06
Time and Again - Part 1: In The Beginning
Restfield Cemetery – Monday, 8th September 1997
The two girls stared at each other for a long moment in silence. Buffy was amazed at the change in her – Was friend the right word? – well, classmate anyway. Cordelia had always been poised and confident, but now there was something about the look in her eyes and her stance that said she was also very, very dangerous as well. Then of course, there was the very sharp sword held casually by her side and the long dagger in a silver trimmed black leather sheath strapped to the outside of her left thigh. Those did not exactly project an air of vulnerability.
//Still as stylish as ever, but this is way out of her normal look and since when did her taste in accessories include lethal weapons. Definitely not Vogue here, she looks like she just stepped off the cover of some magazine for Dungeons and Dragons geeks.// Buffy thought to herself. Her eyes flicking up and down Cordelia's toned body as she catalogued the different parts of her ensemble. //Those tight leather pants are very daring, with the lacings all the way up the outsides of her legs showing generous stretches of perfectly tanned skin. And I really like the belt. Silver links inlaid with some sort of polished black material. Jet? Ebony perhaps? Hmm, pretty whatever it is.// Buffy's eyes lingered for a long moment at Cordelia's waist. //She doesn't expose this much perfectly toned stomach very often, and I wonder where she got that short top. It's beautiful. Just a hint of cleavage outlined in a sort of complicated swirling design of silver embroidery. The silver tipped laces tying the neck closed just naturally drawing the eyes down to where the cross belt from her sword sheath presses the material back between firm, shapely breasts…//
//Bad Buffy! I've got to get my mind out of the gutter. I am so not ogling another girl here,// Buffy frowned as she realised where her thoughts were going. //I like men! Big, strong, muscly men like Angel! Not trim, curvy, soft skinned girls with shiny dark hair that I just want to run my fingers… Arghh, this can not be happening to me.//
For her part, Cordelia was basking in the feeling of being back in Sunnydale once more. Staring at Buffy she finally allowed herself to believe that she had made it home again. That she might be safe, her ordeal finally over.
She was a little surprised at the intensity of her feelings towards the blonde. If you had asked her before, Cordelia would honestly have sworn that Buffy and her friends were just barely tolerated acquaintances. Fellow classmates whom she sometimes helped because of a feeling of obligation for the number of times they had saved her life. But after what she had recently gone through, she had come to realise they were the closest things to real friends she had in Sunnydale.
Who knows how long they might have stood there just staring at each other, but the girls' thoughts were rudely interrupted by a series of low growls before they truly had a chance to fully process them. The remaining vampires had finally shaken off the surprise of seeing their leader cut down so abruptly and begun moving to avenge him.
Cordelia pivoted gracefully to face them, bringing her sword up into a high guard position. //Damn,// Buffy thought angrily. //I can't believe I forgot about the rest of the fang gang. I am just so off my game tonight.// She took a step forward and pulled her last stake from the hidden pocket she had sewn into the back of her jacket. Shoulder to shoulder, they faced the cautiously approaching vampires, sizing up their remaining opponents.
If Cordelia was in any way intimidated by the thought of taking on four virile looking vampires then no sign showed on her face as she flashed a confident grin in Buffy's direction. "Now, this is how I remember Sunnydale. All the boys eager to dance with me."
The vampires were forced to split into pairs to pass either side of the portal which, still slowly growing, hung in front of the girls like a gaping wound in the night.
//I hope Queen C really knows what she's doing. If she's bluffing things could get very messy.// "We're still outnumbered here," Buffy said with a hint of exasperation. "And I don't think they're planning to ask us to the prom somehow."
"Well, it's not like any of these losers are good enough for us anyway. Still, it's not quite the welcome home party I've been dreaming of."
Circling to the far right of the group Nigel had fewer obstacles in his path and so was just a little ahead of his partner in getting into fighting range. Knowing that he would not be facing the Slayer, he expected an easy victory. He dashed forward with claws extended, hoping to close on the brunette before she could bring her sword to bear on him. But a quick flick of its tip towards his face forced him to stop in his tracks and jump backwards.
Thinking he saw an opportunity while the brunette was occupied with his partner, the other vampire lunged forward, only to scream in agony as her razor sharp blade sliced across his middle. Clutching at his stomach with both hands trying to prevent his insides from falling out, Johnny staggered backwards away from the fight. Facing her sword alone now, Nigel suddenly found himself feeling a lot less confident and looked nervously across to where his colleagues were fighting the Slayer in the hope of maybe getting some help from them.
His hope was in vain. Buffy had not waited for the two vampires to reach her before launching a barrage of hard fast punches and kicks against first one and then the other. The lighter haired of the two tripped backwards over a tombstone landing gracelessly on his backside, while his companion staggered back wiping blood away from a broken nose and glaring balefully at the approaching blonde Slayer.
"Now this is much more like it," Buffy enthused. "I've been dying for a good slay for ages." Pirouetting gracefully her foot smashed into the jaw of the still standing vampire in a spinning kick that sent him tumbling away from her just as the first vampire regained his feet and charged. Barely pausing, Buffy slammed her foot back at full extension into his stomach, doubling him over in a perfect set up for her to follow through with a powerful uppercut to his chin. Stooping over his dazed body, Buffy plunged her stake down into his unprotected heart.
The other vampire lurched to his feet, trying to take her from behind while he believed her attention was still engaged in finishing off his colleague. But he was mistaken, and even before the first vampires dust had settled, Buffy swivelled on her heel and struck up towards the second. His jaw dropped open in surprise and the last thing he saw, staring down in disbelief, was the stake plunged into his chest. Then there was nothing but dust drifting on the light breeze.
//Yeah! That's more like it. Nothing like a successful bit of violence to blow away my frustrations. Maybe now my thoughts will stay with Angel where they belong.//
Nigel was beginning to feel a little worried. The short dagger he carried about with him was useful during the rare run-ins he had with other demon species, but it was just not long enough to reach the brunette beyond the metre of shining steel she was wielding with such lethal precision. He was bleeding from dozens of minor cuts where she had managed to slip past his guard and only his superior vampire speed and quick reactions had allowed him to avoid any major injuries so far, but she had come frighteningly close on several occasions.
Seeing that the Slayer had finished off her side of the fight, things were looking bleak for him. Especially as he could not expect any help from Johnny, the final vampire, who was still slumped up against a crypt some distance away. Moaning pitifully while trying to keep his guts from spilling out through the slice in his belly. His shirt was already soaked by his cold dark blood and it was starting to form a pool on the short cut grass below him.
Watching the calm, almost effortless way Cordelia was herding Nigel around, Buffy decided there was no need for her to get involved and she could take a breather and enjoy the show.
Cordelia's calm was deceptive however, this vampire was just a little too careful to let her get in a decapitating blow and finish him off. Okay she was wearing him down, but she was tiring too, and very aware that it would take just one little slip in her concentration to give him an opening to attack her. If that happened things could get bad very quickly. Then, out of the corner of her eye, she noticed the portal hanging there, forgotten by all the fight's participants and in a flash of inspiration, she realised how it could be used to her advantage.
Slowly turning around Nigel, she manoeuvred until he was directly between the portal and her. Then she suddenly launched a lightening fast barrage of slices and lunges. Nigel panicked and leapt back away from this sword wielding nightmare. Striking the portal edge on, he barely had time for a single scream before the powerful forces holding open the rift in space and time tore him into a billion brightly glowing pieces that swirled once around the perimeter of the portal before disappearing forever.
Letting out a relieved sigh, Cordelia carefully wiped the sword clean with a handful of leaves before returning it to the sheath on her back.
//That was amazing.// Buffy thought as she strolled over to join her friend. //It was almost like she was dancing. Like a professionally choreographed cheerleading routine. Although more dangerous and with blades instead of pompoms…//
Her internal babbling stopped abruptly when Cordelia turned towards her and wrapped the surprised blonde in a tight hug. "God, Buffy. You can't imagine how glad I am to see you again," she said close to tears.
"Jeez, Cordelia. Exaggerate much. You've only been gone a couple of days," the Slayer said, wrapping her arms tightly around her taller classmate and trying hard not to let her mind dwell on the feel of the brunette's body pressing up against her. Despite her best intentions, and the slight twinge from her ribs, she was unable to resist letting her hands rub up and down Cordelia's back. //Hmm, her skin is just as soft and smooth as I imagined it and what's this?// She paused surprised as her upper hand encountered a hard object right between Cordelia's shoulder blades. //Another knife?//
Cordelia pulled back a bit to stare Buffy right in the eyes. "For you maybe, but it's been a lot longer on my side of things."
"Longer?"
"Yes, longer. Come on Buffy, you didn't think I learned to use a sword like that overnight did you?"
"I hadn't really thought about it," Buffy admitted. "The whole sight of you with a sword was surprising enough that I just didn't consider the implications. So how long have you been gone? And where?"
"Now that is a looong story that I am not looking forward to telling," a suddenly sadder and more subdued Cordelia replied. Her eyes haunted, she looked around as if missing something. "And much better told in comfort and to everyone together. It's going to be hard enough to tell once. I really don't want to have to repeat it."
When she caught sight of the Slayer pouting sulkily at her because of the lack of a straight answer, she had to smile. "And don't make those puppy dog eyes at me. Unlike Giles, I am immune."
She laughed as Buffy's pout melted into a scowl of frustration and impulsively hugged her again. Feeling Buffy's initially stiff response melt after a few moments. "Don't worry Buffy," she murmured in the blondes ear. "You won't have long to wait." A momentary confusion clouding her deep hazel eyes, Cordelia asked in a quiet voice, "Eh, what day is today?"
Buffy gave her a strange look. "You really don't know do you?"
"Nope, not the slightest idea."
"Well it's Monday. You disappeared last week."
"Oh!" Cordelia looked nonplussed for a moment. "I really thought it would be longer that that – Will, I guess it doesn't matter, I'll tell everyone about it tomorrow at the library." She seemed to hesitate a moment before continuing in an even more sombre tone. "But just now there's much more important things to think about."
Pulling back in sudden concern, Buffy looked her in the eyes. "What do you mean? What's wrong?"
"Do you know how long it's been since I had a real shower?" Cordelia asked her eyes twinkling merrily as she pasted her most innocent look on her face.
"You, you, you …" Buffy swatted at her arm in mock anger.
"Oww! Be careful Buffy. You forget your own strength sometimes."
"Sorry," Buffy muttered pouting again, "but you had me worried there. That was not funny."
Turning her back on the unrepentant swordswoman, Buffy stomped over to where the final vampire, Johnny, was still staring down at his blood covered hands and moaning quietly. He glanced up at her approach and snarled defiantly. But Buffy merely stared down unimpressed. "You're really a pretty pathetic excuse for a vampire, you know. One little cut and you curl up crying for your mommy. It's not going to kill you after all. You should be fighting on regardless or at least have tried to escape while we were finishing off your buddies. It wouldn't have done you much good of course," she smiled, "but it takes the fun out of slaying when you make it too easy for me." When the vampire just glared at her, she sighed and plunged her stake into the demon's heart put an end to its agony.
//Well that's over now,// she shrugged, feeling oddly let down. //Trust one lame-ass vamp to really ruin the mood.//
Watching the way the Slayer's shoulders hunched in on themselves, Cordelia felt a sudden need to comfort her. Reaching out quietly, she began to gently massage some of the tension out of her friend's back and neck.
//Hmmm nice,// Buffy thought as Cordelia's strong talented fingers went to work on the knotted muscles. But the contact did nothing to help her escape the swirling confusion of her thoughts and jumbled emotions. She just did not know why Cordelia was suddenly affecting her this way. It was not like she had never noticed that the other girl was attractive before. She would have had to be blind to miss it. But she had never considered it important. Especially when compared to how annoying the cheerleader could be. //I'm just missing Angel, that's all. Once I see him again, things will get back to normal. Yes a hard, manly chest against my cheek, that's what I want. Not soft womanly curves melding up against my body while slim fingers…//
Groaning in frustration as her thoughts once again ran away from her, Buffy pulled away from Cordelia's gently kneading fingers.
"Is something the matter Buffy?" Cordelia asked in concern.
"No, nope, nothing wrong. What could be wrong?" Buffy babbled, trying desperately to come up with some way to explain her frown that would be less embarrassing than admitting what she had just been thinking. "Everything's peachy. In the green. A-OK. Top of the world."
"Okay, okay, enough. I get the picture already," Cordelia laughed. "Since when did you start channelling Willow?"
With a flash of inspiration, Buffy saw a safe path to lead the conversation down. It was a bit of a stretch she admitted to herself, but with any luck Cordelia would not question it. "It's been very quiet lately. You know supernaturally, cause Daryl doesn't really count cause that was more science and less demony. And Oh God I'm babbling again. But anyhow and now I'm set upon by five, stronger than usual vamps." She paused drawing a deep breath. "Well, that last one was a bit of a wimp, but still, doesn't that strike you as a little odd?"
"I don't know Buff. I'm no vamp expert. But why worry. They're dust. We're alive," Cordelia flashed a broad thousand watt smile at the Slayer. "I say we party."
"Cordy, Cordy, Cordy," a new voice sighed with a resigned tone. "When are you going to learn that worrying about the details is what keeps you alive longer?"
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