Strange Place to Live:
Demon Hunter
by Cynamin

"I think it's getting to the point
where I can be myself again
I think it's getting to the point
where we have almost made amends"
~Call and Answer
Bare Naked Ladies

Tuesday Afternoon . . .

Buffy moved lightly on her feet in an easy battle stance that came naturally, and looked for an opening. Her opponent faced her, sizing her up just as she did him. Buffy knew she didn't look like much, and her opponent looked both bigger and stronger than she, but appearances were deceiving. She knew she could take him. Weaponless, she kicked high at the man before her. He dodged her attempt easily and made no move to attack her in return. After a moment, Buffy made as if to strike him in the stomach, then changed in mid attack and dove for his legs. He fell with a grunt and for a moment did not move.

"Okay, ouch."

"Oh, Angel, I'm sorry!"

Angel sat up, rubbing the back of his head where it had hit the floor. "It's okay," he said ruefully. "I did volunteer to train with you."

Buffy helped him to his feet and the two of them sat on Angel's couch. Everyone had agreed to meet at the mansion this afternoon because it was more comfortable for the whole group than Giles' living room. Plus, it would give Angel a bit more time to recover from the weekend's excitement. Buffy had arrived early, planning to talk with Angel, but thus far they hadn't done much talking. They sat for a moment in silence, catching their breath.

"Well," said Angel finally, "I guess it's better to find out now."

"Find out what?" Buffy asked worriedly.

"You weren't pulling your punches, were you?"

"No," she replied. "I've never held back when we've fought."

"Yeah, I thought so," replied Angel. "I've always been able to take it a little better than this. At least, I stood my own a little longer." Angel shook his head. "Kenneth said I might loose strength, But I didn't expect it to start so soon."

Buffy scooted closer to him, trying to be comforting. "You could just have not completely recovered from being in the hospital," Buffy tried.

"No, that's not it. I feel just fine. I'm just losing strength faster than I thought I would." He frowned for a moment, looking worried, then seemed to shake himself out of it. He put his arm around Buffy and smiled slightly. "I'll be fine. This whole human thing is just going to take some adjusting," he said. "So, you wanted to talk about something?"

Pulling away so that she was facing him, Buffy nodded slightly. "What are we doing, Angel?" she asked with a sigh.

"Um, I thought we were training."

"That's not what I meant," Buffy replied. "You, and me. Us. I thought we broke up a year ago. I tried to move on. Now, you're back, and it doesn't look to me like you're planning on leaving again. So, where does that leave us?"

"Does it have to leave us anywhere?" Angel asked. "This is my chance to start over. I hadn't really planned beyond that."

"I mean, what are *we* going to do," Buffy tried to explain. "Are we just going to pick up where we left off?"

"I still love you," Angel said softly. "I never stopped loving you. I left because I thought it was what I needed to do. I thought it was the best thing for both of us. You deserved something normal. Now . . . . There's nothing for me in L.A., not like there's something for me here." He placed his hand gently on Buffy's and said sincerely, "I don't want to leave you again. I need you. Can . . . will you give me another chance?" Buffy smiled. "I . . . think I'd like that. It's . . . been nice having you around again."

"It's been nice being around again. I love you, Buffy."

"I love you too, Angel."

They leaned close and kissed, gently and only for a moment, still feeling a touch unsure of their place with each other. But the first soft kiss was a reminder that 'I love you' was more than just words, and they truly did love each other. Their kiss lingered, and when it broke of Buffy leaned into Angel's shoulder, letting herself get comfortable - and, with Angel's arm around her, comforted.

For a moment neither of them spoke, just content in each other's presence. Angel broke the silence. "You know," he said softly, "it's going to be different this time."

"Well, yeah, obviously," replied Buffy, "but different in a good way."

Angel smiled. "Yeah, you're right about that," he said with a small laugh. "Seeing you in sunlight . . .is wonderful, enjoying real food . . . but being human again . . . it might take me some time to adjust. I'm sorry if I act a little odd, but this is all a bit much at once."

Buffy laughed slightly in response to that. "You'll always be a little odd, Angel. It's so much more interesting that way! But id you're worried about adjusting, I'll help you." She paused for a moment and added, "So will everyone else, for that matter."

"Thank you for understanding," said Angel sincerely, "and for being here." He simply held her for a moment, then said, "I'm going to have to find a job, aren't I?"

He sounded so worried that Buffy couldn't help but laugh. "Yeah," she said, "one of the wonders of humanity in modern times. Maybe Giles will have an idea for you one that." She snuggled in Angel's shoulder when something else came to her. "Um, Angel," she said hesitantly, "speaking of things being different . . . maybe you should hang back tomorrow night."

"No, Buffy," he insisted. "I may not be at my full strength, but I'm still stronger than a normal human. You're going to need that tomorrow."

"I don't want you getting hurt! You don't know your own strength right now. You could really die fighting those demons." She looked him in the eye as seriously as she could. "I want to have lots of moments like this. I want to go on sunny picnics with you. I want . . . want you to stay." She hoped that her meaning was clear - stay in Sunnydale, stay with her, and stay alive.

"I can't stay out of the fighting tomorrow," Angel insisted after a moment. "I promise to be more careful, but. . . ."

"We'll need all the help we can get." Buffy sat up straight in surprise and turned to see Kenneth standing in the open doorway. "Sorry," he said calmly. "I knocked, but no one answered. The door was open."

Unable to avoid being a bit angry and embarrassed at having been overheard, Buffy asked testily, "How long have you been there?"

"I only caught the very end of what you were saying," Kenneth assured them both. "I didn't intend to eavesdrop."

"I was just saying that I will be fighting with everyone else tomorrow," Angel explained to him, and Buffy knew he was reiterating it for her as well.

Kenneth nodded. "I heard," he said. "Buffy, we're going to need everyone we can get. Who knows how many demons he'll have raised before we get to him. Not to mention how many vampires may have joined him."

"I know," Buffy said, nodding reluctantly. "I just worry."

"Yes, well, that's why I brought these," said the demon hunter, and he reached into his pocket and removed a necklace. It was a simple round crystal circled with multicolored strings hanging on plain twine. "It's an amulet," he explained. "It contains a variation of the spell I use against vampires. You can only use it a couple of times, but it should help even up the odds." He handed the crystal to Angel, then said, "I made one for everyone. When they get here, I'll show how to use it. I'm not sure how well it'll work, though, so it's a last resort."

"Thank you," said Angel, slipping the amulet over his head.

"Yeah, thanks," added Buffy.

"No, I should thank you," replied Kenneth. "After all, you are helping me fight my enemy." He reached into his pocket and withdrew another of the amulets. "For you, Buffy," he said. Buffy waved him off with a smile. "Nah, keep it," she said.

"You sure?"

"Yeah," she said, smiling. "Keep your magic. I'll just stick to good, old fashioned violence."

Part Four

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