Author's Note: I'm really running out of things to say in these, but it seems kinda appropiate to add them, so... Well, here we go with yet another fic in the more-or-less-series-like-thing that kinda started on accident, I hope you'll enjoy :D
Disclaimer: None of the characters used from Buffy: The Vampire Slayer are mine, just playin' with them a little. Don't sue, I have no money. ;P
In a Time of Blood and Fire
When Jane had started to go to college at UC Sunnydale, several of the locals had told her that it wasn't safe to walk around late at night, not in groups and especially not alone; and even though she had been big on going out in her hometown, she had managed to keep that advice in mind for the first three months, always making sure to be at home shortly after sundown, never staying out longer than necessary, especially when she had realized how often people died at night in this town.
All those concerns had been blown away to nothingness though when Jeff, one of the cutest guys in her anthropology class, had asked her if she wanted to go out with him Saturday night, to the only decent club in town, some joint called "The Bronze"; she had agreed without thinking twice, something she was regretting now as she was walking back to campus alone.
When she had gone to that club with Jeff, she had been sure that he'd leave with her, and that she'd maybe go back to his room with him, a decision she would've made based on his behaviour; that option had been thrown out the window though when he had met some buddies from the football team and had started drinking with them, at first still trying to make her feel like a part of the group, then giving up on it once the alcohol had kicked in – and by now, judging from the shots he had downed with the others, he probably was hugging the toilet instead of her.
"His loss", Jane muttered to herself as she walked down the road that would lead her back to the campus, glad that at least, she had made sure to memorize the route; for a moment, she considered calling a taxi, then realized that she probably didn't have enough money for that with her and sighed in dismay, looking left and right afterwards, once more remembering the gruesome tales she had heard about this town.
Grumbling to herself about stupid jocks and their need to drink, she sped her steps up a bit, looking left and right every now and then, not sure if she should be scared or relieved when every time, she found herself alone on the street.
While she kept walking at quite the fast pace, she wondered to herself if she should stop fancying football players and maybe check out the rest of the college's male population; before she could come to a conclusion though, a vaguely familiar voice called her name, startling her and making her heart skip a beat while she nearly twirled around, her relief clearly showing on her face when she saw and recognized the one who had called out to her.
"Hey", she greeted, giving her best to hide how much she'd been startled, smiling pleasantly, "nice to see you…"
The other person nodded in reply, then told her that the streets of Sunnydale were quite dangerous at night and asked if she wanted to be accompanied back to campus; immediately, Jane nodded, a grateful smile on her face now as she started walking again with the one who had called out to her, not having an idea that this was the last person who'd ever see her alive.
Just as it had been so often before, the backroom of the Magic Box was filled with the sounds of fighting, and the heavy panting of one of the participants; the fight hadn't been going on for long, but clearly, the smaller of the two combatants already was close to exhaustion, prompting the other, taller one to stop her by catching her fist in mid-air and giving her a concerned look.
"You sure you wanna go on?" she then asked, not surprised when the blonde nodded, still sounding concerned when she continued. "You're really, really sure? You're trembling, Buffy."
"Just a few more minutes", Buffy demanded as an answer, her opponent letting out a sigh before she let go of her hand and nodded, easily blocking the punch which was delivered a moment later and returning one, clearly holding back though, to the obvious dismay of the Slayer.
"Come on", she complained, "don't hold back! Let me have it!"
"No", Pat protested at once, ducking when the blonde tried a high kick aimed at her head, then almost shooting forward to catch her when the leg she had been standing on gave in beneath her and she almost fell, ending up in the demon's arms instead of on the ground at the last second.
"And this is why", Pat sighed out once she had made sure she had a good grip on Buffy, "face it, you're still weak."
Before the Slayer had the chance to reply anything, the door to the backroom opened and her best friend stepped inside; when she saw the position the demon and the blonde were in, she raised an eyebrow, then smiled slightly, sounding curious when she spoke up. "That looks like you're re-enacting Gone with the Wind. Should I be jealous?"
"Should I take that question seriously?" Pat asked as in reply, smirking as well; the giggle Willow let out was enough as an answer, making the black haired woman's smile widen while she carefully lowered Buffy on the training mat, then straightened up and opened her arms, the Slayer rolling her eyes when immediately, Willow moved into the embrace.
"One of those days, I'll get cavities from how sweet you two always are", she then accused, sighing when the redhead noticed the drained sound of her voice and gave her a worried look.
"You overdid it again, right?" she then asked accusingly, her gaze moving to her girlfriend before Buffy could reply anything though, the accusing tone remaining her voice as she spoke on. "Pat! I told you that you shouldn't let that happen again!"
"Hey, she insisted", the demon feebly protested, "and she should know her own strength!"
"I'm right here", Buffy reminded them of her presence, "and, just for your information Willow, I was doing fine until I tried that high kick."
"You have to be more careful", the witch chided in reply, sounding a bit gentler now, unaware that she almost quoted her girlfriend word for what with what she said next. "You're still weak."
"And that's what I hate", Buffy muttered, not trying to come to her feet again though, well aware of how shaky her legs still were feeling, "it's been two weeks! How much longer am I gonna feel like this?"
"Well, it was a pretty strong poison", Pat pointed out in reply, answering what clearly had been a rhetorical question, and prompting Buffy to give her an annoyed look, something she skilfully ignored though. "Remember, you're lucky that you're still alive, you only are because that assassin fucked up the dosage, underestimating your Slayer healing and everything."
"Language", Willow threw in before Buffy could say something, making the Slayer giggle while Pat just rolled her good eye; then, she helped the blonde to her feet, keeping an arm around her so she wouldn't end up falling down again, nodding when Willow asked if they'd go to the stores main room.
Quickly, the redhead opened the door for them, waiting until they had moved through it before she stepped out of the training room as well and closed the door, keeping any customers from seeing what was inside – the people of Sunnydale were good at looking the other way, but even the citizens of this lovely town would be staring and probably asking questions if they'd see a room where the walls were decorated with axes, swords and bows.
"Are you done?" Anya curiously asked from her place behind the counter, bending down after she had received a nod from Buffy and retrieving a bottle of soda from the small fridge hidden beneath the cash register, unscrewing the top and handing it to the blonde, watching how she took several large sips from it afterwards.
"Don't even think about charging her for that", Pat warned her when she saw the look on the ex-demon's face, "or I'll singe your hair."
"I wasn't thinking about that", Anya immediately lied, giving Willow a disapproving look when the witch snorted, then smiled sweetly at Buffy and asked her if she was feeling any better by now.
"Not much", the Slayer grudgingly had to admit, "I'm still all weak. Almost like a normal person."
"Should I be offended now?" Anya wanted to know, then looked at Willow, still sounding curious when she went on. "Are you offended?"
"No", the witch shrugged, "but I'm not sure if I'd count as normal."
"Will you ban me to the couch now if I say that you don't?" Pat asked, smirking when immediately, the redhead shook her head; they grinned at each other, making Buffy smile as well before she stretched and grimaced, dismayed by how weak her muscles felt after just half an hour of training.
"I hope this gets better soon", she told her friends, taking another long gulp from the bottle afterwards, then spoke on, "this is really getting annoying, and I never would have thought I'd say that, but I wanna go out again and kick some vampire ass."
"I'm taking care of that", Pat reassured her, "and you're not missing much, just the usual vamps. It's almost boring."
"You're just saying that so I won't complain any more", Buffy accused her, the demon to her dismay not replying, but just shrugging; before she could demand an answer though, Willow asked if they were needed much longer or if they could go, explaining that she had a paper to write, making the Slayer sigh again before she nodded.
"Same time, same place tomorrow?" she then asked, looking at Pat again, managing to smile a little when the demon reassured her that she'd be there; they both told her to take care, then the couple left, making their way back home while Buffy stayed in the Magic Box a bit longer, not because she loved it so much there, but due to the fact that her legs still felt weak, once more cursing the assassin who had poisoned her two weeks ago and who was responsible for the state she was in now.
"Poor Buffy", Willow sighed out the moment she had entered her apartment and had taken off her shoes and jacket, "I hope she'll regain her full strength soon…"
"She will", her girlfriend reassured her, making her way into the living room while she spoke and letting herself fall on the couch there, "she's the Slayer, they have a tendency to bounce back from such things. This time, she's just bouncing in slow motion."
"That just gave me the most hilarious mental image", Willow giggled, making the demon smirk as well; while she lit up a cigarette, the redhead made her way into the kitchen and opened the fridge there, getting two cans of cold coke out of it before she moved back into the living room and sat down next to the taller woman, earning a grateful look when she handed her the drink.
"I really should start working on that paper", Willow let the demon know after she had taken the first long sip, "but somehow, my motivation to do so didn't come back from the Magic Shop with me."
"I know how to motivate you", Pat smirked in reply, moving her free hand to run it up her girlfriend's thigh, making her blush and clear her throat, her voice trembling just the tiniest bit when she replied. "That's very… tempting, but I'm not sure it would motivate me."
"No?" the demon asked innocently, her hand travelling further upward, "I think it would." For another moment, Willow wasn't all too sure about that, and wondered if she should voice that disbelief; then, the demon leaned closer to her and started kissing her neck, her heartbeat increasing as the paper and her lack of motivation for it was wiped from her mind.