No, I have two that are too similar to it," she remarked as she started walking out the store with Oz walking beside her. He noted that she was leaving all the other outfits and accessories that she had carefully picked out in the dressing room.
"So, all that for nothing?" Oz asked him.
"Well, if that was such a chore then you could have left much earlier!" she huffed at him suddenly upset with him.
"No! I am just curious as you seemed pretty keen before and now it's no better than back of the rack," Oz explained. "Is something going on?"
"Oh, I'm sorry I am not just buying up half of Sunnydale like everyone expects me to do!" Cordelia snarled back him hack off at everything and the world. "Cordelia Chase more interested in the going on in Prada than the fate of the world. Will good news to the world is that even if there was a sale on, I can't afford it! And nobody cares about that. I had a boyfriend cheat on me, a boyfriend I sacrificed for, I sacrificed for his little bunch of friends, and did I get any thanks?! No! I was barely tolerated and received a steel bar shoved through my stomach, which by the way is going to leave a scar for my whole life because I can't afford to pay for the plastic sur-"
Her eyes went wide, and she clapped a hand over her mouth. Oz's brow furrowed in surprised. "What?"
"Nothing," Cordelia said quickly, turning away. Oz stepped forward blocking her path and keeping her there. "Let me past you freak job!"
"Hold on," Oz said. "What do you mean you can't afford to pay? You're the richest girl in Sunnydale. What's going on?"
"Nothing," she said softly, trying to shrug away. "Just let me go."
"Hey," he looked up into her eyes. She looked so vulnerable and soft which was so different than what he was used to. He used to seeing her eyes smiling up at him as they shared a kiss in private. He loved Cordelia in private even more than he loved her in public. In public with her followers, she would be in her element giving a speech about the latest fashion trends with her followers hanging on her every word. But none of them were here right now. It was just the two of them in a small corner of a mall. "Speak to me," he implored.
They eyes were locked in several moments, Cordelia half-glaring and half-pleading before finally she sagged slightly. When she spoke, the anger was clear in her voice, despite the hushed tones with which she spoke. "I'm poor, okay? Is that what you wanted me to say? By the time we graduate Daddy's probably going to be in jail and the house will be auctioned off. I have nothing, okay? No car. No cell phone. Nothing. Everything's been taken away because Daddy made a little mistake on his taxes. For the last twelve years." She took advantage of Oz's shock to pull her arm free. "I'm broke. I'm not going to be able to afford to go to any of the colleges that accepted me. And I can't stay home because we're being kicked out. I have to stay with my aunt and uncle until graduation, and then I'm on my own."
Oz didn't know what to say. He opened mouth opened to speak, but he couldn't find the words. He knew Cordelia. Knew she couldn't have told a soul about this, especially not her so-called friends. How she'd managed to keep something like that a secret, he could hardly begin to guess. What was he supposed to say?
Cordelia was fuming and embarrassed about her admission and Oz still hadn't said anything. No doubt someone like Xander would love to skip off to his little friends so they could all have a good laugh about it. She stared at him defiantly, jaw set, and eyes narrowed, daring him to say something. Oz swallowed, and stepped forward, taking her hand in Cordelia's. The brunette girl tried to pull it back, but Oz held firm. He looked her in the eye, swallowed the lump in his throat, and pulled her close, wrapping his arms around her. The girl froze in Oz's arms as she was not expecting it and didn't make a movement or a sound for a few seconds. Oz just held her close, trusting in his own instincts. Then, slowly, Cordelia seemed to melt into him. Her body sagged and her arms went around the man's shoulders. She buried her face between her arm and Oz's shoulder, and he could feel hot tears soaking into his skin. He gently swayed her from side to side, and whispered, "I'm sorry, Cordy."
He wasn't Xander or any other man she knew.
And he didn't need to be.
More to the point she didn't want him to be.
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Driving down the road Joyce Summers notices that there are more cars on the road than there used to be, and most of them seem to have gotten their driver's license out of a box of cornflakes. Or maybe she's just getting old. It was a huge relief to finally pull into Albertson's parking lot, alive and well. She parked at her house and leaned back in her seat thinking about how little she wants to go out in the rain. A quick glance at the house confirmed her fear. All the lights were off. Buffy was out. Out either saving the world, facing monsters worse than one's nightmares, and battling to the death. She couldn't believe that her daughter had been lying to her so blatantly for almost two years about such activities. Being kept in the dark by her daughter judged not quite capable of dealing with the horrors they fought who was in the meantime destroying her life in some crusade. It angered her, and it scared her to death.
Or she is out with her boyfriend Xander. God, that being possibly the truth was a little surreal compared to the alternative. In truth she had nothing against Xander, he was a sweetheart, if not the most mature boy of his age. Joyce had always been fond of him and was glad he was such a good friend to Buffy. She had been somewhat happy to hear that Buffy was dating him. It was better than some of her daughter's other revelations in her life. No, her daughter dating Xander was good and normal and decent and un-freakish and un-deadly.
As she stepped out of the car, she suddenly had the too-familiar feeling that she was being watched. She froze and scanned the surroundings, but as usual couldn't see anyone. Strange. She gathers her things and heads inside the house putting them on the kitchen table and sighing tiredly. She's beat; it has been incredibly busy at the gallery ever since the economic recovery made its way belatedly to Sunnydale. She'd spent most of the afternoon unpacking a new shipment of Dabakan drums from Mindanao, and the acrid smell of the cheap varnish they'd been sealed with clung to her skin. She needed a long hot bath. Then she'd nuke something for dinner and maybe watch a movie, if she could stay awake long enough.
There was a knock at the front door, and she turned to see who it was. Opening the door, she saw Mr Giles, Buffy's watcher standing there at the porch. There once was a time when she thought the man's concern for her daughter was him showing a teacher's dedication to their students alas how dumb was she. "Hello there Mrs Summers," the man offered politely.
"Mr Giles," she said politely stepping out of his way and allowing the man to enter. One thing she had learnt since learning that her daughter was a slayer was don't invite people into your home. "What brings you here? Buffy is out for the night. Has something happened?" she asked with concern.
"No nothing," Giles said shaking his head. "Don't worry is simply doing a simple patrol and both Xander and Willow are with her." Joyce was relived. She felt easier knowing that Buffy had back up rather and someone watching her back rather than facing deadly horrors alone but that still didn't answer why Mr Giles was here. As if to answer such a question the Englishman spoke up. "I was just checking in with you. I am aware that this year has not been easy for you as it has been such an eventful one."
Eventful Joyce almost snorted that was an understatement. She had learned that her daughter was a vampire hunter risking life and limb every night while Joyce had ignored all signs and thought her daughter was simply rebelling. Since then, she had to deal with her daughter running away, coming back, learning her daughter had previously died, been kidnapped, and been brainwashed several times over due to magic. "That's a bit of an understatement don't you think?" she replied to Giles taking a seat on the couch. "I always thought that the worse thing that might happen with Buffy was that she might turn around and tell me she was pregnant little did I even imagine any of this."
"Sadly, none of us did," Giles admitted taking a seat on the couch across from her. "My many years of training as a watcher did little to prepare me for the unpredictability of operating on a hellmouth let alone deal with American teenagers," he muttered recalling many a time the group consisting of Buffy, Xander, Willow, Oz and Cordelia would drive him to near insanity.
Joyce couldn't help but give him an amused smile at that. "Welcome to my world," she said with knowing experience at being a parent. "I find it best to ignore half of what they say otherwise it leads you to getting a headache."
"Very true," Giles chuckled at the advice before straightening up slightly. "And may I ask how are things between you and Buffy?" He knew things had been strained between Buffy and her mother thanks to Buffy's revelation of being a slayer and thanks largely to the lust spell. But he also knew that Joyce was supportive, perhaps slightly over-protective, and, Giles suspected, she was at times a great asset to Buffy these days. Having her mother aware of the struggles of her life helped her to cope so much easier.
"How are things since I was magically brain washed into having crazy wild sex with her ex?" Joyce deadpanned causing Giles to splutter and cough while her expression remained neutral. No point sugar coating it as a wave of complex emotions swirled around through her while she unconsciously reached for her throat where he fed on her. The memory was still raw and striking. She couldn't forget her desired she felt as she moved her body against his unnatural and undead one, the hardness of his cock inside her, how wild she felt riding him, the pain of his teeth sinking into her flesh, and worst of all the pleasure she felt as he sucked and swallowed her blood, as this thing she'd made love with, that she'd mistaken for a man, fed on her. "It's been tough… at times she could barely look at me but then other times she seems to be moving on. At the very least she is living here again."
"I promise you that I told her every day that she was living at my home that she should make an effort and go back to stay with you," Giles told Joyce referring to when after the spell was lifted and the truth was out Buffy flat out refused to stay at her mother's house. "Sadly, Buffy can be stubborn."
Joyce sighed nodded. "That she can be plus at the same time you had to keep your slayer happy as the fate of the world was at stake." He started to speak in protest, and she held up her hand. "That isn't an accusation Rupert merely a fact and we both know it." He didn't look pleased but had to admit that she had a point. "Truth is," Joyce spoke up again after a few moments of silence. "I am happy she has a support system and someone who can help her guiding her through this. The thought of Buffy facing everything out there alone scares me."
"I assure you that I always try and help Buffy in any way she requires and needs me. I care for her beyond the guidelines of my role," he confessed feeling a little embarrassed but speaking up. "And I know that Xander and Willow also care for each her. Buffy has our support, completely and in every way."
Joyce felt a little better at hearing such words. She knew her daughter had so many things to worry about and it felt good to know that she had close friends helping every step of the way but then she considered herself. What about her worries and problems? Having to argue with another idiot importer, balance another check book, pay another bill, or worry about being alone. How few was the number that cared about her. "And after the… spell," Giles said carefully. "You aren't feeling any ill affects or issues?"
Joyce frowned at the man. Did she feel the urge to abandon her life in Sunnydale and run to the shadows to be with Angel? Not exactly. Sure, Angel was the best fuck she'd ever had, hands down. No surprise really, God knew he'd had enough time to practice. But even then, they had nothing in common and to give up everything she had and leave Buffy was not even conceivable to her. "Don't worry Giles I am not standing by the window every night with a gown holding for my former lover to swoop in from the trees and onto the roof top hoping that he will claim me again," Joyce remarked. "I am a realist. There is nothing for Angel here in Sunnydale anymore and my priority is Buffy. Always has and always will be."
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Cordelia sighed as she recognised what part of town, she now in. The slums where everything looked cheap, tacky, and dirty. The part of town she wouldn't have even gone to blow her nose. By contrast the Chase estate was by far the largest private residence in Sunnydale. It was a huge mansion, acres of carefully maintained grass and gardens, or the myriad of marble statues dotting the entire area. But she didn't live there anymore thanks to the IRS and her father's dodgy tax returns. She now was to live downtown. Oz ever helpful volunteered his van to move her now limited stuff to her new place and they were currently heading for what could very well be Cordelia's home until after summer. With her father in jail and her mother MIA, Cordelia was on her own. Oz had offered to help financially but his girlfriend wouldn't hear of it.
So, they got to her small apartment and together they unpacked in decent time. Oz had just finished setting up her small tv in her sparsely furnished new apartment. She had been at times quiet and distant as they had been moving things. It didn't take a genius to work out that this was a big emotional time for her. It was obvious that Cordelia wouldn't need much help in moving her stuff in, but that was fine by Oz. It meant that they were there in the capacity of boyfriend, and not just muscle. "You, okay?" he asked her gently as he caught her staring off into space.
Cordelia got to her feet and walked over to the undecorated window. A simple white blind covered it, and the sun created bars against her face as she looked out. "I don't have anybody, you know," she said softly. "Not like Xander, with Willow and Buffy and Giles. I don't have friends like him, or family like you, or anything like that."
He got up and stood beside her. He put a gentle hand on Cordelia's shoulder. "My family didn't tell me my uncle and cousins were werewolves. And then when they did it was too late, I got bit but even then, it was like 'see you next weekend for a BBQ'" he told her softly.
She felt sad for that, what kind of family doesn't mention that to one of their own. "It's just been me," Cordelia told him. "Daddy's in jail, and before that, he was too busy to ever see me anyway. Mother was always traveling, and when she heard about Daddy she just decided not to come back. Harmony and the others, they're..." Her whole body seemed to shake slightly as she exhaled sharply. When she turned her head, her eyes locked with Oz. "I didn't think… like I didn't even realise it, Oz," she confessed. "That you… might like me not because I am rich or pretty."
"Maybe a little because you're pretty," he said, smiling softly. Cordelia let out a sad chuckle and wiped her eye. Then she swallowed and sniffed. "You aren't alone in this. I am here for you."
"You mean that?" she said looking him in the eye to see for any hesitation.
He nodded. "Yeah."
Cordelia closed her eyes and breathed slowly before opening them again. "Show me?"
Oz stepped forward and placed his hands on Cordelia's waist. He looked up into her eyes, their faces only inches apart. Cordelia's breath was sweet and came in soft pants. The spicy scent of arousal and fear hung between them. With one hand, the short guitarist softly stroked a strand of Cordelia's hair, moving it away from her face. Her breath hitched in her throat, and he leaned forward. Their lips met and his tongue slipped between his lips, tasting of Cordelia's lips. Tentatively, Cordelia's lips parted, at first passively allowing Oz to probe her. As the kiss continued, the short man could smell her arousal building. Cordelia pressed against him, her arms draped over his shoulders, holding him tightly as they moaned into each other's mouths. They paused momentarily in their embrace, gazing into each other's eyes. She reached up to cup his face in her palms. "I want to go to my bedroom and make love to you right now."
He swallowed a little. She didn't say sex, fuck or shag but make love. "Cordy," he whispered looking at her as if she were the most precious woman he had ever known. She was hot and flushed against him.
Cordelia stared into his eyes, her own wet with emotion. "Please Oz," she asked him quietly. He nodded transfixed. She bit her lip slightly as she took him by the hand leading him to her into the never-before-used bedroom. She only released it when she moved up to her top and her bra. He stared at the sensuous curve of her neck, marvelling again at her delicate beauty. Oz smiled as his eyes travelled lower, his heart aching at the vision of her slender feminine figure. Her brown nipples they egged for his attention. Her toned flat stomach... She held out her arms to him, calling out his name in a voice that emanated from the depths of her emotions. He went to her, and they kissed each other.
It wasn't like other times when they had sex. Not as frantic or wild as it had been under the lust spell or simply horny as their recoupling. It had been slower, more tender, more loving, and deeper. They both felt every tender caress, every whispered word of beautiful assurance and a deeper connection between the pair. It was only the fact that her stomach growled, admitting she hadn't eaten since breakfast that forced them to get up and head out for something to eat. Still, she held his hand as he ordered at the takeout place, he had found in a nice area of the town and only complained a little when she took her first bite of whatever grab fest she was eating.
Oz stiffened slightly as he picked up a scent his eyes falling on a pair of distant figures across the wide street. He recognised one, and while he didn't know why he was so wary, he knew to trust his instincts. "Quick come here! Get out of sight," he hissed. Thankfully, Cordelia obeyed, and they all ducked into a blessedly convenient alley. He glanced in the direction where he had picked up the scent and saw who he had recognised.
Faith. Oz was shocked to see her in this part of town, far from her motel room or the patrol he'd supposed her to be on with Buffy. But what was more shocking was who she was having what looked to be a very friendly conversation with. "The mayor," he said softly. He wondered if Faith would be able to see who they were. Slayer eyesight was better than normal, but they were hidden.
Cordelia squinted, but her position she couldn't really see the other pair he was looking at. "Is that really the mayor?" she asked. It was getting dark and there was no streetlight where all she could see was two figures standing together. Oh, and one had long hair, so she was pretty sure it was female.
"And Faith," Oz confirmed, chilling the blood in Cordelia's veins. She had informed her boyfriend of what she had heard Buffy and the others discussing about the mayor the other day. So, they both knew that the mayor was now evil.
"Are we sure they aren't fighting? Or maybe she's spying," she theorized hopefully. How could a Slayer side with the bad guys?
"She's with him," Oz said as he watched her walk back towards the door of a very expensive apartment building and enter it… with a key. The mayor got into a large luxury car and drove away… in the opposite direction from the alley. The pair stood up from their hiding place very wary.
"Why would Faith and the mayor be talking?" Cordelia asked her boyfriend.
"This is bad." Oz was ever the master of understatement. "We really need to go and tell the others!" He told her. At this suggestion Cordelia shifted looking uncomfortable. Her interaction with the group including her cheating ex-boyfriend Xander Harris had been next to zero and that was just the way she preferred it. She knew that he had little to do with his ex-Willow but now he was suggesting that they interact with the group cause the fate of the world was at stake.
Damn hellmouth.
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So, Cordelia and Oz went to Buffy and the others about seeing the mayor and Faith interacting. They interrupted the group comparing old photos they had got some city hall. "Okay, I've heard of having a family resemblance, but this is just really carrying it to the extreme," Xander said as he stared at the two photos of Sunnydale Mayors, one old and one new.
"I'm thinking they're the same guy," Buffy replied holding up the two photos side by side. "That means he's either a 100-year-old human with the best plastic surgeon ever or he's…" she trailed off looking at Giles for confirmation.
"Not human," Giles finished his tone more grave than usual causing Buffy to bite her lip slightly. Okay, this was worse than she thought – and proof that political involvement in this town was sadly lacking. How come none of the older voters had noticed just how much alike their mayors had been looking all these years?
"And has a sugar baby that we all know about," Cordy said announcing her and Oz's presence.
"Cordy," Xander uttered surprised to see his former girlfriend here.
"Xander," the girl said unable to keep the venom from her lips. Buffy looked between the two slightly jealous, she could tell that he was hurt by the way Cordelia came in with Oz.
"Oz," Willow uttered from her position at the computer in a soft and hurt manner.
"Willow," Oz replied in tone that made it impossible to tell what he was feeling.
The meeting could be described as 'frosty' by Giles with hurt looks and awkward glances being thrown across the table. But there wasn't the time for that. There was no room here to go into all that right now. Willow could tell that Buffy was uncomfortable as they discussed the idea of Faith working for the mayor. So was she. Faith was a cleavage-y slut bomb but still Willow didn't feel too good about her turning evil. "Faith working for the mayor?" the blonde repeated trying to get her mind around it. Having sex with Synder really did screw her mind up.
"Moving up in the world," Xander mused next to her. Buffy turned and saw Xander, his eyes downcast and face all shadowed. Probably recalling the moment when Faith tried to strangle him. She felt sympathy and ran her fingers along his arm before intertwining her fingers with his. He smiled a little at the gesture.
"I almost preferred her when she was rogue slayer," Giles commented rubbing his forehead feeling the effects of a headache coming along. Faith was in league with a bad guy whose goals they weren't even completely sure of yet… and she'd by now informed him of every move they'd made and every piece of information they'd gathered. This was bad. This was very, very bad.
"No wonder all the files on the mayor were empty," Willow said shooting a dark look at the computer. "Faith probably told the mayor all about what I was doing. I've been wasting my time." She sulked. She had hated Faith from almost the beginning; she should have figured this out.
"She's obviously gotten overconfident and she's not doing much anymore to hide what she is." Giles summarised. He just stood there at the top of the table while the others were all sat down, his expression unreadable. Maybe he'd been suspicious of her before now. That would make one of them, at least Buffy considered.
Cordelia chimed in at that point. "We saw them. They were pretty chummy."
"But what if the mayor is controlling her?" Oz suggested causing the others to look at him. "You said yourself you know very little of him and his powers what if he is controlling her?"
"But if he can do that why only her and not us?" Buffy countered. She was on full on slayer mode. No more being distracted with the idea that Faith could be redeemed. Not long ago she would have hoped Oz was right. When the chips were down, Faith was a Slayer. That had to mean something but now that was a huge no. Her slayer sister had crossed the line. "She's one of them now. She's one of the things we fight." Buffy said almost to herself than to the other with her voice soft and uninflected, the way it always was when her heart was breaking, and Willow felt her own heart ache with compassion… and rage. Faith was a Slayer. That was supposed to mean something – something important and transcendent and special. But what did Miss Five by Five do? She threw it all away and her sacred duty along with it. Willow hated her more than ever now.
"Guess we have to let Wesley in on it, too," Xander almost spat referring to Buffy's new Watcher who had thankfully not been around this evening. He had found the man to be pompous, incompetent, and dismissive of his relationship with Buffy ever since he met the man. "Hey, can a Watcher be fired if their Slayer goes all evil?"
Despite everything going Buffy's mouth couldn't help but quirk upwards at the sight of Xander's hopeful expression. "You'd think so," she offered to her boyfriend causing Cordelia to roll her eyes at the pair.
"If I can get to back to the point," Giles stated. "We need to know what the nature of their relationship is, so she doesn't share any more secrets with the enemy." As Giles explained the idea of Faith pairing up with someone as powerful as the mayor was highly dangerous and posed a very tricky situation for them to deal with. Buffy decided that she wasn't about to play any games or beat around the bush. She was going to confront Faith directly tonight for answers. Giles did argue with her that it might do more harm than good by alerting the other slayer to their awareness of her duplicity, but Buffy didn't care. She had lied to them and nearly strangled Xander to death, yet Buffy had still given her a chance. Not anymore.
Together the group headed to the location where Cordy and Oz had spotted Faith and headed to the apartment building, they had seen her. Thanks to some hacking from Willow before they left, they knew where she was being staying and they confronted her. Buffy stood between the group and Faith all defiant and primed for action. Now was the time for the Slayer. The Chosen One. The only true Slayer in all the world – who was now face to face with her doppelganger. Faith was right in front of her, cocky despite the group busting into the apartment the mayor had set her up. She was all wanton triumph as she stood unapologetic and unashamed for deciding to go down the dark path. She listed her reasons as plain and simple want to be the best and fed up with being in Buffy's shadow.
"You don't know what you're doing," Giles said from behind Buffy but for the blonde slayer she didn't say anything she was done talking. She just launched herself at Faith. The others kept back armed with a few crossbow and Giles holding a tranquilliser gun but didn't dare engage as both slayers were lethal and moving at supernatural speeds battling each other.
It had to come to this, hadn't it? Buffy considered for the briefest of moments as she attacked Faith. Fighting a fellow Slayer – it felt wrong somehow. This wasn't the way things were supposed to work. Still, a part of Buffy was enjoying this and it scared her. This battle… it was against more than just a traitor, it was against her own jealousy, and it was against other things deep down inside herself that she didn't even want to think about, that she didn't want to admit existed. For a moment, a terrifying moment, Faith got the upper hand, then Buffy edged ahead, and then… they were on their knees, knives poised at each other's throats, dead even. That was almost worse than defeat. The idea that Faith might be her equal disturbed her on every level. Buffy was the One, the Chosen One. Faith was just a clerical error, a paperwork mistake.
"Giles!" Xander hissed at the older man who held the tranquilliser gun to take the shot, but the man couldn't for fear of Faith cutting Buffy's throat with her blade that was on her neck.
For Buffy the men didn't even exist. All she could do was focus on Faith. That was how this had all come about, wasn't it? Faith had said as much. And now she had even more unsettling words of wisdom to share. "What are you gonna do, B? Kill me? You become me. You're not ready for that." Then there was the shock of a kiss planted on her forehead before Faith added, "Yet," and ran away smashing through a window and jumping to the ground below before Buffy and the others could even think to try to stop her.
What were they going to do now?
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In the days that followed the group including Cordelia and Oz worked together research the mayor and his planned Ascension. The search was difficult as there was little to go on. The shady demon that Buffy and Faith had encountered on patrol that had been willing to sell them the Books of Ascension for the measly price of five-thousand dollars had disappeared. Nobody was sure if he'd simply skipped town or had been found out by the mayor and fallen prey to Faith, but they suspected the latter. While Welsey Buffy's new Watcher seemed determined to prove that Giles was by far the coolest Watcher of all time by being incredibly annoying the group were still dealing with the shifted dynamics that had occurred between all of them.
Xander in particular was a difficult one to understand in Buffy's mind. The couple talked and joked and looked to all the world that they were as close as they ever had been. The world would be wrong in thinking it. He would occasionally go quiet and introspective when they talked. His cheerfulness seemed forced at times. To Buffy she felt that he was hiding something, a feeling or a thought but had no way of knowing what that could be. Her thoughts were ended when she was attacked by two mouthless demons that she wasn't familiar with. Taking the advantage of their numbers the demons pressed her back before she had to take off and find a better battle ground. she ran along the street taking a quick look behind her to check if they were following her which naturally they were. She then veered off into the park feeling uncharacteristically frightened as these demons had been tough, nimble, and coordinated in their attacks. She stumbled beside the swing set and fell hard to the ground. She rolled onto her right elbow and looks up at the demon that's been chasing her. One of them came into her view as it closed in on her as it did Buffy's scared, anxious look has gone, replaced by one of determination.
From her position on the ground, Buffy roundhouse kicked the demon in the back of its knee, which made it fall and smack its forehead into the metal structure of the swing set. The demon quickly got back to its feet, as did Buffy. She got to its head with a high roundhouse kick, and it fell down to the ground once again. She pulled out a knife and held it ready. "You demons can't resist a run and stumble, can you?" she quipped as the demon gave her a steady look, and Buffy saw that it has no mouth. She raised the knife, and just as she threw it her arm is blocked by the demon's companion. The one on the ground caught the knife out of mid- air. The second demon grabbed hold of Buffy and tried to throw her, but she is too strong, and instead it simply got thrown against the swing set for its troubles. Still both it and the first demon stand up and face off with Buffy, the first behind the second.
Suddenly the second demon ducked, and the first threw the knife at Buffy. She reacted instantly and snatched it from mid-air. The second demon rushed her, and she roundhouse kicked it in the face, grabbed it by the shoulders, heaved it up and over onto a picnic table and plunged the knife into its chest. The demon let out a muffled groan while the other one ran off. Buffy pulled out the knife and turned to look for the other one. "One down, one gone," she sighed as she saw the other demon disappear among the bushes across the street. She was so interested in that demon that she failed to noticed that her hand had some viscous light blue, fluorescent blood from the now dead demon. The fluid quickly seeped into Buffy's skin and disappeared.
Elsewhere in Sunnydale moonlight came through the broken glass of the windowpane in Angel's mansion as the scent of jasmine and cedar mixed in the night breeze swept through along with moonbeams filtering across the dusty floor to light the mansion he was in. Sometimes he felt like a bit of an anachronism, sitting by the fire, reading Proust, but Angel wasn't about to give up one of his keenest pleasures simply because it was no longer fashionable. Still, he wasn't so engrossed in his favourite book that his senses had ceased to function, and he felt the presence of someone at the door before he heard it move open. He turned and saw Joyce Summers enter the mansion.
He frowned at seeing her. How did she know he was here? No one else did. No one else knew that he had caved and returned in the hopes of seeing her. He had tried to stay away, hoping that time would lessen the craving, blur the memory of her voice, her face, her body, her blood but even champions can be weak. Angel couldn't lie to himself about the fact that he brooded over the prospect of losing Joyce even before they could get together. There was just something achy in the centre of his dead-chest that would not go away. He would spend some time wondering thinking of their antics and coupling, his photographic memory proving to be a curse. Everything down to Joyce's kisses were eager and passionate.
She saw him rising up from where he was sitting by the fire which was the only source of light in the room. That classically handsome face exactly as she remembered it, unchanged and unreadable. Why had she come? What force had driven her to seek him out? She didn't know and didn't care. She couldn't even remember getting in the car and driving here as now all she cared about was standing there before her. He stepped toward her as she did to him. No words were said between each other as what was really the point? What was the excuse she could give him in her reasoning why she was here? What was the justification in his actions? Some things were between left unexplained. He holds himself very still. He's imagined this moment so many different times, dreamed it in all its possible iterations. Their eyes locked for a moment, smouldering and intense. Their eyes said more than their mouths ever could. Joyce took off her raincoat letting it fall to the ground. It was all the invitation he needed.
Angel moved forward in supernatural speed to her grabbing her into his arms wiping away any hesitation she might still process with one intense closed-mouth kiss that left her lips swollen, parted, and panting for more. Joyce stepped forward into his arms. He yanked her even closer, hot need driving him to claim her mouth yet again, to have more of her. Those soft, pliable lips opened eagerly under his and their frantic kisses deepened. Their bodies were like powerful magnets within each other's field of influence, eager to crash against each other. Angel's hands moved down her back, slipping over silk to cup the firm roundness of her bottom as Joyce's hands hungrily gripped his shoulders and neck. Holding her against him for a moment, he felt his body tightening in response as hers pulsed with life so close to his. He pulled her up higher until her legs locked around his waist and trailed kissed across the underside of her jaw and the soft scented place behind her ear.
Panting for air, Joyce didn't want to be separated from his lips or his body. All thought evaded her. Sensation took over. Head spinning, heart thumping, a delicious throb between her thighs. More kisses. Teasing fingers. His growl of approval at her eager touch. Broad shoulders, muscle beneath silk, controlled strength, a hard bulge to grind against, all for her. His strength held up her up effortlessly and she kept running her hands around his body marvelling that it was all hers.
They tumbled onto his large bed in a tangle of limbs. Whether it was a good idea or not, they couldn't have stopped themselves even if they wanted to. It had been too long and there was no reason not to feel amazing in bed together. Arching beneath the sensual slide of his hands, Joyce reacted to his every touch. A mewl of pleasure sounded as he began to kiss his way across her collarbone as his hands ran under her blouse removing from under her skirt. Her fingers massaged the base of his skull before reaching into his hair. Arched above her, his hips and knees planted between her thighs, Angel lurched into Joyce's hand as she reached between them, and the simple brush of her fingertips in his trousers galvanized him into action again. He wanted her badly and he wasn't going to wait much longer as the moon blazed from the window. Sitting back on his knees he unbuckled his belt and tossed it aside buttoning his pants and easing them down slightly.
Joyce moaned wantonly in a way that he wanted to hear more as he released his hard cock licking her lips. She moaned even more as he pushed her skirt around her waist tracing her smooth firm legs that made her want him even more. Anticipating that he would hear more beautiful sounds coming from her when he finally got to taste her again, Angel moved to the edge of her panties, now damp with creamy arousal. As he rubbed his thumb across the dark red silk, she arched against his hand and reached out for him again.
"No more teasing take me now," Joyce pulled at him with her arms and legs until he fell forward, bracing himself above her, grinning at her enthusiasm. Drawn to her mouth again, Angel kissed her thoroughly while somehow finding the edge of her panties. Instead of ripping them away as he might have done, he slowly slipped panties down, like opening a precious package especially wrapped just for him. He tossed them over his shoulder and moved forward. Their eyes met as he sank into her tight heat and Angel was certain he'd never felt better, gloved inside her. Joyce's scent surrounded him. He was awash with it. From her blood to her arousal to the soft sheen of feminine sweat glistening across her skin. Her lusty keening sounded in his ears as her tight heat held him inside her, their bodies now merged and moving as one.
She clutched at him wrapping her legs around him desperate for more. Touching him. Hot hands over cool flesh. Muscles flexing under her fingers. That soft growl in her ear, against her skin. Her mouth on his, kissing him back, trying to keep up. So eager to have each other is that they remained fully clothed with her shirt now drenched in her sweat and his trousers down to his ankles.
Above her, he was hard and heavy, surrounding her in a cage of flesh and bone she had no intention of escaping. Soft feminine warmth absorbing the steady impact of Angelus' muscular body and his repeated thrusts. Loins throbbing as her tight sheath surrounded him. Unable to lie to himself any longer he kissed her lips, tenderly and reverently before saying, "I love you."
So surprised by his confession, Joyce could only stare back at him, at a total loss for words. Finally with hot air against his ear as Joyce breathed out her feelings, "I love you, too." His head snapped up, acknowledging her words with the hungry claim of her lips. A hand buried in the tendrils of her hair. Their mouths sliding, opening, taking each other as their bodies rocked together. She scored his back with her nails, reaching down to palm his ass. The tight muscles flexing under her palms as he fucked her in that untiring rhythm. Heat licked at her insides, the tension building exponentially. Smouldering lust met her excited stare, both recognizing the approach of the ultimate pleasure. Joyce wrapped her arms around him, relishing in the strength and power of his body, restrained, and unleashed in such controlled measures as they both brought each other to the edge…
Joyce arched her back as she woke up, gasping loudly in pleasure. She fell back onto her bed, her entire body tingling. She breathed heavily, blinking in the early morning darkness. She swallowed. Her mouth was dry. She licked her lips and shivered at the brief aftershock of pleasure. She was in her own bed, not his. Cotton/percale under her, not black silk. It had all been a dream.
Of course it was.
Nothing in her life could be that good.
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Xander frowned as he felt a pair of eyes on him turning, he felt Buffy's gaze on him. He shifted slightly in his chair a little uneasy at her expression as she seemed to stare at him almost examining him. He pretended to pay attention to Ms. Murray his English teacher talk about Shakespeare. She had been giving him weird looks for the last hour now. Buffy had mentioned earlier that she been splashed with some demon blood the night before, and Giles was worried she might inherit an "aspect of the demon" from that contact. Xander naturally put his foot in it by lamely joking that whatever Buffy might inherit it would be better than inheriting the ass of a demon. He had been in the doghouse for a while as Buffy had been very concerned about what might happen to her. But in the past hour she had been staring at people including himself. It had been weird but then again life on the hellmouth was weird.
Certainly, dating a slayer was weird and only in his dreams had he ever thought that he would have ever happen. While part of him still basked in the awe of dating Buffy Summers another part him expected to wake up at any moment or rather her to wake up at any moment.
He wasn't Angel, some brooding dark hero of the night who had strength and powers that would make any girl swoon, he wasn't Hogan Martin, star player of the Sunnydale High basketball team, who just last night scored a three-pointer at the very end of the game, securing victory for his team. Instead, he was Xander some high school no body who had missed the game because he was doing extra classes in a desperate attempt to boost his grades so he might have a future.
God he was pathetic. She deserves so much better than me, though he thought to himself. Like a whiney Vampire, that won't stop Bitching about what a pain it is to have a soul?
He glanced in her direction again and there she was staring at him again.
What was up with that? He had given up on thinking he had something on his face, but he still wasn't sure of exactly what was going on with Buffy's mind. Then again, he never really knew what Buffy was thinking. From why she fell in love with Angel to why she kept the vampire's return a secret from the group the list of decisions that Buffy made that he would never understand. Then again when Angel was there, it was 'Xander who?' and 'anything for Angel'.
Hmmm now Buffy was looking annoyed at him.
What had he done now? He sighed a little shifting awkwardly wishing he could read her mind or something. There was a time when she could never see him beyond the Xander, the guy who was just one of the girls, complex she had bestowed on his unlucky head. Now they were dating he wasn't sure where he stood, nor did he know the whichever way that they were going towards. Was he some phase? Date a normal guy and see what it was like? Was he a rebound to get over Angel? Or was he the best of bad options? Xander almost snorted at that fact he knew there were better options than him in Sunnydale. So why was Buffy dating him? He didn't know the answer to that and wish he knew. He always believed that dating Buffy would be the answer to all of life's problems but alas it seemed that fate had other plans. She was the slayer, a force of nature, a true hero and he was just Jimmy Olsen who was barely needed. Buffy didn't need him to function as the slayer not like Giles with his demon knowledge or Willow with her witchy support. He just didn't know why he was required which had caused to him to question his place and his relationship increasingly more and more.
Buffy was looking at him strangely again. Class ended and ten minutes later, Xander found himself and the rest of the group seated around the big table in the library. Cordelia was slumped in her seat, looking about as bored as a person could be. Willow sat alertly, arms resting carefully over her armrests, watching Giles with strict attentiveness. By Xander's right was Oz, who sat with that slightly pursed-lip expression he often wore. He might have been thinking, or he might have been completely zone out. One could never tell with Oz. Xander noticed that Buffy who was sitting on the table would often watch one of the others intently for a few seconds, sometimes blushing, sometimes grinning, and sometimes looking very disturbed. That was really getting weird.
"Well," Giles said, observing them all before glancing to his left, where Wesley stood stiffly, awaiting whatever news there was. Standing side-by-side, the two men seemed almost like twins. Their impeccable suits, glasses, and serious demeanours were so similar. It was only Giles's more natural confidence and his softer expressions of caring that seemed to set them apart. "We're all here because Buffy has something of an announcement."
"You're dying?" Cordelia asked with a tone of mild interest. Xander and Willow's head whipped round in Buffy's direction.
"No! no, nothing like that," Giles answered for her. "It has to do with the demon blood that Buffy came into contact with the other night."
"Is it bad?" Willow asked, filled with concern. "It's not scaly, is it?"
Xander too looked at Buffy with concern. 'God, those eyes. I could just drown in them,' he thought to himself. 'Pull yourself together Harris! She's going to think you're a drooling idiot. Which I am, but she doesn't need to know that. Who am I kidding she already knows.'
Buffy shook her head, grinning. "No, it's a definite of the good."
Xander's eyes widen. 'Oh my god she's pregnant? Oh God, she's pregnant!' Xander's mind went into overdrive only to catch Buffy rolling her eyes at him with mild amusement.
"Oh," Willow breathed with relief. "Good is good."
"Can we get this over with?" Cordelia asked, crossing her arms. "Some of us have things to do."
Buffy glared at her for a second, and then looked back to the others. "Fine. You guys know how those demons didn't have mouths?"
"Sure," Xander said carefully.
"Well turns out they've got telepathy," Buffy continued. "They talk to each other mind to mind."
"Wait, is that your aspect of the demon," Willow asked. "You can talk with your mind?"
Buffy shook her head. "I can read minds." Buffy declared sitting on the edge of the table, legs crossed and looking very excited to see the responses from the group. Silence loomed. Xander sank back into his chair and glanced around seeing everyone's reactions to Buffy's news frowning a little. Cordelia's eyes went wide as she realized the implications. Willow sat up straighter, frowning at Buffy. It didn't take a genius to figure out that Buffy was most likely hearing their thoughts right. He shifted in his chair while he tapped a nervous beat on the armrest with his fingers. His girlfriend could read his mind. She might be reading it right now. 'Wow, she looks happy about her newfound power' Xander considered in his head. 'But she looks great in those pants. Of course, she looks great in anything. Oh, I wonder if she's hearing me think this right now. That could be bad. Okay, don't think about Buffy's ass. No, I said don't think about that. Don't think about her breasts, especially.'
"Like, whatever anyone's thinking?" Willow asked.
Buffy nodded. "Yeah." She glanced sideways at Xander, and he could willed the earth to swallow himself up.
"W-well that's great!" she said, although Xander knew Willow well enough to know she wasn't entirely enthused. "Right? I mean, you enjoy your other Slayer powers."
"Yeah," Buffy grinned. "And it'll be fun. Did you see Nancy Doyle's face in English class today?"
"Oh yeah," Willow replied wearing a forced smile. "She's super competitive, and you really showed her. What's it like?" She asked, looking up at her friend.
"I don't know." The slayer shifted slightly. "It's a little weird. But look, don't think for a second that I don't need you, because I do. I want to share this with you. It's like all these doors are opening to all these little worlds, and I can just walk right inside." Her face fell as she read Willow's thoughts. "No! I do need you!"
"Okay what are you talking about? Because you are so creepy right now," Cordy stated.
"Whoa, chill, Buff," Xander said. Buffy glanced at her boyfriend for a moment before her eyes widen in a very concerned expression and suddenly Xander was very aware he was probably broadcasting his thoughts to her. 'Oh god' Xander thought to himself. 'She must have been hearing me all day… all day. All of the random thoughts that went in his head!' From his deciding on the ultimate question… Salty or Sweet aka which am I in the mood for? To all his thoughts and feelings about Buffy and their relationship. 'Oh god… she must have been hearing about him about their relationship.' He felt very comfortable as he willed his private thoughts to stay private as he began to panic a little. There was no lying from her; no dishonesty from her, there were no barriers from her, no way to hide anything from her.
"Um, I think there may be a precedent for occurrences such as this," Giles spoke up interrupting the moment. "Uh, I'll research it. Wesley, can you give me a hand?"
"Of course. Where do you think we should start?" the fellow Englishman asked his elder beginning to avenues of research while Buffy continued to hear her friend's thoughts.
"Huh," Oz muttered softly to himself, as Buffy was stared at Xander with wide eyes.
'Oh shit,' Xander thought feeling the hairs on his back straighten. He was struggling not to become lost in his thoughts. He tired to think of different things to get her off the scent. Memories of his childhood Buffy saw Xander's father raising his fist, a bottle of some dark liquid in his other hand. She saw Xander making jokes about how he was constantly hungry no matter how much he ate, in order to cover up the fact that he often didn't eat regular meals at home or had no money to buy them at school. She saw his heart break as he found her in the Master's lair. She felt his every thought, his every sensation as he breathed into her mouth and begged her to live. Buffy felt the pure unending willpower that had filled him that night as Angel watched him bring her back to life. Buffy's mouth opened in utter shock as she felt Xander's memory of the day he had brought her back from the dead.
"I-I..." Buffy tried to say. Her mouth hung open in astonishment… and sadness. "Xander," she uttered. But the young man simply shot up from his seat and ran off from the library. He couldn't be here. Not with her listening. Learning everything.
She knew everything about him.
She knew.
She knew.
Buffy moved up wanting to chase after him before picking a stray thought from Cordelia. She turned in her direction. "What?" Cordelia said, sitting up straighter, a defiant look on her face. Buffy frowned a little before her face changed to one of clarity. Cordelia's face twisted with anger, and she stood up. "Why don't you mind your own business?" she yelled angrily. Her eyes involuntarily flicked to Oz who was looking at her with concern. Cordelia paled, started to open her mouth but stormed out of the library.
"If you don't need me, I'm going to follow the brunette," Oz said, gesturing towards the retreating Cordelia and following quickly after her.
"Ahem," Wesley cleared his throat as the brunette departed. "Cordelia and Xander have just illustrated something. Chances are, you're all going to be thinking whatever you least want Buffy to hear. It's a question, of course, of mental discipline." His eyes turned to Buffy, who made a face at him. He paled. "Excuse me," he said in a small voice, and quickly retreated into Giles's office. Buffy then spun around to look at Willow.
"No, don't think that!" Buffy said to Willow, frowning sadly.
"I-I can't help it Buffy," Willow said, eyes growing sad. "I'm sorry. I just can't!" she got up and quickly ran from the library.
"Guess I won't be writing that book, 'Winning friends through telepathy'," Buffy said, mostly to herself. She really needed to talk to Xander.
"Some things are private," Giles advised her charge. "You may wish to exercise some discretion_"
"In whom you listen in on, particularly friends!" Buffy finished his speech reading his mind annoyed. "But it doesn't work that way," she said defended herself, frowning. "I can't turn it on and off. I just hear whoever's nearby."
"Excuse me," Wesley said, sticking his head out of the office. "Can you hear me thinking in here? I could go down the hall."
"Hmm," Giles said taking off his glasses considered which caused Buffy to sigh and rub her temple as his thoughts and ideas on the matter crashed into her mind. "Perhaps it is a question of mental discipline," he suggested causing Buffy to roll her eyes as he was thinking about far more complex theories but had dumbed it down for Buffy's benefit. He scratched his chin and flipped through one of the books he'd retrieved. "This is something I'd like to look into."
"Let me know what you find," Buffy said, her brow furrowed. "I'm going to go for now. I'm getting a headache." She grabbed her bag off the table and left without another word. Giles watched her go concerned.