touchable - Buffy the Vampire Slayer S2 (on hold)

ted - p1

THIRD PERSON POV

Rebello Drive was quiet at this time of night. The only sound definable was the rustle of the leaves as they scuffed the pavement. Xander and Willow were in the middle of a heated discussion whilst Buffy and Camila wandered behind, enjoying the silence between them. 

"You don't know what you're talking about." Xander argues, facing Willow as they walked. 

"Xander, he was obviously in charge." Willow replies. 

"He was a puppet! She was using him." he continues, his arms raising in protest. 

"He didn't seem like the type to let himself be used." Willow adds, staring down into the night. Camila sighed deeply, breathing in the fresh air, relishing in her ability to walk without pain. 

"Well, that was her genius." Xander pauses. "He never even knew he was playing second fiddle." he insists before turning to look behind his shoulder. "Buffy." 

"Huh?" Buffy turns her head to them, being pushed from her doziness. Camila glances towards them, also sparking an interest. 

"Who do you think was the real power - the captain or Tenille?" Xander asks and Buffy furrows her brows. 

"Um..." Buffy turns to Camila who looks just as confused "...who are those people?" 

"The captain and Tenille!" Xander frowns at their blank looks. "Boy, somebody was raised in a culture-free environment." he grumbles, letting Camila and Buffy step in time with them. 

"I'm sorry, i was just-" Buffy starts, looking down at her hands. 

"Thinking?" Willow suggests and Camila shakes her head. 

"Not thinking. Just having a lot of happy nonthoughts." she smiles softly, looking over at Buffy's subdued expressions. 

"I love it when things are quiet around here." Buffy adds, watching the leaves dance on the concrete in front of them. 

"Yeah, with Spike and Drusilla out of the way, we've really been riding the mellow and am i like jinxing the hell out of us by saying that?" Xander rambles, pouting down at Camila's soft gaze. She lets a soft laugh escape and he sighs, throwing an arm over her shoulders. 

"We'll let you off this time." Buffy jokes. 

"So we're pretty sure there aren't any more Taranta assassins coming our way?" Willow questions, her tone almost nervous. 

"Angel's sources say the contract is off." Buffy replies and Camila nods, leaning slightly into Xander's warmth. 

"How is Angel? Pretend I care." Xander nods, earning a slap from Camila. 

"He's getting better." Buffy nods softly, feeling her heart beat a little faster at the mention of his name. 

"And you're loving playing nursemaid." Camila teases, knocking Buffy's elbow slightly. 

"Oh yeah." she agrees, eyes wild with amusement. 

"So it's better than playing a naughty stewardess?" Xander jokes, earning another slap from Camila and a look from the others. 

"Xander..." Buffy scolds, pulling her keys out as they all step onto the porch. 

"I'm just saying, if Tenille was in charge, she would have had the little captain hat." Willow continues the discussion from earlier, causing more confusion for Camila as she rested against Xander's side. As Buffy puts the keys into the lock, the door swings open - she stops, perturbed. 

"Wait here." Buffy instructs and the others stay put. Buffy steps inside, her eyes racing around the room. The house is dark, eerily stagnant. Buffy slowly pulls a stake from her pocket, heading towards the living room. Outside, Willow and Xander share a glance as Camila furrows her brows in confusion. Buffy paces towards the dining room, eyes searching the darkness.