THE ENCHANTED FOREST: PRESENT DAY
After what felt like an eternity and many-many headaches curtsey of Hook's inability to keep his mouth shut for more than a minute, Buffy sighs in relief as they finally reach the top of the beanstalk.
Climbing off the beanstalk Buffy drops down onto the flat surface, almost kissing the ground in joy. It felt nice to actually have her feet on the ground after hours of climbing with a talkative pirate.
However, despite her joy over being able to walk along a stone floor, the blonde's eyes widen as she finally takes in the sight of the giant's home. The castle was huge but that wasn't what drew her attention...it was the bodies. Different skeletons were scattered all over the grounds, a mixture of human bones and that of giants. It was a full-on war zone up here and the aftermath was not pretty.
"Talk about morbid." Buffy mumbles under her breath as she steps over a body of rotting bones before glancing over at Hook with an arched brow "So you wanna explain the skeletons? Or should I just continue grave stumping?"
"It's where the final battle was." The pirate explains before his eyes land on the blood dripping down her fingertips and onto the ground "Give me your hand."
At the sudden urgent yet almost concerned tone of voice Buffy merely tilts her head eyeing him skeptically "Huh?" She couldn't help but mumble in confusion, a little unsure of how to respond to his words "Not big on handholding no offense..."
Hook merely chuckles in amusement as she gestures to his hook before grabbing her wrist only to groan as in an instant he found himself pinned to the ground.
The second he had touched her, her body had reacted on instinct leaving her pinning Hook face-first to the ground while her knee pressed into the bottom of his spine causing him to hiss in pain.
"Bloody hell woman!" Hook exclaims before tapping the floor in surrender with his hand, she was a lot stronger than he had originally thought. Cora had clearly underestimated this one.
"Your hand..." He continues, "It's cut. I was just trying to help."
Buffy eyes him skeptically before glancing down at her hand only to wince, sure enough, he had been right. Her hand was drenched in blood from where she had dug into the thorns of the beanstalk. Reluctantly she lifts her knee from the pirate's back releasing him from her hold before backing away from him "I'll live."
Hook merely lets out a small cough as he laughs, this woman was definitely jumpy and untrusting, more so than anyone he had ever met. Pulling himself up to his feet he wipes the dust and grime from his leather before holding out his hand in surrender, now knowing better than to just reach for the jumpy woman who could kill him in a heartbeat.
"May I?" He questions gesturing to her bloody hand causing the blonde to roll her eyes in annoyance "You may not. I heal fast."
Ignoring her snarky commentary he carefully reaches out and grabs her wrist with his hook, making sure not to set her off this time. He would rather leave this place with at least his good hand "We'll until it heals."
Watching the pirate carefully as he reaches for his flask to disinfect her wound Buffy couldn't help but scoff "So now you're going to be a gentleman?"
"Giants can smell blood." Hook argues with a small smug smirk as he brings the blonde closer causing her to groan at his attempt to flirt with her "And I'm always a gentleman."
Clenching her jaw tightly, Buffy resists the urge to knock his teeth out and merely allows him to pour the rum from his flask over her wound. As he does, the pirate couldn't help but find himself watching her completely intrigued as she remains motionless, not a single wince at the alcohol burning her open wound "Now, Luv, why isn't that bothering you? Another one of your secret skills?"
"Pain and I had a good chat couple of years ago." Buffy mumbles snarkily as she watches Hook carefully begin wrapping his black scarf around her wound. However, as he uses his teeth to tighten the scarf the blonde snatches the flask from his hand and brings it to her lips, allowing the rum to run down her throat.
"Thanks." She breaths as she roughly yanks her now free hand out of his reach before tossing him back the flask. Twirling the scythe in her grasp she turns and eyes what was practically a graveyard carefully before smiling "So great plan...you're gonna be bait."
"What?" The pirate snaps out as he turns to stand beside her "No Luv, I don't play bait."
"And I'm not waiting around for a giant to have a catnap. Draw him out, and I can use Mulan's roofie to knock him out."
Despite hating the idea of being forced to play bait in an already risky plan, Hook had to admit, her idea was probably the most effective and the most likely to end up in a successful adventure "Point taken. You're a tough lass. You'd made a hell of a pirate."
Scoffing in distaste at the mere idea of her ending up as a pirate Buffy shakes her head before frowning as she spots it. The Tattoo on his arm, a heart with a name right in the middle.
She never would have figured Hook for the lovesick kind of pirate.
"Whose Milah?" She asks drawing a dark look to cross his blue eyes at the words leaving her lips.
"Someone from long ago." He mumbles as he glances away from the blonde and yanks down his sleeve hiding the tattoo from her view once again.
As she watches him Buffy couldn't help but spot a familiar look in his eyes, a look she saw reflected back into her own eyes every time she looked into the mirror.
Having lost the light in your life, the one person who you loved more than anything in life.
"Rumpelstiltskin." She breaths in realization causing his eyes to snap back to her "Taking a hand doesn't make one focus on nothing but vengeance."
Hook couldn't help but raise an eyebrow curiously at the woman before grabbing her wrist once more and pushing back the sleeve of her army jacket, revealing the tattoo of her own he had spotted earlier "For a woman who claims to have never been in love, you're quite perceptive." He argues before tapping her tattoo "Tell me, Luv, what do the heart, crown, and hands mean? Seems like a symbol of love to my eyes."
Clenching her jaw tightly Buffy grits her teeth before shoving him back slightly "One: don't touch me and two...I didn't claim anything...the person I was back then...is dead."
With that, Buffy tilts her head swinging the scythe once more before turning her back on the pirate "Let's just get this over with."
Making her way over to the large statue that would hopefully get her in reach of the giant's face without becoming giant food, Buffy pulls off her jacket tossing it to the ground before placing her scythe into her holster.
"Need a boost Luv?"
Groaning Buffy smiles sarcastically as she spots Hook wiggling his eyebrows suggestively at her. For someone out for revenge, he definitely switched back to flirt and annoy Buffy mode very quickly.
Without a word, the blonde leaps up grabbing onto the end of the statue before hauling her body up gracefully till she was stood at the top smiling down at Hook playfully "I'm good!"
Hook couldn't help but chuckle in amusement as he watches the blonde with an impressed brow "These enhanced gifts of yours are convenient Luv." He comments before grabbing a large giant bone from the ground and making his way over to one of the shields laid out on the ground.
"Ready?!" The pirate calls out as he hesitantly raises the bone ready to begin his job as a distraction, one he very much was not looking forward to.
Buffy sighs nervously before glancing back towards the home where the giant was still hidden away. She could only hope this poppy seed powder from Mulan worked otherwise Hook was giant bait and she was in no mood to fight a giant. At least not in this outfit.
Tightening her grasp around the scythe once more Buffy exhales softly before glancing back down over at Hook.
It was time.
"Now!"
With that signal, Hook finally swings the bone at the shield causing a loud metallic echo to flow through the courtyard, making its way into the giant's home.
Sure enough, the ground slowly begins to tremble beneath both the Slayer and the pirate's feet. And while Hook struggles to stand, Buffy grasps her hand tightly around the metal statue to keep herself from going plummeting face-first to the ground below.
As the shaking grows more intense Buffy's eyes widen as finally, the giant comes into view. Storming out of his home at a height that forced the blonde to crane her neck just to take in the full sight of him. She couldn't help but wince at the sheer size of him, he was definitely bigger than she had been picturing in her mind "Uh oh...yep I officially miss the Mayor Snake."
As the statue begins shaking again causing the blonde to tighten her grasp on the statue she adjusts the bag of knock-out dust in her hands just praying for Hook to hurry up and play bait.
He was definitely taking his sweet time drawing the creature's attention.
"Oi!" She hears him finally exclaim as the pirate makes his way into view of the giant "Hey! You big git!"
Quirking an amused eyebrow Buffy couldn't help but snort as she watches Hook attempt to draw the giant's attention in a very English way. Honestly, it was like teenage Giles and Spike mixed together...just complete chaos.
But amusing, to say the least.
"Hey, you!" Hook continues as he badgers the creature not noticing the amused laughter escaping the blonde as he draws the giant's eyes to him "Huh? You wanna kill a human? I'm the worst human around!" He calls before making his way towards the statue where Buffy was waiting forcing the now furious giant to begin making his way right into their trap "Come on then!"
With that, Hook takes off in a run narrowly missing the giant's foot from squishing him as it turns to finally face Buffy.
Giving the Slayer the perfect lined-up shot.
"Hi there...." Buffy mumbles awkwardly before tossing the poppy powder right into the creature's face causing him to gasp and stumble away from her.
"Sorry!" The blonde exclaims as she watches the creature's eyes roll back into his head before he slowly falls to the ground. As his body hits the ground with a thud Buffy couldn't help but wince "He's gonna feel that in the morning." She mumbles sympathetically before leaping down from the statue.
Landing in a crouch on the ground Buffy flips her hair out of her face before rubbing her now sore knees as she straightens her body back up "Harsh on the knees."
Clicking her knees and joints Buffy sighs before frowning as she doesn't spot a certain pirate anywhere in her peripheral vision "Hook?" She calls as she moves away from the statue "You alive?"
"You concerned about me Luv?"
At the sound of his voice coming from beside the knocked-out giant, Buffy rolls her eyes before turning to face him "A world of no." She snarks, before making her way over to the creature and kicking his giant foot softly, trying to see if he would stir.
Luckily for the humans, he didn't stir even an inch, he was out cold.
Hook chuckles slightly as he hands the blonde her jacket, a small smug smile crossing his handsome features "I don't mean to upset you, Buffy, but I think we make quite the pair."
Scoffing in distaste Buffy pulls on her jacket before yanking the scythe out of her holster and making her way towards the castle, eager to end their little adventure "Let's move...I've got places to be."
***
THE DEMONIC WORLD: ROME, ITALY
THREE AND A HALF YEARS AGO
As the sound of Bif Naked's Lucky fills the air of the rooftop overlooking the city of Rome, Buffy and Angel continue to sway side by side, enjoying what would be their last dance together.
It was still hard to process, this would be their last moment, there wouldn't be any more hoping for that one day where they could finally be together. Their love story would end here on this rooftop overlooking the beautiful Italian city.
Keeping her head pressed against his firm chest, Buffy inhales tightly listening to the empty sound coming from his chest. She had always dreamed of one day hearing his heartbeat in tune with her own. To have a human life together.
Yet alas it wasn't meant to be.
They had been doomed to from the start, no matter how much they loved each other even now years after their relationship had ended, they still found their way back to each other. Yet, as usual, it wouldn't end well.
Except this time would be different, there would be no curse between them, no battle keeping them apart. He would be dead with no chance of coming back like last time.
He would be gone and she would once again be alone, once more having to mourn killing the love of her life.
"I remember." She whispers softly as she reluctantly glances up her eyes meeting his, tears threatening to spill as she thinks back to the greatest day they had. A day she wasn't supposed to remember, a day she never told anyone about.
It had just been too painful.
"I felt your heartbeat."
At her words, Angel's entire body went stone cold in her arms, glancing down at her he couldn't help but think back to that day.The best and worst day of his life, the way she had clutched onto him sobbing as their time as humans ran out. He had never wanted her to remember, it was cruel living with the memory of knowing what they could have had, he hadn't wanted to burden her with that.
"How..." He breaths as he moves to cup her face in his hands, tears filling his own eyes as he thinks back to that heart-wrenching moment where they had said goodbye "...the oracles said..."
"It was when Willow brought me back." Buffy admits weakly through a shaky voice, there was a reason she never spoke about that day. When the memories had come back it had almost crippled her, she had made a choice to shut it down so she could deal with everything else without breaking.
"When I woke up in that coffin, everything started flashing, my entire life. Including that day...but I was so confused and..."
"Hey..." The vampire whispers as he strokes her cheek softly trying to soothe her, he couldn't even begin to imagine how painful it still was for her talking about her resurrection "I...wanted to tell you but, living with that day...knowing..."
"What we could have had." The young Slayer finishes with a weak laugh trying to cover up the sobs threatening to break free "I understand. I just wish..."
Knowing what she meant Angel sighs weakly, it was torture thinking about what could have been. Wondering what their lives could have been like had he not had the oracles turn back the day.
Would he have died fighting the forces of darkness? Or would they have found a way to work together, to build a life, a family, a home?
"Me too." The vampire admits as he places his chin on top of her head while running his fingertips through her red curls.
Smiling weakly Buffy glances up at Angel leaning into his touch as he cups her cheek in his palm. As she stares up at the man who had remained in her heart since she was 16, tears slowly stream down Buffy's face. As lovely as this moment between them was, it didn't stop what was going to happen at the end of this night.
He would be dead and she would have his blood on her hands. It was like that day in L.A. all over again. It wasn't enough time together, it would never be enough.
Angel smiles through his own tears as he watches the beautiful redhead before pulling her into a kiss...their last kiss.
There was a reason they were on this rooftop to end their story...he wanted to stand in the sun with her one last time. So once the sun started to rise their time would be up...and she would finally have to tear his heart from his chest.
***
THE ENCHANTED FOREST: PRESENT DAY
Making their way through the treasure room of the giant's castle, Buffy couldn't help but stare at the mass amounts of gold and jewelry scattered all over the place. Letting out a loud whistle at the sight, her mind starts to ponder how much some of this stuff would be worth back in her world.
Given that she was currently a fugitive whose bank accounts had been drained when she was arrested, she could definitely use some start-up cash to at least try and get to Tokyo so she could crash with Nia for a couple of months.
Plus the fact that Nia lived in an amazing penthouse in the heart of Tokyo definitely made her the best person to hide out with.
Eyeing the gold coins off to her side, the blonde carefully lifts them up cupping the coins between her fingertips. Allowing temptation to get to her the blonde shrugs before slipping them into her jacket pocket "Not like I can be arrested here."
"I knew you were a pirate at heart." Hook chimes up from beside her as he pockets a few jewels for himself while grinning at the blonde flirtatiously.
Rolling her eyes Buffy moves forward trying to keep as much distance as possible between herself and the storybook pirate.
"Yeah, I'm a fugitive on the run and when I get home I have no money, no car, no hair products. The powers that be owe me a couple of gold coins so I can get out of this fashion disaster when I get home." She argues, mainly trying to convince herself as she gestures to her dreadful outfit.
Orange was definitely not her color.
Spotting Hook not even listening to her as he continues to try and pile jewelry into his pockets, Buffy reluctantly moves towards the pirate. "Come on Carrie Bradshaw, you can shop till you drop when we don't have a grouchy giant that could wake up and eat us." Pausing in her words Buffy shivers at the mere idea of having a giant swallow her whole, that was definitely not the way she wanted to go "Warning if he wakes up...I will use you as a human shield."
"And here I thought we were bonding." The pirate teases as he happily allows the blonde to manhandle him away from the jewels so they could continue their search for the magical compass "You know, Lass if you wanted to lay a hand on me..." Before he could even finish his sentence Buffy slams her elbow into his gut causing him to double over in pain.
Glaring down at him Buffy steps over his groaning form and merely continues on her way through the room "Would you look at that, you almost look like your cartoon now. A perm, a funny hat, and picture-perfect."
With that, Buffy begins riffling through the seemingly endless amount of gold in hopes of finding this damn compass so she could scoot on home.
All she wanted was to get to Tokyo and take advantage of Nia's amazing hot tub and an endless supply of food. After months of sucky prison food, she definitely deserved some amazing food from Nia's personal chef.
She was going to gorge herself on five-star meals for days on end.
However, as she moves to continue searching for her ticket home the blonde groans as her foot connects with a corpse currently laid out on the floor like nothing more than a bare-skin rug.
"What happened to you?" She breaths as she stares down at the skeleton at her feet "Talk about a sucky funeral."
"That would be Jack." Hook explains as he moves to stand beside the powerful blonde, both of them staring down at the dusty crinkled bones that had been left to rot away.
Buffy couldn't help but exhale as she stares down at the bleached bones "Jack as in the Jack?"
"The giant killer."
"Hmm." Buffy mumbles before her eyes widen as she spots the sword the corpse was clutching onto with its bony hands. Bending down she peels back the man's fingers taking the sword from his hands.
Spotting Hook watching her with a small amused smirk the blonde merely shrugs as she twirls the sword in her grasp "What? It's not like he's using it...plus hey shiny!"
"A woman who loves swords. You really are a woman after my own heart." Hook mumbles with a bright smile as he turns to face her, that familiar flirty grin crossing his lips only summoning a groan out of the blonde, it was like getting hit on by a Spike/Angelus hybrid.
"Yeah, you can keep your heart." She snaps before placing the sword through the holder she was using for the scythe. While the make-shift holster wasn't the best it was at least holding up her weapons, for now. She would definitely need to ask Mulan if she had a spare holster once she got to the bottom of the beanstalk.
"Oh come on lass...talk to me." Hook chimes up as he moves to walk beside her, he had to admit he found her fascinating "Tell me about your world..." Before he could finish his terrible attempt at hitting on her, Buffy's eyes widen as she spots a trip-wire which Hook was about to step into.
"Eyes off the Slayer eyes on the floor." Buffy snaps as she quickly grabs Hook's arm yanking him back, however, unfortunately for her, Hook took her saving his ass as a chance to make a move. Wrapping his arm around her waist he pulls the blonde to him smirking down at her "It's about bloody time."
"Ewww." Buffy groans as she forcibly removes his hand from her waist "Touch me like that again...and I will show you how your fairy tale ends. Aka you getting eaten by a creature with a lot of teeth!"
Shoving him away from her she then points at the trip-wire "That, Casanova is a trip-wire. So unless you want to be a ginny pig while I take off leaving you to be torn to pieces, be careful around the security system."
Despite her obvious disgust at being near him Hook merely grins "Well, that's a plausible excuse for grabbing me, but next time, don't stand on ceremony." He teases as he brushes a strand of her blonde hair off her shoulder only to groan as Buffy grabs his wrist squeezing it, causing him to wince "You are remarkably strong, Luv."
"I'm also remarkably testy." She warns before stepping away from him and stepping over the wire so she could continue her search "Come on, we have a compass to find and I don't feel like hanging out in this creepy ass lair much longer."