"I cannot believe you took me to see this movie, Xander."

"But it’s historic, Cor! This is like the ultimate grudge match, Muhammad Ali times two, clash of the Titans!"

Pointing at the poster hanging at the entrance to the viewing room, Cordelia retorted sharply, "It’s a couple of low budget morons seeing who can rake in the largest body count."

Looking at the two men struggling on the poster, one in red and green stripes, the other in a beaten hockey mask, Xander sighed. *Dead-Boy would have liked to watch "Freddy vs. Jason" with me.* But he quickly beat back those thoughts. They weren’t things he should be thinking while out in public with Cordelia. Finding his bearings again, he turned to his sometime girlfriend, and blurted out:

"Look, we paid for the movie. Lets just go in and watch it, okay?"

A look of momentary shock passed over the girl’s dark features, as she registered the harsh manner with which her boyfriend spoke. Shaking her head briefly, she glared at the boy.

"Fine. Let’s go."

Cordelia stormed towards the red swinging doors, and pushed them open. Xander followed slowly, looking at the floor. *I wonder what Dead-Boy is doing…*

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

The apartment seemed empty, soulless. Angelus’ lips twisted into a smirk. *Ironic* He puttered around, straightening up the place, moving pillows, magazines, items he didn’t really see. All he could see was Xander’s dark eyes… *Eyes that are probably looking at the bitch right now*

He frowned deeply. He knew Xander was losing any feelings he might have had for her. But for some reason he insisted on keeping the illusion of dating up for the present.

And every time Xander left to be with the bitch, it was as if part of Angelus was ripped away. The vampire felt the pain deep within. He longed for the boy’s touch, his voice, his being to be near him.

Angelus needed his lover.

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

The familiar theme of "A Nightmare On Elm St." floated through the speakers, drenching the moviegoers in creepy piano riffs. As a helpless, nameless teenager walked on screen, Cordelia grabbed Xander’s arm. But he did not notice. His eyes were glued to the screen, but he barely saw the teen being stalked.

He saw instead the chiseled profile of his vampire lover, calm and brooding in the moonlight. As Xander’s mind drifted to the place he wanted to be, he could swear he felt Angelus’ arms around him. Xander could almost taste his lips, could almost feel the pressure of the vampire teeth pushing against his own.

The sounds of razors scraping metal drew him out of his reverie with a bang. Xander’s eyes focused quickly on the screen, as Kreugar chased a young girl through a hallway. Cordelia buried her eyes in his shoulder, hiding them from the screen.

Xander smiled ruefully in the darkness… *Dead-Boy wouldn’t be afraid of this. It’s small fry*

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

Pacing back and forth in the apartment, Angelus tried to keep his mind on other things. *I could always go hunting… but I’m not hungry*

Walking into the kitchen, he grabbed a sponge, slowly wiping the counters down. But as he gazed at his hands, he saw the circular pattern in which they were rubbing. *Just like "The Karate Kid"… Xander likes that movie…* Angelus felt his eyes soften as he remembered Xander’s "Wax on, wax off" impression a few weeks before. *He is so cute*

Wandering into the bedroom, Angelus lifted up a framed picture of his lover. Grazing his fingertips slowly over the grinning face, he sighed deeply. *I miss him.*

He turned slightly on his foot and glanced at the clock. The bright red digital numbers glowed 10:35pm. *Well, he’ll be done in half an hour or so…*

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

As the final scene faded to black, and the credits began to scroll the screen, Xander bolted from his seat. He had been fidgeting the last half of the movie, barely paying attention, his mind straying to cuddling on the couch with his vampire lover.

Grabbing Cordelia’s hand, Xander muttered a vague excuse about having a headache, and how he should get her home as soon as possible.

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

Lying on the couch, his arm stretched over his eyes, Angelus barely heard the scraping of the key at the lock. When he realized what he was hearing, he bolted up on the leather. A smile crossing his finely shaped lips, he practically leaped off the couch, and headed for the door.

As Xander turned the knob and walked in, he was immediately swept into a long, tender kiss. Running his tongue over Angelus’ slowly, he felt all tensions from spending an evening with Cordy slip away.

He was home.