Lucius had always been an early riser, he always stayed up late as well but magic combated any fatigue and healed all ill effects of sleep deprivation. As usual he was up hours before Buffy rose and bounded down the stairs. He shook his head slightly as he heard the Hurricane crash on the couch. Typical Buffy. Although usually getting her out of bed at this time was like trying to wake her from a coma or death.
He had been in the kitchen, making himself a sandwich as he thought about Evie. He had shown her his scars and he still wasn't sure why. Still he had gotten her blood and made her kneel and so he wasn't as bothered as he would have been otherwise.
Lucius walked into the Lounge and sighed as he looked at Buffy, she only curled up like that when she had done something stupid and was only now starting to realise that.
"What did you do this time, Chosen One?" Lucius asked, a softness to his voice with an undertone of humour. Despite everything he just couldn't stand by and see her like this. Buffy had gotten more reckless recently it seemed and he had to wonder if it was because of him.
He sat down beside her and watched her, badly wanting to pull her into a warm embrace. To tell her that it would be okay and they'd sort it out together. Then he'd give her his usual lecture about recklessness and she'd make some scathing witty remark and smile. Lucius wasn't sure he could do that now. He wasn't Daniel.