Samantha returned to Angel's excited about the prospect of her new found place. It was nice and out of the way and Simon seemed to be a completely bearable guy. She couldn't wait to get her junk cleared out of Angel's living room and start filling up her new bedroom. It'd be a drain on her savings, but maybe she could get a day job of some sort. The whole thing felt new and scary and she thrilled on things that pushed her limits.

Angel was alone in the apartment, sparring energetically with a combat stand made out of reformed steel and some pads when Sam came in. He was so involved in the workout that he didn't even hear her. He felt up today, good about the world and about life for the first time in several days, and he was bounding up and down on the mat his fists flying and his feet dancing around the mat as he ducked and dodged and blocked the attacks of an imagined opponent.


( Sam delivers the news )


Angel's luke warm behavior was a little discouraging, but she shrugged it off, trying not to be the crazy new....whatever it was she was. She packed up, getting all her things together, and when she was done Angel was still in the shower. Feeling a bit brushed aside, Samantha shouldered her things and headed out, figuring she could come back later. He didn't seem to be in a hurry.
Angel took his time in the shower. He heard the door close behind Samantha with a satisfying/dissatisfying clink of the catch in the lock, and then he turned the now-cold water off, threw on a blue button-up which he left untucked and a pair of black leather pants, then marched across his apartment to his coat rock. He hesitated for a moment over which coat he wanted to wear out tonight, then grabbed the leather duster, jamming it on over his shoulders. He strapped on his collapsible stakes, slid another two into his pocket, and slipped a sword inside of the coat. He threw the door open and slammed it behind him, not caring that it didn't catch, not caring that a piece of the frame snapped off and dropped to the ground. Not caring at all.
She, on the other hand, was strolling toward her new apartment with her things, what little she owned at the time not even approaching a burden for slayer strength, she took her time, enjoying the scenery and being out in the daylight in general. By the time Sam got all situated in her new living arrangements, it was dark, so she headed back to Angel's, visibly startled by the condition of the door, because it looked in every way like it'd been forced. She shoved open the door and came barreling into the apartment.
Angel was in the bathroom again, stripped to his waist. His pants were cut and scarred in places, and they were covered in a patchwork of blood. Blood ran red in the water of the sink, and swirled around the bowl. His coat was tossed over the back of the couch, and blood ran off of it. The notched blade of his sword was on the kitchen counter.
Samantha practically skid to a stop outside the doorway to the bathroom, her heart already hammering against her rib cage. What she saw didn't do much to calm her already panic stricken state. "What happened??"
"Samantha?" Angel half turned, a pair of large fang wounds scored into the flesh of his right shoulder. "What-- I didn't hear you come in."
She moved into the bathroom, turning him toward her suddenly so she could inspect the wound, and other various ones. Having ruled out a break in as the cause of Angel's condition, she didn't know what to assume, so she repeated the question. "What happened?"
Angel watched her for a moment, then glanced back at the sink and washed his wound with peroxide, hissing at the pain. "When I came out of the shower, you were gone, so ... I went out. There are still demons to fight, still monsters to kill. I hit an underground blood bar on the South Side of the River. It's full of vampires during the day time, demons who aren't nocturnal, and a handful of fiends." He tossed a blood-soaked rag smelling of peroxide into the sink, and turned back towards her, pressing bandages against his chest. "How is... the new place?"
Samantha frowned softly, refusing the fall for the subject change she drew closer, leaning on the counter, looking at him in a very solemn way. "Just how many monsters were in this bar fight, huh?"
Angel taped the bandages to his shoulder. "Thirty. Forty. The ones that wouldn't fight, I set on fire. The Demons got mad. The Vampires just died."
She forced fingers through her hair, trying to get a picture of what the heck was going on. "And what did that accomplish exactly?"
He looked up at her and he shook his head. "What do you mean? I killed some monsters. Saved some people down the line a horrible death."
She looked completely unconvinced. "Oh, that was it, huh? Alright..." She started cleaning out his cuts herself, not condoning and not condemning, either.
Angel blinked and looked confused when she started cleaning up his cuts and bruises, and he nearly pulled away. "... what are you doing here? Why did you come back?" He could help the bitterness in his voice that crept in. "Did you forget something?"


( First fight )


She gave a little sigh and leaned on his shoulder, sliding her hand toward his. "I'm really not going anywhere..."
Angel took her hand and looked at it, blinking several times. "...okay," he whispered. The underlined subtext was all there, in the hesitancy, in the blink, in the whisper. I'll trust you.
She gave his hand a squeeze and flash a small smile. "so...did you want to ease into this moving stuff?"
He nodded again, not sure where she was going with this.
"well...I could sleep here for awhile...or- the bed at my new place is a good size..."
Angel smiled, softly. "Your roommate doesn't mind you having visitors over all night?"
"I haven't taken it up with him because I didn't want to ask right off the bat and sound like a big slut, but he's very accommodating in general."
Angel looked down at their hands. "Stay with me tonight." He gave her hand a small squeeze. "Please."
She smiled. "Alright, but my pajamas are elsewhere so be prepared for nudity."
He smiled a little and squeezed it again. "...I'm not asking you to sleep with me," he said. "I just ... want to be with you tonight. Do I sound like... I must sound like... something cowardly and scared of the dark."
She giggled and kissed his cheek, slipping an arm around him. "I'll stick around and protect you."

What a disaster.

The new roommate that Cassandra referred to me was due within the hour, and it looked like the third world war had been waged in the space between my couch and the kitchen...and I'm still not sure how it happened. I mean, I was generally a clean guy, honest I was. I think this is just what happens when I finally (maybe for the first time) have company coming over, my place decides to mutiny on my otherwise good taste.

I stand in the doorframe of my living room with my hand on my chin, not even real sure where to start. Were the clothes all over the floor even mine?

Well, I mean obviously they were, it's not like I got the luxury of random strangers undressing and leaving their clothes all over my place. I don't know who HBO is fooling, but I live in the city, and there is like no sex in my life.

I break my chain of thought and wander into the room, slowly gathering the clutter into my arms and taking it over to the hamper. I'm surprised at my level of calmness at the moment. Truth be told I was like freaking out inside.

A roommate. I mean, that's a big step. Would she even like me? I hope so. I didn't want to lose this apartment. It was such a good place, but when the bookstore below me changed hands, the rent was upped and I had no choice. It was either cohabitate or find a nice alley with a refrigerator box.

I trust Cassandra's word. Ever since I helped her dead Grandma pass some info about some lost family heirlooms, she's treated me pretty nice. I mean, we weren't besties or anything, no one really likes to hang out with the guy who talks to dead people (well, to be fair, they talk to me), but still, I've had worse stigma, so any kindness I appreciate.

That said though, Cassandra knew the deal about me. This new girl may not. I mean, Cassie said she was on the level, some sort of vampire hunter or something (vampires are so hot, I love those Anne Rice books...mmm), and wouldn't be too judgemental, she just needed a place to crash...but you know, it's one thing to say in passing and another thing to put in practice. I've known plenty of people who "weren't judgemental" and ended up tossing me out on my butt.

Oh well. As long as I've got my books, a place to crash, and no ghosties to bother me, I'd be fine (which, was another reason I love this place, no one had died here, so I sleep a little better at night...don't think that wasn't something I researched before moving in). But it would be nice if she like, more than tolerated me, you know? It would be cool if someone would come home and be happy to hang out.

...maybe watch some Dawson's Creek with? Is that hoping for too much?

I shuffle the last of the clothes into the hamper and give the room a once over. Looks better, but not entirely perfect. What is though, right?

I consider putting some coffee on, to give the apartment that cool, hip Starbucks vibe, but before I can I hear my apartment buzzer ring.

This soon? Really?

My stomach shakes a little, and I stand and stare at the intercom box. Momentary panic.

No Simon, you can do this.

I breathe out, and cross the room, hitting the button.

"Come on up."

((Open to Sam))

( Samantha rescues some tykes, Angel rescues Samantha )

~

( Egos and philosophies clash )

~

( Angel comes back from heroing, Samantha eats pizza and watches ABC )

~

( Half naked girls on the livingroom couch make Angel grumpy )

~

( Fighting in the training room )

~

( Samantha gets an alien bounty hunter beat down and loses her security deposit )