Testing the Limits
Author: Ash
ash_j66@hotmail.com
Disclaimer: Not mine. I wish. Well, sometimes. Anyway, most things in this story belong to The Buffy People.
Distribution: TPWFLD and anyone who wants it and asks.
Feedback: Would be really appreciated.
Rating: G? I think, anyway.

Dedication: To Renee, because I meant to last time and I'm an idiot. *g* Forgive me? And speaking of forgiveness... I'm *so* sorry, Robin. As always, this entire series is dedicated to you, Goddess. :-)


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

art 1

< Should I tell her? > Willow looked over at Buffy. The sudden advent of a demon that thrived on fear had led to an informal research party. The Slayer was hunched over a book, trying valiantly to read the text half hidden in the elaborate borders. She looked very young. And very fragile. Angelus' coming had put more of a strain on her than anyone. < Well, except possibly me. But that was sort of my own fault. No. I shouldn't tell her. >

An hour later, Willow looked up at Buffy from the ground. The blonde's hair was matted with blood and her arms were scratched from the claws of the demon. His opalescent green body lay several feet behind her, the driving rain washing away the ichor that leaked from the beast. She looked somewhat less fragile. < Especially since I just saw her beat a demon to death with a hockey stick. Hmm... Maybe I should tell her. >

"C'mon Will." Buffy helped her up. "Let's go inform the others that we came, I slew, and now they get clean up duty."

"Well, I didn't really do anything..." < Wait. I'm being pursued-caught? Controlled? Something anyway, something not good.-by a bloodthirsty demon, and now I'm trying to talk myself *into* clean up? Nu-uh. > Turning to Buffy, she smiled. "You're right. They can do the cleaning up."

The blonde grinned at her. "I knew you'd see the light. And while they do the icky, wanna come over to my house? We can watch movies, talk..." < Talk? Talking is good. Unless talking leads to *talking*. In which case all of my friends will die and I'll suffer horribly. Which would be less good.> A look at the rapidly dimming sky made Willow's decision easier.

"Sorry... I have to get home. It's getting dark."

Buffy nodded approvingly. "Now, why can't everyone in Sunnydale feel that way? It would make my job *so* much easier. No problem! I'll tell the guys where the body is, and then I'll come over." < No! That's not what I meant! How can I get out of this? >

The headlights of a passing car washed over the two girls, briefly illuminating the park and the corpse thinly veiled by the sheets of rain. "And I'd better hurry! The police are pretty oblivious, but I don't want to push their stupidity too far! See you soon!"

"But, but..." Willow's incoherent objections were said to Buffy's quickly retreating back. "Oh, this is just *perfect*!"

Despite the water running down her neck, her steps were slow as she walked towards her house. Her mind was turning over scenario after scenario of how this evening could go. None of them were hopeful. < Angelus isn't going to like this. > Her brow furrowed. < Why do I care? > She stopped dead in her tracks. "No." Her voice was lost in the thunder that crashed overhead. "I'm NOT going to give in. I'm going to find a way out of it." She resumed walking with her mind in turmoil, determined to find some way of escape. Escape from Angelus and escape from the situation.

Most of all, she wanted to escape from the part of her that had accepted it. The part that when she asked "Why do I care?" had answered "Because I'm his."

*****

Buffy sprinted through the rain, leaving Willow behind. She could hear her saying "But... but..." < If I don't get out of here quick, she'll come up with some excuse. > Picking up her pace, she was out of earshot in a matter of seconds. < Whew. She's been being way too antisocial every since... > Her mind shied away from the memory of Willow lying on the floor, her skin as pale as parchment. < Tonight will be just the thing! We can watch movies, girl talk and order in pizza... >

Turning a corner, she caught sight of the rest of the gang crouched surreptitiously behind a Dumpster. It would have been more effective if the axe hadn't been poking out on top.

Waving her hands, she walked towards them. "It's all right! We found the beastie, and I killed it. Now you guys get cleanup."

There was some minor grumbling. "Where's Willow?" Cordelia's voice was strident. "If *I* have to do this..."

"She helped me." Buffy's tone allowed for no dispute. "She went home, and now I'm going over to join her."

She turned to repeat her successful unequivocal-statement-and-run procedure, but paused. "Oh yeah. The body's in the park." She disappeared into the gathering darkness, leaving behind some very wet and bitter friends. Hoisting the axe, Giles sighed. "Right then. Off we go."

Buffy slowed to a walk. < I don't think I could get much wetter, and I don't want to draw any attention. > As she drew closer to Willow's house, she felt the presence of a vampire nearby and tensed in readiness. With malicious optimism she hoped that it was the same vampire that had attacked her friend. < Now what did she say he looked like? Oh yeah. Short, stocky and balding... >

Her sharp eyes searched the area, looking for anyone lurking suspiciously. < Sucking blood from someone would be a tip off too. > She saw no one.

This is not to say that there was no one there.

From the shadows under the balcony, Angelus watched the Slayer looking for him. < Tsk, tsk. I do hope my new pet hasn't done anything foolish. Something like telling the Slayer about the *special* relationship we have... > His lips parted in a wolfish grin. < I'd have to punish her. >

Looking out from her window, Willow saw Buffy standing in the middle of the road. < Oh *please* just have lost something... > As she watched, the Slayer surreptitiously slid a stake from her shoulder bag, palming it. < Damn. >

A dark figure moved silently under her window, walking towards Buffy. Willow didn't need to see his face. < Angelus.>

Not knowing what she was going to do, knowing only that she had to do *something*, she ran out on the balcony. Angelus was almost behind Buffy now. < I should scream, warn her, but... If he knows, he'll... If I don't, she'll die! If I do, I'll die! >

Put like that, the choice was easy.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

art Two

"Buffy!" The name was torn from Willow's throat with the urgency of a dying scream. Even as she threw the warning out into the storm, she knew that she might have earned a slow and painful death at the hands of her "master".

If she angered him enough he might use one of the two ways to get out of the spell without becoming Buffy's slave. Either kill Buffy before he killed her, or just torture Willow *nearly* to death and have some other minion do the actual killing. < Neither sounds good. >

Two heads whipped around at once, two pairs of eyes found her slender figure silhouetted against the light of her window, arms raised in warning or supplication. Yellow eyes burned into Willow with incandescent rage, piercing the rain-clouded distance between them to deliver a clear message. You will pay for this.

Turning her head towards Willow's voice, Buffy caught sight of a dark figure close behind her. Backing away quickly, her eyes widened as she recognized the marble white face turning towards her. < Angel. > Slipping easily into a combative stance she glanced quickly back towards the balcony, silently urging Willow to go back inside.

"Buffy." Angelus' tone was achingly polite.

"Angelus. What are *you* doing here?" A flicker of surprise ran over his features before he snuffed it out. Brown eyes darted briefly towards the figure still frozen above them, hands gripping the balcony rail as she strained to hear.

When he spoke again his voice had a lighter note to it, almost as if a weight had been lifted off his shoulders. "Why, following you of course. Why else would I be here, lover?"

Buffy eyed him suspiciously. The words were right... But something was different. "Stay away from here. Stay away from my friends."

Feigning surprise, he looked around. "Are we near one of your friends? Oh yes. The little redhead."

"You stay away from Willow!" A fleeting thought distracted her from the strangeness that she still couldn't identify. < Her mystery assailant... > "You haven't... done anything to her, have you?"

Elongated teeth gleamed whitely as he smiled. "Nothing. Why, do you think I should?"

< He'd never pass up the chance to hurt me... He must not have been the one. > It was then that she pinpointed the thing that had been bothering her. < He's standing so far away. > Using his body as an implied threat was one of Angelus' trademarks. Every time they met he'd move as close to her as he could, taunting her with his likeness to her lover. This time he was a fair distance off.

Testing, Buffy took a step towards him. His tall frame stiffened, and his eyes glazed slightly. With puzzled fascination she took another step. A grimace as if of pain twisted his even features, before he shifted to demon face.

A faint growl rumbled from his throat as he watched her movements through unnatural eyes. "You didn't answer me, lover. Do you think I *should* do something to Willow?"

She glared up at him, her murderous expression momentarily lit by one of the periodic flashes of lightning. Her attention quickly shifted to the possible threat to her friend, shoving her curiosity about Angelus' strange behavior to the back of her mind as she moved to stand between him and Willow's house. "You touch her, and I *will* kill you. Do you understand?"

Willow's breath came in sharp gasps as she leaned forward to hear his reply, leaning at a dangerous angle over the rail. Red hair soaked almost to black by the rain was wind-whipped into tangles that flew wildly about her white face, emerald eyes huge and pleading. "Please don't tell her. Please. " The words were whispered under her breath, the faint sound crushed under the screaming of the wind and the ceaseless percussion of the water falling from the sky.

Angelus' posture straightened as the distance from Buffy became tolerable, demonic ridges smoothing once more into his pale skin. His smile was lost in the thickening sheets of rain, but his mocking half-bow was still clearly visible. "Of course, m'lady. Your wish is my command." As he drew himself back to his full height, he glanced upwards at the true recipient of his message.

"Thank you." Willow's legs trembled beneath her as she whispered her thanks. The fact that she had just "betrayed" Angelus came back to her with sickening clarity. Closing her eyes, she tried to fight off the encroaching darkness. < This is shock again, isn't it? > Even her thoughts were fuzzy and ill defined.

She leaned more of her weight on the narrow rail, hands clenching the wood tightly. Struggling to take deep breaths, she forced her eyes open and tried to focus on the scene below. < So what if I just committed suicide? Need to make sure it wasn't for nothing... > The two figures remained, standing far apart. Both were in a combative stance. She heard her friend's traditional witty banter through the rushing of the wind and the blood pounding through her veins.

With relief akin to hysteria, she heard Angelus' parting shot. With a vicious inflection he purred "You'll be seeing me soon..." to both of the girls watching him and faded away into the darkness. Through foggy eyes she watched him for as long as he was in sight. < I'm sure I will. > With his departure, the loss of immediate danger allowed Willow's head to clear. She was able to push her fears to the back of her mind and gather up enough sense to go inside.

She shivered as she stepped onto the carpet, the warm dry room a harsh contrast to the deluge outside. It was only now that she was fully conscious of the cold clamminess of her clothes as they clung to her skin and the water that trickled down her face from her waterlogged hair, replacing the tears that she couldn't afford to cry.

Quickly running downstairs, she threw open the front door just after the first knock came. Letting in her similarly soaked friend, they exchanged speaking glances. With a wry smile, Buffy took hold of the bottom of her shirt and wrung it out. "How about we get into some dry clothes, and *then* we do the girl-talk thing."

With great relief, Willow nodded. "Sounds like a plan." < Girl-talk, movies... Probably for the last time. No! Don't think about that now. I did what I had to do and I'll have to deal with that. After Buffy is gone I'll try to think of a plan. Something that'll keep *both* of us alive. >

Another possibility arose from the depths of her fear. He might not choose to *kill* her... Her imagination painted vivid images of dark blood staining pale skin on the canvas behind her eyes while her muscles shuddered at the almost felt sensations of future pain. < Keeping me... un-bloodied would also be good. But alive is the main priority. >

Keeping her face turned away from Buffy, Willow blinked away the insistent tears. With a heroic effort, she smiled tremulously as she turned around.

"What do you want to watch first?"


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

art Three

"Aw..." The sound that came from both girls was half-sigh and half-whimper as the final credits rolled. "The King and I" claimed two more victims with its mixture of almost-love and tragedy.

"But... No!" Willow's eyes were shiny and wet.

"I know..." Buffy looked down at the floor.

"Are they allowed to end a musical that way? I mean, they get us all sucked in with all the songs and the... the pageantry, and then, boom!"

"Let's not dwell on it." Buffy sniffed audibly. "I know, let's talk!" Her tone was determined.

Still contemplating the movie, Willow was caught off guard. "Sure. What about?"

"You."

< Uh oh. > "Me? What about me? I'm a boring subject. So, so boring. "

"Willow. I *know* what's going on."

"You do?"

"Yes. I know you're worried about how to deal with him. "

< Just a touch. And this is not a happy new development! He'll never believe that I didn't tell her... He can't find out or she'll die! And then Xander will die, and then it all goes downhill from there! > "Please stay out of this, Buffy! It's between him and me. I started it. And I'll finish it."

An expression of hurt puzzlement clouded Buffy's eyes. "But I'm your best friend! If you can't talk to me about guys, who *can* you talk to?"

< Guys? That's an interesting way to- > Willow's thoughts were interrupted as Buffy continued. "And besides, why are you thinking about finishing it with Oz?"

< Oz? Oz! > "Oh! Oh. Yes, you're right. I was wrong. I don't know what I was thinking. Of *course* I can talk to you about guys. All guys. The entire male gender in fact. "

Eyeing Willow warily, Buffy leaned back on the bed. "Uh-huh. So why are you thinking about breaking up with Oz?"

"Oh, I'm not- " < Wait! I am. In fact, I pretty much have to break up with him. > "-I'm not feeling like it's working out."

Rolling her eyes, the blonde patted her friend on the shoulder reassuringly. "That's not a reason. Those are just nerves. You're just not used to being in a relationship with a guy."

< Hah! I'm now in a pretty permanent relationship with a guy. Granted, it's not exactly what I had in mind, but it is "Until death do you part..." I just wish it wasn't almost guaranteed to be *my* death! My slow, painful... Buffy's looking at me.> "What?" She offered up a tentative smile, hoping that it looked less fake then it felt.

"You looked pretty spaced for a minute there." A sly smile blossomed on Buffy's face as she regarded her friend. "Trust me, if a guy makes you zoom off into the stratosphere like that, you should *not* break up with him."

Slayer strength was put to impromptu use for the next few minutes, as Buffy had to bang Willow repeatedly on the back to keep her from choking on her soda.

*****

Any hopes Angelus had that the Slayer would only be a minor disruption to his plans died around the time the eighth spontaneous musical number wafted out through the half-open bedroom window.

Controlling his irritation with some difficulty, he left her house, ranging far enough afield that even the Slayer's heightened senses couldn't hear the muffled scream that his victim got out before Angelus' teeth ripped his throat open. The liquid was foul by comparison to the ambrosial sweetness that still lingered from his last taste of Willow's blood. With a growl of disgust he flung the man away, the partially drained body falling against the alley wall with a crack of broken bones.

< How dare she warn the Slayer! I could have beaten Buffy's head in before she realized I was behind her. Not smart, Willow. Not smart at all. > Somewhere in the back of his mind Angelus knew that killing Buffy would have broken the "curse" and freed Willow from him. At the moment logic was drowned under a boiling tide of thwarted hunger.

Walking back to Willow's house with steps quickened by anger, he swung himself up to the overhanging roof with practiced ease. Moving silently he took up a station by the window again, arriving just in time to hear the Slayer's high pitched voice say "...I know you're worried about how to deal with him." < Has Willow decided that honesty is the best policy after all? She's just begging for pain tonight. >

"Please stay out of this, Buffy! It's between him and me. I started it. And I'll finish it." < Good girl. But doesn't she know that it will *never* be finished? Hope springs eternal. >

"But I'm your best friend! If you can't talk to me about guys, who *can* you talk to? And besides, why are you thinking about finishing it with Oz?" Angelus leant his forehead against the wall and closed his eyes as his shoulders shook with helpless laughter. < Trust Buffy to get it almost exactly wrong. >

"Oh! Oh. Yes, you're right. I was wrong. I don't know what I was thinking. Of *course* I can talk to you about guys. All guys. The entire male gender in fact. "

"Uh-huh. So why are you thinking about breaking up with Oz?"

"Oh, I'm not-- I'm not feeling like it's working out." Dark eyes narrowed in the shadows as he caught the hesitation.

"That's not a reason. Those are just nerves. You're just not used to being in a relationship with a guy." < How sweet. Willow's having nerves. I can help with those... >

There was a long silence. Curious, Angelus moved surreptitiously over to the balcony. Looking carefully inside, he saw that Willow was staring off into space while Buffy watched her with worrying intensity. < She suspects something. She just doesn't know what. >

He watched as the weight of Buffy's attention shook Willow out of her thoughts. "What?" His plaything's voice was querulous even though she made a visible effort to appear carefree.

"You looked pretty spaced for a minute there." The Slayer's voice was amused. "Trust me, if a guy makes you zoom off into the stratosphere like that, you should *not* break up with him."

Grinning, Angelus leapt easily down to the ground. Looking up at the lighted window, he raised two fingers to his head in a mock salute and spoke in a low tone. "Not that I was planning on giving her the option of leaving, but thanks for the vote of confidence, Buffy."

He strolled away down the street, his good humor partially restored by the appealing irony of the Slayer pleading his cause. Besides, she had just inspired the idea for an appealing avenue of instruction. Something that would chastise Willow without breaking her. He smiled to himself as he made his way to the center of town. < I wonder if he's performing at the Bronze tonight... >


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

art Four

"So, how *are* things going with you and Oz?" Buffy's innocent question jolted Willow out of the pleasant stupor brought on by over consumption of chocolate.

"Um..." Desperately she tried to think of an answer that hovered somewhere above outright lying < Or my face will turn bright red and she'll know something's wrong and then she'll keep asking questions and- must avoid that.>

The shrill ringing of the phone cut through Willow's franticly fluttering thoughts. She lunged for the handset with barely concealed relief.

"Hello?"

"Willow." The muscles in her throat tightened with the effort of not screaming. Though there seemed to be some distortion on the line, Angelus' voice was vibrating with humor. < He isn't angry? Why isn't he angry? I mean, not that I want him to be angry, but he *should*... >

"Willow? Who is it?" Buffy unfolded from the chair and walked toward her, concerned as her friend continued to stand silently with the phone pressed to her ear.

"It's..." Her voice trailed off.

"Tell her it's Oz." An audible smirk twined through his words like a creeping vine. Willow felt like she was choking on it, but obeyed him without thinking.

Buffy's face split in a delighted grin, bouncing slightly on the balls of her feet she began to move towards the door. "I'll give you some privacy-"

"No!" The cry burst from the redhead without conscious intent. < Don't leave me alone with him, with his voice and I can't hang up and I can't get away...>

The Slayer stopped in her tracks and looked at Willow oddly. "Are you all right?"

Angelus' voice was cold. "Cover the phone with your hand and tell her that you're fine. And Willow... I'll still be able to hear you."

Covering the phone with her hand, Willow turned to face her concerned friend. "I'm fine Buffy. I'm just..." She mouthed the last word soundlessly. "..shy."

Reassured, Buffy grinned with understanding as she settled back into her chair. Picking up a magazine, she leafed through it in a determined attempt not to listen.

Willow lifted the receiver to her ear, turning away from Buffy. For a second she couldn't say anything, the sick feeling in her chest was paralyzing her. < Buffy's here and all the lights are on and he can still get to me, I'm not safe I'll never be safe He's- >

"I can hear you breathing." The words were pitched in a low intimate tone, his casual presumption of a closeness forced in blood and darkness jarringly out of place in this cozy room. Willow stared at the shining lamp on her desk with sightless eyes, mind focused on a shadow too far away for the lamplight to drive away.

For the sake of Buffy's ostentatiously non-listening ears, Willow tried to force a normal tone. "So... How are you doing?"

A quiet chuckle resonated down the line. "I'm fine, Willow. Except for one little thing..."

"O-oh?"

"It seems one of my favorite dolls hasn't learned the rules of the game yet." His voice was smooth, no trace of anger showing through.

"-"

"It's quite a shame, really. She's such a pretty one too, with porcelain skin and red silk for hair... Say 'Really?', doll. We don't want Buffy to get suspicious."

Somehow Willow choked out the word. "Really?"

"Yes, really. I love your skin, doll. Love the way it looks when the light shines on it, love the way it feels under my hands... Most of all, I love how close it is to being transparent. I can see the blood beating against it when you blush, and you always do."

Her breath was coming a little faster now, and she swallowed, bringing another chuckle from the other end of the line. She spoke quickly, without thinking. "That's interesting!" Mentally she banged her head against the wall. < Stupid, stupid stupid! >

"It is, isn't it? I'm glad you find it interesting, because you really should. I spent hours thinking about what I could do to you, you know. Hours and hours, running it over in my mind." His voice lowered even farther, making her strain to hear. "I thought about how nice it would be if you crawled to me... Thought about all the things I could do to you. Thought about all the ways you could make it up to me for your betrayal..."

"I didn't-!" Willow cut off the instinctive denial at Buffy's startled glance. "I mean, I didn't do that."

"No?" For the first time she heard the anger simmering in his voice, before he quickly restrained it. "You don't have to be afraid, Willow. I love your skin too much to bruise it... scar it... burn my name into it so you never forget who you belong to again. "

She gulped. "You won't?" < Less than reassured! >

"I won't." She slumped with relief. "But... This isn't to say that it's just forgotten, doll. You made the wrong choice and you have to be taught a lesson." Sly amusement crept into his voice. "And I think I just spotted the perfect thing to use..."

"What? Where are you?" The questions gushed from her, propelled by a sudden dread.

"Now, now. You don't get to ask the questions, I do. It's all part of the rules of the game. Follow the rules, and I *might* give you a hint."

The silence stretched out into minutes as she waited. Finally, her patience snapped.

"What's the question?"

She realized her mistake a split-second before the dial tone hit her ears. < Noohnoohnononononono. >

Willow stood clutching the receiver to her ear, frozen with shock. < Got to think, got to- Aha! > Dialing *69, she was automatically connected to the last number that called. The phone rang.

Once.

Twice.

Three times.

"Hello?" The voice was young, male and totally unfamiliar. She could hear music playing behind him, rhythmic beat reverberating down the phone line.

"Um... Hello? This may sound strange, but where is this phone?"

"This is the Bronze! Who're you looking for again?"

"Uh, who's the band tonight?"

There was no reply from the other end.

"Hello?"

There was something that might have been a moan, and then another voice came on the line. "No questions, Willow. I'm afraid I had to give you a penalty for that one... But don't worry, he was nobody you knew."

Her eyes closed and mouth opened as she gasped in an agony all the more painful for being silent. < Dead, my fault all my fault, he didn't do anything nothing just answered the phone... >

"Time for another test, doll. For the sake of the rest of the idiots in here, I hope you learn quickly."

Click.

Buzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

/HTML>