Reset - Chapters 2 & 3
Sep. 19th, 2003 06:01 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
psubratAuthor: PSUbrat
Rating: PG-13 Some language and violence
Disclaimer and spoiler warning: These characters belong to Joss Whedon and whomever else he sells them to - I'm just borrowing them for a while. This story is based upon all episodes up to and including the season 6 finale. Some dialogue borrowed from "Grave" written by David Fury
Update List: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Destined_Fic
Summary: Warren's anger towards Buffy furthers his desire for revenge
Timeframe: A few days after "Reset"
A few nights later, across town, Warren sat at the bar nursing his drink...and his wounded ego. He took in his surroundings for what seemed the eighth time that night. Not exactly a place where someone of his newly financial means should be, but he was hiding ... no 'laying low', he reminded himself. Not just from the Slayer but from the law as well. At least here no one cared who you were, or if you were a wanted felon. His thoughts returned to what had happened earlier in the week. Those witches had given the Slayer the upper hand. Damn them. She’d be dead right now if it weren’t for them and he’d be ruling Sunnydale unopposed. He took another drink. He had to keep things in perspective. Buffy was the reason for all of his problems right now. As were those bumbling idiots he’d once called friends. Okay, so only one of them was really his friend, the other was too weak to be part of the team, but they had needed him to make the master plan work; and it would have, if that damned bitch hadn’t destroyed his orbs. It didn’t matter now; Andrew and Jonathan were in jail. Besides, he had a plan to fix everything and to put Buffy in her place.
"Buy a girl a drink?" A voice next to him asked.
Warren grinned at the vampire and motioned to the bartender to get her whatever she wanted.
Back at the Summers’ house, Buffy was upstairs getting dressed for patrol when she heard all of her friends laughing downstairs, all except for Xander. After they had finished dinner, he had gone to the Magic Box to talk to Anya. She had tried to convince him that Anya loved him, despite what she had done with Spike. Ever since that night, though, her house had become the nightly Scooby hang out. She didn’t mind and she knew Dawn was happy having everyone around again. Plus she and Xander had finally talked through their issues and were back on good terms. She was happy about that.
It was so good to hear the laughter. This year had been far too gloomy for her liking. Then again, her friends had ripped her out of heaven. Or was it really heaven? She couldn’t decide anymore, because of the whole 'was I in a mental institution or not' thing. Dawn’s laughter rose above the others. That was especially good to hear. For someone so young, she had been through so much lately. As she pulled on her boot, she gave thanks for Willow’s vision. Suddenly, she wondered what would have happened if Willow hadn’t had the vision. She sat down on the bed hard and tried to take it all in.
"I wouldn’t be here right now," she said aloud to no one but the room. "Dawn..." She closed her eyes and shook her head. There was no time to think about things like this. Besides, Tara and Willow had stopped Warren from doing any harm to her or to them.
She looked down and realized she had put her boots on before her pants. Great, a slayer who forgets to put on her pants. This can’t be a good thing. She needed to concentrate. There was a lot to do. She had to continue her nightly patrols as well as try to figure out what Warren’s next move would be. Then there was that issue with Spike.
"Okay," she said aloud. "So not going there."
"Not going where?" Dawn asked from the doorway.
Buffy looked up from zipping her pants to see Dawn with a questioning look on her face. "To the Magic Box," she said quickly, hoping her face didn’t betray what she was really thinking about.
"Oh. Why would you need to go there?" Dawn asked. "Didn’t you already forgive Anya for sleeping with Spike?"
"Forgive? Uhm. That would be a big no. Understand why she did it? Yes." Buffy looked over at her sister who didn’t seem to understand the difference.
"Well," Dawn started. "You shouldn’t be mad at her you know. She didn’t know you were sleeping with Spike. If she had known, I don’t think she would have done it."
Okay, when did her little sister become such the grown up? "Dawn. I’m not going to discuss this anymore. I need to go on patrol."
"Fine. Maybe you should stop by Spike’s..."
"I am not going to stop by Spike’s!" Buffy retorted, amazed that Dawn would even suggest such a thing. Then again, Dawn didn’t know what had happened in the bathroom almost a week ago and she certainly wasn’t going to let her in on it. The bruises were gone but the images were still fresh.
"I was going to say," Dawn continued as she held up the leather duster. "That maybe you should stop by Spike’s place to drop off his coat."
Buffy looked at her sister trying to figure her out. She walked over to Dawn and took the coat from her. "Look," she said as she put the coat on the bed. "I know you like Spike, but he’s done some things lately that are...inexcusable." Dawn started to say something but she cut her off. "You don’t know everything and we’re not going to get into it right now because I have to patrol." She hoped that she had said her last sentence sternly enough that Dawn would understand that the conversation was over.
"Fine." The young girl said with a hint of frustration in her voice. Then her face lit up and she started to get giddy.
"What?" Buffy asked, eyeing her sister suspiciously.
"Let me patrol with you!" Dawn pleaded, as she bounced on one foot and then the other.
"That would be another big no," Buffy said flatly. "I want you to stay here with Willow and Tara. It’s not safe. Warren could be out there and I don’t want you in danger."
"God Buffy! Fine!" Dawn yelled as she ran from the room.
Buffy picked up her bag of weapons and heard Dawn’s bedroom door slam. She sighed. "I really miss you mom."
"Now look," Warren said to the female vampire. "I bought you your drinks and I paid you good money. You will do what I say!" The vampire was pinned against the wall of the alley, a stake pressed to her heart. Warren needed her, and she knew he did, which was making this deal almost impossible to close.
"It wasn’t enough money," she spat back at him. "I want more!"
"You want more? Fine. Here’s more." He shoved another $100 bill down her shirt. "Now. You will find what I want or I will stake you. Do you understand me?" She nodded and started moving towards the end of the alley. He was right next to her holding onto her arm. She knew that she had to do this for him. She didn’t want to die and besides, it was such a simple thing. The money was easy and she knew she shouldn’t press her luck.
"There." She said, as she pointed to the area where the trash dumpster was located.
He looked over, but nothing caught his eye. "You better not be lying to me."
"I’m...I’m not." She stuttered.
He pushed her towards the dumpster and felt the air. As soon as he touched it, he could feel his body hum. This was definitely it. He turned to the woman and smiled. "Thanks for the help baby." In the blink of an eye, he took the money he had given her and plunged the stake through her heart. She exploded into dust with a look of shock etched on her features.
Smiling to himself, he reached out again; making sure it was still there. He took a deep breath and passed through the shimmering air, disappearing into the night.
Xander made his way to the Magic Box. He had his hands shoved into the pockets of his jeans and was absently kicking a crushed beer can while he walked. Why had he let Buffy talk some sense into him? Maybe it was because she had threatened him with bodily harm if he didn’t go? He wasn’t sure, but his feet kept moving him in the direction of the shop. Buffy had been right about one thing though. It did take two people to mess up a relationship. He’d be the first to admit that he never should have left Anya at the altar. If he had just talked to her about...he shook his head. "Well, can’t take it back now can ya loser boy?" He gave the beer can one last kick. It slid down the sidewalk in front of him with a tinny swooshing sound.
He stopped and leaned up against the wall of one of the abandoned buildings he was passing. Funny, there seemed to be a lot of those in Sunnyhell. He didn’t care. He put his back against the wall. A look of defeat crossed his face. His shoulders dropped and he hung his head. "You certainly know how to mess things up, don’t ya?"
The night air was cool but not as cool as it could have been. Summer must be coming. He was trying to think about anything else - anything - besides the situation at hand. Again, the thought crept back into his mind that things would be different now if he had just talked to her about his fears. Would she have listened to him? Well she certainly would have listened better before he left her standing there without an explanation, in front of all of their family and friends. Damn it. How had he let this get so out of hand?
It wasn’t that he didn’t love her, because he did - with all of his heart and soul. He supposed that he had just expected her to take him back after he apologized to her. After all, saying sorry makes everything right, right? It did between his miserable parents, or so it seemed.
He lifted his head and rested it against the wall. He should just go talk to her and get it over with. They could work this out. Buffy had made him understand that Anya had slept with Spike out of hurt. As far as Anya understood, Xander had left her because of her and not because of what fears he had. He closed his eyes and clenched his fists. Of all the people she had to choose to get back at him with, it had to be with captain peroxide. It didn’t mean anything. He knew it didn’t, but it still hurt just the same.
The faint sound of shuffling and voices brought him out of his reverie. "What the...?"
He slowly made his way down the rest of the wall to the alley.
"Thanks for the help baby." A familiar voice said.
Xander jumped into the alley, ready to fight but found nothing there. He looked around and shook his head. "Okay," he said to himself. "It’s now official. I have lost my mind." With that he walked back out of the alley and crossed the street to the Magic Box.
Warren looked around the dingy waiting room. It smelled. No problem. He wasn’t there for the cleanliness of the place. He was there for a specific reason. A girl in the corner looked at him through half closed eyes. "I’m first," she said. "You’ll have to wait your turn."
"Whatever." Warren mumbled as he looked at the clock. He didn’t care who was first as long as he got what he needed. What he wanted.
After what seemed like hours, the door to the other room swung open and a man in a robe with thick, shoulder length hair came out. He eyed Warren with a smile. "So. Warren. I knew you’d come eventually. I’ll be right with you once I’ve finished up with Amy."
Warren turned to look at the girl again. Amy! He hadn’t recognized her at first. She was thinner and her hair was, what? Darker? Longer? She was Willow’s friend, or at least she had been, and a witch. A pretty powerful one from what he had heard. A grin crept across his face. This was turning out much better than he had hoped.
Author: PSUbrat
Rating: PG-13 Some language and violence
Disclaimer and spoiler warning: These characters belong to Joss Whedon and whomever else he sells them to - I'm just borrowing them for a while. This story is based upon all episodes up to and including the season 6 finale. Some dialogue borrowed from "Grave" written by David Fury
Update List: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Destined_Fic
Summary:Anya's secret is revealed to Xander while Buffy divulges hers to a shocked Dawn and Clem...
Timeframe:The miuntes immediately following the end of "Big Bad Reduex"
Anya first noticed Xander about an hour ago, leaning against the wall across the street and then pacing outside of the Magic Box talking to himself. She wanted to go out to him and hold him in her arms and to forgive him for being such a stupid idiot. But she knew that he’d never let her do that. Maybe he would have, if they were still comforting a distraught Willow. But she had granted Willow’s wish and now she was stuck back here in this time and place. She wasn’t really stuck though, and besides, at least the others didn’t remember that she had returned to her old demon ways. That was a plus, right?
She sighed. Why couldn’t Willow have wished them back to before Xander had left her at the altar? It would have made things so much easier. "Leave it to Willow to only think about her pain," she grumbled to herself. If Willow had thought about anyone else but herself, maybe she wouldn’t be a demon again. Not that she was really upset about that, because she was good at wreaking vengeance on the male population of the world. At least, she used to be. Although, despite her best efforts, she had only granted one wish since she had returned to being Anyanka. And that wish had been Willow’s.
She hadn’t seen Willow since the wish granting but she was sure things were going well. Tara was still alive and the Magic Box was still in one piece. A very good thing indeed. Where else would she earn her money? She stopped doing inventory for a moment when she realized that she didn’t need the money anymore. She was a demon now. She had done without money for centuries.
Looking around the shop wistfully, the notion suddenly occurred to her that she had become too attached to her human surroundings, and her human friends. "Who am I kidding?" She said aloud. They weren’t really her friends, were they? No. They were all his friends. So why should she care anymore? It wasn’t like they were coming to visit her or anything. In fact, they were avoiding her. Well, at least Buffy had been. Not that she blamed her. The sex with Spike had been a one-time thing. How was she supposed to know that Buffy and Spike were together, or whatever it was that their relationship could be called? She wondered if it would have made any difference if she had known. She was drunk that night and in a lot of pain. She had reached out and Spike had eased that pain, even if for a moment. What she didn’t understand was why it didn’t make her feel better that her actions had brought misery to Xander.
All these thoughts were depressing her.
"Anyanka, really," an unexpected voice said from behind her. "You should just give this place up and come back where you belong."
Anya screamed as she whirled around, bumping into the display she had set up earlier that evening. Both she and the display went crashing to the floor.
"Halfrek!" Anya yelled, feeling like her stomach was in her mouth. "Can’t you knock or ring a bell or something before you just pop into someone’s place of business?"
"Sweetie, I just couldn’t turn my back on your pain. Do you have any idea how loud it’s coming across? I thought it was bad before, but since you’ve granted that mortal’s wish it’s been downright unbearable." Halfrek brought her face closer to Anya’s and lowered her voice. "And D’Hoffryn isn’t happy with you either."
Before Anya could reply and before Halfrek could help her up, the front door crashed open and Xander came flying through. Both demons just stared at him.
"I should have stopped him from the beginning," Buffy said as she kicked the vampire in the chest knocking him to the ground. "But no. I had to keep him around like a cute little puppy dog. Sure, I knew how he felt. How he adored me and loved me. Love. What a crazy word. Can demons really love?" She asked the vampire whom she now held up by the neck. The vampire just gave her an exasperated look. "Never mind. Don’t answer that. I don’t want to know." With that, she plunged the stake into his chest and he turned into dust.
She looked around the graveyard hoping to find some more demons to take her frustration and hurt out on. She sighed. There was nothing. "Awww," she said, pouting. "I was just getting warmed up too."
She pulled her coat tighter around herself and continued walking. The truth was, her heart just wasn’t into patrolling this evening. Her heart wasn’t into much of anything these days, what with having been dead and now having to take care of Dawn, not to mention her oh-so-wonderful job. That last thought sent a shiver through her. Spike was right, that place was going to kill her eventually.
"Okay. Could I possibly go one minute without thinking about him?" She had stopped walking and noticed that she was now standing in front of a very familiar crypt. Anger engulfed her. He had no right to try to force himself on her! None! She had cried out the word ‘no’ repeatedly, but then, hadn’t she said no to him plenty of times before, only to give in? Still didn’t justify his actions.
There was no one around to hear her musings. The images of what happened in the bathroom came flooding back to her. She leaned against the outside wall of the crypt and hung her head, crying softly. "Damn you, Spike."
Would he have continued if she hadn’t kicked him off? She wasn’t sure if he would have. She had changed the rules on him without telling him. However, she had never once wavered on her conviction of breaking up with him. He should have known that she meant what she said, but he didn’t, and for that, she was partly to blame. She also knew that she wasn’t as helpless as she seemed that night. She was the Slayer after all. She could have stopped him at any point before it had gotten worse, but hadn’t. Why was that?
That’s what bothered her the most.
Back at the Magic Box, Xander stood glaring at Halfrek. "I’m sorry about the door, An, but I heard screaming..."
"It’s okay Xander," Anya said quickly. "Halfrek just stopped by while I wasn’t paying attention and she startled me."
Xander continued glaring at Halfrek and stated with a flat voice, "Yeah. I can see why that would happen."
Anya pulled herself off the floor and swiftly moved to stand between the two. Halfrek had already taken a few steps toward Xander and she just couldn’t deal with the two of them getting into a shouting match, or worse. She was mad at Xander, sure, but she didn’t want Halfrek doing anything to him without her consent.
"Anyanka, please, just one little spell. It’s not like I’d hurt him or anything. Much." Halfrek sweetly stated while locking her eyes with Xander’s.
Never letting his gaze leave Halfrek, Xander stood his ground and said with an even voice, "Bring it on freak."
"Freak? Why I should..." Halfrek said taking another step toward the male mortal.
Anya turned to both of them and yelled, "Xander! Hali! That’s enough!" Then the tears commenced. She didn’t want them to come, not now with Xander here.
Halfrek and Xander’s standoff ended immediately at the sight of Anya’s tears.
"Sweetie," Halfrek was now moving to Anya’s side. "Everything will be okay."
Anya looked up at Xander through her tears. His face was full of concern. She pulled herself together and asked, "Xander, was there something you wanted to talk about?"
She had caught him off guard. "Uh. Huh?" Xander stood there blinking at her.
"Was there a reason you’ve been pacing outside of the shop for over a half hour now?"
"I. I-uh. I thought maybe we could talk," he said, everything coming out in a rush.
Anya turned to Halfrek. "Hali, could you give us a minute please?"
"I will not," Halfrek said looking at Xander with contempt. "Anyanka, I can no longer stand here and let this go on. You don’t belong here. He is not worth the human feelings you continue to have for him!"
"See, that’s where you’re wrong," Xander stated. "Us crazy humans have this thing about feelings. We like having them. Even if they hurt."
"She’s not human!" Halfrek blurted out venomously. "So she doesn’t need them! And she doesn’t need you!"
Anya’s breath caught in her throat. "Hali, it wasn’t your place to tell him," she said in a whisper.
Xander stared at Anya for what seemed like an eternity. "Is this true? Are you a demon again?" His voice was pleading, questioning.
She moved towards him as she said, "It’s true. But we can..."
He cut her off from her explanation. He moved away from her as she approached. A pained look crossed his face. "How could you? And then not tell me?" His voice was dripping with disgust. "I thought we could work this out."
"Xander, we still can!"
"No. No. This changes everything."
"But Xander..."
It was too late. He was already out the door and well out of hearing range.
She crumbled to the floor and sobbed. Halfrek put her arms around Anya and spoke softly, telling her that it was okay and that it was good everything was out in the open now.
"Slayer?"
Buffy’s head whipped around and looked at the source of the question. It was Clem. He was standing in front of Spike’s crypt with a couple of grocery bags in his arm.
She turned her head and wiped her eyes, hoping that he hadn’t seen the glaze on them. "Clem. H-How are you?"
"I’m just peachy, thanks for asking. Do you want to come inside? I need to put away these groceries and tidy up the place." Seeing the hesitant look on her face, he added with a smile, "I can make some lemonade."
She looked at her watch and saw that she had been standing there for at least fifteen minutes. Not good. "Thanks for the offer Clem but I really need to get moving..."
He pulled a container of Country Time Lemonade out of one of the bags and waved it at her. "But it’s yummy Country Time."
Smiling she said, "Maybe another time. It’s really not a good idea..."
"He’s not here," Clem said with a sigh. "So come on in and have some lemonade."
Shocked, she slowly followed Clem inside. She noticed that the place was fairly trashed. As if Clem was reading her mind, he spoke. "He, uh, he was a little upset after coming back from your place that night." He shrugged his shoulders apologetically.
While Clem busied himself with putting away the groceries, Buffy righted the over turned chair and sat down. She felt numb. "So, are you moving in?"
"Oh no, nothing like that. I’m just house sitting really."
"Where did he go?" She had asked the question before her brain had had time to catch up with her mouth.
"I’m not really sure. Something about needing to get out of Sunnydale." Clem started mixing the lemonade.
Her voice broke a little when she asked her next question. "Is he coming back?"
"Good question, Buffy. Is he coming back?"
Both Clem and Buffy turned around to see Dawn standing in the doorway glaring.
After several hours, or days, Spike wasn’t sure anymore, he lifted the latest creature above his head, received its powers and threw it against the cave wall with a thunderous yell.
"Right. Now. I’ve beaten your tests. You said this was the last one. You bloody well better give me what I came here for."
The demon stood looking at Spike. "You have endured the required trials and have done well, vampire."
"Bloody right, I have!"
"But I cannot give you that which you already have."
Enraged, Spike’s hand shot out and took the demon by the throat. "You said if I beat your tests I could have whatever I bloody well wanted..." Suddenly he realized what the thing had said. He dropped it as if there was a fire in his hand.
Again, the demon stated, "I cannot give you that which you already have."
"Yeah, yeah. I get it you stupid git. So where does that leave me?"
"You have passed the tests. You may have whatever you wish."
"Anything?" Spike asked looking intently at the creature.
"Anything."
"Fine then. You know what I want. Make me what I was so Buffy can get what she deserves."
The demon walked over to Spike and put its hand on the vampire’s chest. Everything began to glow. "Bloody hell!" Spike shouted and then passed out.
Rating: PG-13 Some language and violence
Disclaimer and spoiler warning: These characters belong to Joss Whedon and whomever else he sells them to - I'm just borrowing them for a while. This story is based upon all episodes up to and including the season 6 finale. Some dialogue borrowed from "Grave" written by David Fury
Update List: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Destined_Fic
Summary: Warren's anger towards Buffy furthers his desire for revenge
Timeframe: A few days after "Reset"
- 2 -
Big Bad Redeux
Big Bad Redeux
A few nights later, across town, Warren sat at the bar nursing his drink...and his wounded ego. He took in his surroundings for what seemed the eighth time that night. Not exactly a place where someone of his newly financial means should be, but he was hiding ... no 'laying low', he reminded himself. Not just from the Slayer but from the law as well. At least here no one cared who you were, or if you were a wanted felon. His thoughts returned to what had happened earlier in the week. Those witches had given the Slayer the upper hand. Damn them. She’d be dead right now if it weren’t for them and he’d be ruling Sunnydale unopposed. He took another drink. He had to keep things in perspective. Buffy was the reason for all of his problems right now. As were those bumbling idiots he’d once called friends. Okay, so only one of them was really his friend, the other was too weak to be part of the team, but they had needed him to make the master plan work; and it would have, if that damned bitch hadn’t destroyed his orbs. It didn’t matter now; Andrew and Jonathan were in jail. Besides, he had a plan to fix everything and to put Buffy in her place.
"Buy a girl a drink?" A voice next to him asked.
Warren grinned at the vampire and motioned to the bartender to get her whatever she wanted.
******
Back at the Summers’ house, Buffy was upstairs getting dressed for patrol when she heard all of her friends laughing downstairs, all except for Xander. After they had finished dinner, he had gone to the Magic Box to talk to Anya. She had tried to convince him that Anya loved him, despite what she had done with Spike. Ever since that night, though, her house had become the nightly Scooby hang out. She didn’t mind and she knew Dawn was happy having everyone around again. Plus she and Xander had finally talked through their issues and were back on good terms. She was happy about that.
It was so good to hear the laughter. This year had been far too gloomy for her liking. Then again, her friends had ripped her out of heaven. Or was it really heaven? She couldn’t decide anymore, because of the whole 'was I in a mental institution or not' thing. Dawn’s laughter rose above the others. That was especially good to hear. For someone so young, she had been through so much lately. As she pulled on her boot, she gave thanks for Willow’s vision. Suddenly, she wondered what would have happened if Willow hadn’t had the vision. She sat down on the bed hard and tried to take it all in.
"I wouldn’t be here right now," she said aloud to no one but the room. "Dawn..." She closed her eyes and shook her head. There was no time to think about things like this. Besides, Tara and Willow had stopped Warren from doing any harm to her or to them.
She looked down and realized she had put her boots on before her pants. Great, a slayer who forgets to put on her pants. This can’t be a good thing. She needed to concentrate. There was a lot to do. She had to continue her nightly patrols as well as try to figure out what Warren’s next move would be. Then there was that issue with Spike.
"Okay," she said aloud. "So not going there."
"Not going where?" Dawn asked from the doorway.
Buffy looked up from zipping her pants to see Dawn with a questioning look on her face. "To the Magic Box," she said quickly, hoping her face didn’t betray what she was really thinking about.
"Oh. Why would you need to go there?" Dawn asked. "Didn’t you already forgive Anya for sleeping with Spike?"
"Forgive? Uhm. That would be a big no. Understand why she did it? Yes." Buffy looked over at her sister who didn’t seem to understand the difference.
"Well," Dawn started. "You shouldn’t be mad at her you know. She didn’t know you were sleeping with Spike. If she had known, I don’t think she would have done it."
Okay, when did her little sister become such the grown up? "Dawn. I’m not going to discuss this anymore. I need to go on patrol."
"Fine. Maybe you should stop by Spike’s..."
"I am not going to stop by Spike’s!" Buffy retorted, amazed that Dawn would even suggest such a thing. Then again, Dawn didn’t know what had happened in the bathroom almost a week ago and she certainly wasn’t going to let her in on it. The bruises were gone but the images were still fresh.
"I was going to say," Dawn continued as she held up the leather duster. "That maybe you should stop by Spike’s place to drop off his coat."
Buffy looked at her sister trying to figure her out. She walked over to Dawn and took the coat from her. "Look," she said as she put the coat on the bed. "I know you like Spike, but he’s done some things lately that are...inexcusable." Dawn started to say something but she cut her off. "You don’t know everything and we’re not going to get into it right now because I have to patrol." She hoped that she had said her last sentence sternly enough that Dawn would understand that the conversation was over.
"Fine." The young girl said with a hint of frustration in her voice. Then her face lit up and she started to get giddy.
"What?" Buffy asked, eyeing her sister suspiciously.
"Let me patrol with you!" Dawn pleaded, as she bounced on one foot and then the other.
"That would be another big no," Buffy said flatly. "I want you to stay here with Willow and Tara. It’s not safe. Warren could be out there and I don’t want you in danger."
"God Buffy! Fine!" Dawn yelled as she ran from the room.
Buffy picked up her bag of weapons and heard Dawn’s bedroom door slam. She sighed. "I really miss you mom."
******
"Now look," Warren said to the female vampire. "I bought you your drinks and I paid you good money. You will do what I say!" The vampire was pinned against the wall of the alley, a stake pressed to her heart. Warren needed her, and she knew he did, which was making this deal almost impossible to close.
"It wasn’t enough money," she spat back at him. "I want more!"
"You want more? Fine. Here’s more." He shoved another $100 bill down her shirt. "Now. You will find what I want or I will stake you. Do you understand me?" She nodded and started moving towards the end of the alley. He was right next to her holding onto her arm. She knew that she had to do this for him. She didn’t want to die and besides, it was such a simple thing. The money was easy and she knew she shouldn’t press her luck.
"There." She said, as she pointed to the area where the trash dumpster was located.
He looked over, but nothing caught his eye. "You better not be lying to me."
"I’m...I’m not." She stuttered.
He pushed her towards the dumpster and felt the air. As soon as he touched it, he could feel his body hum. This was definitely it. He turned to the woman and smiled. "Thanks for the help baby." In the blink of an eye, he took the money he had given her and plunged the stake through her heart. She exploded into dust with a look of shock etched on her features.
Smiling to himself, he reached out again; making sure it was still there. He took a deep breath and passed through the shimmering air, disappearing into the night.
******
Xander made his way to the Magic Box. He had his hands shoved into the pockets of his jeans and was absently kicking a crushed beer can while he walked. Why had he let Buffy talk some sense into him? Maybe it was because she had threatened him with bodily harm if he didn’t go? He wasn’t sure, but his feet kept moving him in the direction of the shop. Buffy had been right about one thing though. It did take two people to mess up a relationship. He’d be the first to admit that he never should have left Anya at the altar. If he had just talked to her about...he shook his head. "Well, can’t take it back now can ya loser boy?" He gave the beer can one last kick. It slid down the sidewalk in front of him with a tinny swooshing sound.
He stopped and leaned up against the wall of one of the abandoned buildings he was passing. Funny, there seemed to be a lot of those in Sunnyhell. He didn’t care. He put his back against the wall. A look of defeat crossed his face. His shoulders dropped and he hung his head. "You certainly know how to mess things up, don’t ya?"
The night air was cool but not as cool as it could have been. Summer must be coming. He was trying to think about anything else - anything - besides the situation at hand. Again, the thought crept back into his mind that things would be different now if he had just talked to her about his fears. Would she have listened to him? Well she certainly would have listened better before he left her standing there without an explanation, in front of all of their family and friends. Damn it. How had he let this get so out of hand?
It wasn’t that he didn’t love her, because he did - with all of his heart and soul. He supposed that he had just expected her to take him back after he apologized to her. After all, saying sorry makes everything right, right? It did between his miserable parents, or so it seemed.
He lifted his head and rested it against the wall. He should just go talk to her and get it over with. They could work this out. Buffy had made him understand that Anya had slept with Spike out of hurt. As far as Anya understood, Xander had left her because of her and not because of what fears he had. He closed his eyes and clenched his fists. Of all the people she had to choose to get back at him with, it had to be with captain peroxide. It didn’t mean anything. He knew it didn’t, but it still hurt just the same.
The faint sound of shuffling and voices brought him out of his reverie. "What the...?"
He slowly made his way down the rest of the wall to the alley.
"Thanks for the help baby." A familiar voice said.
Xander jumped into the alley, ready to fight but found nothing there. He looked around and shook his head. "Okay," he said to himself. "It’s now official. I have lost my mind." With that he walked back out of the alley and crossed the street to the Magic Box.
******
Warren looked around the dingy waiting room. It smelled. No problem. He wasn’t there for the cleanliness of the place. He was there for a specific reason. A girl in the corner looked at him through half closed eyes. "I’m first," she said. "You’ll have to wait your turn."
"Whatever." Warren mumbled as he looked at the clock. He didn’t care who was first as long as he got what he needed. What he wanted.
After what seemed like hours, the door to the other room swung open and a man in a robe with thick, shoulder length hair came out. He eyed Warren with a smile. "So. Warren. I knew you’d come eventually. I’ll be right with you once I’ve finished up with Amy."
Warren turned to look at the girl again. Amy! He hadn’t recognized her at first. She was thinner and her hair was, what? Darker? Longer? She was Willow’s friend, or at least she had been, and a witch. A pretty powerful one from what he had heard. A grin crept across his face. This was turning out much better than he had hoped.
Author: PSUbrat
Rating: PG-13 Some language and violence
Disclaimer and spoiler warning: These characters belong to Joss Whedon and whomever else he sells them to - I'm just borrowing them for a while. This story is based upon all episodes up to and including the season 6 finale. Some dialogue borrowed from "Grave" written by David Fury
Update List: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Destined_Fic
Summary:Anya's secret is revealed to Xander while Buffy divulges hers to a shocked Dawn and Clem...
Timeframe:The miuntes immediately following the end of "Big Bad Reduex"
- 3 -
Truths
Truths
Anya first noticed Xander about an hour ago, leaning against the wall across the street and then pacing outside of the Magic Box talking to himself. She wanted to go out to him and hold him in her arms and to forgive him for being such a stupid idiot. But she knew that he’d never let her do that. Maybe he would have, if they were still comforting a distraught Willow. But she had granted Willow’s wish and now she was stuck back here in this time and place. She wasn’t really stuck though, and besides, at least the others didn’t remember that she had returned to her old demon ways. That was a plus, right?
She sighed. Why couldn’t Willow have wished them back to before Xander had left her at the altar? It would have made things so much easier. "Leave it to Willow to only think about her pain," she grumbled to herself. If Willow had thought about anyone else but herself, maybe she wouldn’t be a demon again. Not that she was really upset about that, because she was good at wreaking vengeance on the male population of the world. At least, she used to be. Although, despite her best efforts, she had only granted one wish since she had returned to being Anyanka. And that wish had been Willow’s.
She hadn’t seen Willow since the wish granting but she was sure things were going well. Tara was still alive and the Magic Box was still in one piece. A very good thing indeed. Where else would she earn her money? She stopped doing inventory for a moment when she realized that she didn’t need the money anymore. She was a demon now. She had done without money for centuries.
Looking around the shop wistfully, the notion suddenly occurred to her that she had become too attached to her human surroundings, and her human friends. "Who am I kidding?" She said aloud. They weren’t really her friends, were they? No. They were all his friends. So why should she care anymore? It wasn’t like they were coming to visit her or anything. In fact, they were avoiding her. Well, at least Buffy had been. Not that she blamed her. The sex with Spike had been a one-time thing. How was she supposed to know that Buffy and Spike were together, or whatever it was that their relationship could be called? She wondered if it would have made any difference if she had known. She was drunk that night and in a lot of pain. She had reached out and Spike had eased that pain, even if for a moment. What she didn’t understand was why it didn’t make her feel better that her actions had brought misery to Xander.
All these thoughts were depressing her.
"Anyanka, really," an unexpected voice said from behind her. "You should just give this place up and come back where you belong."
Anya screamed as she whirled around, bumping into the display she had set up earlier that evening. Both she and the display went crashing to the floor.
"Halfrek!" Anya yelled, feeling like her stomach was in her mouth. "Can’t you knock or ring a bell or something before you just pop into someone’s place of business?"
"Sweetie, I just couldn’t turn my back on your pain. Do you have any idea how loud it’s coming across? I thought it was bad before, but since you’ve granted that mortal’s wish it’s been downright unbearable." Halfrek brought her face closer to Anya’s and lowered her voice. "And D’Hoffryn isn’t happy with you either."
Before Anya could reply and before Halfrek could help her up, the front door crashed open and Xander came flying through. Both demons just stared at him.
******
"I should have stopped him from the beginning," Buffy said as she kicked the vampire in the chest knocking him to the ground. "But no. I had to keep him around like a cute little puppy dog. Sure, I knew how he felt. How he adored me and loved me. Love. What a crazy word. Can demons really love?" She asked the vampire whom she now held up by the neck. The vampire just gave her an exasperated look. "Never mind. Don’t answer that. I don’t want to know." With that, she plunged the stake into his chest and he turned into dust.
She looked around the graveyard hoping to find some more demons to take her frustration and hurt out on. She sighed. There was nothing. "Awww," she said, pouting. "I was just getting warmed up too."
She pulled her coat tighter around herself and continued walking. The truth was, her heart just wasn’t into patrolling this evening. Her heart wasn’t into much of anything these days, what with having been dead and now having to take care of Dawn, not to mention her oh-so-wonderful job. That last thought sent a shiver through her. Spike was right, that place was going to kill her eventually.
"Okay. Could I possibly go one minute without thinking about him?" She had stopped walking and noticed that she was now standing in front of a very familiar crypt. Anger engulfed her. He had no right to try to force himself on her! None! She had cried out the word ‘no’ repeatedly, but then, hadn’t she said no to him plenty of times before, only to give in? Still didn’t justify his actions.
There was no one around to hear her musings. The images of what happened in the bathroom came flooding back to her. She leaned against the outside wall of the crypt and hung her head, crying softly. "Damn you, Spike."
Would he have continued if she hadn’t kicked him off? She wasn’t sure if he would have. She had changed the rules on him without telling him. However, she had never once wavered on her conviction of breaking up with him. He should have known that she meant what she said, but he didn’t, and for that, she was partly to blame. She also knew that she wasn’t as helpless as she seemed that night. She was the Slayer after all. She could have stopped him at any point before it had gotten worse, but hadn’t. Why was that?
That’s what bothered her the most.
******
Back at the Magic Box, Xander stood glaring at Halfrek. "I’m sorry about the door, An, but I heard screaming..."
"It’s okay Xander," Anya said quickly. "Halfrek just stopped by while I wasn’t paying attention and she startled me."
Xander continued glaring at Halfrek and stated with a flat voice, "Yeah. I can see why that would happen."
Anya pulled herself off the floor and swiftly moved to stand between the two. Halfrek had already taken a few steps toward Xander and she just couldn’t deal with the two of them getting into a shouting match, or worse. She was mad at Xander, sure, but she didn’t want Halfrek doing anything to him without her consent.
"Anyanka, please, just one little spell. It’s not like I’d hurt him or anything. Much." Halfrek sweetly stated while locking her eyes with Xander’s.
Never letting his gaze leave Halfrek, Xander stood his ground and said with an even voice, "Bring it on freak."
"Freak? Why I should..." Halfrek said taking another step toward the male mortal.
Anya turned to both of them and yelled, "Xander! Hali! That’s enough!" Then the tears commenced. She didn’t want them to come, not now with Xander here.
Halfrek and Xander’s standoff ended immediately at the sight of Anya’s tears.
"Sweetie," Halfrek was now moving to Anya’s side. "Everything will be okay."
Anya looked up at Xander through her tears. His face was full of concern. She pulled herself together and asked, "Xander, was there something you wanted to talk about?"
She had caught him off guard. "Uh. Huh?" Xander stood there blinking at her.
"Was there a reason you’ve been pacing outside of the shop for over a half hour now?"
"I. I-uh. I thought maybe we could talk," he said, everything coming out in a rush.
Anya turned to Halfrek. "Hali, could you give us a minute please?"
"I will not," Halfrek said looking at Xander with contempt. "Anyanka, I can no longer stand here and let this go on. You don’t belong here. He is not worth the human feelings you continue to have for him!"
"See, that’s where you’re wrong," Xander stated. "Us crazy humans have this thing about feelings. We like having them. Even if they hurt."
"She’s not human!" Halfrek blurted out venomously. "So she doesn’t need them! And she doesn’t need you!"
Anya’s breath caught in her throat. "Hali, it wasn’t your place to tell him," she said in a whisper.
Xander stared at Anya for what seemed like an eternity. "Is this true? Are you a demon again?" His voice was pleading, questioning.
She moved towards him as she said, "It’s true. But we can..."
He cut her off from her explanation. He moved away from her as she approached. A pained look crossed his face. "How could you? And then not tell me?" His voice was dripping with disgust. "I thought we could work this out."
"Xander, we still can!"
"No. No. This changes everything."
"But Xander..."
It was too late. He was already out the door and well out of hearing range.
She crumbled to the floor and sobbed. Halfrek put her arms around Anya and spoke softly, telling her that it was okay and that it was good everything was out in the open now.
******
"Slayer?"
Buffy’s head whipped around and looked at the source of the question. It was Clem. He was standing in front of Spike’s crypt with a couple of grocery bags in his arm.
She turned her head and wiped her eyes, hoping that he hadn’t seen the glaze on them. "Clem. H-How are you?"
"I’m just peachy, thanks for asking. Do you want to come inside? I need to put away these groceries and tidy up the place." Seeing the hesitant look on her face, he added with a smile, "I can make some lemonade."
She looked at her watch and saw that she had been standing there for at least fifteen minutes. Not good. "Thanks for the offer Clem but I really need to get moving..."
He pulled a container of Country Time Lemonade out of one of the bags and waved it at her. "But it’s yummy Country Time."
Smiling she said, "Maybe another time. It’s really not a good idea..."
"He’s not here," Clem said with a sigh. "So come on in and have some lemonade."
Shocked, she slowly followed Clem inside. She noticed that the place was fairly trashed. As if Clem was reading her mind, he spoke. "He, uh, he was a little upset after coming back from your place that night." He shrugged his shoulders apologetically.
While Clem busied himself with putting away the groceries, Buffy righted the over turned chair and sat down. She felt numb. "So, are you moving in?"
"Oh no, nothing like that. I’m just house sitting really."
"Where did he go?" She had asked the question before her brain had had time to catch up with her mouth.
"I’m not really sure. Something about needing to get out of Sunnydale." Clem started mixing the lemonade.
Her voice broke a little when she asked her next question. "Is he coming back?"
"Good question, Buffy. Is he coming back?"
Both Clem and Buffy turned around to see Dawn standing in the doorway glaring.
******
After several hours, or days, Spike wasn’t sure anymore, he lifted the latest creature above his head, received its powers and threw it against the cave wall with a thunderous yell.
"Right. Now. I’ve beaten your tests. You said this was the last one. You bloody well better give me what I came here for."
The demon stood looking at Spike. "You have endured the required trials and have done well, vampire."
"Bloody right, I have!"
"But I cannot give you that which you already have."
Enraged, Spike’s hand shot out and took the demon by the throat. "You said if I beat your tests I could have whatever I bloody well wanted..." Suddenly he realized what the thing had said. He dropped it as if there was a fire in his hand.
Again, the demon stated, "I cannot give you that which you already have."
"Yeah, yeah. I get it you stupid git. So where does that leave me?"
"You have passed the tests. You may have whatever you wish."
"Anything?" Spike asked looking intently at the creature.
"Anything."
"Fine then. You know what I want. Make me what I was so Buffy can get what she deserves."
The demon walked over to Spike and put its hand on the vampire’s chest. Everything began to glow. "Bloody hell!" Spike shouted and then passed out.
