28 August 2015 - Tired Of Living A Lie
Title: Tired Of Living A Lie
Author: Beriaearwen
Crossover: Buffy the Vampire Slayer / T J Hooker
Disclaimer: The characters of Buffy the Vampire Slayer belong to Mutant Enemy, etc. The characters of T J Hooker belong to Spelling-Goldberg Productions, etc. All are used here without permission, no copyright infringement is intended.
Rating: Suitable for people over 13
Notes: Good grief. I just want a few hours to write instead of a few minutes. Where's a time turner when you need one...
Warning: majorly messing with the timelines.
Summary: He slipped out of the party, seeking the solitude of the ally.
The music floated through the room, just loud enough to muffle conversations. The party had been going on for hours and he was tired. Not in the “I need to sleep” way, but, perhaps weary would be a better word.
His smile wasn't real anymore, the lines he recited felt flat and unreal to him. They must sound unreal to the ladies too because he was more likely to get looks of pity rather than interest or offense. But, he was Vince Romano and if he didn't hit on every lady in the area, people would wonder.
He knew his job was important, after all, every city needed police.
Of course, the real reason he'd chosen to go to the academy and wear a badge was because he needed to protect people, needed to keep them safe. After high school graduation, most of those who survived needed to. In fact, last he heard, there wasn't a single graduate - still-human graduate - who wasn't helping and protecting people in one way or another. The number of his former classmates in law enforcement and military was staggering.
Deciding he'd had enough and that this thoughts just wouldn't allow him any peace tonight, he set down his cup and wove his way through the crowd.
He found the back door and slipped out of the party, seeking the solitude of the alley.
Of course, he knew how foolish it was to go into a dark ally at night, but, as he slipped his hand around the butt-end of his stake and rested his back against the wall, he knew he would be alright - for a while anyway.
His mind wandered back to the final day at Sunnydale High. He'd known about Buffy and her friends, but, like most teens had been too involved in his own angst, drama and life to offer to help. He didn't stop others from calling them freaks, but he didn't encourage it either. Frankly they just didn't register in his world, not until Cordelia started the underground, secret ballot to make Buffy the Class Protector.
That was the tip of the iceburg. It forced him to admit to the reality he lived in and, by the time graduation rolled around, he was ready to stand up.
He was lucky to be alive.
That experience, fighting back. Fighting and knowing you were making a difference, that you were the only line of defense between the monsters and the death of your parents, your friends, neighbors...
He shook his head and headed toward the mouth of the ally. He needed to find something to distract him before he did something stupid like quit his job and ride around looking for demons.
As he stepped onto the sidewalk, he felt someone bump into him.
“Oh!”
“Sorry,” he apologized, turning to help the woman up from were she'd ended up on the ground.
As their eyes met, he couldn't help but blink. “Buffy Summers?” he asked, disbelief and surprise in his voice.
Her brow furrowed as she looked up at him. “I know you... Sunnydale High. Um... Vince? I'm sorry I don't remember your last name.”
“Romano,” he supplied with a smile. He laughed softly. “I was just thinking about graduation and what came afterward.”
“Really?” she asked. “I wondered what happened afterwards to everyone, but things came up...”
“Don't apologize,” he commanded. “We all know what sort of “things” cam up for you. Thank you for handling them.” Though the light was horrible, he would swear that she was blushing.
“Aw, aren't the lovebirds cute?” A mocking voice said, approaching them with two other friends.
Buffy and Vince turned to look. “Vampires?” Vince asked.
“Vampires,” Buffy confirmed, her face showing surprise for a moment before a smile of approval appeared on her face when he pulled his stake out. “Up for some trouble?”
Vince smiled back. “Always.”
He wasn't as strong or as quick as Buffy or the Vampires, but he knew how to fight smart and was able to stake one while Buffy finished off the others.
“Not bad,” Buffy said, brushing off her hands. She looked him up and down. “Don't suppose you'd be interested in a job change?” she asked.
Vince was surprised and knew he showed it. “I have one now, but, I tell you what. Let's go get some coffee and desert and I'll let you try to tempt me away.”
He smiled at Buffy's laugh and couldn't help but feel a page was turning in his life.
End
Author: Beriaearwen
Crossover: Buffy the Vampire Slayer / T J Hooker
Disclaimer: The characters of Buffy the Vampire Slayer belong to Mutant Enemy, etc. The characters of T J Hooker belong to Spelling-Goldberg Productions, etc. All are used here without permission, no copyright infringement is intended.
Rating: Suitable for people over 13
Notes: Good grief. I just want a few hours to write instead of a few minutes. Where's a time turner when you need one...
Warning: majorly messing with the timelines.
Summary: He slipped out of the party, seeking the solitude of the ally.
The music floated through the room, just loud enough to muffle conversations. The party had been going on for hours and he was tired. Not in the “I need to sleep” way, but, perhaps weary would be a better word.
His smile wasn't real anymore, the lines he recited felt flat and unreal to him. They must sound unreal to the ladies too because he was more likely to get looks of pity rather than interest or offense. But, he was Vince Romano and if he didn't hit on every lady in the area, people would wonder.
He knew his job was important, after all, every city needed police.
Of course, the real reason he'd chosen to go to the academy and wear a badge was because he needed to protect people, needed to keep them safe. After high school graduation, most of those who survived needed to. In fact, last he heard, there wasn't a single graduate - still-human graduate - who wasn't helping and protecting people in one way or another. The number of his former classmates in law enforcement and military was staggering.
Deciding he'd had enough and that this thoughts just wouldn't allow him any peace tonight, he set down his cup and wove his way through the crowd.
He found the back door and slipped out of the party, seeking the solitude of the alley.
Of course, he knew how foolish it was to go into a dark ally at night, but, as he slipped his hand around the butt-end of his stake and rested his back against the wall, he knew he would be alright - for a while anyway.
His mind wandered back to the final day at Sunnydale High. He'd known about Buffy and her friends, but, like most teens had been too involved in his own angst, drama and life to offer to help. He didn't stop others from calling them freaks, but he didn't encourage it either. Frankly they just didn't register in his world, not until Cordelia started the underground, secret ballot to make Buffy the Class Protector.
That was the tip of the iceburg. It forced him to admit to the reality he lived in and, by the time graduation rolled around, he was ready to stand up.
He was lucky to be alive.
That experience, fighting back. Fighting and knowing you were making a difference, that you were the only line of defense between the monsters and the death of your parents, your friends, neighbors...
He shook his head and headed toward the mouth of the ally. He needed to find something to distract him before he did something stupid like quit his job and ride around looking for demons.
As he stepped onto the sidewalk, he felt someone bump into him.
“Oh!”
“Sorry,” he apologized, turning to help the woman up from were she'd ended up on the ground.
As their eyes met, he couldn't help but blink. “Buffy Summers?” he asked, disbelief and surprise in his voice.
Her brow furrowed as she looked up at him. “I know you... Sunnydale High. Um... Vince? I'm sorry I don't remember your last name.”
“Romano,” he supplied with a smile. He laughed softly. “I was just thinking about graduation and what came afterward.”
“Really?” she asked. “I wondered what happened afterwards to everyone, but things came up...”
“Don't apologize,” he commanded. “We all know what sort of “things” cam up for you. Thank you for handling them.” Though the light was horrible, he would swear that she was blushing.
“Aw, aren't the lovebirds cute?” A mocking voice said, approaching them with two other friends.
Buffy and Vince turned to look. “Vampires?” Vince asked.
“Vampires,” Buffy confirmed, her face showing surprise for a moment before a smile of approval appeared on her face when he pulled his stake out. “Up for some trouble?”
Vince smiled back. “Always.”
He wasn't as strong or as quick as Buffy or the Vampires, but he knew how to fight smart and was able to stake one while Buffy finished off the others.
“Not bad,” Buffy said, brushing off her hands. She looked him up and down. “Don't suppose you'd be interested in a job change?” she asked.
Vince was surprised and knew he showed it. “I have one now, but, I tell you what. Let's go get some coffee and desert and I'll let you try to tempt me away.”
He smiled at Buffy's laugh and couldn't help but feel a page was turning in his life.
End