canon au } { post-3b, of creepy omniscience and evil lairs

[kiss_evilgoodbye]

[Now that he knows who Malia is, Peter has taken up the trademark Hale stalking as he tries to learn more about her. Buffy is starting to catch on to this, and as a result has decided to crash his creeper time with sunshine and judgment.]

Peter: Good morning. Care for a cup of coffee?

Buffy: Love one. I take it you're here for the espresso? [no he's not, she knows better]

Peter: Of course. Beacon Hills is a small town. There's only one good coffee shop.

Buffy: Mmm-hmm. [glances down at the menu when the waitress comes over and perks up] Ooh! Banana bread for me too, please.

Peter: Whatever she wants is on my tab. [he grins at the waitress and she nods, going off]

Buffy: [rests her chin in her hand and looks at him expectantly]

Peter: You know, if you wanted to stare at me longingly, you should call more first.

Buffy: You know why I'm here, Peter.

Peter: I don't need a sidekick on my stakeout detail, Buffy, appreciative as I am.

Buffy: Yeah, but unfortunately, I told Derek that I would keep an eye on you. Which has now come to involve you buying me banana bread.

Peter: So you're not here because you want to be.

Buffy: I didn't say that. I could easily adopt the Hale approach and stalk you from a distance, or give half-hearted reports back where I'm aware of what you're doing and so long as you're not violently murdering anyone, I don't have to interfere. [but she's not. So take it for what it is.]

Peter: I would have thought after everything that happened, you wouldn't want to be around me if you didn't need to.

Buffy: [there's a beat as she leans back to let the waitress put the banana bread and coffee in front of her. Then another as she rips off the corner and tries to figure out exactly how to phrase things] After everything ... I can't not be here. Not when it's something like this.

Peter: [he looks at her, giving her his full attention a moment to see if he can sense the sincerity in that statement] I apologize but I'm not used to having people really care for my well-being in the last few years.

Buffy: I know. [and she is sincere. completely, in fact.] But what Talia took from you is huge, and she shouldn't have. You deserve to have that back. And since we can't make that happen right now, I figure the least I could do is ... try and make sure this doesn't backfire in everyone's face.

Peter: I have to wonder if what she did to me subconsciously disrupted my ability to form any healthy relationships with those I feel I care of.

Buffy: [she gives a small shrug] To do something like this, I assume she had to have her reasons, but I don't know if we'll figure those out unless we talk to her. [which ... she's not exactly available at the moment.]

Peter: And Derek is the only one who can do this beyond me. Well, Cora may but I doubt she will.

Buffy: So for right now, we find out what we can about whoever it is you happen to be stalking. Maybe there's something in their birth records or adoption papers ... ?

Peter: [he looks back over at the teenager hanging out in the corner of the burger joint across the street, eating her burger and watching people suspiciously] Her name is Malia.

Buffy: [turns and follows his eyes, her brow furrowing slightly] That's Scott's werecoyote.

Peter: One in the same.

Buffy: Huh.

Peter: Yeah. And I've noticed that she is very skittish so I don't want to spook her.

Buffy: Scott's been trying to integrate her into the pack, but she's been resisting.

Peter: Can you blame her? She's been on her own, living like a coyote, and he forced her back to being human and then left her with a man who is a virtual stranger to her now.

Buffy: I'm not blaming anyone. But do you think she's going to do better as an omega?

Peter: That's what she has been. But no, she does need someone she can talk to that knows what is going on.

Buffy: [nods slowly] Maybe ... someone who knows what it's like to be an outsider in Scott's pack?

Peter: So the twins? [smirks a bit]

Buffy: [a bit of a look] You know what I mean.

Peter: Then tell me, how do I tell her that I'm her real father and oh, I'm a werewolf and you get this gene from me and I'm sorry for the loss of your mother that you ate?

Buffy: That is not what I meant either. But you said it yourself, she needs a friend and you know more about what she is than anyone else in that pack. You stand the best chance of helping her. And if you can make the approach without putting on that creepy omniscient thing you've been doing lately, you might actually stand a chance of getting through to her.

Peter: Creepy Omniscient thing? [a pouting look] I was aiming for man of mystery.

Buffy: [shakes her head] Just comes off making you look like an ass.

Peter: Well, you all waited forever to tell me.

Buffy: [she bites back the "we thought you were doing it on purpose" that she should slide in there and focuses on the matter at hand] Just be real. Don't make it seem like you're trying to gain something out of it, or she'll run the other way.

Peter: [purses lips and looks at the burger joint, but Malia is gone. he stands up quickly, trying to see if he could find her] She's gone.

Buffy: Okay. Surprising her in the burger joint would have come off a little sketchy anyway. [she leans forward, reaching for his hand to pull him back into a sitting position] I'll see if Scott's got anything he's trying to get her to come to. We can keep it ... casual.

Peter: [he looks at her as he sits back down. He really wants to spring out after her, but she is right.] Thanks.

Buffy: Maybe Cora will help?

Peter: I don't know if she knows yet.

Buffy: ... Then maybe you should talk to her about that. Malia's her family too.

Peter: [thinks] Yeah, I will. Derek too. She is a Hale so we should all be involved in some way.

Buffy: Good. Derek is out of commission for a while, but Cora's still here. She hasn't gone back to school yet. [a beat] Or you could go to Berkeley. Have a family dinner.

Peter: I'm surprised your sister hasn't put Derek in a kennel.

Buffy: [smirks] He's listening to reason, for now. He's unhappy with her, but he's listening, so she's choosing not to look a giftwolf in the mouth.

Peter: Stubbornness it a classic Hale trait. Dawn should be used to that by now.

Buffy: Oh, she is. Summers women happen to be equally stubborn - as you should well know.

Peter: I do. We are also attracted to that trait, which is only a dooming factor in the end - as you well know.

Buffy: Sometimes it works out for us.

Peter: [deep sigh] Sometimes.

Buffy: I think we did pretty well for a while, despite ... stubbornness.

Peter: We were. I enjoyed that time with you, you know.

Buffy: [looks down at the banana bread before nodding] I did too.

Peter: One more reason not to mourn Kate Argent.

Buffy: [she isn’t sure the Argents would agree with that.] It wasn’t all her, though.

Peter: [deep intake of breath] I've come to terms with Derek about his part in it. He was a teenager and thought he was in love. Stupid, yes. Reckless, of course. But he didn't intend for it to happen and bears a lot of guilt at it.

Buffy: [shakes her head] That's not what I'm talking about. I mean, yes the fire was ... awful. And I left, and maybe I shouldn't have but ... when you came back it was like I was looking at someone I didn't even know. [that was always the maybe that sat in the back of her mind. maybe if she had been there for him to hold onto, he wouldn't have become a real killer. he wouldn't have done the things he did. but in the end, things are what they are]

Peter: [huffs a bit, but he doesn't blame her] Being trapped in your own body for almost six years, staring out at a world that forgets you... it's not something easy to take. It made me to who I am, and I don't think I have it in me to be who I used to be. My mind doesn't work that way anymore.

Buffy: I know. And I'm not asking you to. [she might have been, at first, because she wanted back what she lost, but once she got past the grief of it, and the anger, she needs to come to terms with whether or not she can feel the same way for the person that he is now. that's the part she flip-flops on.]

Peter: I... can recognize that who I am now is not the most pleasant person to be around. And... I'm sorry. Because I know when you look at me you see someone else. And I refuse to pretend not to be who I am.

Buffy: No, I appreciate that. [because sometimes she catches a glimpse of that person, but it's only for a moment and she needs the reminder that she's not getting him back. Not completely, at any rate.] Sometimes I need it.

Peter: [he goes to take a sip of his coffee, not sure what else to say] You are still the bubbly spirit I remember though.

Buffy: [gives a bit of a shrug, happy to roll with the subject change] It's an easy part to play. I've gotten kind of good at it.

Peter: You always found a way to make me laugh when I needed it. It's a good thing to have in the world.

Buffy: [smiles a bit at that] Good. I'm glad.

Peter: Derek always talks about circles, you know. How in a pack, wolves can rise up and fall all their lives. It makes one wonder if that kind of circle is prevalent in other forms of life.

Buffy: Maybe it is. They always talk about people coming full circle.

Peter: That they do. And I believe young Simba was taught about a great circle of life. [small smirk]

Buffy: [she laughs] Yes. We all learned much from The Lion King.

Peter: I always did like Scar. He just needed better allies

Buffy: [laughs harder] So does that make Talia Mufasa?

Peter: [chuckles] You said it, not me.

Buffy: [she shakes her head as she finishes off her banana bread] Come on. Pay your tab and you can walk me back to my hotel.

Peter: What, you don't want to come back and see the lair of the evil mastermind? [pulls out some money to pay the tab and leave a good tip]

Buffy: Ooh, you didn't mention there was a lair involved. Is there a fog machine and a white lab coat?

Peter: I may even have a death ray in the making.

Buffy: Well. You do know how to make a girl weak in the knees.

Peter: What can I say? I do have that man of mystery appeal.

Buffy: [smirks a bit before getting to her feet] Or that creepy omniscience.

Peter: Whatever you prefer.

Buffy: So if I choose the lair, do I get a tour?

Peter: Yes, but then I would have to kill you because you would know too much.

Buffy: [eyebrows rise as she takes a step closer] I promise I can keep a secret.

Peter: It may not be as comfortable as your hotel.

Buffy: [she watches him for a moment, before deciding not to push it] Fine. Hotel it is.

Peter: [ is.... sadly disappointed but doesn't show it] Show me the way then.

Buffy: [slips her arm in his before leading the way back to her hotel]

Peter: [looks at her a moment, then relaxes and brings a hand to lay on top of her hand as they walk]

Buffy: [her hotel isn't far and it isn't long before they're up in front of her door. She pats down her pockets for the key card, before glancing back at him] You want to come in for a bit, or is there somewhere you need to be?

Peter: No, my stalking schedule can be put on hold for some time.

Buffy: [smiles at that] Okay, then. [she opens the door and makes her way inside, holding the door open for him behind her. The hotel room wasn't fancy, but there was a big bed, a TV and a decent sized bathroom. There were some empty take-out containers on the desk, and the closet door was ajar, revealing her trunk of weapons] Make yourself at home.

Peter: [he makes hands at the take-out containers] Really? If you aren't going to have the maids clean the room, as least you can take out the trash.

Buffy: [she shrugs briefly] It's been a busy couple days. [she grabs the containers and tosses them into the nearby trash can] It's not like it was something super smelly or anything.

Peter: To you, perhaps.

Buffy: Well forgive me, I wasn't expecting to have werewolves today. [she wraps up the bag and gets ready to take it out] I'll be right back.

Peter: I'll wait here. [and he waits for her to leave, and then goes to poke around in her chest]

Buffy: [it doesn't take her long to dump the trash, just making a quick trip down the hall and she's coming back to the door again]

Peter: [he's listening for her and quickly toes the chest back closed and moves to the center of the room]

Buffy: [comes in none the wiser, and smirks back at him as she closes the door behind her] Better?

Peter: Much. So how long are you staying?

Buffy: Until we're sure everything's wrapped up with the nogitsune.

Peter: Sounds like you should invest in property then with how these kids are.

Buffy: [she shrugs] Dawn said I could probably stay in the loft but it felt ... weird without Derek there.

Peter: He has made that place his home. I will admit it has seemed nicer since Dawn came to stay. More like a home and less like a warehouse with a mattress.

Buffy: She nests. It's her thing. One day you may go in here and his bedroom will actually have walls.

Peter: There was a screen last time if I recall correctly.

Buffy: One step at a time.

Peter: I'm just glad she won't try and kill off the pack. Probably his first girlfriend since he was 15 to have that assurance.

Buffy: [she cringes slightly] His track record almost sounds worse than mine. But between Angelus and William the Bloody, I think I have him beat.

Peter: I don't know if I should be flattered I'm not on that list.

Buffy: [she shrugs as she moves to sit on the edge of the bed] Compared to some of the guys I've dated, you're practically Mr. Rogers. Which ... probably says more about me than it does about you.

Peter: It's the cardigans, isn't it? I knew I should have gotten a better stylist when I came back from the dead...

Buffy: [she laughs] It's totally the cardigans. But I think they kinda work for you.

Peter: I didn't realize you found Mr. Rogers sexy.

Buffy: It is my dirty little secret. [not the actual Mr. Rogers, but the metaphorical Mr. Rogers, who happens to be sitting right in front of her. She thinks he's smart enough to catch on] Promise not to tell?

Peter: But I could enjoy so much more blackmailing you with that knowledge now. [he's smirking though.]

Buffy: [smirks back] You could. And it would probably end in me punching you in the face.

Peter: It wouldn't be the first time.

Buffy: No it wouldn't. But it'd probably be better if we just saved each other the trouble.

Peter: [thinks on it a moment] It probably would be. We'll see. [he'll keep it, but he's not going to let her know he'll keep it.]

Buffy: [there's a look at that, but it's a lot more mild than the ones she's given him in the past. But she trusts him with the secret, if nothing else.] It's not a yes, but I suppose I'll have to take it.

Peter: [and he doesn't know what else to say, really, so he just looks around the room] Looks like this place at least has better taste than other hotels.

Buffy: [shrugs a bit as she glances around herself] It's nice. And not a bad deal either.

Peter: I only have a one bedroom in the city. I'd invite you to stay, but there is no extra room.

Buffy: It's okay. [though there was a time that a one bedroom wouldn't have mattered, and it's just another one of those feelings that they've been dredging up this afternoon, or at least she has. It's a bit harder to tell what he's thinking these days] In some ways, it's good for me to have my own space.

Peter: You won't be leaning over my shoulder judging my evil experiments for one.

Buffy: And I'm a very harsh critic.

Peter: Yes, I remember that. But it's just you being honest in your own way.

Buffy: Besides, if I'm going to have to defeat and evil mastermind, I want him to be up to snuff.

Peter: Of course. We can't have people question your strength if the evil mastermind if not at his full game. People would question that.

Buffy: Plus there's the obligatory moment where the hero needs to question if she can take on this newfound evil, before regaining their confidence and charging forward with a sense of righteousness behind them. If your nemesis is a wimp you totally lose all the character growth.

Peter: Exactly.

Buffy: [nods a bit and this time it's her turn to fall quiet, not sure what to do]

Peter: [yeah, awkward silence]

Buffy: [there's a deep breath, before] Can I get you anything? Something to drink, or a snack or ... something?

Peter: No, I'm still fine from the meal and coffee we just had a few minutes ago. But maybe I should go...

Buffy: [she doesn't necessarily want him to, but she can't even think of a reason for him to stay either. So she nods.] I guess. I mean, you don't have to ... stay and keep me company.

Peter: I should probably try and call Cora anyway.

Buffy: Sounds good. I'll see you later, then.

Peter: Of that I have no doubt.

Buffy: [and with that, she'll walk him to the door.]