SCRIBES OF ANGEL
FanFic
________________________________
THOUGH LOVERS BE
LOST
BY: Dark Star (eternity_ds@hotmail.com)
DISCLAIMER: Characters are the property of Joss Whedon, and
I’m just playing with them.
RATING: PG13
NOTES: Short and angsty this one! The poetry extract used
is from ‘And Death Has No Dominion’ by Dylan Thomas
“Look out!”
Angel ducked as the axe
whipped past the place where his head had been, only seconds before. That had
been too close for comfort. The attacking vampire hoisted his axe and brought
it round for a second swing, but Angel had already gone. Kicking out, Angel
caught his opponent in the ribs, sending him staggering backwards; his stake
found its target and the vampire vanished in a cloud of dust. He glanced over
at Buffy to see how her battle was going.
Buffy waived cheerily in
Angel’s direction, and then returned her attention to her own foe. As he closed
in, she jerked sideways and slipped in under his outstretched arm, her stake
driving through his heart. Her attention was focused on the residue dust, and
she didn’t see the shadows moving behind her.
“Buffy!” Angel yelled.
Already in motion and knowing he was going to be too late, he urged himself to
move faster toward her.
Buffy spun instantly at
Angel’s warning but the vampire was on her, swinging his sword and catching her
hard across the chest.
“Noo!” Angel’s yell
sounded more like a howl as he saw her cut down, her body tumbling to the
ground as her scream echoed in his ears. Rage contorted Angel’s features,
giving full reign to the demon within. Swinging his stake at Buffy’s assailant,
the vampire screamed as it disintegrated into dust.
Angel stood silently over
Buffy’s body, appalled at her injury. He’d seen enough death in his time to
know that her wound would be fatal, even for a Slayer. Not wanting her last
view of him to be of the demon, he forced away his true face, and dropped to
his knees beside her.
“Buffy.”
Her eyes slowly opened,
and she lifted them to his; She smiled weakly, the pain in her eyes unbearable;
she looked pale and fragile, and Angel mentally braced himself for the trauma to come.
“Angel.” Her voice was a
mere whisper.
For a long moment, their
eyes locked together, the silent exchange saying more than words could ever
express.
“I love you,” Buffy
whispered.
“I love you, always.”
Came Angel’s heartfelt response. He blinked away his unshed tears, determined to be strong for her.
Buffy closed her eyes
against the pain, her breath sounding shallow and ragged. The smell of her blood
was overpowering, and Angel had a sudden intense desire to feed from her. His
mind raced, partly with disgust and partly hunger as he thought that if he
could turn her, she would be saved! But he guiltily pushed that thought away,
knowing she would no longer be Buffy, but a hideous parody of her.
Buffy saw the turmoil
that crossed Angel’s face, and said, “You won’t…” She paused, before asking,
“You’ll let me go?”
“Yes.” He promised. His
reply seemed to comfort her, and some of the tension left her body. But Angel
knew she was afraid, and he could feel her anxiety in the face of the unknown.
“Hold me?” Buffy asked,
tentatively. Angel slipped his arms gently round her, trying not to cause her
more pain. Some of her fear lessened, and Angel was grateful for that. She was
much weaker now, and he knew her time was fast running out.
“I’m scared, Angel. Talk
to me?” Her eyes sought his, needing his stability. She wanted to hear his soft
voice, draw comfort and strength from him. She felt alone and frightened; she
needed him to soothe her.
Angel felt a moments
panic at her request. What could he say to her? He wanted to tell her that they
would be together again one day, but she’d know that was a lie. They both knew
he was destined for Hell. Desperately he cast his mind around for something to
calm her. A verse, perhaps? Maybe something about love transcending death?
Finally finding what he was looking for, Angel cleared his throat, and tried to
force the words past the harsh tightness in his chest.
“Though they go mad
they shall be sane,
Though they sink
through the sea they shall rise again;
Though lovers be lost
love shall not;
And death shall have
no dominion.”
Buffy’s eyes never left
Angel’s face as he made himself say the words that he hoped would calm her. He
had no idea if she was even listening to the words he so painfully struggled to
say. He only knew that she needed him to be strong, to support and love her as
she faced her final battle. They knew this day would come; Slayers weren’t
known for long and healthy lives. But still…part of them had hoped they would
defeat the odds and be together always.
Buffy’s small body
shuddered, pain making her whimper; she took little gasps of air and she
struggled not to panic. Her eyes remained instinctively locked to Angel’s as
she took every laboured breath. Finally, the trembling in her body stopped and
her eyes closed. She was gone. Angel felt it, felt the pain lance through his
very soul as he crushed her lifeless body against his chest. His fingers
tangled in her hair as he rocked her, and finally allowed the tears to run
unheeded down his face.
Suddenly it seemed very
important for him to finish his verse, in case maybe she could still hear him
where she was. Cradling her small frame in his arms, his voice hoarse and
painful, he finished…
“And death shall have
no dominion.
No more may gulls cry
at their ears
Or waves break loud on
the seashores;
Where blew a flower
may a flower no more
Lift its head to the
blows of the rain;
Though they be mad and
dead as nails,
Heads of the
characters hammer through daises;
Break in the sun till
the sun breaks down,
And death shall have
no dominion.”
THE END
.