Buffy gets an offer she can't refuse. S05 of Buffy.
A/N- This is my first Buffy story. I've been thinking about it for a while. In short, my take on Buffy and Angel and his place in season 5. I hope you'll like it. :)
Set after s05e09. Everything that happened until then-happened. Rated T for now, but it is possible the rating will change to M further down the line.
Please read, comment, critique. I'm taking everything. :)
Disclaimer: I don't own Buffy the vampire slayer.
Buffy's vision fogged when her head hit the wall of one of the too many mausoleums in Sunnydale. For a quick second she wondered how bad was it to get hit in the head as much as she did, but before brain damage started to worry her a loud growl announced an impending threat. In a movement too fast for any human to perform, her small hands gripped monstrously big paw and stopped its claws just a few small inches from her face. The slayer sighed in relief, forcefully pushed the beast backward and quickly jumped to her feet, feeling much safer on her two legs than on the butt, where she was just a few moments earlier.
„When was the last time you took a little 'me time' and visited a nail salon? " She quipped. „Because the situation is becoming downright dangerous."
The primitive being roared in displeasure and bared its canines while running to its threat again, not giving Buffy enough time to send it to the dentist as well. It used one of the tombstones as a springboard and sprung into the air, leaped over the slayer and caught her off guard. In one swift movement it was on her back, sinking its razor sharp clutches into her back. Buffy screamed in pain as her blood gushed out and ruined the white blouse she wore that day, unaware of the menace that was coming. She grabbed the beast by its mane and in one hard pull threw it over her head, while simultaneously falling to her knees and panting for air.
It landed on its feet and stopped with the fight for a moment, looking Buffy straight into the eyes. The blonde observed the hunched down figure with a wolf-like head, a strong muscular body with ghostly gray skin and patches of thinly distributed white fur. Sharp bones punctured the skin on its back, right above the spine, and a long tail waged in a snake-like manner. It was a truly disturbing sight, but Buffy felt no resentment towards the summoned monster. To be honest, she rarely felt personal animosity towards the demons she fought. But this was more than that. For this one, she actually felt pity. It wasn't here on its own will, but to settle a score for someone else. To punish someone with whom it had no personal issues or queries, yet someone who, without a doubt, deserved it. The hell-like animal bowed its head a little, in what must have been respect for its worthy opponent, and without waiting for response lunged at the slayer again. This time Buffy was ready and welcomed it with a mighty punch to the head, sending it a few steps backward. She quickly found her footing again and landed one strong leg kick to her enemy's side, making it whimper in pain.
The pain induced an explosive reaction and only triggered the beast again, who forcefully attacked and threw itself on the girl again, tossing her against the Thompson family tombstone. She felt a bruise a size of a Texas forming on her back and could do nothing but watch as the Penabelua headed for the final blow, its wide-open jaw ready to tear her throat apart. In the last second, Buffy found one big grave lantern and rammed it into the monster's gob with all her might. Successfully distracting it, she jumped to her legs again, ran to the vengeance beast, grabbed its head and in one sharp movement broke its neck.
Muscle-bound body unceremoniously collapsed to the ground and Buffy couldn't banish the sense of interconnection and familiarity with the brute. Enrolled into someone's else's fight, without a question or permission, expected to give its own life for something it never agreed to in the first place. The slayer slowly limped to the corpse, carefully knelt in front of it and silently whispered a quiet apology to her fallen opponent. Her hands gently caressed its thick mane and cautiously removed the silver collar with a round pendant she found there. Prompted by her actions, painless flame enveloped the body and within seconds degraded it to just a usual, black smoke. Like it was never there in the first place.
Feeling miserable and pathetic, Buffy tucked the taken ornament into her jeans pocket and finally let herself feel all the wounds she earned in this fight. Her back were in the indubitably worst condition, all torn and bruised, and her left temple unpleasantly throbbed from the hit she got there. She had no doubt a welt was forming there at that exact moment.
"Buffy!" Xander yelled from behind an angel statue he was knocked out against and frantically and wobbly ran in no definite direction while swinging a sword in a manner that wouldn't graze even a steady wall. His eyes fearfully searched the cemetery and the color returned to his face when he noticed Buffy again. "I came to save you!" He declared through a smile and picked up a stake his friend dropped a few minutes ago.
Buffy laughed. "I see that. Your face totally rescued me from that mean statue over there." She joked and gently touched the angry red mark on his forehead, making him wince.
"It was time for someone to show that dumbass who's the boss." He eyed the stone angel and the wing he cracked when the demon threw him against it.
"So he's officially the boss of the graveyard now? Should we make a plaque for him?" The slayer asked playfully and put her arm around Xander, letting him lean on her.
"No." The boy reasoned jokingly. "But we can get our stories straight and make it look like I wasn't knocked out by an unmoving object." He got suddenly serious when he saw her bloody back. "God, Buffy…"
"It's nothing." Buffy reassured him and prompted him to start walking. She knew very well the night was still far from over.
They were in front of Giles's door a lot sooner than she expected. A steady walk wasn't enough to calm her nerves and in a second she felt the anger rising again. As if sensing her nervousness, Xander gently squeezed her hand. "It's almost over." He reassured her and pushed the door open, revealing a whole room of troubled faces.
"Finally!" Anya exclaimed as soon as she saw them and ran to her boyfriend. "Where were you for so long? It was really uncomfortable here with these strange people." She said bluntly and angrily, totally oblivious to the strangers who had no problem hearing her.
"Sorry dear, I would have fainted and almost died quicker if I knew you were slightly uncomfortable." Xander's sarcasm didn't reach Anya, but his words did satisfy her as she contentedly nodded.
Buffy's eyes passed over the people sitting on the couch. Two men raised and protectively took a stand beside an elderly woman who remained seated, but locked eyes with the slayer. Buffy knew she was old, she probably had well over 90 years on her, her face clearly showed it and there was no hiding the fact that her body was quickly betraying her. Her hands were shaking, her skin was wrinkled and blotchy, hair completely white and her back irreparable hunched. But Buffy felt her power, and her almost black eyes provoked resentment and rage she felt never before.
"Is it over?" Giles hurriedly approached his slayer and apprehensively looked her battered appearance. "Are you all right?"
"Yes and yes." Buffy quickly reassured him and resisted the urge to hug the man she looked like her father. Today was a heavy blow for him as well, and although he looked completely fine physically, his defeated posture and troubled eyes revealed wounds that went deeper than skin. "One Penbla less in the world."
"Penabelua." The watcher corrected her and took off his glasses to clean already crystal clear lenses. "That's good. Good."
"Great!" Willow exclaimed way too cheerfully. "Great! So it's over! Another slayer's job successfully completed!" She laughed nervously and swiftly walked to Buffy, all the way anxiously eyeing the people who arrived today. Tara was right behind her, her big soulful eyes ranking over Buffy's body. "A-a-are you all right?"
Buffy lightly smiled and nodded to the blonde witch before looking at the old woman again, all bonhomie gone. She took the beast's collar out of her pocket and roughly threw it on the floor in front of the female. "Now leave." She ordered coldly. "And I don't want to see you ever again."
The unfamiliar men visibly stiffened, and the one older than the two lost his patience. "How dare you?!" He shouted. "You will show respect! Or I will teach you one!" His accent was thick and his stance showed no regard for the girl young enough to be his daughter.
Giles firmly stepped in front of him and clenched his fists, almost craving for another word from the man. He was pale and tired, his head was pounding from the most intensive migraine he ever experienced, but his hands shook from the desire to strike the Romani in front of himself.
"Danior, enough!" The elderly woman called and immediately halted her protector. She shakily raised from her seat, barely holding the balance, and her companions immediately jumped to hold her in place. "Thank you." She declared to Buffy. "The Kalderash people will not forget your help with the beast."
"That beast was here only because you Kalderash people angered someone so hard that he summoned it. And knowing your track record, I'm very sure you deserved it." Her voice was cold and calculated. "This was for Jenny. Next time someone attacks your clan, don't come here. We won't help you again."
Vadoma, the most respected and omniscient woman in her clan eyed the slayer in a way that left her feeling naked to the soul and completely powerless. And Buffy hated that. She hated that she felt so small in front of the people she blamed for the hardest things she ever had to live through. And the things that some of them didn't live through. "I know you don't think much of us." Vadoma finally spoke in bad English. "But I offer you gratitude."
"You can shove your gratitude up your ass." The slayer responded sharply.
But the gypsy didn't react to harsh words, the obligation to repay the debt much more important than spite the young girl showed her. "Is there nothing your heart wants?"
All eyes in the room nervously looked Buffy, neither quite sure what their slayer was thinking or why she was quiet for an incredibly long time. Xander nervously shifted on his feet and young witches worriedly observed two females in charge. They personally knew and experienced Buffy's strength and resolve, but the power they felt rolling off the old gypsy left them feeling terrified.
"How do I know you will do what I want?" The girl finally asked. There was no doubt she knew what her heart wanted more than anything. But there was also no doubt that her wish won't pass lightly, on either side.
"If it is possible, it will be done." Vadoma spoke surely. "Kalderash keep their promises."
Buffy nodded and heavy-heartedly looked at her watcher, the only person in the entire world for whom she would consider her request. She knew and understood his reservations, but she hoped against all hope he will find the strength to support her in what she wishes to do.
Giles felt the burden of her expectations without an uttered word, and Buffy recognized the battle within him. But before she succeeded to ask the question, he spoke. "I'll call L.A."
A/N – The name of the beast, Penabelua, comes from Latin words for revenge and beast.