Eye of Eleos Chapter 75/
Events of The Prom written by Marti Noxon and Graduation Day Pt 1and 2 written by Joss Whedon are referenced.
Apologies for the length of time between chapters. RL and personal issues have prevented me from writing in a timely manner. I am in hopes that the circumstances have changed enough that I can return to more frequent updates.
I read and cherish all comments and assure you that your kindness and thoughts are deeply appreciated.
Chapter 75
Buffy marched purposefully towards the mansion. She looked like someone headed to an execution more than a girl off to meet the love of her life.
“Huh!” Spike tilted his head and tried to think back a couple of years. “Never did know just how old grandpappy got hold of that monstrosity. Too focused on his poaching Dru to pay much attention, that and scrounging a meal so I could get out of that soddin’ chair.”
Spike had assumed that Angelus and Dru had eaten the original owners of the Myan Revival eyesore intended to emulate Lloyd Wright’s mansion in L.A. It wasn’t unusual for Angelus to appropriate upscale digs for his family and minions. All those mansions and palaces were interchangeable over the years and easily disposable. Seemed Angel held on to this one somehow.
“So much for all that guilt his soul’s supposed to lay on him. Stayed right there once he got back from that vacation in hell.” He gave a rueful chuckle. “Knowin’ the pompous arse he likely thought his time frying his goolies on Satan’s bar-b-que gave him a paid-in-full for the real estate squatting.” One thing Spike was fairly sure of was that Angel hadn’t gotten a mortgage or used any other legal, soulful means of acquiring the mansion. “Wonder if he still thinks of it as his?”
“Would fit his world-view. Once something or someone belonged to the great forehead, 'twas his thereafter.”
Spike had watched Buffy make this same trip so often since hell spit Angel back to Sunnydale. Most of her patrols ended there with a snuggle. “Lucifer might have had his belly full of the arrogant Ponce enough to eject him but Buffy hadn’t had her fill yet.”
Sometimes their clandestine trysts were just more of the angst-filled yearning and tears (on Buffy’s part) and ‘noble self-sacrifice’ act by Angel. ‘Enough to make a vampire hurl.’
Other times Angel continued his quest to mold and refine Buffy’s education, make her a proper consort for his exalted self. Reading from selected philosophers and great novelists, he’d translate from the foreign texts and showed not one whit of understanding the content himself while intimidating and impressing the high-school girl.
“Tryin’ to prove his superiority. Legend in his own mind! Would pay to see someone who really understood the depths of Proust or Kafka engage the wanker in honest discourse. Two minutes in and he’d show himself as ignorant as he tried to make Buffy feel.”
Sometimes it was music. Spike would give him that at least. Nothing wrong with learning to appreciate opera or the Great Masters. Thing was, Angel was only familiar with them because it was the music and entertainment of his own time, not because he was so highly cultured.
“As I recall, Angel listened to a fair amount of Barry Manilow last time his soul went walkies. Tom Jones and the Rat Pack too. Even warbled a bit of Elvis off-key enough to make my ears bleed. Nothin’ wrong with that either. Christ knows I love most of it too but I don’t put on airs and try to come off like a priggish snob just to impress a girl or to make her feel young and gauche.”
Spike shrugged and laughed at himself. “Course, can’t blame him for tryin’ to wean her from those truly frightenin’ boy bands. Most of em’s biggest talent is posin’ for those posters slapped on young girl’s walls.”
Buffy frowned as she trudged towards the mansion. She’d been tossing and turning in her sleep ever since the Mayor had taunted that she and Angel had no future together.
“Not as blunt as I was in tellin’ the two of them they’d never be friends, but same idea.” It seemed like everyone but the two would-be star-crossed lovers could see the writing on the wall.
Spike watched as Buffy tried to end things with Angel. She made a good case about how they both knew that they couldn’t be together. The tears had fallen like rain… from Buffy. Angel maintained his standard bland expression. Poor girl was emotionally drained only to have her efforts and opinions set aside.
“I can’t accept that, Buffy.” Angel’s soul-filled brown eyes had gazed at her with pain and longing when she’d tried to end things. It had made Buffy feel like the worst sort of person to rub Angel’s nose in what he couldn’t have again. Then came the pronouncement from the Mayor and now Angel had changed his own tune. Told her that they DID need to part. That he was leaving temptation behind as soon as school ended for the year.
Spike could almost hear the violins weeping a sad tune as he lamented the need.
***
All of Buffy’s friends were gearing up for the last big dance of High School. Even Angel knew the importance of the Senior Prom to the average American student. Darla had always loved picking off meals at those venues. Claimed all those hormones, hopes, and illicit alcohol-laced punch made for tastier nummies.
Buffy had a dress but no date. Neither did Cordelia but she had her eye on the junior Watcher as a potential dance partner. Buffy’s heart was still in Angel’s careless hands.
Seemed Angel’s change of mind left his girl with a pair of tickets but no partner for the event. Spike was fairly certain Angel’d had a visit from either Joyce or Giles on the subject of Buffy. He’d gone from not being able to consider parting to ending things himself just before the Prom and graduation.
“Built-up her hopes that somehow he’d figure out how they could stay together only to pull the rug out from under her.”
It was no surprise to Spike. Angel had to be the ‘great decider’. NO ONE walked away from the flaming poof. If walking was going to happen it would be Angelus flouncing away in his own time and style. The more lamenting on the part of those he was leaving the more gratifying.
“Never even thought about trying to nail that soul down so he could love her proper. Hell, never gave thought of how to please her without gettin’ too happy himself.”
Spike ground his teeth in frustration on Buffy’s behalf. “Didn’t even think about stayin’ around with his hands off the girl just watchin’ her back. Keepin’ her alive,” of course, Angel didn’t do anything if there wasn’t something in it for him. “Bet he’s even chargin’ all those helpless he’s rescuin’ down there in L.A. Tellin’ himself he needs the dosh to keep goin’.”
***
Buffy made it to her prom in spite of some wanker’s pack of trained hellhounds. The kid had been turned down by his choice for a date and reacted by trying to kill off his classmates in a bloodbath. ‘Least I got turned before wreaking vengeance after a turn-down. Had a demon whisperin’ sweet nothin’s on how to make things right. This kid didn’t have that excuse.’
“Can understand the urge. Wasn’t exactly Mr. Popular myself but at least I only used the railroad spikes on the ones who actually asked for it… literally in the one case. Didn’t wipe out the entire social set AND that was with the demon.”
On the bright side, Buffy was honored by her classmates with a fetching parasol and the title of Class Protector. Spike beamed at the joy on his girl’s face as the short, awkward, boy made the presentation. He could see that Buffy was touched more than if they had showered her in gold.
“Good to see what she does, what she gives up every night, gettin’ recognized at last!”
Then a hush fell over the crowd as Angel made his grand entrance. He parted the crowd like old Moses did the Red Sea and claimed a slow, sad, dance with his Juliet. There wasn’t a dry eye in the room… except for Angel’s of course.
***
The time was ticking on the Mayor’s big day. Everyone was pretty sure the class of ‘99s graduation was going to be one for the history books even if they hadn’t nailed down the details just yet.
Buffy insisted Joyce get out of town instead of joining the other proud parents at the ceremony. It took some doing but Buffy finally convinced her mom that she’d only be a deadly distraction if she was there. With a promise to call as soon as it was all clear and that they would have a private celebration later, the elder Summers lady got out of town.
Buffy and Angel were at odds over his leaving and the tension from the impending battle but their bitter words were cut short by a poisoned arrow. Spike couldn’t help but regret the poor aim of the dark Slayer.
Seemed the Mayor’s recruit knew just how to get under Buffy’s skin and distract her. Instead of putting her time and attention to the coming Ascension, Buffy was single-mindedly focused on saving Angel from the toxin that was designed to kill the dead.
Buffy was even willing to debase herself to the Council for a cure. Not unexpectedly they had no interest in helping restore Angel to health even with his soul in place.
Spike watched a coldness come over Buffy as her heart shut down at the rejection. She watched Angel writhe and sweat on the bed as he lay suffering and her eyes became hard and her heart closed down.
The skittish junior Watcher had managed to get the information anyway. The cure lay in Slayer’s blood.
Spike was shocked for the first time since the whole spell that revealed Buffy’s life to him began. He watched as his brilliant girl, his effulgent paragon of all that was good and righteous immediately set out to kill her sister Slayer to feed to the worst vampire in recorded history! The very vampire preparing to leave Buffy high and dry after the yearly apocalypse ended.
All of Buffy’s set-in-stone rules about humans went out the window as she set out purposefully to get what was needed to save the worthless lout.
The dark Slayer was no real challenge against a fully committed and pissed-off Buffy. Her inner rage and boundless love for the dying vampire fueled her mission and made her unstoppable. The girl wasn’t even thinking at this point, merely acting on pure emotion.
“Suddenly the hard-fast rule about killing humans gets chucked out the window,” Spike’s eyebrows nearly rose to his hairline.
He panted emotionally as he watched the brutal fight between the two girls play out. He knew Faith would kill Buffy without a second thought but he also knew that Buffy wouldn’t fare as well even if she won, not afterward. Not once her actions sunk in. Once the blood cooled, he knew that Buffy would be horrified at her actions.
His girl was passionate and maybe this was the incident that made her want to tamp down those very passions. Knowing what you are capable of can be terrifying.
The knife went deep and both girls looked shaken that things had reached that conclusion even though it had been inevitable.
Faith fell from the rooftop as Buffy looked on in a daze.
Spike watched his girl break.
***
Angel put on his most tragically heroic face as he refused to drink from Buffy.
Buffy was determined. She’d already set an unthinkable value on the wanker’s life. Now that the only available Slayes blood was her own, she seemed even more peaceful about it all. She also was not taking no for an answer. She’d come too far.
“Three times! Only had to hit the bastard three times before he was on her like a bloody leech,” Spike was disgusted. “No control whatsoever.”
There was no way Angel needed all of Buffy’s blood to effect a cure. Problem was he never learned how to leash his demon. The bite was brutal too, he had savaged her neck. “Always thought some nasty left those marks. Never woulda thought they came from someone claimin’ to love her. Didn’t have to rip her throat like that.”
***
Seemed the Mayor HAD feelings behind his words. Actually cared for the poor comatose twig. Spike found himself glad that Faith had been loved even if by a malevolent fucker like Wilkins. ‘Kid never caught a break, even when she did finally matter to someone.’
Angel had brought Buffy into the hospital and they rushed to pump blood into the depleted girl.
‘One good thing about the Hellmouth, they know just what to do and do it fast.’
Angel was clearly worried but didn’t even offer an apology. “Actin’ the hero for gettin’ her help instead of ownin’ up to bein’ the villain who drained her.”
Wilkins had been visiting Faith when Buffy was admitted. Buffy was still on shaky ground but healing when the Mayor snapped and tried to finish what Angel had started.
Angel managed to pull him off and save Buffy from strangulation. Possibly Angel’s quick actions saved him from a staking from Rupert. “Not that Buffy would have forgiven her surrogate dad for offin’ the demon who nearly turned her into an empty husk. Not then at least.”
“Girl loves hard and full-in.” Spike understood that. It was how he loved. Just had unfortunate taste in lovers, both of them did. “Not worthy of her. Guess I’ll have to learn to be worthy now that I got lucky enough to have her love. Don’t fuckin’ understand how it happened but never gonna take it for granted or let her wish she didn’t love me.”
***
The battle was a splendid bit of mayhem with the entire class going up against Wilkins and his minions.
Spike watched in demonic amusement as the giant snake devoured the kid-hating Principal and thought of some of his professors that had deserved a similar fate in his day.
Buffy played the giant snake perfectly. Used his love for Faith against him and sent him into an emotional frenzy that left him open for manipulation.
There were losses, of course, but all in all not too many. Considering the entire class and all the guests had been on the menu it was negligible except for those immediately impacted.
Buffy had now managed to destroy two high schools. Such an accomplishment might be the dream of many a harried teen but Buffy was too physically and emotionally depleted to do more than look over the wreckage and breathe a sigh of relief that she’d survived yet another apocalypse.
This time it didn’t take putting a sword through her love and sending him to hell. Still, it did see an end with Angel though.
This time she didn’t even get a last kiss and word of love, just the vision of Angel, coat flaring dramatically, as he turned without so much as a wave and disappeared into the night, one with the shadows and smoke.
Spike saw her face as her heart broke. He hoped Angel didn’t get the satisfaction of seeing it from across the expanse. “Would stoke that ego of his knowin’ how crushed Buffy was at his leaving without a word.” As always Angel left devastation in his wake.
‘Did the job as well as any religious, political, or media moralist could’ve though.’ Spike recognized his girl was past it now but had to wonder how long it would’ve taken without the spell that gave the poor bint a good century to learn, think, process, and heal?
‘Heavy-handed lesson about goin full-in on love. Bollocks that! Make a girl think normal sexual desires were evil or led to it! No wonder she was so tightly wound.’ He thought back to the Buffy he wrestled with over the idol before the spell began. ‘Had lots of fire and passion. Plenty of desires but scared to explore or indulge all thanks to that wanker.’
He watched as Angel pranced away into the smoke like some b-film wanna-be. “Tryin’ to play all Casablanca like only no buddin’ friendship waitin’ on this dick,” he snorted. “Left a mess of pain behind like always while he poofs off as if he’s the tragic hero; tosser. Stoically doin’ the noble thing no matter how selfish and daft it really is. Just another person walkin’ out of her life without a backward glance.”
“If Angel let Buffy end it weeks before when she’d tried to, it would’ve hurt but not gutted the poor lamb. No, had to be on HIS terms, his choice and never mind the fallout.”
Spike watched Buffy as she choked back tears watching her first love walk away.
“‘S alright, pet. Better without him. It’s just what he does, not you. Makes everyone rely on him, count on him, love him… then walks away without a look. Classic Angelus.”
Spike gave thought to an old quote from Oscar Wilde. “Men always want to be a woman’s first love. That’s their clumsy vanity. Women have a more subtle instinct about things. What they like is to be a man’s last romance.” ‘Kitten, you’re my last and best. Won’t do wrong by you.’
Spike understood the leaving was the worst for Buffy. “Took her right back to her worthless Da. Didn’t help that her Watcher chose the Council over her just months ago. Blindsided her, leavin’ her emotionally even if the tweedy berk stayed after.” Spike hated to think what having Giles physically abandon her might do!
Everyone making choices for her. Buffy having to learn to let go and move on the hard way.
“Well, I’m not the leavin’ type. Even when I prob’ly should. Least my girl wants me around now too. Gonna show her how to be properly loved. Gonna see she’s never gutted and left behind again.”
***
Buffy was sleep-deprived and cranky as Willow chirped her way into her room a couple of days after the apocalypse. She began unloading her oversized messenger bag on Buffy’s bed as Buffy yawned and stretched.
“Buff!. Good, you’re up! Time’s a-wastin' and we’ve got college to plan!” Willow was clearly in her element and filled with energy.
“I think I have every course description and syllabus they had available to get ready for that appointment with the academic advisor! We’ll have to work out a schedule that gives you time to rest up a bit after patrol, of course, but not put you too far behind.” Willow jabbered on not noticing the extreme lack of interest or alertness in Buffy.
Joyce had been talking courses all the previous evening and Buffy was tapped out. Her mom had dreams of all the art and music courses available. Had even suggested something in fashion design that had at least caught Buffy’s interest for a moment.
Now here was Willow laying out a grand plan for classes in psychology and science that they could take together. “And I can help you with the classwork and stuff.”
Spike rolled his eyes. “Like Buffy hasn’t got a brain of her own. All she hasn’t had is time to study.”
“There it is again with everyone pushin’ their plans and dreams on Buffy.” Looked like this was the point where she’d started to cede her life to others, all but the Slaying that is.
“Gonna take ‘em by storm once we’re back, sweetheart. Got your agency back. No more pushin’ you about or dismissin’ you. No more makin’ you feel less. Got your back now.” He couldn’t wait to see her again even in ghostly form to let her know that.
A/N:
Ennis House (exterior shots used for Angel’s mansion) designed by Frank Lloyd Wright
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ennis_House
Barry Manilow Mandy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2XeSQVWleqY&ab_channel=TopPop
Tom Jones Delilah
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIIU9xkGAMs&feature=youtu.be&ab_channel=TheEdSullivanShow
The Rat Pack (Sinatra, Sammy Davis, Jr., Dean Martin,) on Johnny Carson
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CrG2BzBSuzc&ab_channel=VeganVanguard
Elvis Can’t Help Falling In Love
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttuVUynl5SU&feature=youtu.be&ab_channel=ElvisPresleyVEVO
Final scene of Casablanca
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G62tkd2t7qk&ab_channel=AndrewBarbin