Do you believe in fate? Fate higher than any power that man believes he can have? Fate, in the highest sense. Do you believe that the things you go through, were pre-ordained for you? Could it be that these hard times we suffer, are placed in our way, simply to still us in one spot, until fate has another purpose for our existence?
I didn't used to.
I used to believe that there was no Higher Power. There was no God. No Zeus. No Celtic Powers. I believed that what happened to me, happened merely because there was nothing good left in the world.
Then she came in to my life.
I have learned that fate has a mysterious way of working. It brings two people together not when you feel the time is right, but when the stars are ready. It makes things happen when you least expect them to happen, and it holds out on you when you think you're at your breaking point.
Yes, fate works in mysterious ways.
I learned this, when Rupert Giles walked in to the lobby of my Hyperion Hotel in Los Angeles; the headquarters and base of existence to Angel Investigations. I'd never heard of this man, but like every other British man who enjoys tea-he seemed to know who I was. I can't blame him for purposely wearing a cross around his neck. You'd have to be a damned fool to simply allow Angelus, the Scourge of Europe, free reign over your personal space with no defenses.
"I wish to speak to Angelus," the stuffy British man, dressed in tweed, said in his most confident tone. I could hear his voice shaking under his confidence.
He was terrified.
"I'm here," I sighed, walking around the corner of the main desk and stuffing my hands into my pockets as I stood before the shorter man. I sized this man up with advanced vision speed, before he even had a chance to look at my eyes and notice that they had moved. "Is there something I can help you with?" I asked him, wanting to get to the point. I had a Kanurla Demon with a baby in it's possession in the sewers, and Gunn, Fred, and Wesley were on another case. Cordelia, ofcourse, never went on-call, so I had to rush my plans and take care of it myself.
"I have a-A proposition for you, Angelus," he stuttered despite his confident manner.
"Great," I faked a smile, "then I hope it can wait an hour. I have a case to tend to. You can wait for my return, or leave. Either way doesn't exactly matter to me." With that, I left the stuffy Brit where he stood, and headed for the back door that led to the sewer entrance.
"He was so much nicer before he lost his soul," Cordelia said in her usual flippy manner, coming out from around the counter.
"He lost his soul again?" The Brit was surprised. "I-I thought the gypsies cursed him with a soul."
"Well, they did, but then we needed information from Angelus about something, so we let him out, and he became a big help to us. And we figured that since Angel's soul was safely resting in Heaven, that he could have some peace for a change, and we could just use Angelus and sleep with stakes under our pillows for extra security." She shrugged. "What can we do for you? I see you have a brief case. Would it happen to be filled with money?"
The Brit smiled nervously, "actually it is. Do you work at this agency?"
"Cordelia Chase," she held out her hand, and he shook it a little warily. "I work here. There are three other workers besides Angelus and I, but they're out on another case."
"Which would explain Angelus' abrupt departure," the Brit laughed slightly.
"No, that was probably because his manners died in the Classical Era," she explained.
~~
"They always leave slime in the hair," I sighed as I entered back in to the hotel lobby about three hours later. Turns out finding a Kanurla Demon is harder than it's said to be. Not to mention the little fact that was left out about there being six of them.
The scene I entered into, was one I quickly wanted to leave again. The stuffy Brit was actually still there, and even worse was that he seemed to be getting along exceedingly well with the team of mortals that I had spent the last three months trying to convince that I wasn't interested in killing them. They were enraptured by a story he was telling them. Just figures that he'd have to tell a story to the children. Besides, it was almost past their bedtime.
"Angel!" Fred exclaimed with that usual beaming smile. "Oh, sorry. I mean...Angelus!" she did it all over again. "How are the sewers?"
"Baby free," I assured her.
"Angelus, we have someone here that has a briefcase. Briefcases usually contain money," Cordelia enlightened me. "Money that we need badly. Rupert Giles, this is Angelus. I believe you met earlier, but Angelus was just busy so he probably didn't have the time to introduce himself properly," she was talking through her fake smile. She was doing it again! She was trying to use her smile to make him do whatever she wanted. And what she wanted right now, was the contents of Rupert Giles' briefcase.
I decided to amuse her like I so often had to do. "Angelus," I nodded curtly at Rupert, and he nodded in response, reminding me all-too-thoroughly of a British guard.
"You were a bit longer than an hour, Angelus." The Brit noted as if he was trying to discipline or chastize me.
I frowned, "thank you for noticing."
He put his disgruntled thoughts aside, and continued on, standing to his feet and picking up his briefcase. "Angelus, is there somewhere that I can present my proposition in private, to you?"
"They'll find out anyways," I waved my hand at the drooling mortals. "Just tell me here."
"Alright, then," he gave in. He went over to the counter at the front of the lobby, and set his briefcase down. He then cleared his throat to signal he wished for me to come over.
I sighed and went over. Arriving at the counter, he folded his hands and began to speak in that same confident-but-scared-shitless tone. "Angelus, I understand that my proposition for you is a little awkward, and completely out of the ordinary, but...I do need you to understand that it is of the utmost importance that you hear me out completely before making your decision on the matter."
"Done," I folded my arms in boredom. Sometimes it was more boring to pretend to be interested, than to listen to Cordelia talk about her out-dated wardrobe as a result of working such long hours for me, for such little money.
"Angelus, I am the legal guardian appointed over an orphan named Buffy Summers." He paused and watched me for any signs that I knew of her.
"Not a clue," I assured him, though I had heard a few things about the girl, through several different demon bars, but I had exactly listened in all that much.
"What a shame. Anyways, she is in grave danger. Her father was a Mafia Boss to the demon underworld. He passed away quite recently, and has left behind him a string of debts. The debted subjects that once trusted him, have searched high and low for a way to regain their money from his flesh and heirs, and they, unfortunately, have traced Buffy to him."
I sighed, "what is your proposition, Mr.Giles," I was beginning to get impatient. I hated listening to Pity Me stories. "Can you tell me what you would like before you go any further."
"I wish for you to guard her," he told me blankly.
"This isn't a protection agency. I'm not a bodyguard," I pointed towards the door. "You can show yourself out if you're all done here."
"I am most certainly not done!" Rupert surprised me. "If you won't take the job, then I beg you to simply meet her and recommend someone who can. Just meet her, and then you'll understand why I am so willing to have a vampire protect someone I have viewed as my daughter for the last sixteen years."
"Please Angel?" Fred begged. Upon receiving an elbow in the ribs from Cordelia, she corrected herself, "Angelus."
I looked from the mortals that were looking at the briefcase as if it were a God, to the stuffy Brit, to the briefcase that everyone was focusing on, and back again to the Brit. I groaned inwardly. I hated making these decisions.
"I'll meet her," I gave in, and everyone breathed a sigh of relief. I was quick to add, "But just to meet her and assess the situation. Then I'm gone. I'll refer your case to an actual protection agency then, and they can deal with it."
"Believe me, you're already out-doing yourself," Rupert was trying to keep from smiling as broadly as he wanted to.
~~
Upon arriving at the three-bedroom home in the Los Angeles hills, Rupert Giles and I were greeted to the sounds of banging music. Rupert groaned loudly and raced in to the home, where he assured me there was someone that I would "thoroughly enjoy" meeting.
**Hey Ladies! When your man wanna get buck'wild,
Just go back and hit 'em up style!
Put your hands on his cash and spend it to the last dime-
for all the hard times!**
I immediately noticed the short blonde; dancing around in some blue jogging pants and a black bra. She flipped her long, shining hair that reminded me briefly of the sunrises that I had seen in Ireland as a boy. The dance she was dancing was graceful, sensual, and speaking one message "Make Love To Me!!!"
"Buffy!" Rupert hollered over the music, as he ran over to the stereo and turned it off, much to my chagrin. I had preferred to let the blonde dance a little more.
Her vuluptuous behind was sliding in time to the rhythm that was no longer playing over the loud speakers. I was confused for a moment, until I noticed the headphones in her ears. She began to sing along as she danced to the music.
**U don't have to call, it's okay girl,
cause I'ma be alright tonight.
U don't have to call, it's okay girl!**
Giles cut this dance too, waltzing over to the dancing blonde and plucking the headphones from her head. "Buffy I told you not to listen to loud music. Someone could just break in, and you'd have no warning to allow you time to call the police!"
Police? I almost laughed. He actually thought the police would be able to help fight off flesh-hungry demons who fear no prisons but death?
She spoke finally, sighing dramatically and saying, "Giles, I had the door locked!" Buffy turned then, and I felt my jaw instinctively drop in silent awe. Her brilliantly green eyes locked on my own, and her tongue came out to moisten her lips as if knowing how desperately I wanted to crush her mouth with my own. Her features, small as they were, spoke of beauty, innocence, and virgin appeal.
"Buffy, you don't seem to understand how dangerous the situation is!" Giles continued to lecture, despite the fact that Buffy and I had stepped out of the world he was in, to one of our own. "I don't know how to make you realize that you are in grave danger."
"I know, Giles," Buffy broke out gaze and looked to the stuffy, middle-aged man. "I was just having a little fun for the first time in my life!" she emphasized what she meant.
She wanted fun? I could be fun for her. But no! I had to walk away right now. I don't know a thing about this girl other than that I have an immediate need for release at the very sight of her. She gorgeous, but she could be extremely annoying and aggravating. If I were to take this job, she could be the death of me...again. Plus, there's the fact that I'd have to leave LA for a few weeks, maybe even months, until the threat was completely diminished to her. No. I had to reject this job.
"Buffy Summers, this is Angelus," 'Giles' introduced us. "Angelus, this is Miss.Summers."
"Hey," she smiled, her voice sounding similair to a sweet melody that I usually would have mocked, but now found myself loving. All I could think of was how that beautiful voice would send; screaming my name at the heights of pleasure and passion.
~~
Rupert introduced Buffy just a little more, and then he asked her to go make some tea for him and their "guest". I almost laughed when he asked her to make tea. British to the bone. He could atleast try to act like tea isn't a national necessity over there.
"I have a recommendation for her guardian," I finally spoke, gaining eye contact with Buffy once again.
"Excellent!" he was thrilled. He came over to where I stood in the doorway, having not moved once since first arriving in the apartment. For some reason I hadn't trusted my good-mannered front to stand the test of Buffy Summers in that skimpy top.
Rupert managed to smile nervously at me as leaned forward so that Buffy wouldn't hear what we said if she happened to be listening in from in the kitchen. "Who might this be?"
"Me," I answered simply.
"I thought you told me before, that you weren't interested in taking the job," he frowned. I could tell he was already beginning to question my motives for taking the job.
"Gave it a little consideration," I shrugged. "Money is a necessity right now. Besides, I've been meaning to take a vacation."
"Vacation?" Rupert was confused. "What are you talking about? Taking the money after the job and going on a trip, or...?"
I laughed, "Rupert, I know you're not that naive. You know exactly what I mean. Buffy and I would have to leave Los Angeles and go somewhere that no one can connect with her past. I can't exactly tell you what I'm planning, but you must trust that she'll be in good hands," I found myself smiling as I thought of all the things my hands could do to her.
He took a moment to consider it, and deciding that it was the best for Buffy, he gave in. "Well, wonderful then!" Giles smiled, buying my motives with little to no questions or doubts. "Buffy," he caught her attention again as she walked back into the room with two cups of tea in her hands, "please meet Angelus...Your guardian."
**
"My what?" I asked, scarcely daring to believe what I'd just heard. That hottie? My guardian? That beautiful, oh-so-scrumptious, dark hunk that I knew was undressing me with his eyes, was going to be my guardian? Like a bodyguard to me?
Inwardly, I wanted to shout for joy, but my shock held me from expressing any kind of interest or emotion of any sort. So I found my three-year-old brain capacity, seeing as how my 17-year-old mind was occupied, and asked rather dumbly, "what's he gonna be?"
"Your guardian. Angelus here, is a vampire. To be trusted, I assure you," Giles glanced at Angelus, almost looking like he regretted saying that because he might want to take it back. "He's going to be your guardian for the next little while, until the heat dies off and the threat is gone here."
"So he's gonna be like my bodyguard?" I asked, a confused look seemingly permanent on my features. "Like in that movie with Whitney Houston?"
"Not exactly," Giles sighed. He glanced back at Angelus and explained, "she has a thing for quoting pop-culture. I do feel I should warn you that half of what she says makes little to no sense to me at all."
"I'm right here!" I reminded them a little too loudly, my attitude and usually flippant demeanor returned to me as the shock of the moment began to fade. "Can somebody please explain to me what this whole 'guardian' job details? Is he going to follow me when I go to school, in a really inconspicuous black van, or his he going to check the windows and then stand outside the door when I got to the bathroom?"
"See what I mean?" Giles asked the dark God standing before me.
Angelus pretty much ignored Giles as he continued to stare at me as if I was a candy bar, melting in the sun that he hated to see wasted. "Buffy, being your guardian means I'll be your constant companion for the next few weeks...Months...Years. However long it takes."
"Years?" Giles and I both asked in unison.
"You don't know how determined these underworld dealers can be," Angelus told Giles. "I did a bit of a check in to some of Hank's debted pals, and he's due to be handing over about five billion in services and possessions. I trust you understand this means that these debted fools won't give up after a night or two of looking for her."
"I-I suppose your right," Giles said, looking down as realization sunk in.
"I'm sorry, maybe I wasn't loud enough before" I caught their attention again. "...Years?" I asked it once more.
"Buffy, it's best if your start packing right away. Pack as little as possible. Just the bare necessities. We'll be leaving fairly soon," Angelus told me as if it was a simple instruction like cleaning my room or doing my homework.
"Leaving?" My face was blank and pale.
"Well yes," he smiled partially. "After all, you and I will have to be gone in a few hours."
"Hours?" my world continued to slip away with every sentance the man I was willing to give up my virginity and every moral I had for, spoke.
He didn't even look phased. He smiled as if he found the situation exceedingly funny with every moment, and made a motion as if to shoo me in to action. It reminded me of a mother hen in a cartoon, trying to get her chicks to move faster.
I turned like a robot, not really thinking as I walked down the hall.
**
"You didn't tell me you'd be leaving so soon!" Giles breathed the words slowly, his face pale. "I thought I'd have more time to say good-bye."
"You'll have plenty of time to say good-bye to her gravestone if she and I aren't out of the city in two hours," I told him seriously.
I was being partially serious. I really was concerned for Buffy, and there was indeed a threat that could attack at any moment, and the sooner we left the better. But at the same time, I was excited to take off with my new companion, to begin work on winning her over. I could tell by the look of desire in her eyes that it wouldn't be all that hard to get her in my bed, but that wasn't all I wanted. I was looking for more from this golden goddess, and I'd only just met her. I wanted her in my bed, in my life, and wearing my ring. I wanted to guard more than her life...
I wanted to guard her heart, as my own.
~~