You know I thought I'd done the right thing and for the right reasons, funny that no-one else saw it like that. I'd lied; I lied to Buffy about her precious Angel and Willow doing her mojo on him. I knew that if I didn't Buffy would lose us the world and 6 billion odd people would die because she loved the demonic creep. I didn't do it because I liked her; you know LIKED her. Those feelings had changed into ones of ,like, friendship I thought of Buffy along the same lines as I thought about Willow. A sister, not quite because you know hormonal guy here and would I ever, anyway, back on track Xandman.
No one found out for a full week. I tried to be as supportive as I could but I'm no hypocrite and I knew it was basically my fault the bast. sorry never did like the guy. The man went to hell, Sorry that's not right either, lets just say I was in part responsible for Angel going to hell. Man that sounds funny, Angel and hell don't really go does it.
Anyway, in the end they found out. My fault I should have realized it was only a matter of time until Willow asked if her spell had worked and if she'd got the message I was supposed to deliver. Oh boy did the fireworks go bang after that. She beat the hell out of me. Normally when a girl hits a guy the guy would feel, you know, less of a man, but Buffy's the slayer, the one girl in all the world with the punch of a Mack truck. So as I lay on the floor bleeding to death, and I'm not kidding here I was literally dying, she tells me to get the hell outta dodge.
Eventually I was able to make it as far as a phone booth. I didn't really know who to call, the only person I could think of was the G-man. I knew that he, of all people, wouldn't be on the Angel's a cool guy band wagon. I was right luckily. He came and picked me up and took me to the hospital.
Boy was he pissed at Buffy. It was only my telling him not to worry about it repeatedly that stopped him from calling the cops. He was actually willing to have his precious Buffy brought up on charges for me. That felt kinda good you know? Anyhoo, once I calmed him down and the hospital patched me up I convinced him to get me out of there. I really hate hospitals. Again I was lucky, if you can call it that, my records show me as having been there for that sort of thing a fair few times. Par for the course when your parents are raving lunatics.
Giles was kinda horrified to find that out, in fact he went all Ripper at that point. Man is he one scary dude when he gets like that. He was ready to kill my 'rents at that point I think. Not that I cared but I just wanted to sleep, the meds the hospital had me on were working their chemical magic by that point.
He took me back to his place. Set me up in the spare room and I slept through till the weekend, three days I was out. I only woke up for bathroom breaks and to take more pain killers. Giles kept watch over me and helped me out when I wasn't able to walk right. Yeah I know but Buffy did a real number on me. As I said she was way pissed at me.
Eventually Buffy turned up on Giles's doorstep; he wouldn't let her in. I know amazing he got real cold and Ripper like and told her that whilst he was still her watcher he would be just that her watcher and that she wasn't to come round to his personal place anymore. They would be on a professional level only. She turned on the water works and yes he did comfort her but no he didn't back down. I'm not sure how he managed that I never could resist her when she cried.
Eventually I was all fit again and I knew that I had to leave. It was good staying with the G-man but with Buffy out there I knew I had to escape before she actually killed me. Yeah, so I was scared of her. You try getting the snot kicked out of you by someone that was considered family; then you'll see how I felt.
Giles sat me down and we talked the whole thing out. I told him all about it and why I had done it, man this is the best bit. He told me he was proud of me. I'm not ashamed to admit that I blubbered like a big baby at that. No-one has ever said that to me. Eventually when I stopped he asked me what I was going to do.
Good question G-man, I had no idea. Then he tells me about this cousin of his in Boston says that he can arrange for my schooling to transfer there and for me to stay with his Cuz. I was happy as hell at that. Then he gives me a huge Ripper grin and I'm thinking Oh shit what now. He had some presents for me and then I'm suddenly worried that he was in cahoots with Buffy after all and he was about to spring a bomb on me.
My fears were unfounded; he gave me this real cool medallion thingy. Apparently it had been meant for Buffy originally but now it was for me instead. It was a protection amulet that he had found. It protected the wearer from attack and helped them to heal faster. He knew that no matter where I was I would still get myself into trouble apparently. He also gave me a massive wad of cash, which I of course tried to get him to take back but he wasn't having any of it. Then I got a book, typically G-Man. Only I opened it up and there weren't any words in it. It's a journal, as Giles called it, and I'm writing everything in it. He told me I should write down all my thoughts in it said it helped him sort out his mind as it were. Well I'm trying G-man I'm trying.
Well in the end I got all tear'd up again and he actually gave me a hug patted my back hard and told me that he was going to miss me. He made me wish that my own father had been more like him. I think if I'd had Giles as a dad then maybe I could have done more and, well, been more than the goofball geek I was. Well I told him that and it was his turn to get tears in his eyes he told me that was the best thing anyone had said to him; then told me I wasn't a geek, I wasn't a loser and that I had a courageous heart a quick wit and that I was a credit to myself.
Anyhoo, enough of the mushy stuff. I've done enough writing for now I think. I'm off to the bus Depot early in the morning; I need my beauty sleep!
Xander walked down the road a duffel thrown over one shoulder and his hands buried deep into his pockets. He'd had breakfast with Giles and then the two men had talked and finally said their goodbyes. Xander had refused the offer of a ride to the depot, he'd wanted some time to clear him head.
"Xander!"
Xander turned slowly at the familiar voice a smile gracing his features for a moment. That is until he saw the look on his oldest friends face. Willow Rosenberg was looking angrier than Xander had ever seen her. Madder, even, than she had been when he'd stolen her Barbie.
"Hey Wills" Xander said forcing some cheer into his voice. He knew just from the look on her face that this was going to be hard work.
The slight red head walked up to him crossing the road to do so and stopped a foot away. Her hand flashed out in a blur. She slapped him with a ringing crack, leaving a distinct handprint.
"I Never, Ever, Want To See You Again!" she fumed as Xander held a hand to his face. He looked down at her no reproach, reflected in his dark eyes; only hurt.
But she hadn't finished, "You are not who I thought you were Alexander LaVelle Harris! Not only have you betrayed Buffy, but you've betrayed me as well!"
Willow not even giving him chance to explain himself quickly stalked away; crossing the road to keep her distance from him.
Xander rubbed his sore cheek willing his tears of betrayal from his eyes. Willow may feel she had been betrayed, but Xander felt that his trust had just been abused. How could Willow of all people think that of him?
Feeling more determined than ever he quickened his step to the bus depot. After his meeting with Cordelia he would be away, never to return.
Cordelia deserved to have a proper goodbye as far as Xander was concerned. The woman who had originally been the bane of his and Willow's existence was now one of the few bright spots in his life. With all that had happened recently he had not had the chance to contact her until that morning. So after a quick call they had arranged to meet at the depot rest area.
Once he arrived Xander made his way through the double doors that lead to the café and stopped dead in his tracks.
Cordelia was there looking stunning in the latest designer gear as only she could. In itself almost enough to still his steps but not the reason he had stopped. Buffy was there also. They were both sat in the far corner of the empty room on a long bench seat and neither looked very happy. Buffy was on her feet in a flash moving with all the fluid grace afforded by her calling. She was halfway over to him when she was pulled up short.
During his time as a Scooby member Xander had been subjected to many horrors, some of which still plagued his dreams. Once such occurrence had a more beneficial effect on him. During a Halloween they had all been turned into their customs. That night he had been dressed as a soldier and had gained all of the training and abilities of a highly trained Spec-Ops marine. His knowledge and skills had saved them many times but none more than when dealing with a demon called the Judge. He'd procured a rocket launcher from an army base; at the same time and unknown to the others he had also gained some extra booty.
Amongst his plunder there was a Glock 18 fully loaded with 14 9mm hollow point rounds. There was also the non-standard Desert Eagle currently nestled in his duffel bag. The Glock was currently aimed unwaveringly at the diminutive blonde.
Buffy stared past the gun her eyes boring into Xander with righteous fury. Xander looked over her shoulder to see that Cordelia was looking at him with a mixture of shock and anger.
"Hey Cordy" he said giving her his best lopsided smile. He hoped all was not lost with the brunette beauty. She'd meant a lot to him and it would hurt even more if she now hated him as the others did. Buffy he could understand, perhaps even Willow who tended to side with Buffy all the time. There was no love lost between the Slayer and the Head Cheerleader how ever.
Buffy tried to move forward again so Xander snapped his attention back on her, "Stop There Slayer"
"You expect me to believe that's real?"
"Believe, don't believe. Trust me when I say this the 9mm round I'll put in your belly will take a long time to heal even for you. So stay there"
Buffy looked deeply into Xander's eyes gauging him. The normally warm orbs looked back at her with cold focus. She stopped her advance and started backing away slightly; deciding desecration was the better part of valour.
"Slowly slayer" Xander said, "just there will do it." He paused and decided to try to reason with her, "You know Buffy I'm real sorry it has to end like this. I never wanted to hurt you"
Buffy laughed and it wasn't a pleasant sound, "Not Hurt Me! You lied and I ended up killing my soul mate all because you were jealous"
"Wrong slayer, I stopped thinking about you like that a year ago. I care about you Buffy of course I do, you're like a sister to me, sort of. But I knew that if you knew about the curse you would've held back"
"Of course I would've"
Xander looked at her incredulously, "See what I mean. Don't you realise that he wouldn't have? Angelus was dangerous Buffy he would have taken you apart quicker than Lothos ever could've" he said using his knowledge of the slayer artfully. Lothos was the first master vampire she had beaten and the name still sent shivers down her back. She blanched considerably and Xander pressed his advantage, "Angelus was a dangerous animal, not the man you loved. You would've died and the world with you. If I hadn't of lied we would all be dead already. So fine you want to blame me. Fuck it I can take it, I already took your beating so why not you recriminations but I know Buffy, I know I did the right thing and no amount of beating will take that away from me." His voice was passionate, his world was starting to fall apart because he had done what, to him, was the right ting to do. He also believed that he had done it for the right reasons as well.
Cordelia started crying and looked at Xander with an longing and slightly lost look.
Buffy was held speechless at the end of Xander's powerful handgun her eyes blank as was he expression. Not a muscle moved in her entire body as her mind whirled with a torrent of thought.
Just then the call for Xander's bus came through over the PA. Xander glanced at the speaker in shook for a second before looking back at Buffy and starting to back away.
The woman didn't move just looking at him with that same blank look. Xander kept his guard up and his aim true as he backed out of the doors. Once he was through he quickly hid his weapon and still backing away went for his bus.
Inside the restroom Cordelia glanced at the still immobile Buffy with tears running down her sculpted cheeks. Then she stood and started running in one fluid motion and virtually exploded out of the doors.
Xander span round his hand going into the Glock's hiding place as she barreled up to him. Then she leapt at him arms outstretched. Xander caught her with a wince of pain and she wrapped both legs and arms around him still bruised body. She held him tightly for a long moment causing no small amount of pain to his still wrapped ribs. Then she loosened her crushing embrace slightly and looked at him with tear filled eyes.
"I didn't realize, I'm sorry. Stay; we can work this out" she said her voice full of emotion.
Xander slowly shook his head, "I can't Cor. I have to go now, there's nothing left for me in Sunnydale"
"What about me" she replied sniffling
Xander smiled genuinely and freed an arm. Then he reached up still holding her up and cupped her cheek with infinite gentleness. His thumb rubbed away some tears and he looked into her eyes, "You're my light Cordelia Chase. You deserve all the happiness the world can give you. I just can't be the one to provide it; I don't belong here anymore"
"Please" she asked tears streaming down her face.
"Oh man it's SO tempting; but if I stay I'll just end up hurting you baby. We aren't for the long term you know that I know you do"
She sniffled again but nodded sadly then she looked up and looked into his eyes. Then before he knew what was happening she increased her grip and captured his lips in a bone shaking and searing passionate kiss. They kissed for a full minute before oxygen and Xander's soon to depart buss forced them to realise.
Once they had parted Cordelia regained her footing and shot Xander one of her megawatt smiles that dimmed the sun, "But damn we would have been good" she told him her eyes sparkling with humour and sincerity.
"Its just the Wrong Place, Wrong Time. In another world baby. Then Hell Yeah, We'd have been amazing" Xander told her backing up the steps of the bus. The driver rolled his eyes but had a huge smile on his face, thinking he would have to tell his wife about that little scene, especially since he would be late because he didn't have the heart to rush them. Then with a light heart he shut the door and the bus hissed before backing out of the depot and away.
The last view Xander had as the bus pulled away was Cordelia Chase in the sunlight her smile radiant and waving enthusiastically. She was one hell of a gorgeous memory to take with him out of Sunnydale.
Boston, man its cold here. I suppose I'm used to the SoCal weather but jeez I friggin freezing my ass off. Rain, now there's there a thing. I've never been so wet in my entire life since arriving here. It was raining when I got here and I swear it has rained every day since. Ok, Ok, So it's not that bad but its one hella different from SoCal's climate.
Not that it's all bad. It turns out Giles's cousin is a girl, sorry woman. Lindsey Hamilton. She great a bit like Giles but without the stuffy librarian bits. She's a barrel of laughs actually
I suppose you noticed the name right, at the top. I decided that it was time for a change, a new name for a new city. Xander was bringing back bad memories for me. It was Willow who gave me that moniker to start with and now that she hates me it doesn't feel right anymore. When I start school and someone asks I'm gonna tell them to call me Lex. I think its kinda cool you know, a bit mysterious sounding. Anyway back to the point.
I arrived wet and cold in front of this big ole door with a sopping piece of paper in my hand and rang the bell. After waiting for what felt like an hour it finally opened to reveal Lindsey. She's like tall with dark blonde hair and one amazing figure. She's kinda like Buffy's mom but better looking. Alright so I'm a sleaze, anyway she's good looking.
I told her who I was and she took me inside, I noticed straight off that she didn't actually invite me. She's in the know as it turns out very in the know. She's a watcher just like Giles. I suppose it runs in the family or something. Anyway getting ahead of myself. We talked for hours and it turned out that Giles had already called ahead and told her just about everything about me and what had happened. She was really cool about it all told me she thought I did the right thing and even thanked me. With, and man I'm blushing, a kiss on the cheek. I think I'm in love already. Nah, she reminds me a little too much of Giles for that. However, it was still nice you know, well after we talked she helped me get settled and told me that her house was my home now and would be forever. Well my own parents had never said that to me. She and Giles go way back well they are family but more than that they are friends and close with it.
Anyway that was a week ago and now its time for me to go to school, damn it.
School isn't too bad; people seem to like me which is cool. I think that without the ole 'rents reputation hanging round me neck people are willing to get to know me instead. I've decided to really hit the books now and get good grades. Its time I thought about what I want to do in the future and there is one promise that I intend to keep. I told Giles that I would do well in school, he made me promise with a book and everything. Mind you it was Althazars demonology but it's the thought that counts.
I got myself some after school work, nothing major just working with Lindsey at her shop. It pays alright and I get to spend time with her and she's teaching me the ropes as we go along. Unsurprisingly it's an occult store. Seeded by the council but she has brought it up from the ground and made it pay real well. It turns out I'm not as bad at magic as I had thought. Perhaps it really was Cordelia's thick hide that screwed that love spell,
Well I've been in Boston for a month now and I gotta say I'm loving it here schools great and the teachers actually seem to care if I learn stuff. Must have just been the 'dale's teachers that hated me. Lindsey or 'Sey as I've started calling her, is fantastic she's been keeping her watcher skills sharp by training me like she would a slayer. Luckily I already had some skills so she didn't wipe the floor with me too badly. Well not that bad anyway. I've been studying hard. I know the Xandman studying hard. Screw you, I can learn .
'Sey took me out shopping today and I dropped a load of cash at the mall. I brought a new wardrobe actually. Everything from boxers to a long leather coat like spike wears. No I'm not trying to be like Spike I just liked his duster OK. I used some money I've saved from work and a little bit of the nest egg Giles gave me. You know that nice English guy gave me over a grand.
I've been writing to him and Cordy on a regular basis since getting here as well. I tried to get him to take it back again but he told me to 'keep it or else' with Giles that could mean anything from going Ripper on me or making me read Latin for three hours straight.
What? So I can read Latin, you'll be amazed what you can pick up researching with the scoobs. I can't pronounce it very well though but 'Sey is helping me with that. She seems to think I've got some magical talent.
I can now say with all honesty that I can levitate a pencil. I have no idea why I would want to do that but if ever the need arises to make a pencil float in mid air. I'm your man.
Honestly If I want a pencil, I think even I can drag my lazy ass over to the desk and get it!
Oh hey that reminds me. That magical dohickey Giles gave me works. I, well, exploded the Fire from Ice spell all over myself and could've got real burned up. It stopped the magic dead and fixed me right up, straight away. Not a mark was left on me. I love it; I think I'll be forced to keep it.
Xander walked through the high school in good spirits. His hard work had been paying off on both the academic and personal side. He'd not had much chance to make many friends because of that but Xander was more worried about his future at that point. Also his Magical studies had been going surprisingly well. So he'd been doing alright for himself as far as he was concerned.
Something caught the corner of his eye and his head whipped round of its own volition. That's when he saw her. She was a goddess with raven dark long hair all curves and seduction. Xander was instantly lost. It wasn't just the fact she was a stone cold fox, but also he felt a sudden sense of her. His heart seemed to connect with just the image of her. She was laughing and joking with her friends, but Xander could see that it was holding something back. He knew all about that form personal experience.
He was so absorbed in her that he walked straight into a brick wall dropping both himself and his school books to the floor.
"Ow!" Xander remarked.
"Hey!" a voice said demanding attention. Xander looked up, and up noticing that the brick wall was in fact a man. A very large and wide linebacker type and he wasn't looking too pleased with Xander.
"Oh hey, sorry man" Xander began quickly gathering his things and standing up, "I wasn't looking where I was going. You OK?"
"No! You made me spill my soda," The guy said angrily glaring at Xander.
"Oh sorry dude, come on I'll buy you a new one" Xander said apologetically.
The linebacker paused waiting for his next thought to arrive. While he waited he reached out and grabbed Xander by the shirt pulling him almost off of the floor. Then his thought arrived, "Hey. I gotta better idea. Why don't I beat the shit out of you then you can give me your money"
Xander grabbed the guys arms bracing himself against them and stopping his air supply from being cut off. Then he looked at him incredulous, "What! You want my lunch money!"
Brick wall guy look confused for a moment, normally the people he preyed on didn't do this much talking before they gave up, "Yeah!" he said eventually.
"I'll buy you a soda and that's it" Xander said. Quite the crowd was building up around them by this point, the object of Xander's affections among them.
Wall guy look totally surprised. This was not the way it usually went. He drew back one meaty fist and prepared to send Xander into the middle of the next semester.
Xander saw this and decided it something had to be done. Nearly three years of action had toned him, his gained memories had sculpted him and Lindsey's recent training had sharpened him. Xander was not someone to be taken lightly and as much as he disliked tangling with humans he was left no choice but to act. Because of the large crowd that had built up around them Magic was out of the question, which left one other option.
Xander crossed his arms under the large mans arm. Then he gripped his hands over the top and twisted straight again. He as the guys arm was suddenly rotated his grip was removed and he was forced to bend to stop his arm from being broken. Xander then suddenly had the wall guys in an arm lock in less than a second.
"Look, buddy I don't want to hurt you" Xander warned as the guy started straining against the lock in danger of popping his own shoulder out of joint.
"I'm gonna fuck you up" the guy snarled.
Xander released the lock and stepped back sharply clearing some maneuvering room for himself, "Don't do this dude, it ain't worth it"
The guy straightened up quickly and launched a slow but powerful punch at Xander's head. Xander didn't even bother to move to block the slow punch instead shifting position away. The linebacker stumbled forward a couple of steps before turning. He snarled and re-attacked. Xander once again side stepped him, "Don't make me do this" Xander once again tried to warn him.
"Come 'ere you little fucker" the guy said and rushed forward with a powerful haymaker. Xander didn't side step this time. He realised that there was only way to end this now. He snapped out a side thrust kick that knocked the man back. Due to the guys size it wasn't far but it did shock him.
"You die" he spat and sank slightly into an amateurish boxers stance. He then released a jab, punch combination that was easily blocked by Xander. Then Xander punched out himself nailing the mans solar plexus and dropping him to the ground.
By this point the crowd were all hooting and pointing and generally baying for blood. Xander ignored them instead keeping his focus on the man raising up from the floor. Xander didn't wait for another attack, once the guy was on his feet Xander wheeled round and placed a kick to the mans jaw. This time the man fell boneless to the ground out for the count.
Xander walked forward and quickly checked him over. Once satisfied he was fine, apart from the killer headache he would have on awakening, Xander grabbed his stuff and continued on his way.
The dark haired beauty that had gained his eye watched him leave with an impressed smirk on her face. Her almost black eyes watched his form until he had left her sight completely. Then she looked down to Lars, the linebacker. The guy was a creep who had tried to tangle with her on a regular basis, often attempting to cop an unwanted feel. She was seriously happy that he'd been downed like that. The new guy was more interesting than she had at first thought.
The grapevine worked quickly after that and by time the next day came knocking and Xander walked into the school he was a minor celebrity. He played it down at every opportunity more interested in seeing the dark haired goddess that had caught his eye and unwittingly started the whole thing off in the first place.
It wasn't until lunch time that he saw her again. Where the day before she had looked vibrant and very much alive she was now looking dead on her feet and world weary. Her already dark eyes now sported dark bags under them and there was no spring to her step.
Deciding to go for broke Xander approached her and sat next to her. After a second or too of plucking up his courage he turned to her and cleared his throat. She turned her gaze on him and Xander felt his throat run suddenly dry. Up close she was breath taking and those eyes he had admired before were as deep and timeless as space itself. His mind promptly shut down and he opened his mouth and nothing came out for a full two seconds.
"You OK?" Xander finally managed.
"What?" She asked looking distracted.
"Well, I kinda noticed you seem down"
Her eyes turned angry, "Fuck off I'm not buying the concerned act go get laid someplace else"
Xander felt a stiletto blade enter his heart and had the sudden need to hide under a rock, "I'm sorry I was just trying to help," he said getting up and leaving her to wallow.
She watched him go and for the first time in a very long time felt bad. He really seemed to be concerned for her and she'd shot him down and tore him a new one. Her temper and general demeanour had got her into trouble on a regular basis but this was the first time she felt bad about it.
"Must be getting soft," she murmured and looking back down to her congealed lunch.
Man I'm in love. I saw the future Mrs Harris last week. She's a goddess with raven hair and the darkest deepest eyes I've ever seen not to mention an amazing body. She's a stone cold fox and that's the truth and nothing but. Trouble is she's not interested. I've tried to talk to her a couple of times, she was kinda down the other day and she told me to go away in language even I can understand. My new friend Willy. I know but I promise he's not a snitch and doesn't run a bar. Anyway he prefers to be called Will. Well, he gave me the 411 and apparently she's 'trouble' hangs with the bad crowd and you don't want to mess with any of them. Not that it bothers me. I suppose I just ain't cool enough for her. Typical!
I did try again and even got as far as sitting next to her without being snapped at, but she looked kinda sad. I did ask her if she was Okay, again, but she was either totally out of it or just plain ignored me. I think she's looking a bit tired. Hey I worry about my girl. You know I'm starting to think I have stalker tendencies
In other news, 'Sey got a phone call yesterday that had me worried. She was really quiet afterwards and looked a little freaked. I tried to get her to open up but she just told me she was fine. I look after my friends and I know for a fact she isn't ok.
But I finally found out what's wrong with her and I should've realised, she's a watcher and what to they do. They look after slayers. Kendra's replacement has been called and apparently they're in Boston. That was all they told her, in Boston. This place is huge and that's the best they could come up with. Friggin council butt heads. So now 'Sey has to go rushing around the city trying to find this slayer in a haystack. She's asked me to run the store for her after school and the weekends for a while. Well after all she's done for me I'm not going to say no to paying her back juts a little. So now the store is under my tender mercies.
I also got a letter from Cordy. I have to say I'm pissed, not about Cordy it was great to hear from her; she's working hard for graduation and all. It was what she told me, that got me riled. You see Buffy and Willow stayed on the Xander's wrong kick even after I'd won over Cordelia. She stood up for me; I know she did because Giles told me she did and I'll love her for that until the day I die. It just didn't work and Buffy and Willow still hate my guts.
Although, apparently, the main reason for hating me doesn't. That's right Angel's back from hell. Again that just don't sound right, Angel and hell I mean. No Angel's back and they still hate me even though, this had me laughing, Angel thinks I did the right thing. Fuck me that's so funny, Deadboy agrees with me. Not that he's told Buffy that, just Cordelia. But of course he wouldn't tell Buffy soul'd Angel is a wuss. He may think I was right but I'd still stake the fucker in a heart beat.
Why? Well I think 'Angel' is Okay; he works for good and tries to make amends, even if he is led around by his dick. It's not Angel I hate, well much. Its 'Angelus' that makes me seethe; all it takes is for Buffy to wet 'Angel's' wick again and boom, 'Angelus' returns. That is why I would stake him and not blink.
Xander picked through the goop that was his school dinner with great care and attention. If he didn't there was a chance of eating something indigestible.
He felt a presence appear beside him but didn't spare it much of his thought processes. The dinner hall was arranged with long bench seats and tables not dissimilar to a prison cafeteria. Kids were always coming and going and you could be sat next to just about anyone.
"Could you pass the salt," a smoky voice asked. It was a voice that belong to the subject of many of Xander's dreams of late. He'd only heard it once before and it had said "Fuck Off" basically.
Xander quickly glanced at the brunette bombshell and quickly retrieved the salt but tried to pass it to her upside down. Streaming white rock crystals into a little pile beneath it. Xander quickly noticed and cursed, righting it with an apologetic smile.
His dream girl just smirked at him and then her face took on a curious expression. He'd done as he'd been taught many years ago. When you spill salt you throw it over you left shoulder. It was to ward off bad luck essentially.
"Why'd you do that?" she asked, her curiosity getting the better of her.
"Huh? What?"
"The salt thing" she said demonstrating by tossing some over her right shoulder.
"Oh that, right, well it's the left shoulder only by the way." Xander told her smiling she cocked an eyebrow at him so he continued trying to ignore the fact he was actually talking to her. "It's a good luck thing. Whenever you spill salt you have to throw a pinch over the left shoulder into the devils eye."
She laughed a little shaking her head, "That's kinda superstitious"
"Not to mention dangerous. I onces caught my Uncle Rory right in the eye."
She laughed again her entire face lighting up. Xander thought it was the most amazingly pleasant sound that he'd ever heard. "But yeah I think you need all the luck you can get; especially when you come from where I come from"
"Yeah, where's that"
"Sunnydale, California"
"California man hey, all beaches and sun sounds like you already had a lot of luck"
"Sunnydale is more like graveyards and run"
"Graveyards?"
"Yeah there's about 10 of them and its only Hicksville"
"Man that's: Morbid"
"Tell me about it" Xander replied twirling his fork in his rapidly cooling dinner. "What about you; where you from?"
"Boston born and bred"
"That's not a bad thing is it?" Xander probed gently.
"Nah, it's got its good stuff"
"Like?"
"There's a coupla of wicked clubs"
"Yeah, I've not had much chance to hit any yet, I'm catching up with school and I help 'Sey with her shop"
"'Sey?"
"Lindsey, or rather Lindsey Hamilton"
"She your girl?" Faith asked wondering why she had.
Xander chocked up a chuckle, "Uh, No! She's like old enough to be my mother just"
"But she's not your mom"
Xander's eyes became dark at the thought of a parent. So far they hadn't bothered with writing to him, even after Giles had gone round and Ripper'd them into signing some papers. "No, thank god"
Just then the school bell sounded saving Xander from continuing that thought. They stood together and exchanged a look. "I'm Xander by the way, good talking to you.."
The dark beauty smirked at his rather clumsy lead but something in her made her answer anyway, "Faith" she replied and walked away.
After enjoying the view for a second Xander smiled widely, "Faith" he repeated, "Perfect!"
Three pencils floated in midair supported by nothing the struck a surreal sight. One side of the flying graphite was Xander Harris, his chocolate coloured eyes dark with concentration. The other was Lindsey Hamilton, his tutor, friend and current guardian. Her light grey eyes surveyed his progress with an impressed hue. Xander wasn't a naturally powerful magic user, his own personal stores of magic were in fact lower than average. However his talent lay in condensing power out of his surroundings and channelling it with, seemingly, effortless ease.
"Now spin them on their points" Lindsey instructed him. This was among the more difficult tests for an neophyte user. It required a great deal of finesse in the application of the power. Especially if he did them individually. Making them spin all at the same time took less skill as it was a blanket command, one by one required three separate tightly focused directives.
Her yes widened as the first pencil suddenly started to pirouette on its point. Then she smiled as the next began a dance closely followed by the last.
"Now try to keep them going" Lindsey said. "So, I heard you had a little trouble at school the other day"
Xander seemingly ignored her for a second and she was about to repeat her question but he cut her off. "Not so much. This great galoot, to quote the G-man, started something that I was forced to finish."
Lindsey hid a smirk; she had already got all of the details from the principle, a friend of hers. "Really do you think violence was the best option?" Her tone was not reproachful just interested.
Xander shrugged and turned his eyes from the pencils to her eyes. She once again had to hide her reaction as they stayed floating and spinning in perfect concert. "No, I don't I just didn't see any other way"
"So why did you walk into him in the first place?"
Xander smirked, "You've got insider information. You've not bugged me have you?"
Lindsey gave a small chuckle but didn't answer his rhetorical question she just looked at him enquiringly.
Xander thought back to the flash of raven wing hair that had first distracted his attention his minds eye filling with an image of her. Things had progressed since then, for which he would be eternally grateful. His sudden lack of control had an impressive effect on the pencils. Without his careful tuning of the power he was regulating to them they started to spin, faster and faster.
"Xander" jogged Lindsey as the pencils took on an orange hue.
"Hmm?" Xander said snapping back to the now. He noticed the growing pyrotechnic displayer floating inches from his face and slammed back his control. Then pencils quickly slowed, still on fire. Deciding to try something he reached out carefully and make contact with the flame. He then asked it if it would be nice and not burn his friends pencils any more than they were. The fire acquiesced and the orange hue disappeared leaving three slightly charred pencils spinning calmly in the air.
Lindsey could feel the sweat virtually pouring off of her brow. The power it had required to carry out that rather impressive feat had been unconsciously pulled in from all around him, including borrowing some of hers. Xander, it appeared, could very well end up being a powerful mage.
"Well, that was bracing" Lindsey said with a slightly pained smile.
"Sorry, lost my concentration for a second there"
"I could tell, I take it the cause of your attempt to walk through Lars the linebacker is as distracting now as it was then?"
"Lars, that was his name, and yes I suppose you could say it is" Xander smirked at her.
"Very well, now let us go to the back room, I have a new spell for you to learn. In our line of work it could be very useful"
"OK" Xander said with a smile allowing the blackened pencils to drop into his now outstretched hand.
The end of school had arrived once again and Xander was calmly picking his way through the now empty corridors. The rest of the students had barrelled out in a flash and Xander had been so wrapped up in his assignment he hadn't even noticed. Since arriving in Boston, or perhaps since Buffy had cleaned his clock. Xander now had a drive to succeed in his heart and mind. It had driven him to train hard and learn hard. So far his efforts were paying off. His magical control and application were taking strides as was his physical training. School work had taken a little longer, but then he'd spent most of his time over the last three years being nothing more than a class clown; that had taken its toll on his academic record. Now he felt he'd caught up by being positively donnish in regard to his schooling and resultant activities. He worked late into the night to fit everything in and got up early in the morning, extracting the maximum time available to him.
He was disturbed from his thoughts by an all to familiar voice, "You're Dead"
Xander groaned, "Not again" he said turning to find himself facing Lars. The mans face was red with rage as were the faces of his three companions.
"We can't have no geek showing us up," one of them said hefting a baseball bat menacingly.
Xander grew very still his bag dropping to the floor and his stance shifting with deadly focus. One thing he had promised himself with all of the conviction in his body was that he would not allow himself to be taken apart again. Not since Buffy.
He'd thought about trying to reason with them, but it hadn't worked with Lars the last time and he didn't think for a second it would this time either. He surveyed his would be attackers. Lars was at point, all muscle and power but lacking in speed. To his left was a large man of colour who looked more svelte than Lars possibly a lot faster; Xander tagged him as Larry another of the football team, as were they all. To Larry's left was another red faced blonde haired Viking of a man who could have been Lars's brother, his name was Eric. On the left side of Lars was one other, this one worried Xander he was the schools martial arts champ Frank Palmer; karate was his chosen discipline. Xander couldn't really understand what he was doing here; the ethos of martial arts didn't really go for bully tactics.
Frank was looking at his stance in confusion and slight respect. But Xander having realised he was up against a martial artist changed his stance.
Slayers have the luxury of power and speed greater than that of their chosen foe. Watchers are taught many 'hard' styles of martial art to work with this facet of their slayer. However, a watcher is also expected to fight side by side with his slayer when the time arises. As such they are also taught several 'Soft' styles of martial art such as various Kung Fu styles.
Lindsey had taught Xander in this way he may have trained, almost as hard as a slayer but he'd been trained as a human.
The school was a large basic squared U shape with a tarmac covered courtyard in the middle that held outside basketball courts. The corridor Xander was stood in was on the west side with a twin on the east. Across from them Faith was also walking through the corridor having just left her detention. She was swinging her bag in a bored way and humming tunelessly. She happened to glance to her right and saw the opening moves of what promised to be a full scale battle. She started to run as she saw who was defending.
Xander caught the baseball bat on its downward swing jarring his arm along the entire length. He kept his grip on it and tugged it out of Larry's grip. Then he kicked out a side kick that smashed into the mans stomach flooring him. Side stepping Eric's punch he reversed the bat so he now held the grip in his hand. Then he used the bat to block frank's thrust kick, but caught a powerful blow to his nose from Lars. Blood began to stream down his face as his vision was suddenly obscured. Frank took advantage of his distraction and snapped out a kick that sent Xander flying down the corridor. The baseball bat clattered out of his hand away from of his reach. Xander slid to a stop shaking his head quickly and trying to clear his vision. Drops of blood sprayed around him and he could hear his own pulse thundering through his body.
Xander quickly got to his feet but not was unable to evade as Larry rushed him in a tackle that would have made Lars proud. Xander smashed into the corridor's wall with an explosion of air. He brought both hands down in a two fisted punch down onto Larry's back sending the man to the floor, whereupon Xander kicked him hard in the face taking him out of the fight.
Eric and Lars both rushed him at the same time; Xander cart wheeled away from them ending back on his feet as they ran into the wall. He then brought his leg round and kicked them both in the back with the entire length of his leg. They both cried out in pain, but their muscular builds protected their backs from the full force of the blow. Xander unleashed a punch to Eric, who was closest, hitting the blonde man in the nose gaining second blood.
Frank held back watching with interest and growing appreciation for the man he had been paid to beat up. He would earn his money that day for sure, but he allowed Eric and Lars to tire the Xander out before he made his move.
As Eric held his nose crying out nasally Lars dived at Xander sending out a flurry of punches and TV Kung Fu kicks that were quickly and easily blocked. Xander slapped one such kick to the side and wheel kicked Lars in the face sending him to the floor using the same move that he'd ended the fight with before.
Eric recovered his wits only to find the sole of Xander's shoe sending him into the black pit of unconsciousness.
Xander wiped the sleeve of his shirt across his now throbbing nose smearing blood across his face and the material. Then he turned and faced Frank sliding back into a perfectly formed stances. Frank shot him a feral smile and walked forward several steps coming to a halt regulation distance away and slipped into a forward stance. Xander noted the length of the stance and realized that frank was using possibly the hardest of the hard style Karate, Shotokan.
The two Martial artists faced each other each gauging the other by their eyes, then Frank moved.
Faith stumbled to a stop; she was now at the end of her corridor and had risked a glance at Xander's position. In the time it had taken her to sprint the length of the corridor Xander had taken out all but one of his opponents. The final adversary and he were moving with great speed and agility trading blows. Neither seemed to be able to get the upper hand and with in thirty seconds both were bloodied and bruised. Shaking herself Faith resumed her run towards Xander hoping to arrive in time to do some good.
Xander spat out a globule of blood laced spit as he and frank separated both now circling the other slowly and with great deliberation. They were both a mess but Xander was the worst as he was already tired from fighting the others and Frank was a slightly better fighter. Xander could use some magic, but the thought didn't even occur to him. He saw magic as a tool to be used sparingly and not a walking stick on which to be forever leaning on.
Frank smiled, a genuine and pleasant expression, You fight well. We could do with you on the team"
"Thanks, but I lack school spirit"
Frank chuckled painfully; Xander had got a very good shot into his ribs that still hurt. "Look I'll be honest. I'm not the most moral guy in the world but I do have a fight next week. I'll beat you but it'll cost me more than they're paying me"
Xander looked at him suspiciously, "Serious, let's just finish this. I thought I was just going to back them up a bit ya know, this has gone way beyond that"
Xander nodded still a little uncertain. Frank smiled again and stopped moving, he held up his hands and backed away slowly. Now Xander smiled, albeit painfully, "Thanks for the spar frank"
"Anytime, Lex"
"You know my name?" Xander said watching the martial artist back away.
"Most of the school does after that stunt with Lars. If you want to kick him a lot feel free the guys a dick"
"I don't kick people when they're down Frank"
"Call me Frankie, all my friends do Lex" Frank said as he turned and jogged away down the corridor.
Faith arrived just in time to see Xander fall to his knees.
Faith looked down at the bloody face of the dark haired man she had only recently met wondering what hell she was doing. She combed her fingers through Xander longish hair amazed at how fine and silken it felt between her fingers. She had him propped up with his head in her lap and had been checking him over. Nothing seemed to be broken but he was a mess, One eye was closed and his nose was basically a mess. As she ran a hand up his ribs to check them she suddenly noticed a glowing from under his shirt. She lifted the bloodstained Tee and saw that a large medallion looking necklace was currently glowing and becoming brighter as she watched.
The bleeding from Xander's nose stopped suddenly and a large crack sounded as it righted itself back to straight before her shocked eyes. His eye started to blacken quickly becoming darker then shifting through the rainbow from black to dark purple to lighter purple then to a green hue until it faded through yellow and finally back to his normal skin tone. His eye's then opened and looked up at her with an amazed expression on his face. His eyes held such wonder and emotion that Faith found herself quickly becoming uncomfortable with his quiet scrutiny.
"I've died and gone to heaven, and an Angel is looking down at me," Xander muttered blinking repeatedly.
Faith shot him a smile despite herself flushing slightly at his sweet but corny compliment, "You'll be down the cop shop if we don't get the hell outta here"
Xander smiled at her, "I kinda like it here" he commented but got to his feet anyway. He reached down and offered her his hand which she ignored and got to her feet in a fluid movement that rang alarm bells in his head.
Faith caught him looking at her strangely. "What?" she asked annoyed.
"Sorry, nothing. Come on let's get out of here"
"Fine by me" Faith remarked as they quickly departed the battle grounds.
So I've finally managed to get Faith to talk to me on a regular basis. Not just a nod or if she's feeling playful a wink. I've got her calling me Lex at last, she had insisted on calling me X. I accidentally told her I was called Xander. What can I say old habits die-hard. She was real interested in why I wanted to be called Lex instead. I just told her it was bad memory land and she left it alone. Not before giving me a curious look. Sometimes I wish I were better at reading looks. I'm sure that would've told me something interesting. Anyway we seem to be finally connecting I would go as far to say that we're like almost friends. That's ok with me. I mean I can't imagine a goddess like her wanting me anyway, so friends is cool.
Anyway gotta go I want to do some bookkeeping for 'Sey before I head on out. Will's dragging me to this hot new club that's opening he just wouldn't take no as an answer and since its like the first time I've been out since getting to Boston I gave in, in the end.
Xander stepped out of the shop owned by his friend and guardian locking up behind him. He looked around noting that it was dark and well after hours. He had needed to do some bookkeeping for her. Or rather he had done some for her without her knowing to help her out. She only wanted him to bring it back but he knew books thanks to her so he did it. Lindsey Hamilton or 'Sey as he called her was currently running herself ragged looking for the latest called Slayer.
He sniffed the air noting that it was going to be cold again. Well it would be for him, he was a Californian man born and bred in a hotter climate than Boston, Massachusetts.
It wasn't far from the shop the large house they shared a short ten minute walk. He did it as fast as he could as it was getting late and his friend Will would be mad if he was late.
Once there a quick shower and shave followed and he got changed into some of his new threads. Then because he was a Sunnydale native he stocked up on weapons which included stakes, holy water and garlic spray topped off with a small derringer pistol he slipped into his boot. The pistol was a gift from 'Sey for helping out. It only had two small caliber shots in it but for any human foes it was more than enough. It would be just enough to distract a vampire if the need arose as well. He finished off his outfit with his beloved leather dust jacket and checked himself in the mirror.
"Man, you look like a vamp" he told his reflection. The combination of dark colors and dust jacket did give him a disturbingly familiar look. The only splash of color was his blood red silk shirt. Again a little Nosferatu looking as well. He toyed with the idea of getting changed until he spotted the time. If he was going to make it he would have to shift.
He ran through the door passing a surprised looking Lindsey on the sway.
"Hi 'Sey, bye 'Sey" he called as he disappeared down the street.
She smiled to herself as she shook her head. It had taken him a while to come out of the shell he'd put himself into from Sunnydale but finally it looked like just maybe he would be alright.
Xander stopped dead on the spot as he and Will approached the doors. He suddenly wished that he'd brought a larger gun.
Will looked over at him and noticed the worried look on his friends face, "What's up Lex?"
Xander stood routed to the floor his eyes on the sign over the door. "Uh, lets go someplace else yeah" he said.
"Hell no, this is the place to be. Anyway I heard that you friend Faith was gonna be here" will said with a sly smile, he knew just how to get round Xander.
"Oh shit" Xander said not the answer that Will was expecting, "Damn, OK come on," Xander said leading them into the club. Feeling proud of himself Will followed his friend in through the door and under the sign that read.
"Lamia"
Which, as Xander was only too aware, was a Latin word meaning Vampire.
Will was worried, he friend the guy who was well known throughout the school for being funny and basically carefree was being seriously intense. The moment he had walked into the club he'd changed. The laughter had become more subdued, despite wills efforts to get the guy to laugh. He had become watchful was the only word that fit, intensely watchful.
"What's up with you man" Will said finally.
"Huh" Xander said sparing him a glance, "What?"
"That's what I mean, what are you waiting for to happen?"
"Nothing" Xander replied, "Well look, its probably nothing, I'm just getting a little spooked in my old age"
"Yeah, right" Will said then Xander become as still as a pointer dog.
"Tell me something will, what's wrong with that picture"
Will looked to where Xander was indicating. It was one of the chess club with a drop dead blonde. "That's Martin isn't it? Go Marti"
"Hmmm" Xander replied as he watched the nerd being almost dragged out of the club.
"What?"
"Nothing, I'll be back in a sec," Xander said disappearing after the unlikely couple.
Will looked around noticing that he was now all by himself, "Yeah great you do that," he said aggrievedly.
Xander stepped carefully into the alley he had seen the blonde drag Marti. He hardly knew the guy except to say 'Hi' to but that wasn't the point. The point was he would lay money on the fact the blonde bombshell was a vamp and he would lay odds on the fact that the club was set up for feeding. He'd often wondered about the bronze as well but he had met the owner just before leaving. Totally human and clueless, and it hadn't been an act. This time though he was certain.
"Oh baby, you're a dark horse aren't you" he heard a woman the blonde say seductively.
"Th.th.th.thanks" Marti stuttered feeling like he was dreaming.
"You make me hungry baby"
"R.r.r.really?"
"Oh yeah" the blonde said pulling Marti in close and licking his neck.
"EHHHHHH, now that's not right" she heard a male voice say from just behind her.
"Do you mind, me and urm, this guy were just getting 'Close'"
"I can see that, why don't you show him your best side honey" Xander said settling into a fighting stance.
"Why don't you" said a deep voice from behind Xander. He turned slightly and noticed three vampires spread out behind him. They had blocked the alley way.
"Hi guys" the blonde said, "Look-it, I got two for one"
"Oh shit!" Xander swore palming a holy water bottle.
"Oh shit is right mortal. Now all this talking is making me hungry. GET HIM!" The blonde said.
The three vamps from behind charged as one and Xander whipped out a stake. He threw a bottle of water into the first vamps face causing it to drop to the ground screaming. Then he span round and planted a stake into the back of the next. Unfortunately the last vampire got the drop on him and knocked him flying across the alley to thump against its wall. He slid down and crumpled to the floor shaking his head to clear his vision.
He looked up in time to see a demonic face looking down at him. He started to reach down to his boot when suddenly the vampire disappeared in a puff of dust.
Once the cloud dissipated he saw a goddess standing above him looking down with a smile curling her lip. "Hey Lex, how you doing"
"Not too bad thanks Faith, how bout you"
"5 by 5"
Xander got to his feet a large smile crossing his face, "What the hell does that mean anyway"
"Tell ya later, I gotta deal with this fang faced bitch"
"Allow me" Xander said and concentrated. The blonde woman was running down the alley knowing she was out numbered. He took careful aim and threw out his hand with the fingers splayed apart, "IGNIS" he roared and a bolt of flame leapt from his palm. It rocketed along the alleyway and hit the running vamp in the back. The flame quickly engulfed the creature and it exploded into an ash cloud.
"Sweet" Faith remarked with a cocked eyebrow.
"That was so cool, that's dungeons and dragons cool man. How did you do that" Marti enthused.
"Hey Marti, guess what"
"What?" Marti said worriedly.
"This is all a bad dream, and trust me that you don't want to tell anyone about it. Get me?" Xander said with an evil smile.
"O.O.Okay" Marti stammered out.
"Good, now run along bud and next time don't follow any strange woman out of the club"
Marti ran away quickly without looking back.
Xander and Faith turned to face each other both with matching smirks that cleared as they noticed the other's smirk.
"So" Faith began.
"I think I know someone who wants to meet you" Xander told her with a smile.
"Who" Faith said shifting nervously.
"Those dreams bothering you anymore?"
"How.. What's the skinny here Lex?"
"It's simple Faith. I know what you are and I've met two of your kind before. I have a friend who's been searching the city for you. Sorry she didn't find you quicker."
"Who?"
"Well in your dreams I'm guessing you saw other girls doing what you now do yeah?"
Faith nodded feeling suddenly exposed.
"Well did you see someone helping them?"
Faith again nodded.
"That's a watcher, they help to look after and train the slayers"
"Slayer?"
"Vampire Slayer, 'Sey can give you the full SP."
"OK, then come on" Faith said virtually dragging Xander along the alley. She had been wondering about herself for a month and now here was someone who had the answers. She was more than a little curious. She was also a little cautious but her curiosity was quickly overtaking that.
"Wait!" Xander said finally detangling himself, "I came with Will, and I have to let him know. Not to mention getting him the hell out of the vampire club"
Will had proven to be difficult to extract but eventually Xander had convinced him to go home. Now he was with a very nervous Faith sat in his lounge.
"So" Lindsey began, "You're Faith I've heard.."
"So" Xander cut her off, "not the reason I brought her here"
"Oh sorry, I thought I was doing the meet the new girl.."
"'Sey!"
Lindsey smirked at his discomfort and Faith was looking between the two of them with a small enigmatic smile.
"Well, if you keep embarrassing me I won't help you find that thing you lost"
"Lost?"
"Yes, I know you've been looking for it for weeks now"
"Oh" she replied wondering why he'd brought it up.
Xander shock his head, "Man you Brits aren't too bright are you. OK 'Sey meet Faith"
"Yes we've done that Xander"
"I thought you preferred Lex now?" Faith put in with a smirk.
"Oh good grief. Meet Faith, the vampire Slayer"
"Oh" Lindsey said dumbly
Well I gotta tell you I think I'm cursed or something. Faith's a slayer, yeah I know talk about small world. Well I got her and 'Sey together and finally Faith has a watcher. They've been working really hard over the last few weeks trying to get her slaying up to scratch and I gotta say she's damn good. I've been helping out, mostly by being a sparing partner and stuff. More along the lines of a punch bag really but 'Sey seems to think I'm helping.
Not that I mind, there isn't anything better looking that Faith in her workout gear. She so does Lycra you know what I mean. Anyway I've got school tomorrow followed by helping Faith learn how to research, so long day ahead.
It's been a month since I found Faith and since then she has become one hell of a slayer. She's fast and furious and passionate about killing the undead suckers. When we've been out on patrol I usually don't get much chance to fight, and thanks to my newfound magical skills I don't really have to do much, a well-placed spell usually does the trick. Although sometimes I fight anyway just to keep my hand in.
Anyway, when I don't I get to fight I just watch her fight. She's poetry in motion, I thought Buffy looked good but Faith is literally a goddess when she's in the zone. She's not so much into the quip and stake technique Buffy used; she's more the sort of the plunge and moves on, plunge and move on.
When she's had a bad day though, man she kicks the crap outta any demon stupid enough to cross her path. She's got a real dark side that comes out to play when she's like that. She doesn't scare me exactly, oh alright she is damn scary when she gets like that but hell we've all got a dark side.
We've become close as well; we hang together nearly all the time now. At school and after its not unusual to see us having a laugh and a joke, usually at someone else's expense. She and 'Sey are real tight now, I'm not sure why but they go for a private chat every day I think that has a lot to do with it. Faith moved in with us a couple of weeks ago, I don't think she had a good home life, in fact I know it I recognize the look. I should do I've have it myself sometimes.
I've been working on my magical abilities, it's really funny to find out that I'm not quite as normal as the Scooby gang always thought I think I may be almost as powerful as Willow. Not that I'm competing but, well, it's nice to know. I have concentration issues to be honest which hold me back a bit but if I practice the spell a lot I can do it without having to concentrate. I can now easily gather my power up and get a little bit from around me as well. If I power up I can do much more powerful spells, but that takes a few minutes. It can take longer for the really hard spells, but hell it's worth it.
Lindsey walked quietly into the graveyard and approached the position of her two charges. She stopped behind a tomb and tried not to laugh.
"I'd love to know who names these places. I mean Summerville, man."
"Shhhhh"
"Oh come on, I'm being bait, the least you can do is let me talk to myself"
"Shhhhh, you'll scare them off" Faith said with fake annoyance.
"Now that would be so bad!" Xander's voice sounded full of sarcastic joy.
"X, if you don't shut the hell up I'm gonna cream your ass"
Xander chuckled, "Now that sounds like fun" Lindsey knew that the two had recently started to flirt like crazy and she had to say she found it hilarious. The only trouble was that Xander appeared to have no idea just how attracted Faith obviously was to him.
"That's it!" Lindsey heard the laughter in her slayers voice and rejoiced. She had been doing some counseling with the dark haired slayer and knew a little of her home life. In fact she had moved the slayer in to her final spare bedroom once she'd got the full story. There was no way she was allowing the young woman to go through that for any longer than she already had.
Lindsey heard gales of laughter and once again shook her head, how were they supposed to stake vampires with that going on. She walked around the corner of the tomb to find Xander had actually pinned the slayer and was tickling her mercilessly. The really funny thing was that Faith was squirming like mad but not making a real effort to escape.
She cleared her throat dramatically and watched as the two teenagers sprang apart blushing furiously.
"Hey 'Sey" Xander said with a smile.
Lindsey struggled to maintain her stern composure. He was giving her that goofy lopsided smile that was as sexy as it was disarming, even for her. "Aren't you two supposed to be baiting vampires?"
"I was being the bait," Xander said proudly sticking out his chest, "I'm the Master Bait. Hang on that didn't sound right"
Faith had by this point dissolved into giggles. Something Lindsey had never seen the normally slightly morose slayer doing.
Lindsey herself was having trouble not giggling somewhat herself. She allowed a small smile to show through, or rather she managed to keep it down to that.
"Oh look, a delivery," a deep booming voice told them as a tall and very large vampire stepped from behind a crypt.
Faith's laughter stopped dead as did Xander's. Lindsey flipped out a stake and held it ready as Faith dropped into a fighting stance.
"Man, you just had to ruin a perfectly good comic moment didn't you" Xander remarked showing no sign of moving to a combat stance.
Lindsey smirked, she knew what he was cooking she could feel the raw power pouring off of Xander in waves. She had been more than slightly pleasantly surprised to find that he was a virtual powerhouse of magical energy once charged. It had taken some convincing to get him to even try it. He said that the only time he'd tried magic he had almost been killed by the entire female population of Sunnydale. That had prompted a highly amusing conversation with her cousin Giles. It appeared that the spell had possibly backfired because the necklace used as a personal item was too new. It had not yet acquired enough of the owners' energy to be considered a personal item. Left without a person possession to attach to the spell had instead protected Cordelia and sent the rest of the town on a rampage.
So once she had convinced him to try she'd found he was quickly becoming quite the mage. At that point in time she could feel the spell building in power as Xander kept the vampire talking. Even Faith had relaxed. Lindsey was happy to see that as well, Faith was not the trusting type. It had taken Lindsey weeks of sessions to get the girl to relax. It seemed Xander had managed the same with just his jokes. Scary!
"You will be first" the vampire decided moving towards Faith.
"Leave her alone overbite" Xander said and the vampire was picked up by a giant invisible hand and thrown against a crypt. Xander walked calmly up to the downed vampire. "Facere Ignis" he whispered. Instead of the fireball he normally used the large vampire flashed once as flames leapt up around him and vanished into a dust ball.
Xander turned around with a large smirk, "Not too shabby even if I do say so myself"
Faith looked at him proudly, 'Sey had tried teaching her some magic and had found that she had absolutely no talent for it. In fact she was a 'Null'. A null was a person who couldn't do any magic at all. The plus side was that magic was somewhat negated when used on them. It was a similar effect to the one Xander's amulet had. Luckily his jewelry did nothing to stop his magic from having an effect on others.
Faith was happy for Xander though, he was a decent fighter but it was magic that really did it for him now. He didn't use it all the time though he liked to try not to for some reason. When she had asked he'd said 'Magic is a tool that when you use it, it uses you right back'.
She kinda thought she got what he meant but then he occasionally said stuff like that, hinting at a much deeper man than the goof he tried to pretend he really was. She'd become really attached to them both, (Xander and Lindsey); she couldn't imagine a life without either of them in it now.
"Shall we continue our Patrol for, say, an hour then go home and watch a movie with popcorn?" Lindsay said out of the blue.
The two teens nodded agreement eagerly as they set off out of the graveyard at a fast clip.
Xander juggled a large bowl of popcorn and a bag of chips as he walked into the living room. "Man bring food," he proclaimed as he dumped the whole lot on the log slung coffee table.
"Ah, the hunter gatherer has found the marvel of microwave popcorn" Lindsey remarked sardonically.
"Hey, it has buttons and the display flashed at me angrily like"
Faith smirked, "Ahh poor widdle Lex, do you want me to slay it for you"
Xander looked at her as she sat curled up on the couch looking, to him, amazing. Her long hair was wet from her shower and cascaded down her shoulder and how anyone could look that good in sweats and no make up was a mystery to him but she managed it. "Well, it did make this really demonic bleeping noise" he managed to say.
He plopped himself down on the floor at her feet not really realizing how familiar a move it was. Faith surveyed the back of his head with a slight smile curling her lips.
"So what nerd fest film have you picked for us Lex?" she asked.
"Hey this isn't a nerd flick"
"That's what you said about Star Wars and wrath of that Indian guy"
"Khan!"
"Bless you"
"Oh very funny, Faith"
"Now, now children, lets just watch the movie shall we"
"Sorry 'Sey" they chorused together eliciting a chuckle from the eldest member of their group.
The night was still, not even the slightest breeze disturbed Xander's hair as he stood atop of the night club. This place had been arousing his curiosity to the point that he could no longer ignore the urge to go poking around. He'd waited until 4 in the morning knowing that the club closed at 1am so he figured it would be empty by then.
Luckily for him the place had no formal forms of protection from thieves, another nail in its owners coffin. It meant that who ever owned the place scared the criminals enough that they wouldn't dare to rob the club. That had to be unusual to say the least. Xander slipped through the broken window, his small infraction of the law, and dropped to the ground 6 foot below. He landed with barely any noise whatsoever and crept through the silent club. Almost silent club, he could just make out several voices further ahead. Using all of the stealth that he was able to call upon Xander made his way closer to the source of the voices. It turned out that they were standing just below him from the balcony walkway that he had landed on.
"Master, the dark slayer is becoming a problem, She and her consort took out Michael only tonight."
Xander almost laughed at being called Faith's consort, not that he was against the idea. He could just imagine her face at hearing that.
"Then deal with them Mr. Trick, that is what I pay you for is it not" That voice was seriously foreboding, deep and vicious sounding. Xander edged forward trying to sneak a peek at its owner. At that precise moment the person in question along with his compatriot walked into view.
There was a unassuming slender black man who was impeccably dressed in a dark suit he had an intelligent face. Xander could tell that he was the brains. The other, the owner of that spine tingling voice was a perfect match to that basso rumble. He was tall and wide shouldered his face fixed into a demonic scowl that wasn't too dissimilar from the masters. Xander also noticed that his hands looked like a cows foot. Cloven footed demon vampires. Using one of the first lessons that he'd learned from 'Sey he extended his senses through the mundane spectrum out to the archaic. What he saw there made him more than a little nervous. This was a seriously old vampire, evil and vicious if his aura was telling the truth.
Xander slid back unfortunately knocking his head on a bar causing it to reverberate loudly through the dark club.
"What was that?" the big freak said looking around.
"I'll deal with it" Trick said jumping straight up and landing at the balcony. He stalked Xander who was backing away. Just then the sound of running feet invaded his consciousness and he realized he was surrounded.
"Shit" he said succinctly.
"Who are you boy," Trick demanded now in game face he didn't look quite so unassuming anymore.
"I'm the consort," Xander told him charging himself from the nearby air, metal, wood and even the vampires themselves. He drew as much power as he could as quickly as possible knowing that he had only a few moments to spare.
"Well, I think losing her consort will break the slayer" Trick told him looking thoughtful.
"IRE QUO ALIUS" Xander roared out as Trick made a jump for him. There was a strange sucking noise followed by a pop as Xander disappeared with a flash of light.
Trick looked around his game face slipping away to be replaced with a smile, "Impressive" he said quietly.
Faith slipped from between her sheets and started to run. She had just heard a massive crash from downstairs. She didn't bother grabbing a robe and ran down the stairs wearing nothing but a long tee. Lindsey who was carrying a large poker quickly joined her.
They stepped into the living room and found the source of the noise. Xander was lying in amongst a pile of debris that had been a welsh dresser. Lindsey staggered slightly as a feeling of power hit her.
Faith rushed over to Xander and carefully picked his head off of the floor and cradled it in her lap. He was out for the count and had a copious amount of blood flowing from his nose. She looked fearfully at her watcher who was holding out her hand in a grasping motion, "He did a spell. I don't know what but it was powerful. Very powerful"
"Will he be Okay?"
"Yes I think so, he is capable of more but he has used a lot of power and very quickly. I'll know more when he wakes up"
Faith nodded her head and stroked Xander's hair carefully more relieved than she cared to admit.
A week, it's been seven whole days since I did that teleportation spell and I still feel like my brain is dribbling out of my nose. Boy was 'Sey mad at me for doing that spell, apparently it takes more power than I was able to gather in the time I had, because of that I'm paying for it with pain. It took the energy directly from my personal reserves of life energy. I figure I was about to die so loosing a few days off of the end is nothing to getting done-in there and then.
So it turns out the big guy is Greek vampire that's like seriously old called Kakistos his buddy Trick is a master vampire in his own right and they are the owners of the club and just about everything around these parts. The two of them have set themselves up a nice little operation. Well Faith and I have been making sure they realize its time to move on. We set fire to the club and burnt it to the ground, don't worry we checked for humans first. Then we did a little demolition of his other businesses. All in all we've been pissing him off to the best of our ability.
"This has to end" Kakistos roared throwing a minion vampire across the length of the warehouse. It was a case of shot the messenger. They had just found that the Slayer had taken out another of his carefully constructed businesses.
"I agree, but what do you suggest Master" Trick asked his voice and general demeanor much more calm than his boss. "They are one hell of a team, what ever vampires we've sent against them have all been toasted or staked, or in one case ripped apart from the inside out," Trick shivered, that had been one visual image he hadn't wanted in his memories.
Kakistos stopped his angry pacing and fixed trick with a gimlet glare. Trick didn't back down, which was one of the things that Kakistos liked about the vampire, he was properly subservient without being a sycophant. Once he was finished with him trick would build a fine family of his own, even if he had strange ideas about technology.
"The Watcher" Kakistos said finally
"Protected"
"The Consort"
"Deadly"
"The Slayer"
"She's a whirlwind"
"The Consort?" Kakistos said again.
"As I said deadly, he's a mage for starters but the reports I've been getting are that he's from the hellmouth. He can fight well but it's his magic that is impenetrable"
"Then the Watcher and Slayer are the weakest links"
"Normally I would agree, but the watcher is nifty with the mojo herself but yes without the consort they are do-able"
Kakistos stroked his goatee, "Can we get to them"
"Yes, If and only if the consort isn't with them. Together they are just too powerful. It's like a tripod, whole its sturdy as a rock, take any one of the legs away and it falls"
Kakistos grew silent and a gleam started to grow behind his eyes as a vague plan took shape in his warped mind, "Then we need to get the consort away from the watcher and slayer. Once the Slayer and watcher are dealt with we can take the consort. If I know my humans and I do he'll try to rescue them, he'll fail because I want all of our guards here ready for him. The Slayer can watch her consort die and then I will torture and kill her watcher before draining her. Have you ever had a slayer's blood?"
Trick shook his head.
"It's like liquid fire, amazing! Gets you high for a week afterwards"
"We still need to get the consort away from the other two first"
"Do I need to think of everything, that's is why I pay you the big bucks. Just Do It!"
Trick rolled his eyes and looked for guidance from a higher power.
Xander ducked under the Slayer's out stretched leg moving with utmost speed. Faith was a lot faster than he was so he more often than not only blocked a move by the barest fraction. This was the first time that he had been able to remove himself from an attack of hers and he was feeling smug, right up to the moment that he landed on his back with Faith smirking down at him. She'd leg swept him so fast he didn't even see it coming.
"Hello down there" Faith said a humorous glint in her eye.
"Hello up there" Xander replied returning her smirk.
Faith reached down and clasped hands with him helping the downed man to his feet, "Still the best" she crowed as he shot her a poisonous look that had no actual poison behind it.
"XANDER!" Lindsey called from up stairs.
"YEAH"
"PHONE CALL"
"When I get back, I want a rematch. Then your mine slayer" Xander shot at her over his departing shoulder.
Once he'd left the room Faith smirked at her self mumbling, "already am Lex, already am"
She'd been attracted to him from the outset but her own troubles had put it on the back burner and she had rejected him rather spectacularly when he'd approached her in friendship. She thought herself lucky that it had not permanently damaged her chances. She knew he found her attractive, it was hard to miss but he continually held back from her now. She thought it possibly because he thought he wasn't good enough for her, which made her laugh. But then he was like that, self-effacing to the extreme and lovable as hell.
Lindsey walked into the room and caught faith standing on the Tatami with a faraway smile on her face, "Earth to Faith" she joked bringing the dark haired girl to her senses.
"Hey 'Sey" Faith said mimicking Xander's favorite form of address for the watcher.
"Nice thoughts Faith?"
"Maybe" faith replied with an enigmatic smile.
Lindsey wasn't able to continue her line of questioning as at that point the target of faith's musings arrived back in the room.
"Who was it Lex?" Faith asked.
"Just Will, he wants me to go over to his place"
"Why?"
"He's got a Playstation needs someone to help him test it"
Lindsey realized that Xander had turned his friend down, "So why are you here. You need to relax you know"
"Nah, I'm helping Faith train"
"It's OK Lex go" faith urged him, they had all been strung out since learning of Kakistos, Xander the most. The teleportation trick he'd sprung had cost him dearly and Faith knew that. There was nothing like just kicking back and chilling with a friend to make you feel better in her opinion.
"No we should all stick together" Xander replied seriously.
Faith stalked out of the room only to return seconds later with the cordless phone in her hand, "Ring him, and go have fun. Me and the watcher can spend some quality time"
"Faith."
"Go" Lindsey backed up her charge with a stern command.
Xander held his hands up, "Alright, alright already" he said taking the phone from a smiling Faith.
Trick was still mulling over the problem of how to get the consort away from the others with a vampire came shuffling in to the room and whispered into his ear. The smile on Tricks face was enough to run a power station, "Oh boy you are one lucky vamp Kakistos"
Kakistos turned to him with an enquiring smile.
"The Consort, he's just left the other two alone. If we go now.."
"Now, Go Now!" Kakistos agreed waiving them away.
Trick signaled his troops and they stormed out of the room. He paused before following them, "There's that biker gang that's been hassling me to let them join us. Shall I involve them? They could get us in"
"Yes good idea, once they have got you in, set them up to visit our friend the consort"
Trick smiled, "Yes sir" he said then dashed from the room.
Kakistos's smile grew wide and truly evil, "All good things come to those who wait"
"Hello, anyone at home?" Xander called out as he walked through the slightly open front door. His senses were working overtime as was his heart.
He walked into the living room to find it smashed to pieces he picked his way throw the debris looking for any sign of his companions but coming up with nadda.
He was about to turn and rush out of the room when suddenly he noticed a sheet of parchment. Carefully he leaned over and picked it up. It was red ink; at least he hoped it was ink.
[We have the Slayer, and the Watcher. Catch Us if You Can. We're where the sun no longer shines with toys to keep our guests amused]
Xander's hand started to shake in anger as he read the note before tossing it away in rage. If only he'd stayed and watched over them, as he had wanted to, this wouldn't be happening. He knew that they were stronger together than they would be otherwise. He should never have left them alone.
Moving quickly Xander made his way up the stairs and pulled out the duffel bag he'd arrived with form under his bed. He opened it with a vicious movement almost ripping the zip from its runners. He up ended its contents onto his quilt and walked to his wardrobe.
Once there he grabbed the combat rig hidden in its depths and his leather duster. He quickly changed out of his casual clothes and dressed in hard wearing black combats and a tight tee shirt. Then he slipped on the rig so that it was clinging to him tightly. Between the tightness of the shirt and the rig there was no movement so it wouldn't rub or shift round. Then he stalked back to his bed, picked up the K-bar combat knife and strapped it to his leg. The desert Eagle went one side of the rig and his Glock on the other. He placed the derringer in his boot. Then he laid out all of his ammo on the bed and started building power.
He had a theory that he was fairly certain would work. Once he decided that his level was high enough and ignoring the swimming of his head he started to speak in a low tone.
"Deus Arma Vita Cervix A Cytherea Basiare" he said then he repeated it for every clip and tray of bullets he owned touching each as he spoke the words of power. Then he grabbed his guns from their places on the combat rig and did the same. Finally he spoke them over his knife and the tiny derringer nestling in his boot. Then he stocked up on holy water and stakes from the large weapons chest.
As he rummaged through he found a dark Katana that he had never seen before and added that to his arsenal sliding it into place.
Then he slipped the leather duster over the entire lot and caught sight of himself in the mirror. His dark eyes looked back at him with no small amount of fear in them. It wasn't the vampires he was afraid of; it was losing the two most important people in his life. That was what had him scared and he vowed to himself there and then that he would die to save them, if that's what it took.
He walked out of the door kicking it closed behind him and starting walking.
Xander hadn't got very far when he heard the distinctive sound of several large engine'd motorbikes approaching.
He turned vaguely in their direction to find three large Harley Davidson bikes approaching from the west. He then turned to find another three approaching from the East. At his back, north, there was a brick wall and in front there was an empty street.
He had the distinct impression that these bikers had something to do with his disappearing friends. He decided to find out.
Big Sonny the leader of Boston's hardest and meanest breakaway chapter of the hells Angel's looked over at his second in command, Little Sonny, his brother. "What the hell is he doin'" he called over the sound of the powerful engines. His large frame was squat over his ride and his barrel like belly resting on the petrol tank.
Little Sonny; weaselily little man that he was just shrugged, "Lambs to the Slaughter Big 'Un"
"Yeah Little 'Un Let us smite him down brother" the large man called out at the top of his voice.
Up the road from them Xander looked from side to side with an evil smile on his face. Then he started a silent count down in his head.
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
"Murus Grandis" Xander called out at the last second and a large shimmering blue wall appeared on his left side. He then pulled out his Desert Eagle and started firing to the right. The large slide slamming back creating recoil that made his elbow's hurt but he continued to pump .50 caliber rounds at the on coming bikers. The large lumps of heavy metal slammed home with unerring accuracy picking out the leading bike's front wheels and explosively decompressing them. Big 'Un and Little 'Un's mounts bucked and tossed them from the saddle. The two men took to the air like swallows. The final biker on that side reacted quickly skidding his bike round and flowing along the tarmac perpendicular to his original position. Then knowing his leathers would save him he jumped clear as the bike slammed into the mounts of the chapter leaders.
On the other side of Xander three Milwaukee Cows slammed into a solid object that should not be there. Pure shimmering energy smashed the riders from their steeds whereupon they exploded with a gigantic fireball flying up into the air. The riders bounced off of the shield and were repelled backwards with equal force sending their already unconscious forms flying back down the street a good twenty feet.
"Liberare" Xander said as he dropped the eagles' clip. He slammed another one home before walking over the moaning form of Big Sonny. He reached down, grabbed the man by his long greasy hair, and tucked on it sharply.
"Ow, hey man; go easy will ya"
"Shut the fuck up, where are they"
"Who?"
The large barrel of the desert eagle introduced itself to Big Sonny's eye. "Don't make me repeat myself"
"OK, Ok, The old SunnyD plant by the river." Big Sonny squealed out trying to back away.
"If you're lying." Xander let the threat trail off before using the heavy but of his gun to put the larger man to sleep.
He stood slowly holstering his weapon. He looked around at the carnage he had wrought with a cold gaze. He could see several forms already starting to move around. The bikers' leathers appeared to have saved them all, a little singed but otherwise they all seemed mostly alive. He glanced up at the sun and saw that it was starting to slip behind the horizon.
He didn't have much time, he knew in his heart of hearts that Lindsey and Faith were unlikely to make it into the night. Xander walked over to one of the heavy machines and with a lot of pulling and hefting he finally managed to right it. He gave it the once over and saw that it seemed in working order so he flung his leg over it and kicking the engine into life.
Trick flipped the small hand held LCD screen closed with a grim smile. He had tagged the bikes of all of the hells Angel's to receive telemetry when he had met with them to negotiate their terms.
So he had been able to make out that the bikers had all converged on what he assumed was the Consorts position and then after a short while a single rider had carried on the journey assumedly to report back to him. Trick was so pleased that he decided then and there to turn that rider as reward for surviving the consort.
He turned to his master and sire with a smile still in place.
Kakistos noticed it straight away and an evil version played across his frightening features. "Excellent" he said and turned around.
Before him was a sight to make his ancient heart flutter in anticipation. His minions had laid the watcher flat out on a steel table bound at hand and foot with strong robe. As per instructions the slayer was hanging from her wrists in full view of the table. She was un-gagged so he could here her pleading for her watchers life. She was currently looking at him defiantly but Kakistos knew that it was for show. He could smell her fear and he reveled in it.
He walked slowly to the table his movements deliberate then he looked the slayer directly in the eye. "Your Consort won't be joining us I'm afraid he came foul of some Angel's or hell" he was gratified to see the look of total and abject despair cross her features before she started bucking against her bindings.
"I'll tear out you fucking heart you bastard," Faith screamed with tears flowing down her cheeks. Hurting the slayer herself was useless, hurting the ones she loved was just the thing to get to her.
"No my dear you won't but that's a good idea I may use it on your watcher here"
Faith's eyes snapped wide open in a fear that gave Kakistos a big ole happy feeling.
The sun had just dipped behind the horizon as the Harley purred to a standstill at the abandoned plant.
"The Place where the Sun No Longer Shines! Man these vampires have a worse sense of humor than I do" Xander grumped as he killed the Harleys' Engine
He cast his gaze across the still new looking plant and swore, "Shit, this place is frigging massive"
He flipped his leg over the wide motorcycle and stood at the very edge of the chain link fence that ran around the compound. His quite expert eye was unable to see anything remotely resembling security, which struck his as worryingly odd. Using his knowledge of vampires he was able to spot three possible buildings. He knew that the vamps would need somewhere dark, they preferred wide open spaces as opposed to cramped conditions and anywhere that they didn't have to pay for was the other criteria he could think of. The only vamp he knew that had ever paid for anywhere was Angelus and his damn mansion on Crawford Street.
The largest building was the most likely option. Xander jumped back on the bike and kicked it into life once again. Then leaning on one leg he span round 180 degrees and set off back down the street moving well down it.
Then he took a sharp turn and skidded the bike back around. He revved the engine a few times before releasing the clutch. The large machine's fat rear tire took a second to bite into the asphalt before launching itself forward like a fat rocket.
Xander fixed his eyes on the high fence and started praying.
Moving at full speed he reached the fence in no time. Just before the bike was a full length away he hopped up onto the saddle and pushed off with all his strength. He took to the air like a bird effortlessly flying high up into the air.
Beneath him the bikers' choice smashed into the fence its massive weight multiplied by its speed. It caused the fence to first sag as it tried to take the weight of the intrusion, failing the chain links ripped apart with a shower of sparks as the bike ripped itself an entranceway.
Xander did a neat summersault that flipped him over the top of the ten-foot fence as it bucked and swayed underneath. The huge animal that was the Milwaukee cow having ripped itself a hole in the fence exploded the other side. It still had a little of its speed left just enough to keep it upright as Xander started to drop towards it. He landed astride the machine just as its final speed started to wobble the bike. He quickly gained the pedals as his hands dropped down on the handlebars. He revved the engine once again and the badly bashed bike leapt to his command spraying earth from the grassy ground in a shower behind it.
Xander let out a mad little laugh as he gunned it towards the building he had in his sights.
The roar of the Harley accompanied Xander's journey towards his goal as he reached back round and grabbed his Desert Eagle Pistol from the rig under his jacket. Then he used the distance available to him and really gunned the engine. He knew that there would be a lot of guards if he were to try a more traditional entranceway so he decided to let the Harley once again make its own entrance.
From his vantage point on its back Xander carefully aimed the beast at the hanger style door of the warehouse building he had chosen. He glanced down at the speedometer and smiled like an idiot when he realized that he was going a hundred miles per hour. He was suddenly happy that the complex was as big as it was.
Once he reached what he considered a safe distance from the door he carefully balanced on the saddle and back flipped off.
He hit the ground with a loud "oofff"
He was once again thankful for his protection amulet, which was currently glowing so brightly he could make it out from under his shirt. Despite the protection offered by it he still felt the ground along the entire length of his body as he tumbled end of end and finally side over side behind the speeding bike. He finally came to a stop and quickly got to his feet.
Glancing at the bikes progress he was very happy to see that it remained straight on course.
Kakistos looked to his right hoof man with a puzzled expression. He had been just about to start his fun for real. He'd spent the best part of an hour taunting his subjects loosening them up ready for the main event. A little light torture and beating had been as far as he went. It was still enough to leave the fragile looking watcher badly brushed and bleeding from numerous cuts and Faith was hanging limply from her chains crying softly to herself. Kakistos thought her pathetic, he hadn't even started on her yet but so weak was she that just watching her beloved watcher take punishment was almost enough to break her.
Trick returned his look with an equally puzzled expression. "What the hell is that noise?" he asked just as the entire room shook. They were at the very back of the central warehouse. In a specially made room for Kakistos he liked the darkness at all times of course but he liked it to feel like a dank dungeon and the room had been made to reflect this preference. The only nod towards modern day was the chrome table and several cutting tools.
Trick rushed through the door to find himself in the middle of utter chaos. The front hanging door had a massive whole in it and what looked to be the remains of a large motorcycle had ripped through the building dealing death and destruction in its wake. Most of the forward area was on fire and as Trick was knocked to the ground as the bike finally gave up the ghost and exploded into a fireball that licked the upper rafters of the luckily mostly metal construction.
"Fuck Me!" Trick said emphatically. As he scrambled to his feet, "Converge on my position, the Consort is not dead, I repeat the consort is active," he shouted into the slender walkie-talkie he'd extracted from his jacket pocket.
Just at that moment the sound of a large caliber gun started booming its way through the warehouse. Trick looked towards the door in shock to find Xander strolling in through the hole in its centre calmly firing his gun at any vampire dumb enough to stand in his way. Not that that was enough to shock the streetwise vampire, what was shocking was that every bullet killed. Trick watched as the, supposedly, harmless to vampires bullets dusted guard after guard.
Xander flicked the release catch on his eagle, the clip dropping to the floor. He drew another clip and slapped it home before calmly taking aim and blowing away another guard. He was ecstatic that his idea had worked he now had vamp killing ammo. Blessed bullets they were magically blessed but the effect was the same.
He took a quick bead and blew away yet another guard. He slipped his hand back into his jacket and pulled out the Glock. Then without aiming he shot a guard that had been trying to blindside him. He walked through the large room with slow deliberation picking off every single guard that he saw. He changed clips twice before finally running out of bullets. He slipped both guns back into the depths of the duster and flipped out the Katana.
The sword was his best weapon and he'd taken to it like a duck to water, not that he had ever seen this dark bladed katana before. He clasped the sheath in one hand and the long handle in the other. Then he came to a halt in the middle of the warehouse calmly waiting for his enemies to come to him.
Trick dived back into the relative safety of the back room.
"Well what is it?" Kakistos said calmly but his eyes held a deep fire.
"The consort"
"I thought he was dead"
"As did I master, He's not. We need to leave now!" Trick urged his sire.
"Sometimes I doubt you actually posses a back bone" Kakistos remarked wryly.
"He's picking off our guards with a gun"
"Our kind is not susceptible to guns Trick"
"They are this one, he's dusted 30 guards already and he's out there with a sword about to take out the last few left!"
"Fascinating, it appears you underestimated him"
"Me?" Trick sputtered out before being cut off by a glare from his sire. Just then the screams started.
Faith looked up, "Lex!" she exclaimed in joy even the badly beaten Lindsey started smiling. "Oh boy did you do it now. You made him mad" Faith taunted.
Tricked glanced out of the door window.
Xander was whirling through the melee the dark bladed Katana flashing through the air with a whistle. His face was set in stone as he concentrated on his task, killing the vampires and moving on to the next. He ducked under a flying guard who'd dived at him. Then shot back to his feet and planted a wheel kick in the throat of another vampire. Then he focused, "IGNIS" he shouted and a fireball emerged and hit another vampire with a wet thwack that ended its existence. He twirled the blade in his hand then beheaded yet another guard with contempt.
He took a punch to the face that staggered him but he quickly recovered and glared at the vampire. He didn't even need to say the words and it exploded into ash as fire consumed it. He could feel the power that buzzed around him and he was drawing it into himself without regard to his safety.
"Ignis" he called out again firing yet another ball of fire. He was trying to keep his levels below critical by sending it back out again as quickly as possible.
He flicked his dark blade through another vampire's neck and pushed forward the dust at his feet kicking up in eddies around his boots.
"COR A AQUA" he shouted out and all of the vampires left around him staggered and fell to their respective knees wailing out in pain as a core of holy water spread through their systems pumped around by their own hearts. Then as he walked away from them without so much as a backward glance they all exploded into ash that was drawn in by his passing and twirled around in his wake.
He arrived at the back room door in a cloud of vampire dust and a very pissed off expression on his face.
Trick looked back at his boss as Xander walked up to the door. Trick was more scared than he ever remembered being in his relatively long life. He quickly locked the door and scooted back to his master like a bad puppy.
Kakistos scowled down at him, "You are a fool"
"We need to leave"
"I'm not afraid of a mere mortal, and nor should you be childe of mine"
"This guy is not a mere anything" Trick said as the door started to rattle on its hinges. It was a heavy metal affair with a huge bolt and the hinges were tempered steel. It shouldn't even be moving without their consent but before Kakistos's surprised eyes it was ripped away from its mountings and flew back out into the main warehouse.
Shortly after Xander stepped in through the doorframe and shot them a wide smile, "Hi Honey I'm Home!" His coat swayed around him like a bats wing. He was empty handed due to having to focus a large amount of power on the door but he was no less an impressive sight for it.
"The Consort" Kakistos drawled out with an evil smile.
"The Freak" Xander replied in an almost jaunty tone of voice he glanced around the room, "I see I got the right building" he remarked ignoring the two master vampires.
"Hey Lex, glad you could make it" Faith said her heart leaping around for joy in her chest.
Xander looked at her, "You know that's a good look on you I may be forced to keep you like it"
"Play you cards right Lex, you never know"
"Hey 'Sey you doing Okay?" Xander said his voice soft but there was an underlying note of growing anger.
"Not too bad thanks. Although I could do with a pillow" Lindsey managed to say through her badly spilt lips.
"ENOUGH" Kakistos roared, "I will deal with you personally boy"
"Ohh goody" Xander said drawing a stake and sending it flying across the room. It embedded itself into the large and ancient vampires chest right on target.
Xander waited a full second and nothing happened, "Oh shit"
Kakistos laughed evilly and at length, "Stakes are useless on me mortal"
"No Shit, Sherlock. I kinda guessed" Xander said drawing power into himself.
Trick sensed the power building around Xander and decided it was time to act. Grabbing his sire by the collar he pulled him over to one side as a fireball leapt at them. The ball of flame missed the bulk of the demon but side swiped his face badly burning it. Kakistos screamed out in rage and pain as Trick dragged him out of the back door just as another fireball flew at them. It smashed into the once again closed door and melted a good portion of it in the process.
Xander quickly made his way over to Lindsey and released her bindings before moving over to Faith.
"Shit Chains" he exclaimed before drawing the katana and moving so quickly that not even faith had time to react he cut through the chains. He then looked at the dark blade in surprise
"Man I love this sword" he remarked and stepped back and allowing Faith to step down.
Faith flung her arms around his neck and pulled him into a passionate kiss as Lindsey watched with a smile playing painfully across her lips.
Ok there's like one thing I have to put in this today.
Faith Kissed Me, Faith Kissed Me, Faith Kissed Me, Faith Kissed Me, Faith Kissed Me, Faith Kissed Me, Faith Kissed Me, Faith Kissed Me, Faith Kissed Me, Faith Kissed Me, Faith Kissed Me, Faith Kissed Me.
OK, Ok perhaps I'm a little excited but Faith Kissed Me! Yay! Of course she only did it because I helped to rescue her from the clutches of an evil vampire who wanted to kill her and it was a 'Thank's Bud You Saved My Skin' kiss but in the end Faith Kissed Me!
On another note, Faith Kissed Me, 'Sey was very interested to find that, Faith Kissed Me, I used the dark bladed katana when I did my whole Faith Kissed Me, rescue thing.
OK I'll stop now, Faith Kissed Me. That was the last one I promise. Anyhoo apparently she hasn't been able to draw the blade from the scabbard since she picked it up many years ago in a Car-boot sale, whatever that is, back in jolly old England. She told me I could keep it, as it seemed to like me, again whatever that means.
Lindsey Hamilton Watcher to Faith Williams and friend and guardian to Xander Harris set the phone back on its cradle feeling older than she had done in years. She'd just received a call from head quarters back in London. It was a call to give her orders that she had no choice but the follow, if she didn't it was likely that the council would 'Remove her' and cast Faith to the wolves. The only problem was that to carry out her orders she had to hurt someone who was as dear to her as her own son, if she'd had one. If Faith was like her daughter, and Lindsey certainly loved her as though she was, then Xander was like the son she'd never had. She was about to hurt him and she had no choice but to do it or lose them both.
She walked like a zombie down into the basement and to the 'Training Room', which was basically the entire length and breadth of the house. Out on the practice mat was Xander and Faith sparing lightly together tossing their usual brand of half flirt half banter.
"Come on Lex can't you handle me?"
"I would love to Faith but I think you'd slap me"
"You never know 'til you try lover boy"
"Ohhhh baby I must be dreaming"
Faith laughed which was a surprisingly light sound coming from the dark slayer.
"Excuse me!" Lindsey said trying to attract their attention. She was half successful as Xander stopped and looked over to her. Faith hadn't noticed her softly spoken voice and had already launched her attack that ended up with Xander lying on the floor at her feet holding his nose.
"Ow!" he said nasally.
"Oh shit, I'm so sorry," Faith said dropping down to her knees and cradling Xander's head
"Hey no worries I dropped my guard" Xander said with no intension of moving, until he heard Lindsey sobbing softly. After he heard that he was on his feet closely followed by Faith as they moved to comfort the distraught watcher.
"Oh man what's the matter," Faith said not really knowing what to do.
Xander pulled the slender woman into a comforting hug and stroked her hair, "Hey 'Sey what's up" he said his voice a silky purr as he cooed to her.
"I'm sorry, I'm being silly"
"It's Okay, you're allowed to cry ya know" Faith reassured her the best she could. Lindsey short her a grateful look knowing how hard the dark haired slayer found it to deal with emotions.
"Come on tell us all about it" Xander said as he pulled her over to the comfortable couch they had in situ placed in a nearby corner of the basement.
"I'm sorry" Lindsey sniffed whipping at her eyes with a handkerchief that had magically appeared from her sleeve.
"Don't worry, just take you time" Xander said. He looked at Faith who was hovering above them looking lost and reached out an arm to her. She took it with a grateful smile and he pulled her down to the couch with them.
"I know I've not said this yet. But I love you both as if you were my own children" Lindsey admitted eliciting tears in both of her charges.
"Thank You" they both said together tearfully. They all shared a quick hug together and sat for a moment in peace on the sofa.
"I've had a call from the council" Lindsey said when she had regained enough composure to continue.
"Go On" Xander said his voice dead he had a horrible feeling about this it had been a recurring theme in his nightmares since finding Faith.
"Rupert's been sacked"
"What!" Xander sputtered shocked to the core.
"He told Buffy about her Cruciamentum" Lindsey said slowly realizing even as she said it that there was no way she would allow faith to do through the same thing.
"Her what?" Faith asked confusedly.
"Cruciamentum, it's an ancient rite of passage that every slayer has to pass when she reaches 18."
"I'm nearly 18," Faith informed them, "Next Year"
"I know and there is no way I'm allowing you to go through that!"
"What's it actually mean?" Xander asked.
"It entails the slayer being stripped of her powers and being forced to face a master vampire without them"
Xander sucked in a sharp breath, "That's not a test its murder!"
"It's barbaric I agree"
"That sucks" Faith agreed.
Something occurred to Xander, "Buffy's ok though right" he asked with concern, despite the fact he had been ready to blow a chunk out of her he certainly didn't want her to die.
Lindsey nodded and smiled, "She beat you within an inch of your life and you care?" she asked mostly out of curiosity.
"Well, yeah" Xander admitted.
"She WHAT!" Faith growled.
"Hey, Faith, its ok she had her reasons"
"What the hell reason could she have had to hurt you" Faith said jumping to her feet and pacing angrily, "I'll rip her fucking head off"
Xander followed her up and caught her arms, then he forced the dark slayer to look him in the eye and gave her a serious look, "Don't I'm not worth it. I told her a lie that caused her boyfriend to end up in hell for a while."
"It's not quite that clear cut," Lindsey said as Faith backed away from Xander in shock. "You did in fact save the world in the process"
"Well yeah I suppose" Xander admitted weakly, "But she didn't understand that and she's got the right to her own opinion. I can't fault her for that"
Lindsey shook her head in wonder as Faith cocked her head at him, "Did you love her" Faith asked surprised at how much was riding on his answer.
"Only as a friend, I had a crush on her at the start but that grew up, or I did and we were friends, or so I thought. She ran me out of town"
"Back to wanting to rip her head off" Faith told him but she was smiling, mostly out of relief.
Lindsey did not miss that small bit of byplay but kept her own council knowing the worse was yet to come.
"I feel bad for g-man though he was cool. Did they say why?"
"Yes they said that he had a fathers love for his slayer and that a watcher should keep a detachment from the slayer under their care"
"Aren't you in the same boat?" Xander asked with a slight smile. Lindsey nodded.
"Yes, but they don't know that"
Xander gave a halfhearted chuckle the instantly sobered up, "Oh" he said then ran from the room as fast as he could tears in his eyes.
"Ah" Lindsey said, "No Faith stop" she called stopping her slayer from chasing after her friend.
"What's up with Lex?" she asked fearfully, she didn't like to see him in pain.
"He's worked out the last part of the phone call"
"What?"
"I, We are being sent to the hellmouth where I will take over as Buffy's watcher in addition to being yours"
"What, Hellmouth, Oh Sunnydale. Oh shit now I see, Xander can't go back can he" Faith looked imploringly at her watcher.
Lindsey nodded sadly, then looked up, "Well he could but it would be terrible for him"
"Ok, then I kick Buffy's ass then he can come with yeah"
"No, Buffy is a slayer as well and no offence to you skills she is also the longest surviving slayer in the last hundred years. She's tough and tenacious"
"So you're saying she'd kick my butt"
"Not exactly but it does mean she has a lot of swing with the council and they would protect her above you." Lindsey held her hand up to still faith's outburst, "and they would be wrong to do that. But we need to be careful. First I need to call Rupert and find out the situation then we can come up with a plan of action, if, that is, Xander wants to join us."
"Huh, why wouldn't he"
"Sunnydale holds a very many bad memories for him plus he has already shifted schools. Plus" Lindsey paused then sighed, "I think he's scared of her"
Faith shot her a surprised look, "Lex ain't scared of anything"
"Except her. I think because she was a friend and as such he trusted her not to do that to him"
"How bad was it?" Faith asked anger tingeing her voice once again.
"Rupert told me he was out for three days and he was still walking with a limp when he arrived here. So you see he has plenty to keep him away from Sunnydale"
"Oh" Faith said and her legs gave way and she sunk to the floor Indian fashion.
"You really love him don't you" Lindsey said softly as she moved forward and gathered the slender young woman into a loving embrace. Faith was only able to nod as her life fell apart around her.
Xander bolted out onto the roof slamming the door closed behind him. The fresh morning air assaulted his nostrils as he drew in a deep breath trying to still his raging emotions. Tears were streaming down his cheeks unchecked and his breathing was ragged. He walked to the very edge of the flat roof and sat down with his legs dangling over it.
After a few minutes of calming himself down he started to think. He though about his options. Well One, he stayed in Boston alone and finished school then maybe some college. Which was an OK idea as it meant no hellmouth and no Buffy and Willow. But it also meant no Lindsey and it meant most of all No Faith, could he stand to be away from her after all the time that they had spent together. They had trained, lived and generally just hung together for a month. He couldn't imagine not having her around. He would kill to make sure that he wouldn't have to live without her.
Now there was an idea he could just remove his problem by killing Buffy, but he couldn't bring himself to really think about that idea. He still loved Buffy, in that friends way even after all that had happened. Buffy was also the slayer it would be selfish of him, not to mention hypocritical to do that. He'd lied to save her and the world seven months ago could he just forget that and remove one of man kinds best protectors. No he could not.
So that idea aside he had another option as he saw it, well two because he could stay and finish out school then join Faith afterwards, but that would mean being without her for too long. That left the final option.
He went with them, he could either get his GED or transfer back to Sunnydale high to finish the year of which there was only about 6 months left. He was well ahead with his studies so it wouldn't be too hard. The hardest part of the whole thing would be facing Buffy again, Willow to a lesser degree but it was Buffy that worried him. In one of his many letters Giles had told him that she'd been read the riot act by both Giles and the council for hurting a human. Apparently it was one of their oldest and highest held laws that no human would be hurt or killed unless in was in the execution of their duty. Being mad about being lied to apparently did not count.
It appeared the council thought rather highly of Xander's decision to lie to Buffy that night and as such he was partly under their protection now. He didn't really think that it would stop Buffy for once nanosecond if she really wanted to kill him. But did she? After all this time was she still as mad as she'd been, she even had her beau back as Angel had returned from hell already. Perhaps it wouldn't be so bad.
Xander scoffed at that thought, yes Buffy would still be mad but then he wasn't the boy who'd left Sunnydale the following months from his flight had toughened him up in two ways. He was now a capable fighter and whilst he had promised himself never to use magic on a human unless it was absolutely necessary he also had that edge as well. Not that he wanted to go toe to toe with Buffy on physical terms. Nor did he want to have to do the same with Willow on metaphysical ones.
In the end he really had no choice but to go with Lindsey and Faith. He couldn't imagine not being with them now.
Xander stood up standing at the edge of a twenty foot drop without a sideways glance he walked along the wall to the door. He quickly made his way through it and back down to the basement.
He found Faith and Lindsey both sat on the couch looking sad.
"Women!" he said as he approached striking a stupid pose.
Lindsey smiled at him as did Faith.
"Can I come?" he said dropping the goofy act for a change. He quickly found himself with a dark haired slayer wrapped around him as Lindsey smiled up at him.
He shot her a sardonic grin, "Can I take that as a yes?"
Whew we've spent the last week packing and I gotta say I seem to have a heck of a lot more stuff now than when I arrived. Lets just say I got here with a duffel bag and now I've got three large cardboard boxes with my name on them. Cool huh?
I can't say that I'm exactly looking forward to this but by tomorrow night us and all our stuff will be in Sunnydale. We're flying in believe it or not it took me days by bus and it'll only take us tonight and some of tomorrow by plane. I kinda wish I was going on the bus, but that would just be putting off the inevitable.
Well the taxi's arrived now so I've gotta go wish me luck.
OK we're here, the flight was long and uncomfortable and we've only just started to unpack and I'm fed up with it. I swear that there is even more stuff here now than when we left. It's bred on the way over on the plane. It left before us believe it or not, I was half thinking that it would end up in New York or something but it was waiting for us when we arrived. We got a big place not too far away from Crawford street which I had to chuckle about.
'Sey's got herself set up with a new magic shop. She got a manager in for the old one back in Boston and she's starting like chain or something. I'm going to help out as is Faith after classes and I think we will make a good go of it. After all what better business to have in the 'dale than a magical supplies shop. I suggested that we should cast this protection spell I found that stops vampires from gaining entry, period. Not even Deadboy will be able to get in. It will take me and 'Sey to cast it as its kinda powerful but once its up it's up ya know.
Once we're settled in, which'll be next year if the amount of boxes are any indication, 'Sey is going to take us down to the school and clear us through with Snyder. Oh how I love that guy, not! Faith's looking kinda worried as well but Lindsey's told us both that she's talked with the g-man and he's smoothed the road already. We're due to meet the whole Scooby gang in the library tomorrow after our meeting with Snyder.
Oh happy day!
"So why are we doing this again" Buffy asked, "You're my watcher the council can get lost"
Giles gave a long suffering sigh before fixing Buffy with a mild glare, "Because if we do not, the council may kill you," he told her for the thousandth time.
"Really kill, I mean not like tell off" Willow put in
"Yes kill as in dead" Giles told her.
"This new watchers bringing the other slayer as well" Cordelia asked feigning boredom. "So what's she like?"
"I've heard only good things about her"
"Not to speak ill of the dead but she's not another drone like Kendra is she" Cordy asked as she waved her freshly painted nails around.
'Not bloody likely' Giles thought to himself, 'Not if my cousin is anything like she used to be' "I doubt it" Giles spoke out loud.
"Good, cause she was like boring" the Queen of tact remarked.
"Hey, Kendra was nice" Buffy said weakly feeling she should stand up for her sister slayer. Then she turned back to Giles as Cordy rolled her eyes at the blonde slayer. "What about this new watcher. She's your cousin right"
Cordelia dropped the luckily closed nail varnish pot. She hadn't known that. She quickly retrieved it and sent it flying over to Oz who laconically plucked it out of the air and set to work on his own nails. She looked at Giles enquiringly who gave her an almost imperceptible nod. She couldn't quite contain the tiny squeal of excitement that escaped her lips. She'd just found out that Xander was coming home. Not that she had any feelings for him that way anymore, well not many he still held a special place in her heart but she had a new beau now, but still he was dear to her. She knew that Buffy had been warned to behave herself no matter what but she'd thought that applied to the new watcher, now she knew the real reason.
Buffy looked at her enquiringly so Cordelia started waiving her hand again, "I got an ugly spot on my nail"
Oz caught her eye and tipped the pot towards her offering her it back. She gave the musician a smile and shook her head.
"Man, this brings back memories"
All eyes fixed on the entrance to the library. Standing there looking larger than life was Xander decked out in dark colors with a blood red shirt and a long duster that stopped just short of trailing along the ground. He was also wearing his trademark lopsided grin. With him were two other women. One tall dark blonde elegant elder woman. The other a seductive looking raven haired beauty who was eyeing the room warily.
Cordelia let out another squeal and leapt from her seat. She then proceeded to rush over and tackle Xander in a huge head planting a large lipstick coated kiss on his cheek.
"Hey Cor, how you doing" Xander said with a large smile his eyes full of happiness.
Faith shot the tall and frankly gorgeous brunette that was currently wrapped around the subject of her heart a jealous look. She felt herself almost growling already at the way she had draped herself round 'HER' man.
Giles stepped up next and took his cousin into a much more reserved hug, "Lin it's good to see you. You look fantastic"
"You too Rupert America agrees with you" Lindsey said with a genuine smile.
Giles gave her a sour look, "Hardly" he commented and turned to the dark haired slayer at her side, "and you must be Faith. I've heard good things about you"
Faith spared him a slight smile but reserved speaking for when she felt she could do it without growling. She noticed out of the corner of her eye that the brunette had finally let go of her Lex and had stepped back, but not too far. At least not far enough for her liking.
"Cordy, this is Faith" Xander said taking the slender slayer's arm in an affectionate way that was not missed by the cheerleader. She also noticed that Faith relaxed noticeably at his touch.
'Interesting' she thought to herself and smirked inwardly at the jealous look in the other woman's eye. She did however make nice and they shook hands and Faith spared her a nod of the head.
"You!"
Xander gave a sigh and turned to the now furious blonde stalking up to him. He smiled as Faith stepped in front of him closely followed by Cordelia. He side stepped them both and step in front of them meeting the slayer head on.
"Hello Buffy" he said quietly.
"You've got a lot of nerve coming here"
"Buffy!" Giles said sharply and the slayer notched her anger down by one.
"You should've stayed away Xander"
"I'm sorry you feel that way Buffy but I couldn't do that"
"Why not I would have thought you would be good at lying your way out of coming"
Xander gave her a pained look, "Puh-Lease. I asked to come"
"That was dumb. You and I are never ever going to make up"
"I'm here for Faith, and to a lesser extent 'Sey as well"
Buffy looked round him to see the dark haired slayer who currently was smiling from ear to ear. The smile quickly disappeared when she saw Buffy looking at her and was replaced with a hostile glare. Buffy looked back to her ex-friend with contempt in her eyes.
None of which was noticed by Xander who was looking at the girl that had once been his oldest friend with the saddest expression on his face. He tried a small smile and was hearten to see Willow return it a slight smile curling her lips but her eyes sad. She quickly slammed down on her happiness at seeing her old friend though and her face became a scowl.
Xander's face also fell and the sadness returned doubly.
Buffy poked him in the chest and he looked down at her finger.
His fear rushed back into his body but was quickly burned away by anger. Anger at her and anger at his own fear, "I'd remove that if I were you" he said his voice calm but dead.
Willow gasped as she felt a large amount of power shifting in the room and she was even more shocked to realize its source.
Xander was unconsciously sucking in a huge amount of power something that had become automatic for him since the fight at Kakistos's warehouse. That night had unlocked something within him and tapped into it forever releasing it into the light.
Buffy missed all of this though and jabbed her finger back into his chest. Then looking deep into his eyes with a sneer she drew back her hand an unleashed a powerful slap. She staggered back as her hand not only didn't make contact but bounced off of an invisible barrier less than an inch from Xander's face.
She looked at him in shock as she shook her hand trying to get some life back into it.
"Don't ever touch me again Buffy. Not after what you did."
"What I did, that's a laugh"
"You touch Lex again Blondie and I'll rip your head off," Faith said surging forward only to be stopped by Xander's gentle touch. Giles and Cordelia looked at each other both mouthing, 'Lex?' questioningly.
"It's OK Faith" Xander said softly. Faith stepped back not breaking eye contact with the elder slayer.
'Oh look love at first sight' Buffy thought to herself sadly, she'd hoped to better know her sister slayer but it looked like Xander had ruined that chance.
"Buffy. I'm back in the 'dale for as long as Faith needs me and that's all there is too it. I'm sorry about this but we'll have to work together sometimes in the future and we just have to, uh, put up with each other. I still think of you like a sister buff and I don't want us to be like this, but if that's how you want to play it then fine. But we still have to be able to work together"
Buffy looked at him evenly weighing her options. Finally she gave a sharp nod of her head and backed down much to everyone's relief. "Ok, fine I just hope we don't have to make nice. 'Cause I can't do that"
Xander nodded a said smile on his face, "I understand that Buff I really do." Then he leaned in close to her much to hers and everyone else's surprise. "Don't judge Faith on me can you do that for me, for the friendship we once had. She's an amazing slayer and I think you could be friends if you let it happen" he whispered so quiet that only Buffy's enhanced hearing was able to pick it up even at their closeness. He then backed away quickly.
Buffy paused thoughtfully then nodded at him and was rewarded with a large smile, "Thank you" he told her earnestly and swept out of the room, quickly followed by Faith and Cordelia.
They found him sat on the steps to the school and took up positions either side.
"What did you say to her?" Cordelia asked ever the tactful one.
"Basically the same thing I'm gonna say to Faith." He looked Faith in the eye, "that you have to forget all this stuff with me and take each other as you come. I just know that you could be friends and that's important when you're fighting a shit load of vampires one night. If you aren't a team then you'll won't win. I'm not gonna let this bullshit get in the way of that. OK?"
Faith looked deep into his eyes and sighed, "Ok Lex you win, as usual. I'll give the blonde bitch a chance OK"
"That's my girl" Xander said, "Now go on back. You've all got a lot to talk about. I need to visit someone" with that he stood and walked down the steps, "See Ya Later Cor" he tossed over his shoulder.
Faith and Cordelia looked at each other and stood themselves. They didn't say a word to each other until they reached the library doors. As they did Cordelia stopped Faith with a touch to her arm. She looked deep into Faith's eyes.
"You're a lucky girl to have him Faith," she said shocking the hell out of the dark haired slayer. "If you hurt him I'll kick your butt slayer or no. Get me"
Faith just nodded shocked to her core. Why would Cordelia think she HAD him?
I visited Jessie's grave tonight for the first time in a year. That's right a year. 5 months I went without going to see him before I left. Why, because I felt guilty because I had his dream girl. Jessie was mad about Cordelia loved her like crazy and then her and me were an item and I just felt like shit. Maybe it should've been me that got it that night and then maybe he and Cor would have got it together like we did.
I don't know maybe that's right, but then if I hadn't of lived then Faith would've died at old cloven guys hand who knows I just know that I should've gone to see him sooner. We had a long chat, OK; I talked at the gravestone for about an hour felt a bit better afterwards.
Jessie was like that he was always able to make me feel better I often went to his when my dad got a little too much to stand anymore and we'd laugh and joke, read comics and generally he'd make me feel much better. After I was able to go back, usually after dear old dad had passed out on the couch, and I could take it again for a while.
Anyway, that's all I feel like writing tonight, so goodnight dear Journal see you tomorrow.
Xander glanced at his watch it was finally it was closing time. He had offered to look after the store because it was Saturday and also because it gave 'Sey and Faith time to get to know the Scooby's.
He had just started cashing up the till when the shop door's bell pinged. He stashed the cash back in the till and plastered a smile on his face that quickly froze when he saw just who his late night customer was.
"Hey Wills," he said weakly.
"Hey Xander, I think we need to talk" Willow said sparing him a slight smile.
Xander nodded, "OK, just let me close up 'K"
Willow nodded in turn as he lifted the counter door and walked round and locked the front door.
"Drink?" Xander asked
"Soda?"
"Of course, or if your good I've got a root beer"
Willow gave him a genuine smile, "Yes please" she told him.
"Go sit, I'll be back" Xander told her indicating the large central table that had a few chairs arrayed around it. Restfield Cemetery
Faith idly tossed her stake up in the air and caught it as it fell; she repeated it a few times as she watched the elder slayer dispatch some newbie vampires back to wherever they came from.
Once she had finished the resumed their slow patrol around the large cemetery.
"So." Buffy began not really knowing where to start.
"So." Faith parroted.
Buffy smiled at her, "You really like him huh?"
Faith didn't have to think too hard to realise just who she was talking about, "I thought that was out of bounds B"
"I know, just call it curiosity"
"OK, then yeah I do"
"Why?"
"He's helped me out"
"Yeah, I'll bet"
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Nothing, don't get touchy."
"Why do you hate him so much?"
"You know what he did?"
Faith nodded.
"Well that's why"
"Seems to me he saved the world"
"Yeah he did and even Angel thinks he did the right thing, and if I'm honest so do I really. Not that I thought that to start with."
"Then why?"
"The reasons he did it, I don't think they were the right ones I think he was jealous and sending Angel to hell just because he was jealous was just plain wrong"
Faith paused, "Yeah I asked him about that"
"Oh yeah?"
"Yeah, I asked him if he loved ya"
"What'd he say?" Buffy asked genuinely curious.
"He said that he did"
"Oh!" Buffy was surprised to hear that she had fully expected Xander to lie to her sister slayer.
"Yeah, He did. He told me about how he'd had this big ole yen for you back in the day. Then he told me how it had grown into something else"
"Oh really, he did, did he, well.."
Faith cut her off, "Yeah he did, he told me he loved you as a friend, maybe a sister or something. I believed him, I mean he had no reason to lie to me and believe me I can tell when a guy's lying to me because its usually a case of, they're breathing so it's a lie. Only Lex ain't like that. He's had plenty of chances to betray me and every single time he came through with flying colors"
"Oh" Buffy replied feeling a little out at sea.
"I know he did the right thing for the right reasons you know how?"
"No?"
"Because he's Lex and he don't know how to do it for the wrong ones"
"Oh, believe me he does. Xander isn't as perfect as all that. The times me and him got into arguments about Angel, he was jealous as hell of him"
"Yeah, I expect he was. At First"
"Huh?"
"Its like I said, B, He did have a crush on you, did is the word here"
"Maybe" Buffy allowed.
"Look, I'm not saying he's perfect because I know he ain't. Sometimes he's damn right moody."
"Xander moody since when? I've only ever seen him laughing or angry never moody"
"Well I guess I know him a little better as he is now. Some day's he'd get all quiet and not say anything to anyone, usually when he got a letter from the brunette or the English guy"
"Giles" Buffy supplied automatically.
"Giles, then he would get moody I once walked up behind him and for change he didn't hear me coming. He was crying B, Crying I've hardly ever seen Lex cry"
"I thought only Willow had"
"There you go. Want to know what I think?"
"I'm not so sure I do"
"I think he was homesick. I picked up that letter; OK I stole it. It was from Giles telling him about Homecoming and how you and the brunette."
"Cordelia" Buffy cut in
"Yeah her" Faith said and Buffy detected a note of jealousy enter the other slayers voice. "Well how you both managed to be missing out at being Homecoming queens after being hunted by those guys and how they thought that Cordelia was another slayer"
"Yeah" Buffy said a smile touching her lips as she remembered that night and the resulting fun and games.
"Well I asked him about it. Said I found the letter and that I'd read it by mistake"
Buffy chuckled, "That was thin"
"Yeah well it worked. Anyway he told me he was proud of you both"
A tear appeared in Buffy's eye "Proud?" she asked her voice cracking. It was starting to dawn on her that she'd been a fool. Her anger had all but disappeared and Faith was knocking large chunks out of what was left. Buffy thought that Xander was very much starting to look the hero of the situation and her the bad guy; even to herself.
"Yeah B, Proud, I didn't get why until he told me he was proud that you both did stay alive and that you got through it together as well"
"So."
"So." Xander said.
"Why Xander?"
"I think you know the answer to that already"
"I want to hear it from you"
"Because if I didn't Buffy wouldn't have fought as hard as she needed to, to stay alive"
"Really, I think it was because you were jealous"
"Uh, no"
"Convince me"
"Willow, you know me better than anyone else alive. Can you honestly say that I would've been with Cordy if I was still in love with Buffy?"
Willow pursed her lips as she thought about it for a moment, "Maybe not" she allowed
"Definitely not. I'm not a hypocrite Wills and you know why" Xander said, thinking of his father and his numerous promises not to hurt him or his mother again and then going out getting drunk and doing it that very night. There was a driving reason behind Xander's wish not to become a hypocrite like his father.
"You gotta admit it looks shady from our point of view"
"Willow, I love you I really do but I don't think an original thought has past through your brain since Buffy arrived in the dale."
"Hey!" Willow said with tears in her eyes.
"She won't leave you just because you don't agree with her you know"
"."
"She won't, Buffy isn't like that she's not one of those rich bitches that used you for you big ole brain and dumped you as soon as you either disagreed with whatever crap came out of their mouths or when they didn't need you anymore. Buffy's a good person and she loves you for who you are."
Willow promptly burst into tears to which Xander responded by rushing round the table and gathering her into his arms, "Shh sweetie I'm sorry" he cooed to her.
"No, you're right I'm so sorry Xand I tried to stick up for you but she was so mad I thought she'd leave me alone, Especially after you went away at first I'm sorry I really did think that's why you did it but after like a few days I realized but Buffy was still mad so I think I started to just go along with her I'm so sorry"
"Man I missed Willow babble," Xander said kissing her on the crown of her head
"Can you forgive me?" Willow asked looking up at him with fearful eyes.
"Nothing to forgive Wills, just promise me you'll be yourself with Buffy OK?"
Willow avoided his eyes for a moment.
"She won't dump you wills I promise"
Willow finally nodded biting her bottom lip fighting back tears. Which escaped when Xander carefully kissed the tip of her nose. Just like he'd done all those years ago when she'd broken her damn yellow crayon. Except this time it didn't stop her tears it released them. Restfield Cemetery
Faith looked at the blonde slayer horrified as she burst into floods of tears. She hovered for a moment wondering what to do. Then her mind turned to Xander and she wondered what he would do. It went against her grain and truthfully she was still mad as hell at Buffy but for Xander she gathered the smaller woman into her arms and gave her an awkward hug.
After a few moments Buffy sniffled and looked at Faith with a grateful smile. Faith let the elder girl go gratefully, the touchy feely stuff was so not her bag.
"He saved my life you know" Buffy started slowly, "I died and he brought me back. I didn't find out all the details until later but he saved me"
Faith just looked at her enquiringly. She knew very little about what Xander had done in Sunnydale he had been to cut up to discuss it and Lindsey had told her it was his story to tell.
"I was prophesied to be killed at the hands of this old vampire called The Master. Everyone even me gave up, we just accepted it and I went down there to die."
"Bummer" Faith remarked
Buffy smiled softly at her "Yeah it was. Thing is Xander didn't give in to it. The Codex is this book with loads of stuff about us slayer's in it. Until that night it had never, and this is in well over a 1000 years, ever been wrong. Xander proved it wrong that night. He got Angel to show him the way down and found me face down in a pool of water. He pulled me out and gave me CPR. It's his fault that you're here and that there are two slayers."
"Shit"
"That's not the only time it's only the first. I should've realized before that he wasn't like that"
"Huh?"
Buffy gave a hollow laugh, "A monster, a jealous monster. I think in the end I convinced myself that he was just so I could pass the buck"
"Again with the Huh?"
Buffy looked at her sister slayer with a smirk, "You really have been hanging around him a lot haven't you"
Faith mentally went over what she'd said and laughed.
"Anyway I think, no I know, that I passed the buck because I felt guilty as hell for sending Angel to hell. The curse worked, you know about the curse right?"
Faith nodded, she'd got that much. "The curse to give Angel his soul back right?"
"Yeah, that's the bunny. It worked and I ran Angel, and not Angelus through with a sword and sent him to hell."
"I can understand that you'd feel bad but why blame Lex"
"Well to start with I honestly thought he was jealous. I guess it took me a while to get over myself and then I switched to passing the buck instead. I'm flawed Faith, seriously flawed"
"You're human, of course you are B. If you knew about my life I doubt you'd even talk to me"
"Somehow I doubt that F" Buffy replied with a smile.
"F?"
"You keep calling me B"
"Well it's short for something but the way you're going I may have to start calling ya Buffy"
"I thought it was short for Buffy?"
Faith smirked at her evilly, "Nah it was short for Bitch"
The two slayers shared a laugh for a moment before settling into a comfortable silence. "He saved my life too" Faith said eventually, "Me and Lindsey's"
"Yeah, seems to be his aim in life to save people"
"Not a bad goal is it."
"No that it's not. So I told you mine. Spill already"
"Well this big ole vamp was running Boston Me and Lex found out"
"You keep calling him that"
"What?"
"Lex, Its Xander"
Faith gave her a soft smile, "Not to me, he's my Lex"
"Oh, I see" Buffy said with a growing smile, she knew that look the other slayer was wearing, "Go on with the tale"
"Well anyway me and Lex started to take out his places. That got on his nerves and he got his hench-guy to snatch me and 'Sey whilst Lex was out."
"OK"
"Well Lex didn't take to kindly to that so after ramming a Harley through the door he took out the guards with these special magic bullets he cooked up and then his sword when he ran out of the old bang-bang pellets. He cut through em like a hot knife through butter"
"We're still talking about Xander right, the guy who used to spend most of his time lying on his back in varying stakes of unconsciousness"
"Yeah, man that must've been funny. But he's an ass kicker now specially when he's working his mojo"
"Mojo, oh magic. He can do magic?" Buffy asked incredulous.
Faith shot her an amused glance, "Hell yeah, didn't you see that shield you hit?"
"Yeah but I thought it was the watcher"
"Nah, all his work"
"Jeez, ok on with the story"
"Allow Me," a basso voice said from the shadows, "After costing me millions he burnt my eye and only escaped with his life because my childe thought more of unlife than battle" Kakistos said emerging from the darkness like an iceberg.
The two slayers started to run at him but dropped as two identical darts appeared sticking out from their behinds. Trick then also emerged from the shadows.
"I thought we'd worked past that boss," he said with a note of worry in his voice.
"My dear Mr. Trick we will never work past that until I have the consorts head on a pike"
Willow watched with growing amazement as Xander slipped weapons into various pockets and holsters until finally he slipped an ornate katana into place underneath the leather dust jacket that she had sent he day before.
"When did you become Rambo?" She asked as they walked out of the door together.
"Rambo. Didn't he have a bow or something?" Xander asked her with an amused gleam in his eye.
"You know what I mean," Willow said punctuating with a gentle slap to his arm.
"I just like to be prepared is all" Xander told her still smiling widely.
They walked down the street in companionable silence.
Willow finally broke the silence as they approached Restfield cemetery "What about that power I felt from you in the Library?"
"Oh that"
"Yes that, don't make me break out resolve face"
"OK, OK, It turns out it wasn't my fault that spell failed after all. When I got the Boston 'Sey tested me and found I've got the aptitude, so she taught me some things"
"More than a few I think with that much power"
"Well maybe I've got a few tricks"
"That was more power than I can put out"
"True, but you have more power in your little finger than I do in my entire body. I know that because I was using some of it. I'm not that powerful actually I'm not very powerful at all. I draw it in from around me from the air itself if I have to"
"Wow, hey you stole my power"
"No I just borrowed it. It's not like you don't have any to spare" Xander shot back with a grin.
"Yeah well, you should've asked" Willow told him with a mock pout"
Xander chuckled, "Well I'm sorry. It was automatic really"
"Oh?"
"Since a few days ago I've found I automatically draw power in how shall I say, intense situations"
"Well I think yesterday counted"
"Oh yeah" Xander agreed.
"She'll come round you know. I don't think she's really that angry anymore"
"She sure as shit seemed it"
"Hey, don't curse"
"Sorry Mom" Xander said sarcastically.
They entered the graveyard and Xander suddenly came to a full stop, "You feel that"
"Yeah" Willow shivered, "I do"
"Shit!" Xander said and took to his heels. He ran towards the source of the familiar power he'd felt. Willow was close behind him as he came to a stop. They had run all the way to the other side of the cemetery and Xander saw two men loading a black van with what looked to be two bodies. He set off at a fast run leaving Willow lagging behind only to arrive as the van pulled away from him.
He pulled out his gun and dropped into a weaver stance. Then with careful aim he popped off two shots.
Several yards ahead of him the van swerved suddenly as its tires blew out. At the wheel Trick started swearing fluently, "Shit, fuck and shit"
"Be calm childe" Kakistos said from his side, "We have run flats we will still be away from the accursed mortal"
"Yeah I know I just wasn't expecting him to show up." Trick glanced into the rear-view and swore again, "Shit he's chasing us"
"How?" Kakistos asked shifting in his seat to take a look himself, "On Foot. I hardly think this is cause for too much concern do you"
"Yeah maybe not." Trick replied looking nervously at the young man chasing behind them. They were pulling steadily away from him. He started to visibly relax.
"There you see"
"Yeah" Trick said finally concentrating on where they were going.
Behind them Xander was running as if his life depended on it his arms pumping and his duster flying out behind him.
A car horn from behind him made him turn around almost causing him to trip in the process. Then he came to a sudden stop spinning round with a feral grin.
He lifted the large handgun and pointed it at the Pontiac firebird that had arrived like a gift from the gods. It screeched to a halt and stopped inches from his shins.
Xander walked around to the drivers' side keeping his gun trained on the driver position. He had to guess because of the dark tinted windows in place.
"Out!" Xander said sharply.
The drivers side door popped open slowly and a large man unfolded himself from the drivers seat. "Alright I'm coming," he said.
Xander looked up, and then up again as the car's owner fully extended himself, "Big fucker aren't ya"
"Put that pop gun away and I'll show ya," the man said and too his surprise Xander did. With a grin the large man took a clumsy swing that Xander ducked under and with a slight jump he soundly thumped the man into cloud cuckoo land.
Willow arrived just as the guy slumped to the ground. Xander shook out his hand, "Jesus that guys got a hard jaw" he remarked. Willow tried to catch her breath and was obviously trying to say something but Xander held up his hand.
"If your coming get in, otherwise tell the gang to saddle up"
Willow still unable to talk just walked round to the passenger door and slipped into it in relief. Her breathing was still coming out in gasps.
"You know wills" Xander said as he slipped behind the wheel, "I think you spent too much time in front of a PC and not enough in the fresh air"
The only answer she was capable of was a glare.
"Buckle up" Xander ordered as he revved the engine with glee. He looked forward and saw the van's lights starting to disappear. He shifted into gear and slammed his foot down. The low profile tires squealed against the tarmac before finally finding purchase and shooting the car forward.
Behind them Giles turned to Lindsey. They had just arrived to check on their slayer's progress and to make sure that no blood had yet been shed between the two. They'd had a long meeting on the best way to approach a co-working environment between the two. "Did I just see Xander Car Jack Someone?" he asked incredulously.
"I rather think so. We had better check on the victim"
"You appear remarkably calm Lin, Xander just stole a car"
"I'm sure he had a good reason," Lindsey said walking up to the gargantuan man lying prone on the tarmac. "I think I'll need some help moving him."
"Oh yes of course" Giles said quickly moving to her aid.
Trick glanced into his rear-view and let out yet another curse, "SHIT!"
"What is it now childe"
"Its him" trick replied simply
"Where? I don't see him"
"In the Firebird. It was behind us before then dropped out of sight. Now it's coming up fast"
"I see. Then I would suggest haste"
"Now that's a plan I can get behind" Mr. Trick replied slamming his foot down on the custom vans accelerator pedal, "I'm glad we had this baby tuned"
"Indeed" Kakistos said wryly. Modern technology wasn't really his area of expertise unless it pertained to torture devices.
Xander watched the van suddenly sped up and start to gain distance and reacted instantly eliciting a squeal from Willow who had finally regained her breath. "Take the wheel" he shot at her and promptly let go
She dived across the car and grabbed the wheel before they pulled away to their deaths, "A little warning!" she shouted at him. But he had already pulled open the window and was half out of the car pointing his hand canon at the van.
Several large rounds shattered the rear window spreading glass chunks across both trick and Kakistos. "Man this guy was got a real hard on for his girl hasn't he" trick remarked. Xander was obviously shooting high so he missed the slayers lying in the back.
"The Consort is indeed dedicated to his woman. If he wasn't an enemy I would admire him for that"
Trick looked at his sire askance for a spilt second before starting to swerve the car from side to side trying to make them less of a target. Just then a fireball slammed into the back of the van lifting the back end off of the road temporarily.
"Man, I HATE magic" Trick screamed, he reached into his coat and drew out a berretta he'd been packing for just such an eventuality. Rolling down his window he turned around as far as he could and snapped out a few shots.
Xander ducked back into the Pontiac as soon as he saw the gun emerge; as such the shots missed him by mere centimeters. He took the wheel back from Willow and aggressively started to catch the leading vehicle.
"I hope the big guys insured," he murmured.
"What, what was that Xan what you planning?" Willow said in a panic voice.
Xander shot her a feral grin that brought hyena boy to her mind and she tightened her belt around her.
He shifted and accelerated pushing the large American sports car towards its limits. He pulled up next to the black van and his eyes met with Tricks just before he violently pulled over and slammed into the vans side.
Already driving one-handed Trick lost control of the vehicle for a split second. Just long enough to cause him to slew into the line of parked cars at the edge of the street. His speed dropped like a stone and as he struggled to regain control. He over braked and the wide wheelbase on the van caused it to start spinning like a gyroscope.
Xander slammed on his own brake purposefully skidding his lower slung car into a matching spin and praying that the much taller van didn't topple over onto its side. He had no way of knowing how secure Buffy and Faith were in that van.
Both twirling vehicles span like merry-go-rounds until they finally came to a shuddering halt leaving a large amount of rubber on the asphalt.
As soon as the car came to a stop Xander popped the three-point seat belt and pulled himself from the car.
He ran a little unsteadily towards the van holding his pistol low. Trick suddenly leant out of the window aiming in a microsecond he missed his actually target but still winged Xander. As Xander dropped to the ground his shoulder aflame with pain from damage not even his amulet could stop Trick escaped out of the van and ran for hi life, leaving his sire to fend for his self.
"TRICK YOU COWARD, GET BACK HERE" Kakistos shouted at his retreating back
Realizing that his childe had deserted him Kakistos quickly recovered and calmly stepped out of the vehicle.
He stalked towards the prone form of Xander viciously kicking the young man in the side upon his arrival. The force was such that Xander was lifted into the air and spun round from his front to land on his back. He felt several of his ribs giving way under the attack but ignored the pain. He lashed out with his foot as the ancient demon tried to attack him once more. He knocked Kakistos back slightly giving himself just enough room to jump to his feet. He tried to lift his pistol only to find it missing.
Kakistos unleashed a powerful haymaker that Xander was forced to block. They repeated the process and Xander suddenly knew he wouldn't be able to keep blocking. Even the blocks were jarring his entire body like a Jack Hammer. Xander backed off quickly gaining some room to think.
Kakistos looked at him one half of his face still disfigured from Xander's fireball. So that gave Xander and idea and he tried to draw power from the surrounding area. Kakistos didn't give him time however and moved forward like a bullet knocking the young man to the floor. Then moving with surprising speed he pinned Xander to the floor and smiled down at him.
"It seems I win" he gloated.
Xander smiled at him, his hand inching down his leg, "I hope that makes you happy"
"Oh believe me it does. But you've been a worthy opponent for sure"
"Thanks, I don't suppose you'll let me go now?"
"I think not," Kakistos said bearing his fangs and sinking down towards Xander's neck.
"I do" Xander said as sharp fangs pierced his skin. The sharp retort of a derringer pistol cut through the night and Kakistos looked at Xander with shock written on his face. The magically blessed bullet finally sank far enough and pierced his dead heart even as a second shot was fired. The ancient vampire started to disintegrate decomposing at an accelerated speed until finally he exploded into a dust cloud.
Xander coughed and spat quickly clearing the disgusting vampire dust out of his lungs and mouth before finally retching and puking up onto the floor.
He looked up to see Giles' clapped out old Citroen arriving on the scene and Willow stepping out of the Pontiac and running up to him. Her worried face was the last thing he saw before exhaustion and pain took him away into the darkness.
They're letting me out of the hospital finally today. I've been stuck in here for three days. Apparently I lost a heck of a lot of blood and was suffering from exhaustion, no shit! It's not so bad thought because Faith came and visited and she brought 'Sey along as well. They even brought balloons, balloons honestly. Still it was nice to see them. The Tranq's that old cloven guy fed to the chosen two worked out of their system by time I woke up the next day. Which I was glad about you can never tell with drugs a wrong dose and you've got a dead slayer.
The guy whose car I, urm, borrowed came and visited as well. Giles filled him in on a few home truths, he came and thanked me for getting him involved in our little world, and he wants to help out. Great guy that Mick, he didn't press charges either, which is good cause I don't really want a criminal record for college.
I've been invited to a little get together at the bronze once I've been sprung from the joint. Guess who invited me, Buffy! I'm not sure if she wants to kill me or thank me yet and Faith and 'Sey aren't saying. But I figure I'll have my Faith with me so I can get through anything.
Xander stepped through the doors of the recently renovated nightclub looking all around him at the lighter and airier environment. Apart from the décor though nothing had changed, still with the teenage hormones and Oz up on stage strumming his stuff.
Xander spotted Faith and Lindsey sitting with the Scooby gang including even Giles and walked over to them with a large smile crossing his face. He was still dressed in his dirty clothes that he had arrived in hospital wearing but his trusty dust jacket covered the accumulated blood and grime from sight. As far as Xander was concerned though, by far the worst thing that had happened was the hole that had been made in his beloved coat.
"Lex!" Faith exclaimed and jumped up from her chair before she remembered her hard gal image and restrained herself slightly. But not much she still grabbed Xander into a hug.
She pulled back at his wince of pain and looked at him in concern. He smiled at her and she totally forgot herself and kissed him deeply. Xander stood stock still for all of a second before wrapping his arms around her and returning the kiss with interest.
Several polite to not so polite coughs later they finally broke apart.
Faith looked deeply into Xander's eyes and went out on a limb; "Don't leave me ever again Lex"
"I won't Faith, I'll always be here for you"
"I know because I'll be keeping you real close from now on" she said smirking slightly and leaned into him for a much shorter, less passionate but infinitely tender kiss.
Xander smiled down at her realizing that he'd just got his dream girl after all.
"Hey when you two hormones have finished!" Cordelia not so politely brought them back to earth.
"Sorry Cor" Xander said smirking at her and not look the slightest bit repentant.
Then Buffy stood up and Xander felt his entire body tense. He felt Faith squeeze his hand reassuringly and she broke away to take the blonde slayer's place.
"Dance with me?" Buffy said holding out a hand to him.
Xander cocked his head in a confused question.
"Please" Buffy urged him. He finally relented and took her hand in his with great care.
She smiled at him and led him away to the dance floor. He glanced back at Faith who was smiling at him so he relaxed and started to move to the music.
"I'm sorry" Buffy began
"Huh"
"I'm sorry, for everything I did to you. I know you'll never be able to forgive me but I just…"
"Its forgiven" Xander cut in stopping her babble with a finger softly resting on her lip, "It's forgiven" he repeated as tears sprung to the slayer's eyes and he hugged her short form to his chest. "I think, I think I should've trusted you Buffy. I should've trusted you to do the right thing. I don't really regret what I did but I perhaps should've trusted you to make the decision yourself instead of taking the choice away from you. I think that if I had you would've made the right decision"
Buffy looked at him utterly speechless tears rolling down her cheek when she finally got her voice back she started to speak. "No I really don't think I would've Back then I was in a very bad place. I was confused and hurting so much. I think I would've given up the world just to have my Angel back. You did the right thing Xan and for the right reasons. But I hurt you for it and I hurt you bad from what Giles said."
Xander nodded and more tears flowed from the slayer's eyes, "Yeah, but as you said you were in a bad place. If you promise hand on heart that you won't ever and I mean EVER! Do it again then it's forgotten"
"I promise Xan. I've missed you so much" Buffy said grabbing her friend into a rib cracking hug.
"Come on, dry those eyes and let's PARTY" Xander said spazzing out as the track changed to something a little more upbeat.
Buffy laughed gaily at his erratic dance style before shrugging and joining him. Shortly after the rest of the gang, minus Giles and Lindsey joined them on the dance floor Spazzing away to their hearts content.
Lindsey looked over at her cousin and back to the dance floor. Then with a wicked smile she grabbed his hand and dragged him over to the circle of friends and started dancing just like them.
Giles stood there for a moment then removed his glasses and gave them a polish her expression stern. Then he carefully placed them back on his nose and launched into a wild rendition of the funky chicken.
The patrons of the bronze were treated to a new phenomenon.
It was Scooby Dance night at the bronze!
Mayor Wilkins the III was engrossed in his paper work, funding had to be found for the new child play centre at the very outskirts of town. He was a man who prided himself on looking after all of his charges and as such took even the smallest thing seriously.
He made a note at the top of the sheet of paper. He knew his PA would see it and then action it without need for prompting from him. It was an advantage of having your wife work for you. She was in fact the forth Mrs. Wilkins. His other wives had all died of old age.
This being Sunnydale even the mayor himself was not of the norm. Richard Wilkins the third was also Richard Wilkins the second and first and had been Richard Wilkins for nearly one hundred years. The end of the school year would mark not only the centenary of the town but it would mark 140 years of his life on earth.
Once finished with his work he looked up at the slender black man shifting nervously from one foot to the other. He had purposefully keep him waiting for nearly and hour all of which had been spent standing in complete silence.
Wilkins was actually impressed by that. Most vampires when forced to wait would eventually attack just out of sheer bloody mindedness. This Trick had shown remarkable patience.
"I understand that you seek employment Mr. Trick" Richard said finally making Trick start at the unexpected voice.
"I do Mr. Mayor"
"What is it you think you can do for me?"
"I did my research before coming here. I know all about you Mayor Wilkins. I feel that I would be very useful to you"
Richard Wilkins almost smiled at the underlying threat to the vampires words. He had been a politician for most of his adult life as such he was remarkably good at reading between the lines. "I see, but I seriously doubt you know what you think you know"
"I do not think him is what you think him is" Trick murmured with a smirk.
"Ahh The Princes Bride, one of my favorites. However, frivolous comments aside I think that perhaps I do most certainly have work for a creature such as yourself"
"I will do my best"
"You had better Mr. Trick, I do not take kindly to failure"
Trick just nodded, he was used to much more flowery and obvious threats than that. He knew that Kakistos was already dead killed by the consort. Which brought up a rather interesting thought, "What of the Consort?"
"Consort" Wilkins asked with a good natured smile.
"Yes, he is the dark haired slayer's consort"
Richard glanced through his papers, finally removing a sheet from the pile and looking at it intently. "Yes I see, One Alexander Lavelle Harris formally of Sunnydale then of Boston. He returned and removed your last employer in the process"
Trick nodded, impressed by the speed of the mayors informant network.
"Yes what of this Consort, a rather fitting name. Alexander I mean, it appears he was at least in part responsible for ruining several of my more ingenious plans." The mayor paused his lips pursed in thought.
Trick found him the most innocuous man to be in charge of so much wealth and power. Not to mention the rumors he had heard that he was highly respected and even feared in demonic circles.
"I agree something will certainly need to be done about, 'The Consort'," the mayor said and then Trick was shown just why he was so feared. A slow smile crossed the mans pleasant face changing it completely. Where once was a pleasantly rounder face was now a much sharper looking man whose eyes had grown cold and hard. The smile was the most evil that Trick had seen on any creature in his life. He had to repress a shiver as a cold wet slippery feeling traced his spine.
"I do believe I have just the ticket," The Mayor said finally. "In the meantime I want you to keep them all busy for me while I make the necessary arrangements."
Trick nodded and at Richard Wilkins waived hand he left the room with a grateful sigh. The demonic vampire suddenly felt the need for a shower.
Life is looking up my dear Journal. Buffy and Willow are talking to me again, which is like filling a hole in my heart. I know that sounds corny but its true. Buffy and I still have plenty of issues to deal with though, she did after all beat the hell out of me. I can't just forgive that; despite the fact I told her I did. She knows, I think, that she has to earn my trust back and I think she will in time. Cordy and I get on great and bizarrely enough even though they are totally different people she and Faith get on like a house on fire.
Faith, now that is the best part of my life. She and I are now official. She told me that she had never done the whole boyfriend thing but that she wanted to with me! I of course jumped at the chance and so far it is going real well. Amazingly well in fact. I still help her out with the slaying and Buffy and she are fast becoming close friends. That's kinda weird but its good too. When they're fighting together its like watching ballet, not that I ever have. They seem to walk through vampires like they aren't even there staking and kicking ass, taking names and the quips do fly.
Willow is very interested in my branch of magic but bless her she doesn't seem to get it no matter how hard me and 'Sey try to teach her. She and Oz are doing great and I've been training the Oz-man how to fight and Faith's been teaching Cordelia. That way we can all look after ourselves.
Even though I'm back in the 'dale Lindsey has kept me with her so I've not had to go back and live with the 'rents. In fact she was mad as hell when I asked said that I shouldn't even have had to ask her that. Its funny but even though she was mad I still felt great about it. I'm back under the tender mercy's of Snyder and the other Sunnydale High School faculty but despite that I'm still doing well in school. We work hard and we party hard now which is how it should be, after all we're teenagers parting is a big part of our lives.
All in all I think that we are all doing great now and that we're ready for what the hellmouth will throw at us next.
Famous Last Words!