Two of a kind: Chapter 3
by i_hate_mornings
Disclaimer: As before, i own none of what makes BtVS and Ats what they are. I just write.

Chapter 3

‘Oh, god,’ Buffy continued to back up, unconsciously placing herself within reach of her weapons. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Giles also heading towards weapons. Angelus seemingly ignored him, focused entirely on Buffy.

‘I must say, you are looking ravishing Buff. I can see why Soul boy still loves you. That’s the only thing I liked about the weak pansy; his taste in women.’

‘What do you want?’ she asked shakily, her back now pressing hard against the shelves behind her. The wood cut into the unprotected skin of her back. Her mind never even gave a thought to the weapons so close to her. She didn’t know if she could survive a second round with Angelus; she’d barely survived the first.

He stepped towards her but was stopped by the blade of the sword Giles now held against the vampire’s neck. ‘You will not touch her,’ he ground out, protective as always.

Angelus smiled. ‘Always gotta get in the way, don’t you Rupes. You never learn.’ The vampire turned quickly and struck the Watcher, smiling in satisfaction as the old man hit the ground with a dull thud. Buffy didn’t move. She couldn’t.

Giles groaned and Buffy watched as Xander and Willow helped him to his feet, taking him out of range of Angelus. Both knew not to get in his way. Anya, however, didn’t. ‘Who do you think you are? You can’t just come in here and hit people. This is my store. It’s bad for business. Stop it now. Leave.’

Angelus began to chuckle softly. ‘And who are you? I like her,’ he said to the room. ‘She’s got balls.’

‘Please, just- just leave,’ Anya repeated. ‘People won’t come in here anymore if you don’t and I won’t get any more money. I like money.’

Angelus laughed again then turned back to Buffy. ‘She’s a pistol,’ he commented. ‘You should keep her. I always thought you needed new friends.’

‘Screw you, man,’ Xander spat. A fire burned in Xander’s eyes, different to the mischievous twinkle he usually possessed; it was hatred, pure unadulterated hatred for the vampire in front of him. ‘If you do anything to her, we will kill you. You won’t stand a chance, I promise you that. We’re not the people you once knew.’

Angelus just laughed, a cold, cruel sound that slithered down Buffy’s spine, making her shiver. ‘Idiot boy, there is nothing you can do to me… nothing. I own you… all of you.’

‘You own nothing,’ Willow stood by Xander’s side, her gaze flicking to the unmoving Slayer. Buffy still stared at the vampire who used to be her lover. It was not only his reappearance that held her in place; it was Angelus who stood there, not Angel, which meant he had lost his soul. To who? ‘We aren’t afraid of you anymore.’ Even Buffy knew she was bluffing.

Angelus frowned thoughtfully at that statement then lunged for the witch, full vamp face. She screamed and he stopped. ‘Yeah, that sure showed me,’ he chuckled lightly. Xander pulled Willow behind him.

Buffy’s tongue came unstuck from the roof of her mouth. ‘Get out,’ she said softly.

‘What was that?’ Angelus turned towards her. Buffy knew perfectly well he’d heard what she’d said.

‘I said “Get out” now,’ she ordered with more confidence. ‘You will not harm anyone in this room, Angelus. Never again.’

‘Oh, I think I will,’ he argued.

Without warning he lunged for Dawn but Buffy had anticipated his move. She stepped in front of Dawn and knocked the approaching vampire away from the frightened girl.

She pushed her sister into Xander’s waiting arms then waited while Angelus righted himself.

‘You’re going to regret that,’ he warned calmly. Buffy wasn’t fooled.

‘I really don’t-’ she was cut off when the vampire tackled her face down to the ground.

For a moment as they struggled, it seemed as though she were getting the upper hand but it changed quickly. Angelus slammed his fist into her jaw, sending tendrils of pain though her face. He knocked her head into the floor before pulling her head up and punching her again. Dimly, Buffy was aware of Dawn screaming her name.

She tried to turn over but Angelus’ weight held her in place. Thinking quickly, she bucked, knocking Angelus off her back, sending him sprawling across the floor. She launched to her feet, swaying alarmingly.

‘Everyone out, now,’ she ordered. Everyone protested; especially Anya. ‘Out. Wills, get an orb.’ The witch nodded but Angelus was upon Buffy before she could see what happened next.

‘Yeah, or we could just stake him,’ Xander yelled as he charged forward, cross and stake in his hands. Riley, who’d been motionless since the tableau started, made to follow.

Angelus backhanded him without a second thought and Xander crashed into the approaching commando. The vampire returned his attention to the Slayer but he was too late. In the moment he had taken to attack Xander, Buffy had worked her way free and now held a weapon of her own.

‘My, Buff. Is that a sword you have or are you just happy to see me?’ Angelus taunted.

Buffy held the weapon steady, pointed at his neck. Angel’s neck. She couldn’t do it, wouldn’t kill him. She knew that even now. She’d just hold him off until Willow completed the ritual. There was still one problem. ‘I told you all to leave,’ Buffy hissed. ‘Why are you still here?’

‘We can’t leave you, Buffy. We won’t,’ Riley countered. Buffy glanced at him in surprise. She’d forgotten he was there. She wondered if he even knew what was going on.

‘Just leave, Riley. Get the others to safety.’

‘We’re not going anywhere,’ Xander objected, still holding Dawn tightly. The girl watched Angelus with wide, frightened eyes.

‘It’s your own funeral,’ Angelus shrugged. ‘Let them stay, Buff. They can be my main course while you, my sweet, will be dessert. Your sister can be the entrée. Fear…’ he closed his eyes briefly. ‘It’s such a turn on.’

Buffy lunged forward, sword aimed at her creature-of-the-night ex-boyfriend’s throat but he threw out an arm, knocking Buffy and re-directing the blade to his shoulder. Buffy heard him grunt in pain as the tip sliced through his skin, coming to rest in his shoulder. She released the hilt, backing away from the impaled vampire. He pulled the blade from the muscle it was lodged in and Buffy noted it had gone in further than she had thought, almost coming out the other side.

Angelus hefted the bloodstained blade and Buffy tensed. He glanced at her briefly then struck out with the sword, a blow aimed to catch her in the side. She dodged the blade, rolling to avoid being shish-ka-bobbed. She barely made it back up before the steel came towards her again. Buffy grabbed the object nearest her and brought it up in front of her. The sword tip imbedded itself into the object and refused to come free when Angelus pulled.

Buffy looked at what she was holding. The wooden box she held was clearly marked: Protection crystals. Buffy almost laughed.

She pulled the sword free, tossing the box aside. The sound of a gun being cocked froze everyone the room. Riley held his pistol pointed at Angel’s head. ‘Get away from her.’

Angelus snorted. ‘Or you’ll do what, farm boy? Shoot me? Ooh, I’m shaking in my boots.’

‘Bullets may not kill you,’ Buffy said, remembering Darla’s little speech in The Bronze. ‘But they can hurt like hell.’ She said the last part to Riley and his eyes narrowed with intent.

Angelus stood erect. He seemed to sense that he would lose if he continued. ‘This isn’t over,’ he threatened as he backed away, eyes scanning the room, examining the damage wrought. He escaped through the back before anyone could move.

‘He always did move like a damn Panda,’ Xander growled.

‘I think you meant cheetah, Xander. They’re the fastest animal,’ Dawn started to come out of her shock.

Buffy continued to stare in the direction Angelus had gone, not hearing Xander and Dawn. ‘It never is,’ she whispered.










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