Since when is Buffy most people? She's barely some people. And it's not like she wouldn't care if she was just normal. She would! And she does care, even now! Just not as much. Death tops humiliation any day of the week.
Unless it's something not sexy and happens to her at school where all her peers can witness her social demise.
Frowning, Buffy lets him stop her advancements and attempts to keep up the charade of being upset even as he kisses her knuckles. Of course, she fails, happily at that; a smile blooming across her face. Hooking her arm over his, she cozies up to him as they head out of the cemetery.
"When you say a lot, do you mean because you had to kill all the ones I usually kill on top of the ones you kill? Or do you think more came here, knowing I was out of town?" She sees your romantic and raises you shoptalk on an otherwise intimate evening stroll. Somehow it still feels right. Though she does feel guilty he was here, fighting vampires off and keeping the Hellmouth safe while she was having a completely normal, human, teenage girl summer in Los Angeles. But if it's the latter, then there goes anymore chances at a normal summer. Giles will never let her leave again, if that's the case. Ugh.
Angel presses his free hand over hers on his arm, unable to resist touching her as much as possible, even if it is relatively chaste (especially by modern standards). Sometimes he still feels bad that his body isn't warm like a human's when he touches her, but she's never complained, so he tries to push it out of his mind.
"The first one," he responds. "I think... between Spike and Dru, there were more than usual - and surprisingly, Spike tends to pick smart people to turn, who mostly all stayed behind when they left." Maybe not surprising, actually, considering what William was like as a human. But Spike, like a lot of older vampires, doesn't suffer fools lightly.
"But the ones that stayed, tried to turn more, plus the regular influx of 'visitors'. I think they're mostly back to the regular Hellmouth numbers, and.... I may have been a little enthusiastic, so most of them have been steering clear, lately."
Angel knows that Buffy tries to separate 'regular life' from 'slayer duty', but to him this isn't 'shop talk', it's just another facet of the life they live. It's not like he has a lot else going on on his social calendar to talk about.
If she hadn't seen for herself how strategic Spike could be, she'd laugh at the idea he could make calculated decisions in who he turned. But she's caught a glimpse in how he operates, and she knows it's exactly something he'd do. And all the vampires he turned, whether or not they had the same idea to sire people with a little more common sense and smarts, would just sire more.
Like bunnies. Only evil and way less cute.
"Remind me next time I see him, if we ever see him ─ and I seriously hope we never do, skip the banter and just go right to killing him. Something I should have done when I had the chance." There's no humor in her tone. Not when the reality and the weight of her (wrong) choice comes in the form of the body count. All of which Angel had to deal with.
"I'm sorry you had to─" She breaks off, tilting her head up at him, "How enthusiastic are we talking?" It's a light tease, her shoulder coming to bump his just before she twists her hand in his, entwining their fingers but still keeping her arm looped through his. "Is it weird that I'm bummed I wasn't here to help?" Help? Sure, Buffy. She means that she wasn't here to watch him. Because the way he feels when watching her hunt, and fight, is the same way she does when he fights. That thrill of seeing him in his element and not holding back as he works up a sweat ─ or the vampire equivalent of a sweat ─ whatever that is, is intoxicating. Even just thinking about it has her tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, ducking her head slightly and laying it against his shoulder in hopes of hiding the flush in her cheeks.
"I also feel bad you were here covering for me and my responsibilities, while I did nothing remotely the same."
Angel is all ready to agree with her, drawing in a breath to speak--but hesitates. God he hates Spike. And it's not like he had a problem killing Darla. But the relationship he had with Drusilla (amusement as Angelus, guilt as Angel) and Spike (annoyance, as both) has always been different. He was the one looking after them, taking care of them in his own distorted, demonic way. He feels responsible for them in a way, even now. But he's never quite had the heart to kill either of them, even when he had the chance this past year.
Finally,he prevaricates. "I don't think we will. You thoroughly kicked his ass, he'll want to go off and lick his wounds for a while."
The face he makes is considering, but almost a wince. "I mean. The others came out to help at first. So I was trying to get the vamps before they could get hurt. And then..." He has no idea how to explain I was frustrated you weren't here, and took it out on them without making her feel worse for leaving. Which is the opposite of what he wants, he told her it would be OK to go. "Mostly I was bored," he finally finishes.
Don't think he doesn't register her casually hiding her face against his shoulder. Angel glances down with an indulgent (amused, slightly smug) smile. Glad to know he's not the only one of them who likes watching the other fight.
"For a while. Right. " She repeats, but it's more of a mumble to herself. "Until he heals up and potentially comes back with reinforcements of some kind." Or just him, with a bigger, better plan to hurt her. Maybe not physically but, Spike knows where her weaknesses lie. Her mom, her friends, and Angel. He could use any of them to get to her, now.
Buffy understands exactly what Angel's saying. "They mean well, but sometimes they're more of a... I don't want to say liability but..." It fits. Somewhat. "I love them, I do. And I'm grateful they wanna help, but trying to keep them safe and trying to kill the monster of the week, or nightly vamps on patrol isn't easy." And now that he's gotten a taste of it for himself, she's definitely going to use it to her advantage one of these nights. Only if the need arises. Having him chime in when she needs Giles or any of the others to keep away from a particular fight.
As for what he didn't say? She gets that, too. She was all set for a nice break away from the Hellmouth, not him, when everything went to shit in an entirely different fashion than it does here and she got restless. Incredibly restless. Without vampires or demons to use as an outlet for her disappointment, all of her energy mounted. Being home now, she feels the all of the pent up energy just under the surface, needing to be spent.
She has a few ideas in mind on how to get it all out...
Knowing he's looking at her, she keeps her focus in front of them, watching where they're going as they step out of the cemetery and onto the thankfully quiet and empty street, heading towards the mansion.
And because she can't resist, she drops her voice, making a show of mimicking his, "How was your summer, Buffy? What did you do?" Trying not to laugh.
"Odds are about even that he won't come back at all. Despite being the first Slayer he's come up against he hasn't--defeated, Drusilla won't like it if he keeps focusing on you. And above anything else, Spike lives to make Dru happy. If she says to leave you alone, he will." And if she says to kill her... well, he doubts that. Dru has the attention span of a gnat, and them leaving in the first place shows Dru isn't fixated on Buffy like Spike is. If anything, Dru will want to come back for him, which Spike won't want. Hopefully the two of them can convince each other to leave both Buffy and himself alone.
"Distraction?" he murmurs as a nicer alternative. The phrase unwitting bait comes to mind, but he's sure Buffy wouldn't appreciate that. "Maybe they could train with that fancy crossbow Giles doesn't want you to use," Angel teases lightly. And then quickly reconsiders "Maybe Willow could train with it." There is absolutely no way he wants Xander picking that thing up while Buffy's in the vicinity, let alone Angel as well. Oz might be alright, but he's witnessed him practicing on the guitar, and his fine motor functions leave something to be desired at times.
Angel's smile at her gentle mocking is self-deprecating, but amused. "Yeah, well. When are you gonna realize I'm not actually as suave as I try to appear? Plus, you did take me by surprise."
"What are the chances Dru will ask him to jump off a cliff in the middle of the day?" Slim, she knows. But hey! Positive thinking doesn't hurt, right? For now Buffy's hoping Spike and Dru get as far away as they can.
"Distraction!" God, that's such a better word choice than liability. For some reason Buffy's brain honed in on the word and wouldn't let it go. Still. There are times where she's glad, more than actually, to have them around. Times that are not like right now. "For your information, Giles said I could use it." She counters, then lowers her voice, muttering, "Just not around his books. Or him. Or anyone with a pulse and one person without a pulse." All because she accidentally let it go off in the library and put a hole through several of Giles's books. And one window. "It's not my fault the trigger on that thing is faulty. Plus! I said I was sorry. What more does he want from me." Buffy grumbles. Also? Not a question.
"Oh, about never? I built your suavity up in my head and there's no going back now." He'll just have to live with constantly trying to be as smooth as she believes him to be. "You know, if me coming back early was too much of a surprise for you, I should probably hold off on the other surprise I was planning on showing you." She teases right back, and not at all innocently. She knows exactly how to lure him in.
Angel squints and tilts his head, obviously considering the question. "Surprisingly, the chances are more than zero. But probably not by much.
"So, what you're saying is... for your next birthday, I should get you a better crossbow, without a faulty trigger," he teased. "Got it."
He sighed at the idea that Buffy would forever think he was even remotely suave. It was exhausting trying to keep it up. But before he can comment, she starts talking about her other surprise for him, and really, she's lucky they've already left the cemetery, or he'd be hard-pressed not to push her up against a convenient headstone or mausoleum wall and ravish her. It wouldn't be the first time.
"You," he intones seriously, "are a horrible tease. You realize my apartment is still a dozen blocks away, right?" He very pointedly doesn't look at her while he says it, because if he does, he knows... well, he's not quite sure what he'll do, but he's sure it will be something not at all decent for a public area like the street.
"A girl can never have too many weapons." Further proof Buffy is definitely not most people, or girls, for that matter. "And a crossbow might be a good choice." Sure, her birthday is a long ways away from now, but given how it's panned out these last few years, a weapon of some kind would be more than a good pick; it'd be a necessary one, too.
"Although, I wouldn't say no to getting jewelry again." She hints. Oh, does she hint. Untangling her hand from his, she lifts her arm up and out, wiggling her fingers and admiring the ring he'd gotten her last year. Still sitting right where he'd placed it.
"Horrible? Nah. I think somewhere in the middle. Almost a perfect tease." She believes it, too. "I mean, I could've told you about the surprise while I was still in Los Angeles. Sent you a letter, or postcard, leaving you to imagine what the surprise might be longer than..." A pause as they cross the street, waiting until they step foot back on the curb before continuing, "the eleven blocks you'll have to wait now." She'd have given him a sneak peek back in the graveyard, if knowing where doing something like that would lead wasn't an issue. That hasn't kept her from imagining it, though. Be it against a mausoleum wall or inside one, or up against a tree, his pressed to hers... And eleven blocks is too long! She picks up their pace, wrapping her hand around his and squeezing.
"You could try to guess what it is in the meantime. If you wanted." Doesn't mean she's going to tell him if he manages to guess correctly. She's offering him a little extra distraction is all. Probably in the worse way.
The smile he gets as she 'hints' about more jewelry, showing off the ring he gave her, is difficult to interpret. Fond, pleased, a little amused, and maybe a little smug. At the risk of revealing too much, he says "I promise you, nothing I find is gonna come close to that ring. Plus, I already got you a necklace when we first met." A necklace, he mentally adds, that's rather painful for him to see her wearing. Maybe something a little less holy that she could wear around him...
"There is no such thing as the perfect tease," he tries to explain, but he's pretty sure she won't understand. And there's no way to turn the tables on her to prove it--well, no way that he can think of, with her. Maybe in a few years, when she's grown into her sexuality, and he's more comfortable with it. He tries not to think about the future too much, but as Buffy once told him, when I think about the future, all I see is you. It should be strange that the 250-year-old is the one more scared of looking into the future and realizing how tangled together theirs is, instead of the 17-year-old.
At the suggestion that he guess what it is, and that she could've told him about it in a letter, Angel narrows his eyes, turning to give her a slow once-over as they walk. His mind had been thinking one thing, but she seems to be hinting at something else. "Considering you've told me before how much you like shopping in LA... lingerie?"
Because that is definitely something he can imagine Buffy doing, going into a shop and picking out something she thinks he'll enjoy, or just that she'd get a thrill out of wearing. It's a thought that has merit, and even if he's wrong about the 'surprise', he may have to bring up the idea of buying her something. Wearing something he'd like, hidden under her clothes so only she knows about it. The best kind of secret.
And maybe she can't decode all the smile is but, Buffy can at least figure one of those out; fond. Or maybe it's the one she goes with. "Your point being...?" She prompts, rearranging their arms down between them, keeping her fingers laced with his. "Because if that's you giving up on finding me something, you only listed two categories, buster. Ring and necklace. There's still bracelet, earrings and anklet." More than anything it's another tease. Not only does she not expect anything, but also, she already has plenty of jewelry. But the pieces he's given her are what she cherishes the most. Still. If he needed ideas for down the road, well. He can't say she never helped give him any.
She knows her experience doesn't compare to his ─ something she does her best to ignore every time her insecurities kick up, when they're together ─ but she's no blushing virgin, either. The summer has been spent not only shopping but learning a thing or two thanks to twentieth century technology and information at her fingertips. Lifting her head from against Angel's shoulder, Buffy tilts her chin up to look at him. Except there isn't a question on her face as if she doesn't understand. What he's met with, should he look at her, is a glint in her eyes, like she's taken it as a personal challenge to prove to him there is. "It's a good thing I said almost perfect, huh." She smirks.
"I like shopping in general. LA has more options than Sunnydale, though." A sad fact, even with a mall, Sunnydale's clothing stores aren't anything compared to LA. She could spend half as much time in stores there, and walk away with double of that than she'd manage here. "And good guess." Is he wrong? Is he right? She's not telling him (he's right). Not with words. And not yet. There's a plan in her head that she's had for weeks. Come Hell or high water, she has every intention on seeing it through just like she imagined. "You're gonna have to wait until we get back to your place to find out." She hums, amused. "Keep guessing though. I wanna hear what else you think I might have in store for you." She adds boldly, the tip of her tongue skimming over her lips deliberately slow as she watches his reaction. What can she say, she likes playing with fire. And because maybe she wants some ideas of what else she could gift him, too.
"Buffy," he intones seriously, "please remember I'm very old-fashioned. If I got you more jewelry as a gift, it wouldn't be the kind you wear every day."
Frankly, he'd cover her in diamonds if he could. She deserves nothing less. For all that she's been through, and is sure to continue going through, she deserves to be pampered as much as possible.
Feeling a little playful (and frankly a little love-drunk, which she tends to bring out in him anyway, and even more so after spending all summer apart), Angel swings their connected hands a little, narrowing his eyes at her in consideration. "Considering your previous experience with tattoos, I can't imagine that's it. Not a tongue piercing - I would've felt it," he smirks, "even if you did manage to hide the way it changes someone's speech. And any other particular piercings..." He gives her another, more thoroughly and sultry once-over. "...take forever to heal. And while I've heard they're certainly fun, it's more for the person wearing them, than anyone else."
The idea of Buffy with a nipple piercing, or better a clitoral piercing, is intriguing and surprisingly arousing, though. Unfortunately, he can just imagine the complications an active, combative lifestyle would bring, and reluctantly dismisses the idea.
Immediately her mind races, trying to think of a piece of jewelry she couldn't wear every day. Sure, she changes her earrings and her necklace here and there, but she wears nearly the same ones a few times a week, so it can't be anything like the ring or cross he bought for her. "What, like a tiara?" It's meant as a joke, her arm loosening to allow him to swing it without restriction. There's no way she'd wear one. Ever. Well. Not this version of her. If he had met her before Sunnydale (or, you know, if she knew he did~), before she'd become the Slayer, that version of her would have very well worn it, every single day.
"You mean the forced tattoo that made me a demon magnet, literally?" Yeah, no. Tattoos are not in her future. Between the initial inking of it and then the removal of it, Buffy's learned tattoos are not worth the cost. Especially in terms of actual money.
What renders her completely speechless, and her brain to stop working altogether, is his informed reply about a tongue ring and other piercings. Particularly how he would've felt it. And now it's all she pictures. Wondering how it might feel to have the metal bar glide over his tongue and over his teeth until she worked her way out and down the length of his body so he could get a better feel for it where it would have the most influence. That alone has her considering it might not be a bad thing. If she were into those kinds of piercings. She's not; but more power to those who are. Her mouth opens ready to comment but all that comes out is an unintelligent sound. Her cheeks are burning and her ears, too. Mainly from the way his eyes darken, just the slightest ─ bless Slayer abilities allowing her to have keen eyesight in the night to notice ─ and how he's drinking her in. A look she knows well. A look that normally has her throwing herself at him, when in private.
Every other reaction her body usually has to it ─ to him, is still present. Just several more blocks and she can have him, she reminds herself.
Finally, finally though, she finds her words with her heart still racing. "How do you know long other piercings take to heal?" She doesn't think he's been with anyone who would have told him, or found out from experiencing it with them, but she has to ask all the same, curious. But then! The second it's out of her mouth it dawns on her.
Turning her head inward, she presses her face momentarily against his arm and groans, realizing what he's done; turned the tables. "You're awful, you know that?" She sighs, "An awful tease."
Angel can't help his laughter at her guess. "No, not a tiara. A necklace, or earrings - or both - but... you know the phrase 'dripping in diamonds?' That kind of necklace." Although she'd look good with any color of precious gems.
"I'm not sure 'literal demon magnet' is quite accurate - just the one demon was attracted to you," he can't help but murmur, getting sidetracked for just a moment over the thought.
It's only a slight reprieve, as her reaction to his comment about piercings is definitely worth paying attention to. He can hear her heart pounding, recognizes the signs of her arousal even if he couldn't practically taste it in the air around her. "You'd be surprised the kind of people I've met over the years. Vampire and human. There was a tattoo artist in Reno in the 60s who was interested in piercing. He figured out what I was, and kept pestering me to let him 'practice' on me, since I heal fast and couldn't get infections. I did not agree," he's quick to inform her, "but it was still interesting, listening to him talk about stuff."
He laughs again when she realizes what he's done. Bending his head closer to where she has hers pressed to his shoulder, he murmurs, "That is the perfect tease. Awful - and doesn't leave the teaser unaffected."
Her elbow twists ever so slightly in order to nudge against his ribs. "You cannot laugh at me throwing out tiara as a guess and in the same breath tell me you want to cover me in diamonds." Buffy reasons. After all, a tiara would be the cheaper option, she thinks, since tiaras can be plain, no jewels adorning them. Whereas a diamond necklace with matching earrings would cost... well, a lot more than she thinks he has. Not that she thinks about how much money he has. Actually, that's never once crossed her mind. "While my wardrobe is impressive, I don't have anything remotely fitting to be worn with a diamond, much less plural." Not to mention she'd be terrified of breaking the strand and losing one!
"Fine, one demon. Sheesh. You don't need to take it...literally, like I just said, okay that's on me. But still!" She huffs, sticking her tongue out at him.
Practically wrapping herself around his arm, Buffy hangs on his every word and curbs herself from asking any of the vast number of questions springing up as he tells her about the tattoo artist. For the time being, anyhow. She's too caught up in the reality that there are things she doesn't know about him. Small things, not major things since she knows all of those (or she believes). Like this; that he spent time in Nevada. That he hung around people she wouldn't have ever guessed would be the type he'd gravitate towards. "What sorta stuff exactly?" She asks, voice a little quieter, almost shy, with her interest. "And why'd you say no?" It's a legitimate question for someone who could take it out immediately and not scar.
A low growl escapes her at the way he chooses to give her a taste of her own medicine; his voice soft and words hot against her ear. Blunt teeth come to bite not at his skin of his shoulder, but at the material of his shirt in retaliation. Until his little confession sends a shiver down her spine, vibrating her whole body. "What particular piercings did you have in mind when considering what the surprise was?" She asks, her own question exciting her for whatever his answer might be.
As they near his apartment, Angel feels bold enough to reach out, running his fingers lightly down buffy's neck, over her clavicle, to the dip of her throat and slightly lower. "Was kinda thinking the necklace would be the wardrobe," he informs her in a husky voice.
When she sticks her tongue out at him, he can't help but lean forward and playfully snap his - dull, human - teeth at her.
When she seems shy, but interested in knowing more, Angel realizes he hasn't really told her much about his life before coming to Sunnydale - his post-soul life, at any rate. He shrugs a little. "He was a hippie, had traveled to India to learn traditional tattooing, then came home to learn the modern methods. Talking about how to get the ink to take under the skin, different pigments and how they fade over time. He liked my tattoo--" he shifts his shoulder forward a little, to indicate the gryphon on his back, "--asked me a lot of questions about it, only some of which I could answer. I did let him practice tattooing on me; a vampire's skin doesn't take regular tattoo ink, it just heals over before it can set. He was fascinated by that, too. As to why I said no to the piercing..." he shrugs a little. "It felt too much like being a guinea pig. I can't explain the difference, it was just... A little too much."
The tiny growl she gives, the bite to his shirt, wondering what piercings he'd been thinking of - all together, it's too much; Angel lets go of buffy's hand, only to swoop down and whisk her up into his arms. "Screw walking," he mutters, starting to sprint the last few blocks.
The nice thing about being a vampire is, he doesn't get winded from running. Fatigued after a while, but not from just running a few blocks.
Though the touch is light, the path his finger brushes across her skin burns under the weight of it. As if he's leaving a scorching trail along her skin, marking a path for later. And all she can do is let her head fall back, exposing the column of her throat. If he wants to work her up, and he has!, then by all means, she can do the same. "Me in nothing but a diamond necklace and you..." She purrs, "...completely dressed." The image of Angel dressed to the nines and her in nothing, sprawled across his bed or in front of the fire place, has Buffy nearly losing her footing.
The snap of his teeth causes her face to crinkle up and pulls a laugh out of her. If he was going for seductive with that, it somehow backfired and registered only as adorable. Which she'll keep to herself.
Instinctively her hand reaches behind him. Blindly tracing fingers over the material of his shirt where she knows the tattoo to be hidden underneath, she says, "I like it, too." In case he was wondering how she felt about it. She nods at his explanation. At not wanting to be made some guinea pig, or lab rat. "Would you get one now? A piercing not a tattoo I mean." She has to ask, even if he isn't the type of guy who would get one, either.
Before she can add on what kind of piercing would he get, if he did contemplate getting one, the world shifts and she's no longer standing. The sudden change in position makes her squeak in surprise. But then she's caught on. Her arms loop around his neck, holding onto him as he rushes back to the mansion. The position now gives her the ability to reach his ear. "How about you screw me instead?" She breathes boldly, leaning forward to capture the soft part of his ear between teeth, giving it a tug.
Somehow, she managed to turn an already-good fantasy into something brilliant. It's not even something entirely new to him, clothed sex, whether it's both or only one of them - sadly, pretty much nothing is new to him, as far as sex at this point - but when it's with Buffy, everything seems more. The idea plays out in his head, and he decides then and there he's going to have to find the most exquisite necklace, and earrings, and maybe even some bracelets, just to complete the look, for her to wear. He'll buy paste jewelry if he has to (although he'd much prefer it be the real thing, since his eyes can tell the subtle difference).
Since the tongue sticking out from her wasn't mature or seductive, he wasn't going for that, either. He likes getting to be playful with her. Playful used to be something only Angelus did; even as a human he'd rarely gotten to be playful, not like this.
The idea of getting a piercing now still holds no appeal to him, and privately he thinks Spike is much more suited to that kind of thing. Despite the tattoo (which he'd mostly done as an act of low-class rebellion against his upbringing, despite doing it after he'd already become a vampire), he still considers things like tattoos or piercings to either be crass, low-class, or just obnoxious. At least when it comes to himself, anyway.
Buffy's murmur against his ear, feeling her hot breath, followed by the gentle-sharp tug of her teeth, brings forth an involuntary growl from his chest. "That's the plan, lass," he mutters, a hint of Irish coloring his words.
It helps to have a fresh take on just about everything related to sex. Her lack of experience might hinder her in some areas (though never for long thanks to Angel), but Buffy's imagination has never once failed her. Even when the reality is a hundred times better.
Hopefully it is just how he views piercings when it comes to himself. Otherwise Buffy, with her several holes along her ears,and the one she's been thinking about getting, might have a lot to be self-conscious about.
Whether the slip of his accent around the endearment was deliberate or not, the sound of it, coupled with the growl that she feels vibrate from his chest, goes straight to her core and she melts against him. If he could smell her arousal earlier, then there's no mistaking it now. Not with just how turned on she is. Despite the way her nature ─ the Slayer's nature ─ scratches under the surface in reaction to the growl.
And as much as she'd like nothing more than to rip his clothes off and have him do the same, she has a plan. One she very much still wants to see through. Albeit faster than previously pictured. But not too much faster. One of the points was to tease him, slowly with the big reveal.
"When we get back to your place, I need ─ no, I want you to set me down and for you to sit down. Doesn't matter if it's on the couch or the bed, I just need you to do that for me, okay? And also, I need you not to touch. I wanna enjoy showing you what I bought." She breathes, mustering up the confidence she had just before finding him in the graveyard but lost somewhere along the way temporarily.
As in most things, Angel's a walking contradiction. He views himself (and most older vampires, really) through a completely different lens, holds himself to a different standard than he expects modern-era humans to adhere to. For an average human... he really doesn't have much of an opinion. For Buffy... actually, he finds her multiple earrings charming, a little enticing. But then, she's never been an average human girl to him, anyway.
Listening to her instructions, he can already imagine having to physically sit on his hands in order to follow them.
Thankfully, he never locks his apartment door. The kinds of beings who might come looking for him aren't usually deterred by locks - or doors in general - and with him not being human, the same invitation rules don't apply to other vampires. Still, he sets Buffy down outside the door, opens it, leaving her to follow - and walks straight to his bed, where he sits. Firmly on his hands.
"No touching."
He's fully prepared for some at least mild torture, but a very big pay-off.
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Unless it's something not sexy and happens to her at school where all her peers can witness her social demise.
Frowning, Buffy lets him stop her advancements and attempts to keep up the charade of being upset even as he kisses her knuckles. Of course, she fails, happily at that; a smile blooming across her face. Hooking her arm over his, she cozies up to him as they head out of the cemetery.
"When you say a lot, do you mean because you had to kill all the ones I usually kill on top of the ones you kill? Or do you think more came here, knowing I was out of town?" She sees your romantic and raises you shoptalk on an otherwise intimate evening stroll. Somehow it still feels right. Though she does feel guilty he was here, fighting vampires off and keeping the Hellmouth safe while she was having a completely normal, human, teenage girl summer in Los Angeles. But if it's the latter, then there goes anymore chances at a normal summer. Giles will never let her leave again, if that's the case. Ugh.
"The first one," he responds. "I think... between Spike and Dru, there were more than usual - and surprisingly, Spike tends to pick smart people to turn, who mostly all stayed behind when they left." Maybe not surprising, actually, considering what William was like as a human. But Spike, like a lot of older vampires, doesn't suffer fools lightly.
"But the ones that stayed, tried to turn more, plus the regular influx of 'visitors'. I think they're mostly back to the regular Hellmouth numbers, and.... I may have been a little enthusiastic, so most of them have been steering clear, lately."
Angel knows that Buffy tries to separate 'regular life' from 'slayer duty', but to him this isn't 'shop talk', it's just another facet of the life they live. It's not like he has a lot else going on on his social calendar to talk about.
Like bunnies. Only evil and way less cute.
"Remind me next time I see him, if we ever see him ─ and I seriously hope we never do, skip the banter and just go right to killing him. Something I should have done when I had the chance." There's no humor in her tone. Not when the reality and the weight of her (wrong) choice comes in the form of the body count. All of which Angel had to deal with.
"I'm sorry you had to─" She breaks off, tilting her head up at him, "How enthusiastic are we talking?" It's a light tease, her shoulder coming to bump his just before she twists her hand in his, entwining their fingers but still keeping her arm looped through his. "Is it weird that I'm bummed I wasn't here to help?" Help? Sure, Buffy. She means that she wasn't here to watch him. Because the way he feels when watching her hunt, and fight, is the same way she does when he fights. That thrill of seeing him in his element and not holding back as he works up a sweat ─ or the vampire equivalent of a sweat ─ whatever that is, is intoxicating. Even just thinking about it has her tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, ducking her head slightly and laying it against his shoulder in hopes of hiding the flush in her cheeks.
"I also feel bad you were here covering for me and my responsibilities, while I did nothing remotely the same."
Angel is all ready to agree with her, drawing in a breath to speak--but hesitates. God he hates Spike. And it's not like he had a problem killing Darla. But the relationship he had with Drusilla (amusement as Angelus, guilt as Angel) and Spike (annoyance, as both) has always been different. He was the one looking after them, taking care of them in his own distorted, demonic way. He feels responsible for them in a way, even now. But he's never quite had the heart to kill either of them, even when he had the chance this past year.
Finally,he prevaricates. "I don't think we will. You thoroughly kicked his ass, he'll want to go off and lick his wounds for a while."
The face he makes is considering, but almost a wince. "I mean. The others came out to help at first. So I was trying to get the vamps before they could get hurt. And then..." He has no idea how to explain I was frustrated you weren't here, and took it out on them without making her feel worse for leaving. Which is the opposite of what he wants, he told her it would be OK to go. "Mostly I was bored," he finally finishes.
Don't think he doesn't register her casually hiding her face against his shoulder. Angel glances down with an indulgent (amused, slightly smug) smile. Glad to know he's not the only one of them who likes watching the other fight.
Buffy understands exactly what Angel's saying. "They mean well, but sometimes they're more of a... I don't want to say liability but..." It fits. Somewhat. "I love them, I do. And I'm grateful they wanna help, but trying to keep them safe and trying to kill the monster of the week, or nightly vamps on patrol isn't easy." And now that he's gotten a taste of it for himself, she's definitely going to use it to her advantage one of these nights. Only if the need arises. Having him chime in when she needs Giles or any of the others to keep away from a particular fight.
As for what he didn't say? She gets that, too. She was all set for a nice break away from the Hellmouth, not him, when everything went to shit in an entirely different fashion than it does here and she got restless. Incredibly restless. Without vampires or demons to use as an outlet for her disappointment, all of her energy mounted. Being home now, she feels the all of the pent up energy just under the surface, needing to be spent.
She has a few ideas in mind on how to get it all out...
Knowing he's looking at her, she keeps her focus in front of them, watching where they're going as they step out of the cemetery and onto the thankfully quiet and empty street, heading towards the mansion.
And because she can't resist, she drops her voice, making a show of mimicking his, "How was your summer, Buffy? What did you do?" Trying not to laugh.
"Odds are about even that he won't come back at all. Despite being the first Slayer he's come up against he hasn't--defeated, Drusilla won't like it if he keeps focusing on you. And above anything else, Spike lives to make Dru happy. If she says to leave you alone, he will." And if she says to kill her... well, he doubts that. Dru has the attention span of a gnat, and them leaving in the first place shows Dru isn't fixated on Buffy like Spike is. If anything, Dru will want to come back for him, which Spike won't want. Hopefully the two of them can convince each other to leave both Buffy and himself alone.
"Distraction?" he murmurs as a nicer alternative. The phrase unwitting bait comes to mind, but he's sure Buffy wouldn't appreciate that. "Maybe they could train with that fancy crossbow Giles doesn't want you to use," Angel teases lightly. And then quickly reconsiders "Maybe Willow could train with it." There is absolutely no way he wants Xander picking that thing up while Buffy's in the vicinity, let alone Angel as well. Oz might be alright, but he's witnessed him practicing on the guitar, and his fine motor functions leave something to be desired at times.
Angel's smile at her gentle mocking is self-deprecating, but amused. "Yeah, well. When are you gonna realize I'm not actually as suave as I try to appear? Plus, you did take me by surprise."
"Distraction!" God, that's such a better word choice than liability. For some reason Buffy's brain honed in on the word and wouldn't let it go. Still. There are times where she's glad, more than actually, to have them around. Times that are not like right now. "For your information, Giles said I could use it." She counters, then lowers her voice, muttering, "Just not around his books. Or him. Or anyone with a pulse and one person without a pulse." All because she accidentally let it go off in the library and put a hole through several of Giles's books. And one window. "It's not my fault the trigger on that thing is faulty. Plus! I said I was sorry. What more does he want from me." Buffy grumbles. Also? Not a question.
"Oh, about never? I built your suavity up in my head and there's no going back now." He'll just have to live with constantly trying to be as smooth as she believes him to be. "You know, if me coming back early was too much of a surprise for you, I should probably hold off on the other surprise I was planning on showing you." She teases right back, and not at all innocently. She knows exactly how to lure him in.
Angel squints and tilts his head, obviously considering the question. "Surprisingly, the chances are more than zero. But probably not by much.
"So, what you're saying is... for your next birthday, I should get you a better crossbow, without a faulty trigger," he teased. "Got it."
He sighed at the idea that Buffy would forever think he was even remotely suave. It was exhausting trying to keep it up. But before he can comment, she starts talking about her other surprise for him, and really, she's lucky they've already left the cemetery, or he'd be hard-pressed not to push her up against a convenient headstone or mausoleum wall and ravish her. It wouldn't be the first time.
"You," he intones seriously, "are a horrible tease. You realize my apartment is still a dozen blocks away, right?" He very pointedly doesn't look at her while he says it, because if he does, he knows... well, he's not quite sure what he'll do, but he's sure it will be something not at all decent for a public area like the street.
"Although, I wouldn't say no to getting jewelry again." She hints. Oh, does she hint. Untangling her hand from his, she lifts her arm up and out, wiggling her fingers and admiring the ring he'd gotten her last year. Still sitting right where he'd placed it.
"Horrible? Nah. I think somewhere in the middle. Almost a perfect tease." She believes it, too. "I mean, I could've told you about the surprise while I was still in Los Angeles. Sent you a letter, or postcard, leaving you to imagine what the surprise might be longer than..." A pause as they cross the street, waiting until they step foot back on the curb before continuing, "the eleven blocks you'll have to wait now." She'd have given him a sneak peek back in the graveyard, if knowing where doing something like that would lead wasn't an issue. That hasn't kept her from imagining it, though. Be it against a mausoleum wall or inside one, or up against a tree, his pressed to hers... And eleven blocks is too long! She picks up their pace, wrapping her hand around his and squeezing.
"You could try to guess what it is in the meantime. If you wanted." Doesn't mean she's going to tell him if he manages to guess correctly. She's offering him a little extra distraction is all. Probably in the worse way.
The smile he gets as she 'hints' about more jewelry, showing off the ring he gave her, is difficult to interpret. Fond, pleased, a little amused, and maybe a little smug. At the risk of revealing too much, he says "I promise you, nothing I find is gonna come close to that ring. Plus, I already got you a necklace when we first met." A necklace, he mentally adds, that's rather painful for him to see her wearing. Maybe something a little less holy that she could wear around him...
"There is no such thing as the perfect tease," he tries to explain, but he's pretty sure she won't understand. And there's no way to turn the tables on her to prove it--well, no way that he can think of, with her. Maybe in a few years, when she's grown into her sexuality, and he's more comfortable with it. He tries not to think about the future too much, but as Buffy once told him, when I think about the future, all I see is you. It should be strange that the 250-year-old is the one more scared of looking into the future and realizing how tangled together theirs is, instead of the 17-year-old.
At the suggestion that he guess what it is, and that she could've told him about it in a letter, Angel narrows his eyes, turning to give her a slow once-over as they walk. His mind had been thinking one thing, but she seems to be hinting at something else. "Considering you've told me before how much you like shopping in LA... lingerie?"
Because that is definitely something he can imagine Buffy doing, going into a shop and picking out something she thinks he'll enjoy, or just that she'd get a thrill out of wearing. It's a thought that has merit, and even if he's wrong about the 'surprise', he may have to bring up the idea of buying her something. Wearing something he'd like, hidden under her clothes so only she knows about it. The best kind of secret.
She knows her experience doesn't compare to his ─ something she does her best to ignore every time her insecurities kick up, when they're together ─ but she's no blushing virgin, either. The summer has been spent not only shopping but learning a thing or two thanks to twentieth century technology and information at her fingertips. Lifting her head from against Angel's shoulder, Buffy tilts her chin up to look at him. Except there isn't a question on her face as if she doesn't understand. What he's met with, should he look at her, is a glint in her eyes, like she's taken it as a personal challenge to prove to him there is. "It's a good thing I said almost perfect, huh." She smirks.
"I like shopping in general. LA has more options than Sunnydale, though." A sad fact, even with a mall, Sunnydale's clothing stores aren't anything compared to LA. She could spend half as much time in stores there, and walk away with double of that than she'd manage here. "And good guess." Is he wrong? Is he right? She's not telling him (he's right). Not with words. And not yet. There's a plan in her head that she's had for weeks. Come Hell or high water, she has every intention on seeing it through just like she imagined. "You're gonna have to wait until we get back to your place to find out." She hums, amused. "Keep guessing though. I wanna hear what else you think I might have in store for you." She adds boldly, the tip of her tongue skimming over her lips deliberately slow as she watches his reaction. What can she say, she likes playing with fire. And because maybe she wants some ideas of what else she could gift him, too.
"Buffy," he intones seriously, "please remember I'm very old-fashioned. If I got you more jewelry as a gift, it wouldn't be the kind you wear every day."
Frankly, he'd cover her in diamonds if he could. She deserves nothing less. For all that she's been through, and is sure to continue going through, she deserves to be pampered as much as possible.
Feeling a little playful (and frankly a little love-drunk, which she tends to bring out in him anyway, and even more so after spending all summer apart), Angel swings their connected hands a little, narrowing his eyes at her in consideration. "Considering your previous experience with tattoos, I can't imagine that's it. Not a tongue piercing - I would've felt it," he smirks, "even if you did manage to hide the way it changes someone's speech. And any other particular piercings..." He gives her another, more thoroughly and sultry once-over. "...take forever to heal. And while I've heard they're certainly fun, it's more for the person wearing them, than anyone else."
The idea of Buffy with a nipple piercing, or better a clitoral piercing, is intriguing and surprisingly arousing, though. Unfortunately, he can just imagine the complications an active, combative lifestyle would bring, and reluctantly dismisses the idea.
"You mean the forced tattoo that made me a demon magnet, literally?" Yeah, no. Tattoos are not in her future. Between the initial inking of it and then the removal of it, Buffy's learned tattoos are not worth the cost. Especially in terms of actual money.
What renders her completely speechless, and her brain to stop working altogether, is his informed reply about a tongue ring and other piercings. Particularly how he would've felt it. And now it's all she pictures. Wondering how it might feel to have the metal bar glide over his tongue and over his teeth until she worked her way out and down the length of his body so he could get a better feel for it where it would have the most influence. That alone has her considering it might not be a bad thing. If she were into those kinds of piercings. She's not; but more power to those who are. Her mouth opens ready to comment but all that comes out is an unintelligent sound. Her cheeks are burning and her ears, too. Mainly from the way his eyes darken, just the slightest ─ bless Slayer abilities allowing her to have keen eyesight in the night to notice ─ and how he's drinking her in. A look she knows well. A look that normally has her throwing herself at him, when in private.
Every other reaction her body usually has to it ─ to him, is still present. Just several more blocks and she can have him, she reminds herself.
Finally, finally though, she finds her words with her heart still racing. "How do you know long other piercings take to heal?" She doesn't think he's been with anyone who would have told him, or found out from experiencing it with them, but she has to ask all the same, curious. But then! The second it's out of her mouth it dawns on her.
Turning her head inward, she presses her face momentarily against his arm and groans, realizing what he's done; turned the tables. "You're awful, you know that?" She sighs, "An awful tease."
Angel can't help his laughter at her guess. "No, not a tiara. A necklace, or earrings - or both - but... you know the phrase 'dripping in diamonds?' That kind of necklace." Although she'd look good with any color of precious gems.
"I'm not sure 'literal demon magnet' is quite accurate - just the one demon was attracted to you," he can't help but murmur, getting sidetracked for just a moment over the thought.
It's only a slight reprieve, as her reaction to his comment about piercings is definitely worth paying attention to. He can hear her heart pounding, recognizes the signs of her arousal even if he couldn't practically taste it in the air around her. "You'd be surprised the kind of people I've met over the years. Vampire and human. There was a tattoo artist in Reno in the 60s who was interested in piercing. He figured out what I was, and kept pestering me to let him 'practice' on me, since I heal fast and couldn't get infections. I did not agree," he's quick to inform her, "but it was still interesting, listening to him talk about stuff."
He laughs again when she realizes what he's done. Bending his head closer to where she has hers pressed to his shoulder, he murmurs, "That is the perfect tease. Awful - and doesn't leave the teaser unaffected."
"Fine, one demon. Sheesh. You don't need to take it...literally, like I just said, okay that's on me. But still!" She huffs, sticking her tongue out at him.
Practically wrapping herself around his arm, Buffy hangs on his every word and curbs herself from asking any of the vast number of questions springing up as he tells her about the tattoo artist. For the time being, anyhow. She's too caught up in the reality that there are things she doesn't know about him. Small things, not major things since she knows all of those (or she believes). Like this; that he spent time in Nevada. That he hung around people she wouldn't have ever guessed would be the type he'd gravitate towards. "What sorta stuff exactly?" She asks, voice a little quieter, almost shy, with her interest. "And why'd you say no?" It's a legitimate question for someone who could take it out immediately and not scar.
A low growl escapes her at the way he chooses to give her a taste of her own medicine; his voice soft and words hot against her ear. Blunt teeth come to bite not at his skin of his shoulder, but at the material of his shirt in retaliation. Until his little confession sends a shiver down her spine, vibrating her whole body. "What particular piercings did you have in mind when considering what the surprise was?" She asks, her own question exciting her for whatever his answer might be.
As they near his apartment, Angel feels bold enough to reach out, running his fingers lightly down buffy's neck, over her clavicle, to the dip of her throat and slightly lower. "Was kinda thinking the necklace would be the wardrobe," he informs her in a husky voice.
When she sticks her tongue out at him, he can't help but lean forward and playfully snap his - dull, human - teeth at her.
When she seems shy, but interested in knowing more, Angel realizes he hasn't really told her much about his life before coming to Sunnydale - his post-soul life, at any rate. He shrugs a little. "He was a hippie, had traveled to India to learn traditional tattooing, then came home to learn the modern methods. Talking about how to get the ink to take under the skin, different pigments and how they fade over time. He liked my tattoo--" he shifts his shoulder forward a little, to indicate the gryphon on his back, "--asked me a lot of questions about it, only some of which I could answer. I did let him practice tattooing on me; a vampire's skin doesn't take regular tattoo ink, it just heals over before it can set. He was fascinated by that, too. As to why I said no to the piercing..." he shrugs a little. "It felt too much like being a guinea pig. I can't explain the difference, it was just... A little too much."
The tiny growl she gives, the bite to his shirt, wondering what piercings he'd been thinking of - all together, it's too much; Angel lets go of buffy's hand, only to swoop down and whisk her up into his arms. "Screw walking," he mutters, starting to sprint the last few blocks.
The nice thing about being a vampire is, he doesn't get winded from running. Fatigued after a while, but not from just running a few blocks.
The snap of his teeth causes her face to crinkle up and pulls a laugh out of her. If he was going for seductive with that, it somehow backfired and registered only as adorable. Which she'll keep to herself.
Instinctively her hand reaches behind him. Blindly tracing fingers over the material of his shirt where she knows the tattoo to be hidden underneath, she says, "I like it, too." In case he was wondering how she felt about it. She nods at his explanation. At not wanting to be made some guinea pig, or lab rat. "Would you get one now? A piercing not a tattoo I mean." She has to ask, even if he isn't the type of guy who would get one, either.
Before she can add on what kind of piercing would he get, if he did contemplate getting one, the world shifts and she's no longer standing. The sudden change in position makes her squeak in surprise. But then she's caught on. Her arms loop around his neck, holding onto him as he rushes back to the mansion. The position now gives her the ability to reach his ear. "How about you screw me instead?" She breathes boldly, leaning forward to capture the soft part of his ear between teeth, giving it a tug.
Somehow, she managed to turn an already-good fantasy into something brilliant. It's not even something entirely new to him, clothed sex, whether it's both or only one of them - sadly, pretty much nothing is new to him, as far as sex at this point - but when it's with Buffy, everything seems more. The idea plays out in his head, and he decides then and there he's going to have to find the most exquisite necklace, and earrings, and maybe even some bracelets, just to complete the look, for her to wear. He'll buy paste jewelry if he has to (although he'd much prefer it be the real thing, since his eyes can tell the subtle difference).
Since the tongue sticking out from her wasn't mature or seductive, he wasn't going for that, either. He likes getting to be playful with her. Playful used to be something only Angelus did; even as a human he'd rarely gotten to be playful, not like this.
The idea of getting a piercing now still holds no appeal to him, and privately he thinks Spike is much more suited to that kind of thing. Despite the tattoo (which he'd mostly done as an act of low-class rebellion against his upbringing, despite doing it after he'd already become a vampire), he still considers things like tattoos or piercings to either be crass, low-class, or just obnoxious. At least when it comes to himself, anyway.
Buffy's murmur against his ear, feeling her hot breath, followed by the gentle-sharp tug of her teeth, brings forth an involuntary growl from his chest. "That's the plan, lass," he mutters, a hint of Irish coloring his words.
Hopefully it is just how he views piercings when it comes to himself. Otherwise Buffy, with her several holes along her ears,and the one she's been thinking about getting, might have a lot to be self-conscious about.
Whether the slip of his accent around the endearment was deliberate or not, the sound of it, coupled with the growl that she feels vibrate from his chest, goes straight to her core and she melts against him. If he could smell her arousal earlier, then there's no mistaking it now. Not with just how turned on she is. Despite the way her nature ─ the Slayer's nature ─ scratches under the surface in reaction to the growl.
And as much as she'd like nothing more than to rip his clothes off and have him do the same, she has a plan. One she very much still wants to see through. Albeit faster than previously pictured. But not too much faster. One of the points was to tease him, slowly with the big reveal.
"When we get back to your place, I need ─ no, I want you to set me down and for you to sit down. Doesn't matter if it's on the couch or the bed, I just need you to do that for me, okay? And also, I need you not to touch. I wanna enjoy showing you what I bought." She breathes, mustering up the confidence she had just before finding him in the graveyard but lost somewhere along the way temporarily.
Edited 2022-04-15 06:08 pm (UTC)
As in most things, Angel's a walking contradiction. He views himself (and most older vampires, really) through a completely different lens, holds himself to a different standard than he expects modern-era humans to adhere to. For an average human... he really doesn't have much of an opinion. For Buffy... actually, he finds her multiple earrings charming, a little enticing. But then, she's never been an average human girl to him, anyway.
Listening to her instructions, he can already imagine having to physically sit on his hands in order to follow them.
Thankfully, he never locks his apartment door. The kinds of beings who might come looking for him aren't usually deterred by locks - or doors in general - and with him not being human, the same invitation rules don't apply to other vampires. Still, he sets Buffy down outside the door, opens it, leaving her to follow - and walks straight to his bed, where he sits. Firmly on his hands.
"No touching."
He's fully prepared for some at least mild torture, but a very big pay-off.