"Actually, I meant literally trying to destroy the world," From anyone else it might have been a joke, but Buffy said it with a straight face. That wasn't quite the same as getting caught up in your goals versus relationships. "And I know, you're mostly right, time heals blah blah, but I kind of want the instant fix of just add water and you're done. Simple and easy would be nice for once."
She took a good look at his shoes and scoffed, "I think you got ripped off." Oh, she was teasing him now, but it was a sign she was edging out of her funk. She frowned at her own shoes which were nothing special and was about to comment on them but decided not to bother. He was being just as bad as she was, so she nudged him with her shoulder and rolled her eyes. "Yeah I know. I've seen it. I'm just not the one who usually deals with it personally." Not internally anyway. She dealt with plenty personally.
They walked some more while Buffy tried to get out of her mood, and she could honestly say even if he wasn't completely in the know and probably didn't really understand her, Oliver was at least doing a good job as a soundboard. It was nice. She was even going to thank him for it when she froze. She lifted her arm in front of Oliver, forcing him to stop. Something was nagging at her senses. There was something out there with them, and she'd been so distracted she hadn't noticed till now. Her eyes narrowing, she searched the area but saw nothing. "We're not alone," Buffy warned him. "Something isn't right."
She was right, because large sphere of fire seemingly phased out of the ground in front of them. Once free of the ground it hovered in front of them, looking like a bouncing ball of living flame with a giant face on the front of its form. It had short little arms attached to the side of its face and the large mouth was in the shape of a toothy looking grin.
"Oh, this can't be good." To confirm her feeling of dread the creature launched a fireball at the pair. Buffy pushed Oliver roughly to the side and dove in the opposite direction. She rolled toward the creature and as she launched herself to her feet, she pulled her sword out, swinging it at the thing. Buffy had actually expected the sword to go right through the creature, but it didn't. Whatever it was, it was solid beneath the flames and it shook from the impact of the sword. Before her very eyes the monster grew in size and Buffy was forced to dive or be struck by another fiery attack.