Live The Question
Mar. 26th, 2007 12:56 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
sevendeadlyfunPairing: Various (None this chapter)
Rating: NC-17 overall (PG this chapter)
Warnings: None
A/N: I said I'd post this last night. But, the banner forhotspur18 took longer than I thought. So, I'm sorry this was delayed! This is pretty short, just a little transition piece. The next chapter will pick things up, and I promise, there will be some lurrving and some violence. Good times!
Rating: NC-17 overall (PG this chapter)
Warnings: None
A/N: I said I'd post this last night. But, the banner for
hotspur18 took longer than I thought. So, I'm sorry this was delayed! This is pretty short, just a little transition piece. The next chapter will pick things up, and I promise, there will be some lurrving and some violence. Good times!Willow, Spike, and Angel teleported into the Hyperion lobby. The lights were dim, and the old hotel sat silent. Willow, cheerfully bearing her prize, wandered off towards the front desk, anxious to get to work.
Spike flicked his eyes around the room, his body turned to stone. Angel snaked an arm out and captured Willow before she wandered too far. A surprised squeak escaped the witch, who started to protest Angel’s manhandling. Angel clamped a hand over her mouth, and sidled over towards Spike.
“No blood,” Spike whispered calmly. “No heartbeats, either.”
“Doesn’t mean anything.” The words, deadly and precise, spun out softly.
“Not dead,” Spike insisted. “Not here but not dead.”
“Not here,” Angel agreed.
Willow wasn’t sure what scared her more, the words or the tone. She knew he meant the others, but did he mean they weren’t here or they weren’t dead here? Her power thrummed low and hot, stirring the wind and shimmering under her skin. If someone had hurt Faith…or Xander…or Oz…Willow focused on her breath, trying to tamp down her fear and anger.
“You know, if I wasn’t all reformed now,” the clipped voice mused, “ I might take off your head for getting that close to my girlfriend.”
Spike spun around, a relieved grin lighting his face. Angel, releasing Willow, turned more slowly. His expression harsh, he laid a hand on Willow’s arm to keep her still.
“Want to tell me what happened,” Angel asked Faith lightly.
“Vision,” she answered tersely, jerking a thumb at the shadowy figures behind her.
“Well, less of a vision and more of an attack,” Xander supported, moving forward to stand next to Faith.
“No, there was a vision,” Oz disagreed. “I had hard time telling which were the vision demons and which were the real ones. Finally figured out to swing at the ones on my left.”
“So, what’s with the catch and release program,” Faith asked sweetly. “Gotta tell you, this isn’t exactly a ‘hail the conquering heroes’ moment.”
“Sorry, Slayer,” Spike jerked his head. “Getting paranoid in our old age. Popped in and smelled the demons.”
“And what? You thought we were…dead? Or evil?”
“Neither,” Angel told her bluntly. “Those demons? They’re shape-takers. No offense, but I want to be sure.”
“Want to be sure,” Oz noted. “So, you think we’re not us?”
“Who else would we be,” Xander smiled, baffled.
“He thinks we’re all demon-y,” Faith said flatly.
“That’s how they lure their prey,” Spike said with a dark look at Angel. “Take the shape of someone you know, someone you trust. Get in close and gobble down the goodies.”
“Now me and Spike? We’re safe. Dead flesh isn’t to their liking. But, I’m not taking any chances with Willow,” Angel explained easily.
“So, we have to prove we’re us,” Oz continued. “What’ll it take?”
“Demons can’t access your memories,” Spike smirked. “Just your form. So just spill something no outsider would know. Preferably something embarrassing.”
“How do we know you aren’t the demons,” Faith asked belligerently. “Maybe you should do a little sharing, too.”
“Oh for the love of Coco Puffs,” Xander exclaimed. “I’m Xander, and if I have to spill a mortifying secret to prove it, I will. Won’t be the first time I’ve humiliated myself in public.”
“True,” Spike noted. “Used to be one of your best party tricks. Not so much now, though.”
“Gee thanks, Spike. That makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside,” Xander snapped tiredly. “Angel, do you remember the night Spike attacked the school?”
Angel nodded, eyes narrowed.
“ You used me as bait, and Spike called you on your soul. Said you were his Sire,” Xander recalled. “I asked you what a Sire was, and you never did tell me.”
“Now you, Angel,” Faith instructed. “Sharing time with the kiddies.”
“This is ridiculous,” Willow burst out. “They aren’t demons! Are they?”
“Nah,” Spike insisted. “I’ll do it. Angel’s too poofy to spill his secrets.”
“Fine,” Faith acquiesced with a wave of her hand. “Spill away, Blondie.”
“The first time we ever met, you were wearing a Buffy suit,” Spike smiled naughtily at Faith. “Told me you could…”
“And I’m convinced,” Faith interrupted, walking down to join her girlfriend. “Have a good trip?”
“Well, I got what I needed,” Willow shrugged. “Someone tried to kill Angel.”
“Again,” Xander yawned.
“Old friend,” Angel explained.
“Do you have any friends who haven’t tried to kill you,” Faith asked.
Angel thought about that for minute. He shook his head ruefully, a small smile playing at the corners of his mouth.
“Ah, Angel,” Xander intoned. “To know him is to want him dead.”
“ ‘M going to bed,” Spike announced. “Let me know when we’re going to save the world.”
As Spike sauntered up the stairs, Angel said quickly, “Yeah, I’m exhausted. Think I’ll turn in too. Night, guys!”
As Angel sped after Spike, Oz raised an eyebrow and said, “Wow.”
“You said it,” Faith agreed. “If I’d known death threats would speed them up, I could have threatened to dust them a month ago.”
“It was really sweet,” Willow insisted. “Angel admitted he loves Spike.”
“Aww, they had a moment,” Xander murmured.
“Well, not really,” Willow giggled. “They started fighting.”
“True love,” Oz observed.
“Yeah,” Faith agreed. “For them, that’s practically foreplay.”
Xander blushed and said, “So, how about that saving the world thing, huh? Sounds like the best way to end the day.”
“As soon as I prepare the vessel,” Willow promised. “If it works, it should de-Slayify all but Buffy and Faith.”
“If?”
“Magic doesn’t come with guarantees,” said Willow’s small voice. “I can do my best, but I can’t promise anything.”
“It’s okay, Wills,” Xander comforted her. “It’ll work. You’re the Fastest Mojo in the West. You can do it.”
“So, you do this,” Oz nodded toward the object in Willow’s hands, “and all the Slayers lose their oomph, right?”
“Should, yeah,” Willow agreed hesitantly. “I sense a but coming.”
“Less of a but, more of a what if,” Oz disagreed. “What if they’re fighting at the time? We could be killing a lot of girls, taking away their bad Slayer selves without warning them.”
“Oh man,” Faith breathed. “He’s right. Those girls are going to be out patrolling or on missions when this goes down. Rip the Slayer bits out and they’ll be…”
“Dead,” Xander finished glumly. “So, who’s going to call Giles?”
Four fingers pointed in four different directions. A shaky laugh from Willow, and she walked over to the phone. Dialing, she listened to the ring with her eyes locked on Faith.
“Hello? Yes, this is Willow Rosenberg. May I speak to Rupert Giles please?”
Spike flicked his eyes around the room, his body turned to stone. Angel snaked an arm out and captured Willow before she wandered too far. A surprised squeak escaped the witch, who started to protest Angel’s manhandling. Angel clamped a hand over her mouth, and sidled over towards Spike.
“No blood,” Spike whispered calmly. “No heartbeats, either.”
“Doesn’t mean anything.” The words, deadly and precise, spun out softly.
“Not dead,” Spike insisted. “Not here but not dead.”
“Not here,” Angel agreed.
Willow wasn’t sure what scared her more, the words or the tone. She knew he meant the others, but did he mean they weren’t here or they weren’t dead here? Her power thrummed low and hot, stirring the wind and shimmering under her skin. If someone had hurt Faith…or Xander…or Oz…Willow focused on her breath, trying to tamp down her fear and anger.
“You know, if I wasn’t all reformed now,” the clipped voice mused, “ I might take off your head for getting that close to my girlfriend.”
Spike spun around, a relieved grin lighting his face. Angel, releasing Willow, turned more slowly. His expression harsh, he laid a hand on Willow’s arm to keep her still.
“Want to tell me what happened,” Angel asked Faith lightly.
“Vision,” she answered tersely, jerking a thumb at the shadowy figures behind her.
“Well, less of a vision and more of an attack,” Xander supported, moving forward to stand next to Faith.
“No, there was a vision,” Oz disagreed. “I had hard time telling which were the vision demons and which were the real ones. Finally figured out to swing at the ones on my left.”
“So, what’s with the catch and release program,” Faith asked sweetly. “Gotta tell you, this isn’t exactly a ‘hail the conquering heroes’ moment.”
“Sorry, Slayer,” Spike jerked his head. “Getting paranoid in our old age. Popped in and smelled the demons.”
“And what? You thought we were…dead? Or evil?”
“Neither,” Angel told her bluntly. “Those demons? They’re shape-takers. No offense, but I want to be sure.”
“Want to be sure,” Oz noted. “So, you think we’re not us?”
“Who else would we be,” Xander smiled, baffled.
“He thinks we’re all demon-y,” Faith said flatly.
“That’s how they lure their prey,” Spike said with a dark look at Angel. “Take the shape of someone you know, someone you trust. Get in close and gobble down the goodies.”
“Now me and Spike? We’re safe. Dead flesh isn’t to their liking. But, I’m not taking any chances with Willow,” Angel explained easily.
“So, we have to prove we’re us,” Oz continued. “What’ll it take?”
“Demons can’t access your memories,” Spike smirked. “Just your form. So just spill something no outsider would know. Preferably something embarrassing.”
“How do we know you aren’t the demons,” Faith asked belligerently. “Maybe you should do a little sharing, too.”
“Oh for the love of Coco Puffs,” Xander exclaimed. “I’m Xander, and if I have to spill a mortifying secret to prove it, I will. Won’t be the first time I’ve humiliated myself in public.”
“True,” Spike noted. “Used to be one of your best party tricks. Not so much now, though.”
“Gee thanks, Spike. That makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside,” Xander snapped tiredly. “Angel, do you remember the night Spike attacked the school?”
Angel nodded, eyes narrowed.
“ You used me as bait, and Spike called you on your soul. Said you were his Sire,” Xander recalled. “I asked you what a Sire was, and you never did tell me.”
“Now you, Angel,” Faith instructed. “Sharing time with the kiddies.”
“This is ridiculous,” Willow burst out. “They aren’t demons! Are they?”
“Nah,” Spike insisted. “I’ll do it. Angel’s too poofy to spill his secrets.”
“Fine,” Faith acquiesced with a wave of her hand. “Spill away, Blondie.”
“The first time we ever met, you were wearing a Buffy suit,” Spike smiled naughtily at Faith. “Told me you could…”
“And I’m convinced,” Faith interrupted, walking down to join her girlfriend. “Have a good trip?”
“Well, I got what I needed,” Willow shrugged. “Someone tried to kill Angel.”
“Again,” Xander yawned.
“Old friend,” Angel explained.
“Do you have any friends who haven’t tried to kill you,” Faith asked.
Angel thought about that for minute. He shook his head ruefully, a small smile playing at the corners of his mouth.
“Ah, Angel,” Xander intoned. “To know him is to want him dead.”
“ ‘M going to bed,” Spike announced. “Let me know when we’re going to save the world.”
As Spike sauntered up the stairs, Angel said quickly, “Yeah, I’m exhausted. Think I’ll turn in too. Night, guys!”
As Angel sped after Spike, Oz raised an eyebrow and said, “Wow.”
“You said it,” Faith agreed. “If I’d known death threats would speed them up, I could have threatened to dust them a month ago.”
“It was really sweet,” Willow insisted. “Angel admitted he loves Spike.”
“Aww, they had a moment,” Xander murmured.
“Well, not really,” Willow giggled. “They started fighting.”
“True love,” Oz observed.
“Yeah,” Faith agreed. “For them, that’s practically foreplay.”
Xander blushed and said, “So, how about that saving the world thing, huh? Sounds like the best way to end the day.”
“As soon as I prepare the vessel,” Willow promised. “If it works, it should de-Slayify all but Buffy and Faith.”
“If?”
“Magic doesn’t come with guarantees,” said Willow’s small voice. “I can do my best, but I can’t promise anything.”
“It’s okay, Wills,” Xander comforted her. “It’ll work. You’re the Fastest Mojo in the West. You can do it.”
“So, you do this,” Oz nodded toward the object in Willow’s hands, “and all the Slayers lose their oomph, right?”
“Should, yeah,” Willow agreed hesitantly. “I sense a but coming.”
“Less of a but, more of a what if,” Oz disagreed. “What if they’re fighting at the time? We could be killing a lot of girls, taking away their bad Slayer selves without warning them.”
“Oh man,” Faith breathed. “He’s right. Those girls are going to be out patrolling or on missions when this goes down. Rip the Slayer bits out and they’ll be…”
“Dead,” Xander finished glumly. “So, who’s going to call Giles?”
Four fingers pointed in four different directions. A shaky laugh from Willow, and she walked over to the phone. Dialing, she listened to the ring with her eyes locked on Faith.
“Hello? Yes, this is Willow Rosenberg. May I speak to Rupert Giles please?”