#ch2mpion

ㅤㅤㅤ❝ DID YOU? OR DID YOU ONLY TELL ME WHAT YOU'RE OKAY WITH ME KNOWING? ❞ She's tired of all the secrets. All the lies. It's getting harder and harder to separate what's real from what's not. Goddamn, she misses the days when the craziest shit she would see at work was some guy training birds to attack people or even, as horrible as it may sound, a cut-and-dry murder case where she could actually do something about it. But vampires? Demons? How is she supposed to deal with that? Now she's jumping at shadows every night, always wary, paranoid that anyone she comes across could be one of them. And Angel, she can't decide if he's the best or the worst of them all. ❝ How am I supposed to trust a damn thing that comes out of your mouth again, huh? After everything you've done? ❞

ㅤㅤㅤSHE KNOWS IT'S HIM WITHOUT HAVING TO LOOK. After all this time she can still feel him. A sensation stronger than her own pulse. Loud, even in the silence of the night. ❝ Y'know this whole ❛ staying away from each other ❜ thing only works if we actually stay away from each other. ❞ Buffy doesn't turn, she doesn't need to, and she's scared of what will happen when he's suddenly in her line of sight again. ( Not just her dreams. ) Arms cross over her chest. She's grown a lot since the last time he's seen her. Not physically. And she should be strong enough to be mature about running into him now. She should be. But already she feels that sternness start to crumble inside. The Angel effect. ❝ If I'm in some kind of danger again, mind telling me this time? Face to face? ❞

she senses his presence. it's become easier now, knowing in the back of her head that he might be stalking her anyway. she keeps on walking, but her pace slows down. ❝ if you're gonna be watching me from the shadows, then you might as well be better at it. ❞ she throws into the air. ❝ now, why don't you come out so i don't look like the crazy, old lady talking to herself. you'd be doing me a favour. ❞

ㅤㅤㅤ❝ IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE IT'S BEEN JUST US. ❞ She's sure that both of them spend more time working alone these days. Well, when it comes to the dirty work, at least. They have their helpers, but they tend to be a little on the fragile side in the more physical situations. Unlike them. Being in LA, staying in Angel's apartment so she could be closer to her mini slayer, it's the most comfortable Buffy has felt in a long time. ❝ It's makin' me a little nostalgic. All we're missing is some evil overlord threatening a hostile takeover and some indie music. ❞

WESLEY COULDN'T TAKE HIS eyes off of angel. he's seen him through his roughest times; kicked down and beaten, engulfed by hopelessness. he was there for him even in times where he was shunned from his life due to his questionable loyalties when connor was born. this is no different. he wasn't going to leave angel in the lurch. he was his best friend; a brother. ❛ m' not leaving you, angel ❜ he told him, stepping a step closer to the cage angel was willingly captive in. ❛ there's nothing angelus could say to push me away. ❜

HEARING THOSE WORDS EMIT from the vampire's lips sent chills down the dark slayer's spine. she never expected to hear something like this from angel. sure, she was well aware of the fact that he was never going to find as big of a love and as brave as the one he shared with buffy summers. but to have some kind of paralyzing fear that he'd be alone for all eternity... ❛ shit, if yer gonna go 'round sayin' shit like that, makes me hella nervous for myself, you feel ? ❜ she chuckled nervously, trying to make a joke out of it but it wasn't working. as much as faith loved to pretend she was totally okay with being on her own, like it was her own choice to live like this, she wished her heart was more vulnerable. she wished she wished she'd be more open to love. it just wasn't in the cards for her, never was, so she never carried any kind of expectations. i guess she expected angel to feel the same way. ❛ not like ya don't got plenty of time to figure it out and find some hot vamp chick to settle down this; unless yer strictly on a blonde, slayer diet. ❜

WINIFRED CRINKLES HER NOSE at angel's response, completely shattering the illusion she grew up with about vampires. she laughs nervously, ❛ well, i guess i should forget all 'bout what i thought i knew 'bout vampires. ----- really ? so none of ya'll ever slept in coffins ? ❜ she teased with a grin painting her features. ❛ what 'bout garlic ? can you have garlic in your mornin' cup of blood ? ❜

❛ I KNOW BUT MY blood is to get you better. it's the only cure for this poison, angel [ .... ] ❜ she trailed off, grinding her teeth in frustration. she knew the struggle for angel had to be difficult, having to fend off the desire to devour every drip of intoxicating blood she possessed, but she knew she could fight him off if it would get that far. she refused to let him die over something so petty. he was worth more than that; he was worth the whole world and buffy would do it all over again. she grabbed him by the shoulders and pulled him up to her neck, breathing heavy through her nose, ❛ drink, angel, it's the only way. i'm not going to let you die ❜ she firmly demanded, canting her head to the side to fully expose her neck to him. they didn't have another choice.