Author's notes: I own nothing. Not Buffy (et all), not Labyrinth, nothing. And please remember, I need feedback. For what is a fanfic author without feedback? Nothing, I say, Nothing!!!
Bribe
"Left, ok, dogde right, good, now duck!"
Thwamp!! Kennedy fell flat on her ass as Giles' quarterstaff impacted across her chest. Buffy shook her head sadly and remarked, "You didn't duck."
Kennedy pulled herself up and glared at the current slayer. "No, I didn't duck. We've been training for the last six freaking hours and now, at the pinnacle of the exercise, I didn't duck. Please forgive me, oh Goddess of Sword, Fist and Stake."
Buffy glared right back, "Remember that little First Evil, wanting you dead and hell on earth thing? I don't think I'm being unreasonable with the whole extra workout sessions here."
Before Buffy could really get going, Dawn rushed down the basement stairs, giving Willow, who had been watching (and, with each blow to her honey, wincing) a chance to start cooing and frittering over Kennedy (who didn't seem to mind overmuch.) "Oh my god you have got to take a break and come upstairs! We are so having Movie Night, like, now!"
Dawn managed to get the sentences out in 1.8 seconds, a personal record. Giles, however, did not look particularly impressed. "What on earth are you babbling on about," he asked. "Like, duh," Dawn answered, "Labyrinth is on the Disney channel and we have to watch it. It's been my favorite movie since I was a little kid. Come on, Spike and the others are already up there, with popcorn and everything." Anyone who was closely observing Buffy at this point would have noticed the slight jerk of her head and sharpening of her eyes at their resident vampire. Luckily for her, no one was. Kennedy, thrilled at the idea of reprieve, made tracks up the stairs with the briefest of nods and grins towards Dawn. Willow smiled, shrugged, and followed, albeit at a slightly more relaxed pace. Dawn sighed, "Come on, you guys, two hour break and then back to the fighting and spirit breaking of the troops."
"I am NOT…," Buffy started indignantly, only to be grabbed at the wrist and dragged out of the basement by Dawn. Giles looked around at the now empty room and sighed, "And this is what is responsible for saving the world. God help us all."
By the time Buffy and Dawn got there, the remaining Scoobies had already made themselves comfortable and were preparing to watch the film. Dawn quickly flung herself in the last open armchair, so naturally, the only spot left for Buffy was on the loveseat next to Spike. He had been relatively sweet and harmless lately, sexually speaking, so she made herself comfortable beside him with a minimum of fuss. They watched the film, well, in theory anyway. In reality, Spike watched Buffy, Buffy watched Spike (at which points his gaze snapped back to the television), Willow watched Kennedy, Kennedy watched Willow, Anya watched Xander, and Xander (and Dawn) watched the movie. At the film's end, discussion started up and eventually wandered to what the faerie folk (as seen in the movie) might really be like. Anya quickly took over the discussion. "Well, the high courts are what really matters as far as the fey go. That would be the sidhe. There's the good sidhe, the seelie, and the bad sidhe, the unseelie," she informed the room. Kennedy broke into the discussion with a sudden groan. "You know guys," she said quickly, "I've got a real bad headache; I think I'll turn in for the night."
"Oh no missy," Buffy interjected, "You got out of training earlier, and you can make it up by patrolling with me and Spike tonight."