Buffy paused midway through her door when she noticed someone lounging back on her bed, eyes closed, arms comfortably tucked behind his head. Arching a brow, she walked in completely and shut the door behind her.

“Oz?” she said tentatively.

He sat up, jolted out of his non-sleep, yet almost comatose state. “Buffy, Hi.”

“How’s it going?”

“Good. You?”

“Fine. Any particular reason your lounging on my bed, in our room, with no one else around?”

“Hmm. I was waiting for Willow.” He shrugged.

“And the my bed thing? Any thoughts on that?”

The corners of her lips twitched when she oddly noticed a perplexed look come across his face.

“Are you sure this is your bed?”

“Pretty sure, yeah.”

“Weird. Thought it was Will’s.”

“It’s not.”

“Right.” She stood there expectantly. “Guess you’d like me to get off your bed then, huh?”

“If you’re comfortable with that, yeah, it’d be nice to be able to use it.”

Nodding, he stood from the bed moving over to Willow’s and sitting down on it. After another facial expression, his eyes narrowed.

“Are you sure this is her bed?” he asked.

“Yes…” she said carefully.

“Huh.”

“Why?”

“It’s just…I’m not sure. Doesn’t quite feel right.”

“Maybe I just got the better of the two beds? It was my room first and I chose the bed I wanted, since the demon roommate wasn’t here yet.”

“Possibly.”

Unpacking her bag, she regarded the young man who was staring off into space. “Does Willow know you’re waiting for her?”

"She should. Actually, I'm probably a little early. Casa Devon was a
little- I had to leave." He ended succinctly.

Grinning, Buffy settled onto her bed facing him. "Devon is, um OK, I can see
the need."

"Don't get me wrong, he's my best friend but, the company he keeps sometimes...baffles me."

“You?? Baffled?? Hardly seems possible.” She teased.

The acknowledging smile reached his eyes. “I know. Plus, Willow doesn’t like it that much when he’s there. Something to do with the fact that he’s always putting her down.”

“That would make sense.”

“Hey, didn’t you just have class with Willow?” Oz asked, remembering.

"Yeah," Buffy vaguely confirmed. "I think she said something about having to see, Riley."

“Her new best-friend.” Oz nodded knowingly.

Cringing, her eyes involuntarily roll. “Her new best friend.” She agreed, words sounding…snarky? Probably.

Oz gave a noncommittal shrug. “It’s nice that she’s finally found her element and people that belong in it, same as her.”

“I guess. I know I should be happy for her. And I am, sort of. I am. Yet still, not as much as I should be. I’m just a bad, bad friend.”

“It’s what she lived through high school for. She finally isn’t getting teased, taunted, or tortured for her brains. It makes her happy.” He explained.

“At least one of us is enjoying this wonderful world of Academia. You probably like it too, though.”

“It’s ok. Something to do.”

“Give me an evil to fight any day, and I’d be happier. And I can’t believe I’m reduced to that. Being happy there’s evil. It’s wrong.”

“It’s what you do. There’s always Parker.” Oz suggested, mentioning her non-intentional one night stand.

Pouting, Buffy slumped further down onto her bed. “ I asked Giles, and he said that even though what Parker did was not right, it doesn’t mean I can slay him. The whole being human thing.” She sneered disgustedly. “He even balked at my suggestion to roughing him up a bit. Party Pooper that he is.”

“The bastard.” Oz mocked.

“I did get to beat up on Spike though, so that was kind of fun.” She offered.

“Spike being back is therapeutic.”

“Minus the part where I get to stake him. I swear, its like the whole world is trying to ruin my fun.”

“I’m not.” He pointed out.

The smile that appeared on her face could have lit an apartment building. “Of course you’re not. You’re like the nicest guy in the whole world.” He opened his mouth to protest but shut it obediently when she lifted her hand to continue. “Don’t even try to deny it, Oz. You’re what guys should be like. Seriously, if there was a universal yard stick that women had for a boyfriend, you’d be the ideal.”

“Not possible. Think of all the women who are taller than me.” He pointed out.

“Seeee, most guys would say they agreed. Or at least say something about women that are more attractive. You have to say the women that are taller. And hell, I don’t think they would care either.”

“You’re wrong.” He denied.

“Fine. You’ve had girlfriends, right? How many of them don’t call you anymore because they hate you for some reason or another.” She challenged.

Moments went by while oz tried frantically to think back, making Buffy’s need to giggle build the longer it took him. “One. Right! ONE because I told her I never wanted to talk to her again. That wasn’t a nice thing.”

“Why didn’t you want to talk to her?”

“Well…Ok so, I found her making out with Devon one night in the back room at the Bronze.”

“Hmmmm, yet you’re still friends with him.”

“He’s Devon, making out with girls, sleeping with them is almost a full-time career with him. Denying that would be like…Denying him breath. But I ignored him for a whole 2 weeks after that.”

“Oooh, you ignored him. I’m sure he felt the full rage of Oz from that.” She quipped.

“For Devon, it was. There’s nothing he hates more than not being paid attention to.” He reassured her.

“Face it, Oz, you’re just a wonderful guy to everyone.” Shrugging, she jumped as the phone interrupted them.

“Hello, home of the girlfriend, and friend of, Oz, the nicest guy in the world, can I help you.” She winked at the slight flush that crept onto his face. “Hey Wills, what’s up? What? Oh, just an inside joke.”

“Nope he hasn’t called since he’s here. You want to talk to him?? I don’ t know, I think I may keep him all to myself from now on. Wouldn’t want him to hurt you with his scathing nice words, and the mean loving looks he gives you. Yeah, ok, if you must.” Holding out the receiver to him, she arched her eyebrows comically “It’s your current girlfriend who thinks you’re a real cad.”

“Hey Will. Nothing, Buffy and I are just talking. Yeah, she’s being her usual bitchy self.” He joked, smirking at Buffy’s pouting expression. The smirk left, replaced with a sigh. “It’s not a problem. You go do that, and we’ll catch up tomorrow. Or you can do that. Sure. Bye.”

Turning back to Buffy, he tossed her the phone.

“Problem?” she inquired.

“Nah, she just wanted to go to some lecture Riley told her about.”

“Ahhh. A Lecture. Big excitement”

“Patrolling tonight?” Buffy nodded. “Wanna come watch us rehearse? I have sudden urge to annoy Devon.”

“Annoying Devon…” she pondered for a second. “I could be up for that.” She answered, her eyes twinkling.

~*~*~

Every once in a while she could feel the scrutinizing stares Devon was giving her from the small stage they had set up in the attic of the house where the guys were living. The stage, in actuality, was more like a box so that Devon could feel higher than everyone that stood in the center of the large room. They had converted the attic into a rehearsal room, lining the thin walls with insulation so as to keep most of the sound in, hence not annoying the neighbors.

Driving over from the dorm, Oz had explained to her that, her presence alone, with a note not to take it personally, would be the annoyance factor. Apparently, while the rest of the house was some sort lobby where there were always people, mostly girls, hanging around in the living rooms, kitchens and the lead singer’s bedroom, the attic was pretty much off limits to visitors. No one got a quick tour, nevermind a prolonged stay, if Devon had anything to say about it. Even Willow had only been up there a few times, which were coincidentally when Devon had been out of the house.

When they got there, Buffy had been treated to an icy reception from the singer, then a shrug after coming back from a rushed conference in the kitchen.

As Oz had ushered her the stairs a few minutes after Devon had disappeared up there, he told her how he had managed to swing it.

"I told him I was considering cheating on Willow with you, since you guys share a room. Besides, he doesn't like her much so he's all for that." He trailed off.

Grinning, she stopped to look at him suspiciously. “Are you gonna have to be all over me to prove your point during breaks?”

His cheeks colored slightly at the question. “No, he knows I don’t do that sort of stuff in public.”

She nodded her understanding as they resumed the hike up the stairs. Once up there, she was directed to the only chair, and she went to take possession of it. As the guys set up, she caught Devon watching her, and threw a brilliant smile his way, which he returned with a supposedly intimidating scowl.

Making herself comfortable, she swung her legs over one arm of the chair, leaning back against the other arm, her head pillowed on top. A small smile crept on her face as she heard the first few cords Oz played, and slowly crept into a deep slumber at the lulling beat of the song.

~*~

“Is she dead?” the voice permeated her hazy slumbered brain.

“I don’t think so. She’s breathing, so…” another voice said. She knew that voice well. But…

“Should we slap her like they do when people faint in movies?” the first voice asked.

“Not unless you want to get the hell beat out of you.” She heard the second voice mutter and recognized it immediately. Oz.

“Dev, why don’t you get a cold wash cloth?” Oz suggested to the lead singer.

As she heard some feet shuffle away, she felt it same to open her eyes. Her eyes focused first on the back of the chair she had curled into, then as she moved her eyes away she saw Oz crouched down by the arm her legs were swung over. A small, shy smile graced her features.

“Hi.” She said weakly.

“Hey.” Oz answered.

“Oh god…This is embarrassing.” She moaned, turning her face back into the soft chair.

“Nah. At least you’re not dead. Imagine how weird it would have been if we had to explain to your mom you died while listening to us rehearse. We never would have gotten another gig. Ever. Talked about being ‘Bored to Death’.” He said, hoping it would rid her of some of the unease. He was rewarded with a tiny snort.

“Talk about an ego boost for Devon.” She giggled.

Sighing, she shifted her body so that she was seated in the plush chair.

His lips quirking, Oz tilted his head to the side. “Can’t say it would do much for me either, seeing I’m supposed to be trying to seduce you.”

“Oh, good you’re not dead.” The lead singer said as he back into the room with a wet wash cloth.

“Nope, good as new after a little sleep.” She replied, smiling at him. “Didn’t mean to worry you.”

“Wasn’t worried. Would’ve looked really bad if we’d played so bad that you died from it, is all.” His brow creasing in annoyance. “You should probably sleep more if you can fall asleep to that volume.” He added.

"Sleep. That's the thing that people who aren't the cho- who aren't busy do, isn't it?" she amended quickly. "Sounds kind of boring."

“Still, it might help you to not be rude next time you get allowed to be somewhere that’s a privilege that most women would stay awake for.” He scoffed.

“If you guys are done…” Oz rose from his crouched position. “Devon, you have people and Buffy, you have…That thing you do that’s not sleep.

“What time is it?” Buffy asked.

“Almost 11:00.”

"Oh crap..I have to go pa- Um, I have to go." She stated. Standing, she turned to Devon. "Thank you for the extreme honor. Next time, I'll try to be awake enough for your ego." She teased, smiling, as she winked back at Oz. "Wanna come with, Oz?"

“Um, sure. Give me a minute.” He said and headed down the stairs, leaving the Slayer alone with Devon.

“So…” Devon started.

“What?” Buffy asked, her eyes wide.

“You really gonna screw over your friend?” His smug mocking grin relayed the disbelief. “Don’t get me wrong, I have no problem with bringing her down a peg or two but it doesn’t seem like something you would do.”

Arching one eyebrow, she regarded him oddly. “Really? And you would know this how? You don’t know anything about me.” She answered curtly.

“I know what Oz has told me.”

“You’ve discussed me with Oz?” her eyes narrowed.

“In passing. Not in great length and detail or anything.”

“Then how could you possibly know what I would or wouldn’t do. If it’s just in passing and all. It’s not like Oz is one to over share.” Buffy pointed out.

Changing tactics, Devon looked at her scrutinizingly. “Does Willow know where you are when you’re not in your dorm room sleeping?”

“Yep.” Buffy replied smiling.

“Does she know that sometimes Oz is with you?”

“Uh huh.”

“Are you guys some kind of weird cult trying to trap my friend.”

“Maybe….”

“Ready, Buffy?” Oz asked as he reappeared in the doorway.

“Hmm? Yeah, well, Devon. It’s been real…Just real actually.” Tilting her head to the side, she gave him an appraising look. Crooking her finger, she bent over so she could whisper in his ear. “Better watch out. Never know when one of us’ll try snaring you. Nighty Nite. Don’t let the bed bugs bite.”

~*~

“So what was that about, with Devon?” Oz asked as they turned the corner of a park. They been walking for close to an hour, and had managed to hit at least two of the cemeteries that were outside of town, closer to the school.

Shrugging, Buffy peered through the shrubs before turning back to him. “He was asking me all kinds of questions, so I may have led him to believe something that may or may not have been true.”

“Like…” he prodded.

“Like, maybe Willow and I are a part of some female cult looking for a male sacrifice.” She tried not to laugh but the giggles swiftly took hold of her. “Hey, he asked. I guess this could be some kind of evil fighting cult.” She said between big gulps of air.

“Female cult. He’d probably enjoy that.”

“True. Oh well.” Hearing signs of a struggle, her eyes darted around ‘til she saw the source. “Be right back.” She nodded before taking off in the direction

Oz peered through the trees, ready to step in if needed, and he watched Buffy pull some vampire off a young girl, telling her to scram before she proceeded attack the night dweller. Her head snapped back as the vampire caught her in the chin, giving her the fight she wanted. After a few punches, a couple of kicks, one executed perfectly to the vamp’s groin, she slid the stake through his heart and released him as he turned to dust. Surveying quickly for more and not finding any, she barely caught the ‘Holy Crap’ that traveled through the air, and looked at Oz who indicated he’d heard it too.

Making her way on opposite sides of the bushes, both she and Oz walked quietly back the way they came looking deeply in the trees until they found a shadow. They each secured a stake as Buffy reached into the trees to pull out the person that had been observing her, her stake ready for use.

“Oww. Fuck!”

“What are you doing, Devon?” Oz asked, frowning at his friend that had been dropped to the ground upon sight by the slayer.

“I was just taking a walk.” The guy said defensively.

“In the bushes? A mile away from your house?” Buffy said doubtingly.

“Yes.”

“Right.” Oz nodded, obviously not convinced.

“Ok my being here isn’t the point.” He stated. Pointing at Buffy, “You just killed a guy.”

Buffy snorted. “In your spying, did you happen to see the guy turn to dust?” at Devon’s slight nod, she continued. “Human’s don’t turn to dust when you kill them. He wasn’t human.”

“But…But…hey you beat him up first.”

“Because he was trying to kill some young girl.”

“So you’re an undercover cop?” his eyes narrowed.

“Not quite.”

“Buffy are you sure you should…”

“You wanna tell him he didn’t see what he thinks he did? Ok, this is the thing, Devon…”

“I’ll do it, Buffy.” Oz stopped her. Nodding, he acknowledged her shrug and turned back to Devon. “Ok, man remember when I told you about the whole werewolf thing? Well, that’s not all that’s out there.”

“When did you tell him about you?” Buffy interrupted.

“With no library cage, it was kind of hard to hide it since I wolf out in the basement.

“Ahh. Is that a…” her question died on her lips when she caught a silent look from Oz.

“Um, Giles does this much better than anyone.” Buffy told him.

“The library guy from High school? He knows she kills people?” The taller boy piped up.

“Devon, just let me do this. Right. So the reason that guy turned into dust is because he wasn’t a guy. He was vampire.”

“Whoa, Dude. Like I’m gonna believe that.”

“Devon. It’s true. Why would I lie to you? Have I ever lied to you? No…So… Right. So Vampire. Buffy is a Vampire Slayer, and she kills all the soulless creatures that happen to enjoy residing in Sunnydale. Because we have a Hellmouth.”

“Huh.”

“Wow you’re pretty good at this, Oz.” Buffy said encouragingly.

“Thanks.” He replied giving her a quizzical look. At her smiling nod, he shrugged and turned back to see that his friend had lowered himself unceremoniously on the ground.

“Dev, you ok?”

“Uh, yeah. This may explain a few things.”

“That’s what Oz said too.” Buffy said giggling.

“So why is she a Slayer? That’s what you called her, right? Shouldn’t it be a guy since guys are generally stronger.”

“You’d think, wouldn’t you? No, Buffy has enhanced powers. Strength, speed, agility…all sorts of super hero things.”

"Sure." Devon said, disbelieving. Turning to Buffy, his aloofness daring her, he confirmed it with actual words. "Hit me."

“I don’t think that’s a good idea, Devon.” Oz tried to point out.

“She can’t be that strong. She’s puny.” At that, Buffy sent him a glare before finding a larger than average sized tree. Her eyes flicking back to Devon’s with a “watch this’ expression, she landed a swift, yet powerful kick on the tree trunk that had it cracking, and tilting to one side.

“Uh…”

"That should cover it." Oz said, dryly.

"How did you…" Devon started looking at the tree, then looking back at Buffy taking her into consideration. It's not like she looked like some buffed Amazon woman.

Buffy shrugged. "One of the perks of being the 'Chosen' one."

"Are you like a hitman?"

Rolling his eyes, Oz shook his head at his friend. Buffy looked like she was considering the comparison.

"Sure, if hit men killed demons, and didn't get paid with money or anything other kind of reward."

"You do this for free?"

"Yep. I don't think Giles would like it if I charged the people I saved. It would probably take away from the altruism of the whole thing. It's something to consider though. Imagine how much the world would pay if they knew I had saved civilization as we know it." She wondered, giving Oz a pointed look, a small smile on her face.

"Twice. You're probably right." Oz answered her, "About the charging thing, the Giles not being ok with it."

"And what about dying? Would I be one of the only people to get benefit from my own life insurance policy?"

"Do you have one?"

"No, but if it worked like that I'd be at the first place I could find. I wouldn't need school. Imagine it, Oz. What I could do with that money. I could travel, occasionally help the richer people, charge more…What a life!"

"Ok, Giles? Who are you guys talking about? Isn't that the librarian from Sunnydale High? Mr. Giles. Saving the world? Dying? You're immortal?"

"You went to the library? You knew where the library was?" Oz questioned his friend, curious at this display of random knowledge. "Ok, Dev, yes, Buffy's saved the world, she's died and no she's not immortal."

"You died?"

"Only for a minute.." Buffy said defensively. "And as you can see, someone brought me back to life.”

Devon rolled his eyes at her insistence.

Her back straight, Buffy’s eyes darted from one boy to the other then back again. Focusing her attention on Oz, she motioned towards Devon with her eyes. “Um, I think I’ll be going back to my dorm now. You guys can make it back home?”

“Shouldn’t we walk you?” Devon asked.

“I think I can take care of myself.” She assured him, hearing a slight chuckle coming from Oz.

“Then shouldn’t you walk *us* home? Being a super hero and all…” he muttered.

“I think I can handle getting us home in one piece, Dev. Tell Willow I’ll call her tomorrow.” He grinned knowingly at Buffy.

"‘Night Guys.” Grinning, Buffy took off towards her dorm.

Oz had started walking when he noticed that Devon hadn’t followed his lead. Turning back, he looked in the direction that had captured his friend’s undivided attention. Smirking, he walked back to his friend.

“Earth to Devon." Snapping his fingers within an inch of the taller boy’s ear, he took a quick step back as Devon was startled out of his ‘Buffy-trance’. “Let’s go.”