Date Night
Because it is Valentines Day, I thought to write a rosebud with that in mind. Of course a little hint from scribesds didn't hurt. :0)
I've cross posted this at writers_toybox just because...it's Valentines Day.
I hope you like.
Date Night
Author: Ares
Word count 535
Written for ba_rosebuds, and cross posted at Writer’s Toybox
Prompt: Hungry
Summary: Old school Buffy the Vampire Slayer
The vampire’s nostrils flared. Angel’s head tilted in that way that indicated he had caught the scent of something, or of someone. Angel ceased all movement. Like a machine that had wound down, the vampire sat motionless. The rise and fall of his chest stilled. It was all pretend, anyway, Xander thought: the predator mimicking its prey, reassuring its next meal that it was one of them and not a hungry beast waiting to devour.
Xander watched Angel from the corner of his eye. He didn’t like the guy. Guy. What a joke. Angel wasn’t a person, it was a thing. A monster. Animals like Angel killed his friends. Xander turned the page of his graphic novel, pretending to read.
Angel knew the Harris boy was watching him. The vampire was a master at deciphering body language. All those years hunting had honed his predator’s skills. Without appearing to notice a thing, Angel’s senses told him what he already knew. The boy was angry, and frightened. And yet here he was, sitting in the room with Angel. The vampire had to admire him a little for that. Oh, he disliked the boy, intensely, but the boy was loyal to Buffy, and Angel was willing to accommodate the kid for Buffy’s sake.
As if called forth by his thoughts, the slayer clattered down the stairs in her chunky heels. Angel stood, inhaling his first breath in minutes, Buffy’s perfume spiralling down into his lungs. It was delicious. He held it in for a long moment, savouring the scent. He exhaled.
“Are we all set?” Buffy glanced from her boyfriend to her friend Xander. Xander had scrambled to his feet the moment Angel had and appeared a little flushed. She saw he had a comic scrunched up in his hand.
“Something wrong, guys?” she asked with a small frown.
Angel stepped towards her and offered her her coat. “Everything’s fine, Buffy. You look gorgeous.”
“You like?” The slayer twirled about, showing off her new dress and shoes.
“Very much. I like the colour on you.”
Buffy beamed. She hadn’t been able to resist the turquoise dress, and she was happy that Angel thought it looked good on her. Angel was accompanying her to the Bronze, just like a normal boy on a normal date. Xander just happened to call in, so he had said, and Buffy knew that her friend was disappointed to find Angel waiting inside.
Xander steadied his breathing and relaxed his grip on his graphic novel. He had been startled when Angel had moved. The vampire had stood so quickly it had been a shock to his system. He realised no matter how vigilant he was in keeping an eye on Angel, the vampire would always be faster and stronger than him. Angel could take him any time he wanted. Xander suddenly felt helpless. The only person who could protect him was in love with the monster that could rip his throat out in the blink of an eye. He didn’t understand why Buffy felt that way about Angel. Angel was a demon, and Xander Harris knew that he could never fall for a demon. There were all kinds of wrong with that.
The end