A Road Covered With Blood
Jul. 31st, 2007 01:35 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
sevendeadlyfunPairing: Xander/?
Rating: NC-17 overall
A/N: Things are getting really alternate now. In fact, there's very little left that is recognizably BtVS S4 or AtS S1. This chapter is a little short, but necessary to set up the coming chapters. I'll apologize in advance for any confusion these switching realities cause...
Tara and Anya were walking in just as he was walking out. Xander stared at them, trying to wrap his head around this incredibly bizarre new reality. A reality where Oz stays and Anya is a lesbian.
“Xander,” Anya said happily, throwing her arms around his neck.
He returned the embrace, holding her tight. She looked vibrant, happier than he’d ever seen her. He didn’t know if Tara had put that bright shiny look on her face, but it was something he’d rarely ever seen when she was with him. If this was what all his exhaustion and confusion was doing to his friends, bring on the crazy.
“So,” he whispered, “you and Tara?”
She nodded, her face buried in his chest. Tara stood off to the side, her shy gentle smile almost masked by her curtain of blonde hair. Tara was another one he’d missed almost beyond reason. She may have started out as Willow’s girlfriend, but she’d become a real friend to all of them.
“Well,” he finally said, breaking away from Anya, “if you ladies are ready to return my vampire, I need to get going. Damsels in distress, old friends to torment, you know how it goes.”
Anya looked up at him, as always too perceptive for his own good. She, of all his friends, could be counted on to call him on his crap. He liked that about her. It made him feel safe, knowing that at least one person wouldn’t accept the outside Xander as truth.
“Your vampire,” she repeated. “He’s outside, smoking. Bouncing too, so either he’s had sugary blood or he’s anxious. Have fun being trapped in small enclosed space with him.”
Xander stood there, a riot of images running through his mind at that offhanded comment. Spike. Bouncing. Small enclosed space. The possibilities were endless.
“X-xander.” Tara stepped forward, holding out her hand. “I m-made something for you to take to Cordelia. Just a little g-gift for The Oracles.”
He smiled down at her, taking the small disc she held in her hand. It was a metallic sun, a little worn but buffed to a high shine. Its face was etched with some type of runes, and he turned it in his hand, trying to figure out what they meant.
“Just a p-prayer, “ Tara told him, coming up to stand in the circle of Anya’s arms. “They like sh-shiny things and the prayer is one of supplication. It sh-should please them.”
He nodded, grateful somebody knew what the hell they were doing. He was ashamed to admit he hadn’t thought past the whole “Cordy needs me” portion of the trip. She had to be frantic, losing Doyle and gaining her visions.
“Thanks, Tara,” he said sincerely. “I’m sure this’ll help a lot. So, you guys going to stay here and help plot the downfall of The Initiative.”
“Yes,” Anya answered firmly, her face etched with anger. “I might be human now, but who knows what they consider ‘hostile’? I mean, if they want to experiment on The Slayer, I don’t think a human ex-demon would be off their list.”
“Agreed,” Buffy said quietly, standing up and walking over to them. “These guys are definitely bad news. Besides, until we get rid of them, none of us are safe. Willow and Tara are witches, Giles can summon demons…”
“Used to summon demons,” Giles interjected. “I assure you, I haven’t done anything like that in years. “
“Yeah, well, the facts don’t seem to matter,” Buffy snapped back. “Sorry, Giles, I’m just…I mean, I’m supposed to fight evil. You’d think that would give me a free pass out of the labs.”
“No,” Xander said quietly. “When this kind of thing gets started, nobody’s safe. No matter whose side you’re on, you’re just fodder for the mill.”
“Xander’s right,” Willow told Buffy gently. “I mean, they’re experimenting on their own soldiers. There’s nothing and no one they won’t hurt if they get a chance.”
“Too true,” came a voice from the doorway. “If it hadn’t been for the Slayer, I’dve been one of their special guests m’self.”
Xander nodded, and continued, “Don’t worry, Buff. Spike and I will make the L.A. run and be back before you know it. Hopefully with reinforcements of the Angel variety.”
Buffy smiled slightly. He knew how hard it was, being separated from Angel. After her last L.A. trip, she’d been so happy. They’d talked, they’d ranted, they’d kissed. Heck, she was so detailed, he could almost picture it. But, they were together. In the not together, long-distance, let’s see if we can make this work way.
“Yeah,” she agreed. “Go, save, come back. Spike, I’m counting on you to…”
“I know, Slayer,” he said gently. “Keep your boy safe, save the day and drag Peaches back by his over-coiffed hair. Been through this already, haven’t we?”
“Yeah,” Buffy said again. “Just…be careful.”
“Will do, Buffster,” Xander promised. “Oz, you ready?”
Oz nodded and they left. Well, Xander amended as he laid down in the back of the van, they left after the obligatory three false starts and two rounds of hugs, kisses and promises to stay safe. God, he was tired.
It was only when he was almost asleep that he realized something was wrong. Something…someone had said something wrong. Something…off. He tried desperately to grasp at it, but it slid through his weary brain like mercury. Oh well, he’d figure it out. Eventually. After a nice loooong nap…
Rating: NC-17 overall
A/N: Things are getting really alternate now. In fact, there's very little left that is recognizably BtVS S4 or AtS S1. This chapter is a little short, but necessary to set up the coming chapters. I'll apologize in advance for any confusion these switching realities cause...
Tara and Anya were walking in just as he was walking out. Xander stared at them, trying to wrap his head around this incredibly bizarre new reality. A reality where Oz stays and Anya is a lesbian.
“Xander,” Anya said happily, throwing her arms around his neck.
He returned the embrace, holding her tight. She looked vibrant, happier than he’d ever seen her. He didn’t know if Tara had put that bright shiny look on her face, but it was something he’d rarely ever seen when she was with him. If this was what all his exhaustion and confusion was doing to his friends, bring on the crazy.
“So,” he whispered, “you and Tara?”
She nodded, her face buried in his chest. Tara stood off to the side, her shy gentle smile almost masked by her curtain of blonde hair. Tara was another one he’d missed almost beyond reason. She may have started out as Willow’s girlfriend, but she’d become a real friend to all of them.
“Well,” he finally said, breaking away from Anya, “if you ladies are ready to return my vampire, I need to get going. Damsels in distress, old friends to torment, you know how it goes.”
Anya looked up at him, as always too perceptive for his own good. She, of all his friends, could be counted on to call him on his crap. He liked that about her. It made him feel safe, knowing that at least one person wouldn’t accept the outside Xander as truth.
“Your vampire,” she repeated. “He’s outside, smoking. Bouncing too, so either he’s had sugary blood or he’s anxious. Have fun being trapped in small enclosed space with him.”
Xander stood there, a riot of images running through his mind at that offhanded comment. Spike. Bouncing. Small enclosed space. The possibilities were endless.
“X-xander.” Tara stepped forward, holding out her hand. “I m-made something for you to take to Cordelia. Just a little g-gift for The Oracles.”
He smiled down at her, taking the small disc she held in her hand. It was a metallic sun, a little worn but buffed to a high shine. Its face was etched with some type of runes, and he turned it in his hand, trying to figure out what they meant.
“Just a p-prayer, “ Tara told him, coming up to stand in the circle of Anya’s arms. “They like sh-shiny things and the prayer is one of supplication. It sh-should please them.”
He nodded, grateful somebody knew what the hell they were doing. He was ashamed to admit he hadn’t thought past the whole “Cordy needs me” portion of the trip. She had to be frantic, losing Doyle and gaining her visions.
“Thanks, Tara,” he said sincerely. “I’m sure this’ll help a lot. So, you guys going to stay here and help plot the downfall of The Initiative.”
“Yes,” Anya answered firmly, her face etched with anger. “I might be human now, but who knows what they consider ‘hostile’? I mean, if they want to experiment on The Slayer, I don’t think a human ex-demon would be off their list.”
“Agreed,” Buffy said quietly, standing up and walking over to them. “These guys are definitely bad news. Besides, until we get rid of them, none of us are safe. Willow and Tara are witches, Giles can summon demons…”
“Used to summon demons,” Giles interjected. “I assure you, I haven’t done anything like that in years. “
“Yeah, well, the facts don’t seem to matter,” Buffy snapped back. “Sorry, Giles, I’m just…I mean, I’m supposed to fight evil. You’d think that would give me a free pass out of the labs.”
“No,” Xander said quietly. “When this kind of thing gets started, nobody’s safe. No matter whose side you’re on, you’re just fodder for the mill.”
“Xander’s right,” Willow told Buffy gently. “I mean, they’re experimenting on their own soldiers. There’s nothing and no one they won’t hurt if they get a chance.”
“Too true,” came a voice from the doorway. “If it hadn’t been for the Slayer, I’dve been one of their special guests m’self.”
Xander nodded, and continued, “Don’t worry, Buff. Spike and I will make the L.A. run and be back before you know it. Hopefully with reinforcements of the Angel variety.”
Buffy smiled slightly. He knew how hard it was, being separated from Angel. After her last L.A. trip, she’d been so happy. They’d talked, they’d ranted, they’d kissed. Heck, she was so detailed, he could almost picture it. But, they were together. In the not together, long-distance, let’s see if we can make this work way.
“Yeah,” she agreed. “Go, save, come back. Spike, I’m counting on you to…”
“I know, Slayer,” he said gently. “Keep your boy safe, save the day and drag Peaches back by his over-coiffed hair. Been through this already, haven’t we?”
“Yeah,” Buffy said again. “Just…be careful.”
“Will do, Buffster,” Xander promised. “Oz, you ready?”
Oz nodded and they left. Well, Xander amended as he laid down in the back of the van, they left after the obligatory three false starts and two rounds of hugs, kisses and promises to stay safe. God, he was tired.
It was only when he was almost asleep that he realized something was wrong. Something…someone had said something wrong. Something…off. He tried desperately to grasp at it, but it slid through his weary brain like mercury. Oh well, he’d figure it out. Eventually. After a nice loooong nap…