Date of Doom

[lisacuddy.livejournal.com]

Lisa stands in front of her mirror, smoothing the silky black material of her dress. She blots away at her lipstick for the tenth time in the past two minutes, and then backs away from the vanity.

"It's a date. It is just a date. No big deal. Just two friends. Right, Lisa."

She grabs her purse and lingers at small box on the coffeetable. She grabs the delicate, silver cross necklace inside, and tucks it into her bra. She doesn't want to wear it, but she promised Liz. She double checks her cell phone battery and sits down on Wallace's bed to wait for Angelus to arrive.

Comments

[notstakedyet.livejournal.com]

Angelus showed up at Cuddy's door. He was wearing black slacks, a deep purple button-down shirt, and a black suit coat. On the odd chance anyone was watching, he took a moment to smooth out any stray wrinkles and look for all the world like someone gathering his courage.

He knocked. Then immediately said "Don't say 'come in'."

[lisacuddy.livejournal.com]

Lisa stood up and cocked her head. She called through the door...

"What do you suggest I say, then?"

[notstakedyet.livejournal.com]

"Uh - hi," he suggested. "Nice to see you... looking all wooden and like whatever you've got on the other side of this. I just don't want you giving me an invitation. Not yet. I should earn that."

[lisacuddy.livejournal.com]

"Oh, will you stop it!"

Lisa opens the door, with a wrap around her shoulders and her purse in her hands. She smiles at Angelus, and then impulsively stands on her toes and gives him a quick kiss on the cheek.

"So, where are you taking me? We could hang out in the doorway all night, since you don't want to come in..."

[notstakedyet.livejournal.com]

He beamed at the kiss, stepping back so that she had enough room to stand in the hallway. "Well - coffee. That says coffee shop or diner to me. I've been to the diner, it seems pretty nice." He paused. "You - you look great by the way. Wow."

[lisacuddy.livejournal.com]

"You don't look too bad yourself. Coffee sounds great, or food, or whatever. I mean, I could eat."

She giggles in a helpless, little breath.

"Sorry, I'm a little nervous."

[notstakedyet.livejournal.com]

"That's okay," he grinned at her. "Me too. Been a long time since I've done anything like this. Here - " he held his arm out for her to take if she wanted " - I'm pretty sure this is the part where we walk. We can pick a destination when we get there."

[lisacuddy.livejournal.com]

She takes his arm and gives him a soft smile.

"That sounds good. It is a gorgeous night; I love fall nights like this. Especially today the air seems so refreshing - did it seem like the entire campus was on edge today, or was it just me?"

[notstakedyet.livejournal.com]

"Nope, not just you," reminded, he looked around, actually checking for any signs of strangeness. "Something's up, but I don't know what. Not my talent, unfortunately."

[lisacuddy.livejournal.com]

"Well, whatever it is, I am staying away from the Clinic," she laughed. "So, tell me about yourself. I mean, anything that you're comfortable with..."

[notstakedyet.livejournal.com]

"Huh, let's see," he said as he held a door open for her. "Told you about the new job. You already know I go to Fandom High. Umm - I like drawing, ballet, and not being turned into dust by sunlight?"

[lisacuddy.livejournal.com]

"I guess if we go out a second time, a trip to the tanning salon is out. Do you dance? My mother made me take lessons when I was a child, said it would make me more graceful. You can see how well that worked out."

[notstakedyet.livejournal.com]

"Actually I do," he said. "Admittedly only the old-fashioned stuff. Haven't really had a chance to learn anything new." Hesitantly, he added, "Not like that's going to matter for Homecoming, I guess."

[notstakedyet.livejournal.com]

A feeling of deja vu - or maybe it was just the vampire version of spidey-sense - made Angelus pause. He frowned, scanning the horizon. Now even he felt like something was up, except...

Wait, was that a familiar figure (http://www.livejournal.com/community/fandomtownies/86358.html)?

[lisacuddy.livejournal.com]

Lisa turned to him quizzically, still clutching his arm. "What's up?'

[notstakedyet.livejournal.com]

"Don't know," Angelus admitted, his demeanor a bit stronger and more purposeful than the hesitant schoolboy he'd been emulating before. However, since to his mind Cuddy was his, this came out as him being protective of her. "Something's up. It might not be safe for you out here."

[lisacuddy.livejournal.com]

"I'm probably safer sticking with you than going off on my own. Even if I'm from Jersey and can handle myself..."

She tries to lighten things up, but her voice falters when she sees the serious look on his face.

"I trust you."

[notstakedyet.livejournal.com]

"Stay behind me," Angelus told her, his mind too focused on trying to process any possible danger to waste time with subterfuge. The figure (http://www.livejournal.com/community/fandomtownies/86358.html?thread=2253142#t2253142) came closer, and with him came the shock of recognition.

"Spike..." Angelus said. He set off to close the distance between them both.

[lisacuddy.livejournal.com]

Lisa literally takes his advice and stands behind his shoulder, one hand cluthing his suit coat in her fist nervously. Upon realizing Angelus recognizes the man, she follows him, staying one step behind him, his body partially obscuring her view.