{"id":8199,"date":"2015-12-11T11:53:21","date_gmt":"2015-12-11T11:53:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/?p=8199"},"modified":"2015-12-11T11:53:41","modified_gmt":"2015-12-11T11:53:41","slug":"ronin-1-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/2015\/12\/11\/ronin-1-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Ronin 1-2"},"content":{"rendered":"

Title: Ronin<\/b>
\nAuthor: <\/b>Scorch<\/strong>
\nPosted: <\/b>Aug 17 2005
\nEmail<\/b><\/a>
\nRating: <\/b>N-17 eventually
\nCategory: <\/b>AU
\nContent: <\/b>C\/A with slight mentions of B\/A & C\/S
\nSummary: <\/b>A challenge by AngelsDark Avenger<\/b>.
\nSpoilers: <\/b>
\nDisclaimer: <\/b>The characters in the Angelverse were created by Joss Whedon & David Greenwalt. No infringement is intended, no profit is made.
\nDistribution: <\/b>AO and Cal’s place. Anywhere else, just ask.
\nNotes: <\/b>
\nThanks\/Dedication:<\/b>A big giant Thank You to Califi<\/b> who helped me more than I can say. I loves you babes, thank you. Hugs, S xxx
\nFeedback:<\/b>Of course!<\/p>\n

\n

Part 1<\/b><\/p>\n

The assassin was silent and predatory eyes, expressionless and cold, tracked the woman as she paced back and forth across the room floor, checking her watch every now and then. \u201cDamn him,\u201d she hissed, venom spat from her lips as she looked at the time again.<\/p>\n

\u201cProblem?\u201d The Ronin asked, her voice almost unheard.<\/p>\n

The smile sent to the assassin\u2019s direction was sugary sweet and completely false. \u201cI\u2019m sure Mr. McDonald will be here any second now.\u201d Adding quietly, \u201cAny second now\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFor your sake, I hope so.\u201d Ronin\u2019s lips flickered once. \u201cI don\u2019t like my time being wasted\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou and me both,\u201d Lilah mumbled as she straightened her skirt. \u201cMore tea?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTell ya what Ms Morgan, how about we discuss payment.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRight.\u201d The agreement came through tightly gritted teeth. \u201cPayment. Half now, half when the job is done.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sitting forward so suddenly the movement startled the lawyer. \u201cNo,\u201d Ronin spoke harshly \u201cAll of it up front.\u201d<\/p>\n

If she gave the money in full before the job was done, Lilah knew her life would not be worth living. However, if the money wasn\u2019t handed over then she would end up as the mark and one look at the deceptively harmless face of the warrior, the lawyer was met with a charming grin that confirmed that suspicion.<\/p>\n

\u201cQuite the situation you\u2019re in, kudos.\u201d The mercenary sat back and lazily drew a finger across her lips, eyes now shone with faint amusement.<\/p>\n

Fiddling with her necklace for a second, Lilah pondered over a threat of her own when the doors slid open to allow her Special Projects partner, Lindsay McDonald, to enter. Not wasting more of anyone\u2019s time, the red head purposely marched up to him and halted his movements with a sharp fingernail.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat time do you call this?\u201d Determined to put on a good show of power and domination, Lilah injected as much gusto into her voice and posture as possible. \u201cWe strictly agreed on ten\u201d<\/p>\n

A burst of applause sounded out and drew their attention towards the assassin. \u201cIf we\u2019d met under different circumstances, this mighta been hello instead of goodbye\u201d<\/p>\n

Lilah smiled professionally as Lindsay merely smirked. \u201cSorry I\u2019m late\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBetter late than never,\u201d was the reply. Her eyes roamed over the well-proportioned figure of the man and the hazel irises gleamed with mild appreciation. She really should show Ms Morgan how to handle a man. \u201cPlease, call me Ronin.\u201d Rising with all the grace of a cat and holding out a gloved hand, she waited patiently as he eyed her in deep suspicion before returning the handshake.<\/p>\n

The greeting was brief but effective, and Lindsay was unable to do anything but respond to the seemingly genuine smile across the mercenary\u2019s very pretty features. A brief but hot flush crawled up his collar, but as this was business and not pleasure, he waved it off with a quick shake of his head. After all, it wouldn\u2019t do to have his reputation blemished. \u201cShall we?\u201d His briefcase was held up and slightly shook, the contents heard inside.<\/p>\n

\u201cIndeed we shall.\u201d Ronin reclaimed her seat. \u201cAll I need is a name, place and face, and of course money\u201d<\/p>\n

A click occurred and the case opened, a full colour photograph was handed out. Ronin\u2019s gaze swept over the target, taking in the built form and spiky dark hair. Nice. A smile flickered, shame he was in her line of fire. What a waste.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe name is Angel,\u201d Lilah stepped in and hid her daggered eyes from the bitch in her office. \u201cThe place is Sunnydale and your payment\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIs now\u201d Ronin finished.<\/p>\n

“It\u2019s right here.\u201d Lindsay offered a brown envelope, thick with bills, to the client. \u201cThat\u2019s all you asked for, and once the job\u2019s completed with satisfactory results, you get a bonus\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOoh!\u201d Eyes beamed and lips parted to reveal a row of straight teeth. \u201cNice word\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIsn\u2019t it?\u201d Lilah\u2019s own orbs twinkled at the thought. If only she would get a bonus.<\/p>\n

Not hearing the lawyer\u2019s yearning voice, Ronin became distracted by a pretty blonde standing next to her mark. \u201cWho is she?\u201d Perhaps she could use the blonde to her advantage.<\/p>\n

\u201cBuffy Summers, I believe.\u201d Lindsay replied after he took a good look. \u201cThis generation\u2019s slayer. Your hit has been known to work with her on occasion. Won\u2019t be a problem?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh no,\u201d Ronin purred in delight. \u201cForget that bonus honey, this one\u2019s on me\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

Part 2<\/b><\/p>\n

Watching from a rooftop as her mark stood in front of the slayer, from her vantage point Ronin could see how the blonde looked at the vampire. \u201cA slayer and a vampire. Strangely, a perfect match.\u201d If anyone had heard her, they would have been cut by the sharp sarcasm that fell from her tongue.<\/p>\n

Though she couldn\u2019t hear what they were saying, it was obvious by their expressions that there was some serious crap between them. Serious crap that would probably make this more fun for her. Bringing up her crossbow and aiming the laser sights, Ronin took steadying breaths before firing, concentrating on doing what she was trained for.<\/p>\n

The arrow was sharp and fatal as it sliced through air, homing in on the target; the vampire\u2019s heart as another one headed directly for the slayer.<\/p>\n

Ronin watched through eager eyes as one hit a shoulder, whose she didn\u2019t care, and the other pierced a tree trunk. \u201cCan\u2019t win em all.\u201d Shortly, another arrow was loaded and fired, this time the aim a little more to the left.<\/p>\n

*~*~*<\/p>\n

A heavy stab of pain rocked through his body as the arrow punctured his shoulder and he reacted on instinct, and threw Buffy to the ground. Angel\u2019s body, considerably larger than hers, kept her helplessly pinned to ground and her strength rendered useless. What the hell was he playing at? She wondered, stunned by the abrupt and rough treatment.<\/p>\n

\u201cStay down,\u201d he snarled, as his head whipped up to scan the area with molten orbs that blazed with the need for revenge. A rush of air had his face pressing directly down into her neck and Buffy, also on instinct, screamed.<\/p>\n

Vampire at throat was not good, even if it was Angel.<\/p>\n

\u201cAttack.\u201d The vampire growled quietly, the rumble pushed through his chest until it silenced the slayer\u2019s horrified squeals. \u201cGet up and go right,\u201d almost instantly, he was off her and away, his figure nothing but a blur to her enhanced eyesight.<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

\u201cThe chase is on, I see.\u201d Ronin carelessly dropped the crossbow and easily vaulted the eight feet drop to the concrete, her boots landing with a light snap. If the vampire went left, then so would she. With a sharpened stake pulled from her belt, she walked slowly to the left in the hopes of getting this over and done with.<\/p>\n

Lord, how she hated it when jobs went on longer than a couple of days.<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

Angel\u2019s footfalls were interrupted with shots of pain jolting through his shoulder, but he ignored them in order concentrate on catching the bastard who\u2019d tried to kill Buffy. His anger was at an all-time high and it was evident in every way. Face fully vamped and all predatory senses on red alert, his ears listening out for heartbeats and footsteps, his glittering eyes scouting around for any signs of movement or people.<\/p>\n

Rounding a corner and feeling his back suddenly collide with a wall, the unneeded air pushed out of him as a fist with sharp knuckles made direct contact with his solar plexus. Edges of hands then cut into either side of his windpipe, a move he knew strictly belonged to demon hunters, he thought grimly before the heel of a palm smashed into his nose. A cool trickle down his face and a coppery scent, all to familiar, filled the air and signalled he was bleeding.<\/p>\n

\u201cOk, now I\u2019m pissed\u201d<\/p>\n

Muscular arms went up between them and he spread hers away from him, following through with a solid punch to his attacker\u2019s stomach, something that sent the person to the ground with a groan of agony. Not finished, Angel grabbed the black collar and yanked the person up, only to slam his fist straight into the face.<\/p>\n

He was about to repeat the motion, but the very feminine moan had him instantly freezing.<\/p>\n

He backed away in pure shock as he watched the attacker fall, in a crumbled heap at his feet, hitting the concrete with a hand clutching the side of a balaclava- covered face. Angel shook off his temporary stupor, abruptly leaning down, and getting no resistance, tugged the soft covering off the head.<\/p>\n

It really was a girl, and a very pretty one at that. Rapt brown eyes took in her appearance with reluctant appreciation.<\/p>\n

Long gleaming hair, dark chestnut brown and soft-looking, was held away from her lovely face in a tight ponytail while her lips, full and pouting, bled.<\/p>\n

Confused didn\u2019t begin to explain his feelings.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut you-you\u2019re a girl.\u201d Angel spoke dumbly as he wiped traces of blood off his mouth. For someone used to Slayers being girls, he\u2019d probably kick himself later for saying such a stupid thing.<\/p>\n

\u201cAmazing observation, really. Should be proud of yourself.\u201d She spat and watched red liquid decorate the pavement. \u201cNow if you don\u2019t mind\u2026\u201d Her leg swept out and caught his feet, hazel eyes shone with victory as his body hit the floor next to her.<\/p>\n

Hopping to her feet and casting one final glance at him, \u201cShame this is business.\u201d Weird, she\u2019d been saying that a lot lately, and this time actually meant it. Then she shrugged it off. Emotions had no place in her world.<\/p>\n

\u201cNot so fast\u2026\u201d Angel violently snapped his hand out and snared her ankle, a quick flick and she was face first on the ground and unmoving. \u201cPossibly dead\u2026 Oh well\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSorry to disappoint babe,\u201d came the muffled voice. \u201cNot dead, just injured\u201d<\/p>\n

She<\/i> was injured? What did she think he was? Having a ball? As if it wasn’t bad enough to discover he’d hit a woman, he was probably suffering broken ribs, and definitely a bruised ego. \u201cEnough,\u201d Angel shook bloodied fingers free of liquid. For an ordinary girl, she really packed a punch. \u201cYou\u2019re good. Work out?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTwenty minutes a day.\u201d Ronin replied as she rolled over onto her back, a wash of bright crimson stained her forehead and nose. \u201cGonna have a bitchin headache in the morning. Thanks for that, by the way\u201d<\/p>\n

Slowly sitting up and hearing Buffy\u2019s arrival, he glanced over to see her appear at a run out of some nearby trees. \u201cAnytime.\u201d The vampire grunted and coughed. Damn, she\u2019d done a number on his throat. \u201cNext time, go for someplace else\u201d<\/p>\n

Ronin pulled herself into a sitting position before replying, \u201cCan think of a few places. I\u2019m thinking Hawaii, or Cayman\u2019s.\u201d She didn\u2019t have time to contemplate that wasn\u2019t exactly what her target meant as a blur of colour flashed in her peripheral vision and another, smaller fist to her face was all she saw fully before blackness hit.<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

Studying the prisoner locked in the cage with a wary glance, Rupert Giles adjusted his glasses and looked at Angel through the corner of his eye. \u201cCaught you off guard?\u201d<\/p>\n

The dark haired vampire nodded, barely holding back a scowl. It was rare, if ever, he got caught off guard.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy is she still alive?\u201d Buffy snapped, her nerves still full of fiery adrenalin. It wasn\u2019t often she was caught unawares either, never mind her sort-of boyfriend. She shuddered, imagining what could have happened if one of those arrows had been dead-on. Emphasis on dead.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd fought like an experienced demon hunter?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes\u201d<\/p>\n

Buffy shrugged, \u201cI never fought her so I can\u2019t say. She tried to kill me and Angel, Giles. We should be waking her up and dealing with her,\u201d her tone dripped intent to do more than harm, making Angel wonder if she was forgetting for a moment that the girl in the cage was human<\/p>\n

Stopping the sometimes impulsive slayer, Angel interjected his body between her and the cage. \u201cShe\u2019s human, Buffy, and in my experience, humans don\u2019t usually know about the existence of vampires, much less purposely seek them out to kill them. She must have had a reason\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

Buffy shrugged angrily. \u201cSo? She was going to kill us!\u201d<\/p>\n

He bit back the frustrated growl. That answered his silent question. Right now it looked like Buffy didn\u2019t care one way or another whether the girl wasn\u2019t a demon. It added yet one more nail in the coffin to their doomed relationship in his eyes. \u201cI, for one, want to hear her reason\u201d he replied rather coldly.<\/p>\n

Her brows rose at the tone. \u201cWhy? So you two can talk over techniques?\u201d she retorted nastily. As soon as the words left her mouth, the blonde knew she\u2019d said something that would probably mean an apology later. The vampire\u2019s expression went even colder, then blank, his features schooled into that of complete indifference.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019d be a start.\u201d With that, Angel turned his back on the slayer to look at the girl still lying unconscious in the cage, with dried blood marring her honeyed skin. \u201cWake up\u201d<\/p>\n

Almost as if she\u2019d been trained to wake on demand, Ronin\u2019s orbs snapped wide open and she was immediately to her feet, the dazed stagger evident but under admirable control. \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou want tissues?\u201d Angel offered with a circling finger towards his forehead. \u201cClean up?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, I want out.\u201d She almost growled. If they didn\u2019t let her out willingly, she\u2019d blow the Goddamn place up with herself in it if need be. Fingers going to and around her belt, and noticing it was empty caused her to turn a vengeful glare at the people outside the bars. \u201cYou took my stuff\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPardon our invasion, but it was for our own safety.\u201d Giles spoke patronisingly for a moment before adding, \u201cWe would like to ask some questions.\u201d He\u2019d purposely ignored his slayer\u2019s seeming lack of ethics, putting it down to the shock of her near-death experience at the hands of the girl.<\/p>\n

\u201cMake that we\u2019re going to ask and you\u2019re going to answer, truthfully.\u201d Buffy stated threateningly and came to stand, with defensively folded arms, next to the cage. The brunette\u2019s eyes narrowed dangerously, she knew exactly what she\u2019d give this bitch.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow about we make that you\u2019re gonna ask and I\u2019m gonna ignore.\u201d Ronin flashed a deliberately seductive smile at her main target and took pleasure in the quick flash of jealousy as it washed over the blonde\u2019s face. Miss Peroxide was so easy, it was criminal.<\/p>\n

Angel, having an alter ego who excelled in playing people off against each other, cottoned onto exactly what the prisoner was doing. \u201cYou\u2019ll just make it harder on yourself,\u201d he warned in a deceptively soft voice and she grinned, easily reading between the lines. She was enjoying riling the slayer way too much to be bothered by the outcome.<\/p>\n

\u201cI hope so,\u201d the assassin commented, her voice an octave lower and hazel irises dropping from his face to scan his muscled form. \u201cI really can\u2019t wait till I retire, this business crap is starting to cut into way too much of my down time,\u201d she murmured with a touch of feigned annoyance.<\/p>\n

The vampire\u2019s gaze blackened even as his body unexpectedly reacted to the sensual sweep of her eyes. \u201cYou\u2019re a professional?\u201d His brain clicked into over-drive as he recalled where the first arrow had hit, his hand unconsciously came up to carefully touch the healing but tender injury. \u201cYou were hired,\u201d not a question, just fact.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, I\u2019m here for the good of my health.\u201d Ronin casually remarked, \u201cWhich is pretty sweet, no thanks to you two\u201d<\/p>\n

His hand went to his sore throat. \u201cCould say the same to you. Nice move, by the way\u201d he couldn\u2019t resist a slight smile of admiration and She beamed genuinely at his praise, while Buffy rolled her eyes in disbelief.<\/p>\n

\u201cThanks. Took me a while to catch on ya know, but I think I got it now\u201d<\/p>\n

How Angel held back his chuckle, he didn\u2019t know. To say she\u2019d gotten it was an understatement. His windpipe still felt like it had been crushed by a vice. \u201cYou\u2019re a professional mercenary, a hitman\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Ronin looked positively outraged. \u201cHit person<\/i>, if you please. The word hitman is very offensive, not to mention sexist\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAlright!\u201d Buffy\u2019s irritated voice snapped through the conversation like a whip. What the hell was going on here? Had Angel forgotten what this bitch had tried to do? \u201cLet\u2019s get on with it! Are you here on a personal vendetta or has someone hired you?” She got no answer. “Which is it?\u201d Her face and tone brooked no argument.<\/p>\n

The brunette pretended to think, \u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d she drawled. \u201cThat whack you gave musta disturbed my memory. Try coin tossing\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTell you what, you keep this up and I\u2019ll un-disturb your memory,\u201d The slayer threatened. \u201cHow\u2019s that?\u201d This time, even Giles glanced reprovingly at his slayer.<\/p>\n

Ronin\u2019s posture tensed and Angel, seeing the dark look glazing the assassin\u2019s eyes, stiffened in preparation to protect Buffy even as he thought his ex needed to work on her interrogation techniques.<\/p>\n

\u201cTell you what Goldilocks, how\u2019s about you open this cage and let me snap your neck instead?\u201d She took a step forward, her eyes never leaving the blonde\u2019s for a second.<\/p>\n

Buffy was everything daring and challenging. \u201cTry it.\u201d She could do with a bit extra exercise; those earlier vampires hadn\u2019t quite cut it when it came to taking away the sexual tension. Angel wasn\u2019t ready to take what they had to the next level; at least that was what he told her. So why not burn the excess energy off by putting this bitch into the ground?<\/p>\n

She inwardly shrugged off the pang of conscience that was screaming Slayers don\u2019t kill humans. Pride shoved aside all thoughts of right and wrong at her nerves since they had the misfortune of coming across her.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnytime.\u201d Ronin had a deliciously lethal combination move that had the slayer\u2019s name all over it. Or maybe she would just put a bullet in the back of her head, execution style. Choices, choices.<\/p>\n

\u201cGiles, key, now.\u201d The blonde held her hand out.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am sorry, Buffy, but I will not condone such violence from either of you.\u201d Especially not from slayer-to-human, the man thought in all seriousness. Addressing the mercenary, \u201cWe have a few simple questions we\u2019d like answered, that is all\u201d<\/p>\n

Sincerity, real or otherwise, shone in Ronin\u2019s features as she shifted warily, \u201cJust questions?\u201d She looked to her target for confirmation. For a second, the girl seemed vulnerable, and the men\u2019s hearts softened inexplicably.<\/p>\n

Angel held submissive hands up, \u201cNothing more\u201d he assured her, pointedly taking a step back from the cage.<\/p>\n

\u201cFine.\u201d Buffy\u2019s voice was tight, everything about her screamed she wanted to do it her way but after receiving warning glares from both watcher and vampire, she put a lid on her temper. For now. Couldn\u2019t they see the prisoner was playing them? Geez, men were such suckers for a pretty face, she should know.<\/p>\n

\u201cThen I want out, I don\u2019t much care for being a PoW.\u201d Ronin curled her hands around the bars and gave then a tug. The sooner she was on the other side, the better, she thought darkly.<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

Ronin rubbed her wrists of the soreness caused by the binds used by her captors when they carted her here as her trained brain covered all possible escape plots. \u201cOkay, you got questions. Spill.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWho are you?\u201d Angel went first, not approaching for fear of getting too close to the woman who made him look like a fool. What kind of vampire gets his ass kicked by a human female? Okay fair enough, Buffy was human, but enhanced, and that made a big difference, Angel reminded himself.<\/p>\n

\u201cWho do you want me to be?\u201d She winked and he growled, involuntarily thinking about it, then abruptly pulling his thoughts out of his pants. Giles took a calming breath while Buffy remained quiet, her expression fulminous. \u201cKidding. Call me Ronin\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFitting,\u201d the vampire muttered. \u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBecause I think your head, if it didn\u2019t turn to dust, would look great on my wall\u201d<\/p>\n

The blonde threw her hands up, \u201cThis is a waste of time\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTell me about it,\u201d Ronin rolled her eyes and popped a feline smirk at the very unimpressed girl.<\/p>\n

Giles set about cleaning his glasses while never removing his gaze from the assassin. \u201cNeed I remind you of the people around you? It would be in your best interests to answer the questions\u201d her warned, getting annoyed with the smart little madam.<\/p>\n

The mercenary shivered in mock fear. \u201cIn that case, you should also be reminded of what it is you captured\u201d the warning volleyed back effortlessly.<\/p>\n

\u201cA killer, that\u2019s what.\u201d Buffy snapped, taking a quick step forward- and found herself once again restrained by Angel. \u201cWhat do you think you\u2019re doing? She was going to murder us!\u201d She reminded Angel, who continued to hold on grimly.<\/p>\n

\u201cBroken record.\u201d Ronin murmured, \u201cYou don\u2019t have to keep stating the obvious, babe. Everyone knows what I was, and am, gonna do\u201d she responded causally.<\/p>\n

Icy blue orbs turned deadly, \u201cI don\u2019t think so\u201d Was this girl up herself or what? As if she could take on a Slayer. Hello? Who laid her out cold earlier? Maybe the bitch needed reminding of that fact, she thought angrily.<\/p>\n

The brunette shrugged, \u201cYou think that if it gives you comfort, Slayer.\u201d She was already dreaming of handing the blonde to hell in a hand basket. That was truly a nice thought, even if she had turned down the bonus.<\/p>\n

Buffy tensed and was now literally ready to blow. \u201cThat\u2019s it. I\u2019m done talking\u2026\u201d She yanked at her arms and growled when the vampire\u2019s grip refuse to loosen.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah well, I\u2019m not.\u201d Angel growled and spun a heavy, warning filled stare towards his would-be murderer. \u201cYou obviously came here with a purpose, which is to kill us, but what I wanna know is why?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy do you think, Vampire?\u201d Ronin sprang from her chair and everybody tensed for an attack. \u201cI\u2019m doing a job, just like she does\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not a killer.\u201d The slayer ground out and finally managed to yank her wrist free of Angel\u2019s vice-like grip. Since when did he get stronger than her all of a sudden, she wondered for a moment, before focussing on the other girl again.<\/p>\n

The hazel eyes shone with unrivalled hatred, \u201cSo slayers aren\u2019t killers?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo!\u201d Buffy defended her calling with loyalty. The patent disbelief in Ronin\u2019s voice had Angel frowning as he wondered what had made her think like that about Slayers. Then again, if Buffy kept on retaliating the way she was, even he\u2019d start questioning her ethics.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf I\u2019d have stated I was a demon, or a half-breed, what would have been the first thing you\u2019d do?\u201d Ronin quizzed with a knowing smirk. \u201cThought so,\u201d was the reply after the other girl remained silent. \u201cI\u2019ve answered your questions\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou smell human,\u201d Angel\u2019s voice startled the mercenary into jumping back away from him. He made a show of inhaling deeply, an arrogant gleam washed over his handsome face as he watched her expression darken.<\/p>\n

\u201cClever me\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou look human, too\u201d<\/p>\n

This time, it was Ronin with an arrogant gleam. \u201cAnd you don\u2019t?\u201d<\/p>\n

Angel decided that the girl was obviously lying. If she\u2019d been other than human, he\u2019d know. He was sure of it. But why she would lie, he had no idea.<\/p>\n

\u201cDemons are different,\u201d Buffy finally replied, her expression a knowing one. \u201cThey\u2019re evil, and don\u2019t deserve to live\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThinks a lot of you<\/i>, doesn\u2019t she?\u201d Ronin purred and slyly eyed the vampire who flicked an irritated look at the slayer. \u201cNow me, under different circumstances of course\u2026\u201d Hazel eyes melted suddenly, the shining irises told him more than what she realised, and he couldn\u2019t stop the burst of heat at her implication.<\/p>\n

The atmosphere between assassin and mark intensified, the tension simmered; the reactions seen by the slayer and watcher. Buffy stood, momentarily agape, staring from Ronin to Angel, and not liking the electricity that seemed to singe her.<\/p>\n

Stepping in to diffuse it, Buffy caught the girl\u2019s gaze with furious eyes. \u201cSomeone hired you to kill Angel. Who?\u201d The question was ground out with more patience than she felt. She was dying to simply hit the girl and get it over with, maybe then her vampire would realise the bitch wasn\u2019t half of what she made herself out to be.<\/p>\n

The fact that she\u2019d implied being a demon shook away any last vestiges of conscience where killing the bitch was concerned. After all, Buffy reasoned stubbornly, weren\u2019t all demons evil? Belatedly, she threw an apologetic grimace Angel\u2019s way, and was peeved to see his attention was still entirely focused on the assassin.<\/p>\n

Ronin remained quiet, ignoring both the vampire\u2019s intent gaze and the blonde\u2019s questions, instead checking out her well-manicured nails nonchalantly.<\/p>\n

Patience was not a virtue Buffy was known for and the minimal amount she\u2019d just shown, snapped like a twig. \u201cI asked you a question, now answer it.\u201d<\/p>\n

The brunette simply raised a finely arched eyebrow. \u201cYou can ask all the questions you want Slayer, but I retain the right to ignore them.\u201d Her reply was almost smug and uncaring.<\/p>\n

Buffy\u2019s small and deceptively weak fist rose, the aim dead-on for the girl\u2019s face, but again a strong hand was curled round her arm and forcefully lowered to her side. \u201cWhat are you doing?\u201d Buffy wanted to scream in fury at his interference and the unflinching bitch in front of her.<\/p>\n

\u201cStopping you from proving her right,\u201d Angel replied and let go, only to step back when he felt he could without the hotheaded slayer going for her again.<\/p>\n

Ronin smirked, \u201cClever boy,\u201d refusing to back away or drop the grin when he advanced silently.<\/p>\n

\u201cStart talking.\u201d Unlike Buffy, Angel\u2019s temper was subtle and a lot less predictable. Something which the assassin actually found a little intimidating. It was a strange sensation, as she couldn\u2019t recall a time when she\u2019d ever felt intimidated.<\/p>\n

She liked it.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m confused,\u201d Ronin\u2019s blinking eyes went from vampire to slayer to watcher. \u201cWas that a request?\u201d<\/p>\n

Having had more than enough of the smart-assed remarks, Buffy moved past Angel before he had time to react and hit the other girl hard.<\/p>\n

Her knuckles collided with Ronin\u2019s cheekbone in a swift and painful backhander, which sent her to the floor. Unprepared for the lash back, the slayer stared arrogantly down at the fallen girl only to feel a boot connect with her stomach.<\/p>\n

Ronin sprung to her feet lithely and couldn\u2019t have cared less about the injured slayer as she repeated her kick viciously, this time to the spine. \u201cNext time, that\u2019ll be your face,\u201d she promised in a low but soft voice.<\/p>\n

Arms were flung around the suddenly upright slayer as Angel in turn trapped the mercenary, locking her arms to her side by banding powerful arms around her midriff, using all his considerable strength to hold her still as Giles struggled with Buffy. One girl was mutely daring, while the other spat and hissed like an annoyed cat, until she was swung away from the brunette.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou alright?\u201d Angel asked, when he felt an almost imperceptive flinch as his arms tightened around her, surprising himself by feeling genuinely concerned for the girl who was hired to assassinate him.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust been hit by a slayer, I\u2019m fine and dandy. Might wanna check on her though.\u201d The deadly seriousness in her voice had the vampire immediately letting go, his attention directed towards Buffy and his mistake was made.<\/p>\n

Angel immediately clicked on to the fact he\u2019d left a professional assassin unguarded and quickly spun back round, his eyes lighting up with pure shock and panic as he saw the unpinned grenade in Ronin\u2019s place.<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

Once outside the library, Ronin dusted herself off and, on seeing the brilliant flash of light, made her way out with a satisfied grin.<\/p>\n

TBC…<\/b><\/p>\n

Scorched<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Title: Ronin Author: Scorch Posted: Aug 17 2005 Email Rating: N-17 eventually Category: AU Content: C\/A with slight mentions of B\/A & C\/S…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[25],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8199","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-to-be-continued-fic"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8199","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8199"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8199\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8199"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8199"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8199"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}