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A Sylar/Claire, Buffy/Spike, Willow/Tara, Xander/Anya fic.
Chapter Nine.
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Disclaimer: See Ch. 1.
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A/N: I'm so glad you guys are still enjoying this story! Thanks for all the awesome reviews! I'm excited that this story has gotten some of you watching/re-watching Buffy!
Sorry I didn't get this chapter up sooner. I meant to get it finished yesterday, but I got bogged down with reading assignments for one of my classes.
Anywhoo, here's the next chapter!
I hope you guys like this, I know I'll love writing it.
As always, please read and review, I live for feedback!
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Claire held one side of her curtain open, staring out her bedroom window at the crowd gathering. Someone had found the two girls' bodies around 5:30 am, and the police had shown up just under ten minutes later. The area had been "sealed off" with the impenetrable yellow tape, and soon people had been coming out of their dorms and other on-campus housing to see what all the fuss was about.
Claire had thought about calling in the attack herself, but she realized that it would put her on the radar, and the last thing that she needed was to get hauled into the police station, and have her identity put under scrutiny. So, she waited. Inevitably, someone else would have to find the bodies. And they had. A pair of early-morning joggers had discovered the bodies, and their shrieks of shock and terror woke Claire from her already light sleep. It had been a wonder that she'd managed to fall back asleep at all.
From her position, she could see some people in the crowd being questioned, giving Claire another reason to remain where she was, and not try to give her assistance. She doubted the local law enforcement could even deal with what she had seen so few hours ago.
She didn't hear him come in behind her, but to her credit, she didn't jump out of her skin when Sylar sidled up beside her, drawing the curtains over so he could also have a view of the crime scene.
"Feel free to come on in," Claire mumbled sarcastically, glancing up at him.
Sylar only smirked in response, taking a sip of his coffee.
"Does this even bother you at all?" Claire asked him earnestly.
Sylar sighed, waiting a moment before meeting her gaze. "I didn't wish those women dead, Claire ... but I also realize there was nothing I could have done to prevent it. I'm not going to bemoan what's happened. It's over, I've moved on."
Claire stared heavily back out the window. "How rational of you."
He nodded his head once, dropping his side of the curtain back down. "Well, I'm going to get started on our mountain of research. If you'd like to stare out the window and grieve pointlessly for those women all day, suit yourself."
Claire defiantly looked out the window until she was sure that he was gone, and then sighed, dropping the curtain down to block her view of the scene. She shouldn't feel bad for mourning the loss of human life, she knew that. It wasn't a bad thing that she was upset over their deaths. But, she conceded internally, staring out the window all day wasn't going to bring them back, either. It wasn't going to make the vampires stop existing, or help them get back home.
Claire rolled her eyes to the heavens before making her way out of her room, and down the stairs to the living room below.
When Sylar came into view, she saw that he already had his new laptop set up on the coffee table in front of him, with a couple books set beside him on the couch seats. He glanced at her briefly before returning to the screen in front of him.
Claire placed her hands firmly on her hips, staring him down even though he wasn't looking at her. "You're an asshole."
Sylar blinked, removing his lengthy digits from the keyboard and turning his head slowly to face her.
Claire gritted her teeth before she continued, "But, you also have a point. Moping around all day isn't going to bring them back."
Sylar nodded slowly. "Okay."
Claire didn't know if she expected him to say anything else - gloat, maybe - but she accepted his one-word answer and grabbed her own laptop off the desk, sitting down on the armchair and booting it up. She tapped her foot impatiently, accustomed to her own internet connection being at least ten times faster, but showed no other outward signs of complaint.
Sylar only smirked in response, bouncing back and forth between the books, his laptop, and the notes he was making.
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By the time late afternoon rolled around, of the next day, their tensions and tempers were just about at breaking point. Stuck in the small house with nothing but each other for company for the past two days, researching images that made Claire nauseous, and spells that seemed to deal only partially with what they needed to do, they two of them were about at their breaking point.
Finally, Claire suggested a respite from their studying. It would be Christmas in a few days, and she suggested they go out and buy decorations and other similar things to take their minds off their seemingly impossible situation.
Shopping wasn't exactly Sylar's idea of a break, but he also didn't relish the idea of being stuck in the house while Claire took off with the car, so he relented. He needed to buy some more clothes as well, so he figured he could do that while she looked at flashing lights, or whatever else she planned to assault their domicile with.
They headed for the local mall, Sylar in the driver's seat after telekinetically snatching the keys from the table before Claire could reach them. He wasn't in the mood for more of her reckless driving, despite the fact that neither of them could die for a car accident ... just 'cause they were immortal, didn't mean that the car had to suffer.
Sylar extricated himself from Claire almost immediately, letting her know - in no uncertain terms - that she would not be waiting outside the dressing room for him. He told her he would phone her when he was done to find out where she was, and stalked off towards a men's clothing store.
Claire thought about following him just to taunt him, but she didn't want to upset the delicate balance of their truce, and so she headed towards the hardware store for some lights, maybe even a tree.
"It's not as though any of them want me there," she heard a girl complaining as she browsed ornaments. "The only reason I only go with you to see them is so I don't have to go hours without staring at your cute ass."
Claire blinked, hearing the person she was talking to clearing his throat nervously.
"Um, Sweetie, do you remember when we talked about 'bedroom talk'?" he asked her.
Claire grinned now, recognizing that voice.
"What? Do you really think there are other people concerning themselves with my talking about your cute ass?" the woman replied.
Claire chose that moment to stick her head around the corner, getting a full view of the two. "Hi, Xander," she greeted.
Xander glared at the woman beside him for a moment, as if to say, "See! I told you!", and then smiled tightly at Claire. "Hey, fancy seeing you here." He shuffled with the menorah in his hands.
"I didn't know you were Jewish," Claire commented, not wanting the meeting to get awkward.
"Oh, I'm not," Xander replied. "Willow is ... sort of. Mostly her parents. We - Anya here - thought it would be nice to bring a gift to dinner tonight, didn't you, Sweetie?"
Anya looked at him humorlessly for a moment, before she turned and smiled at Claire. "Yes, I did. That is the polite and guestly thing to do. I'm very thoughtful that way. How do you know Xander?"
Claire's eyelids fluttered briefly, absorbing the monotone response while working through a response to her question. "Uh, we just met the other day, actually. Through Willow." She held her hand out for the other girl to shake. "I'm Claire."
"Oh, I see," Anya said, giving her a perfunctory handshake. "So, are you a witch as well?"
Xander looked as though he was resisting the urge to elbow her in the gut, but didn't want to chance dropping the menorah.
Claire chuckled softly. "Um, not a practicing one, no. I just find the whole area fascinating."
Anya nodded, looking back at Xander. "Have I been pleasant enough yet? I would like to get home so we can have more sex."
Claire hid her smile by readjusting her purse on her shoulder.
Xander looked as though he might die of embarrassment, but trucked right on. "Yeah, um, we should go."
"It was nice seeing you again, Xander," Claire spoke, giving him a small wave.
"Mm-hmm," he replied. He turned to leave, but then paused. "Hey, a bunch of us are going to the Bronze later, you should come. Give me a chance to repay you for that coffee."
Claire tilted her head a bit. "'The Bronze'?"
"Right, new in town. It's Sunnydale's version of a nightclub, but it's a pretty decent place to hang out. Good music. I'll let Willow know if you wanna come?"
Claire nodded after a minute. "Sure. I don't have any big plans for tonight. Could be fun," Claire replied. It would be better than resisting the urge to throw her laptop across the room in frustration.
Xander nodded. "Cool. See you there, Witchy Woman."
Claire rolled her eyes in response, watching the two leave before returning to her browsing. She was really starting to like Willow and Xander, and Xander's girlfriend was quirky enough to be funny. A small part of her knew that she would miss this world, if and when she ever found a way home.
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"You think that now is the best time to go out clubbing?" Sylar asked her from outside her bedroom door. He would have liked to just force the damn thing open and 'discuss' this face-to-face, but she was changing, and she informed him that if he attempted to 'sneak a peek', she would castrate him repeatedly. Sylar didn't relish the idea of watching his genitals re-grow, just to have her snip them off again.
"I'm not 'going clubbing', I'm relieving stress by hanging out with friends," Claire corrected him.
"'Friends' that we are just using to get home," Sylar retorted through the door.
Claire paused her movements, her shirt only half-adjusted. "It's not like that," she told him, and partially herself.
"Don't delude yourself, Claire," came his reply.
Claire flared her nostrils as she finished assembling her outfit, tossing her hair over her shoulder as she grabbed her bag and swung her door open. "Maybe you've never had any real friends, but I don't need to pretend to be nice to people to get them to like me. I actually enjoy spending time with these people, a hell of a lot more than I enjoy being cooped up in this house with you!"
Sylar's jaw clenched, and Claire felt a momentary flutter of fear in her heart, realizing that insulting a serial killer probably wasn't the best course of action. He leaned forward, his arms crossed tightly against his chest. His face came to rest just inches away from hers, lips parting as he spoke in a quiet voice. "And I don't need the childish approval of others to validate my self-worth."
Claire had to wonder how much of that statement was true, but she didn't voice her thoughts. She restrained herself from swallowing the saliva that had built up in her mouth, not wanting Sylar to think that his words - his very presence - could make her gulp. Instead, she cleared her throat, and met his eyes defiantly. "Well, you can think whatever you want, I'm going out tonight. Don't wait up," she added before she turned to head down the stairs.
Sylar followed directly behind her. "You're not going without me," he informed her.
Claire paused her descent, looking back at him. "Excuse me? I don't need a chaperone."
Sylar scoffed, moving past her on the hardwood staircase. "I've seen what happens when you wander around this town at night. You're like a vampire magnet." He moved to the closet, grabbing his new jacket and sliding it one.
Claire swiftly banished the traitorous that he looked good in the dark material. "What, you're my protector all of a sudden?"
Sylar stared pointedly at her. "What would your father think if I came back and informed him that you'd spent your time here as a vampire's personal blood bank?" he wondered.
Claire's eyes narrowed. "So, this is about my father?"
Sylar said nothing.
Claire slid on her heeled shoes, grabbing the keys off the table and holding them tightly in her hand. "Do you really think that if you tell him that you saved me from some blood-sucking fiends, that he'll suddenly decide you're reformed?"
Sylar shrugged, telekinetically retrieving the keys from her tightly gripped hand. "Couldn't hurt."
Claire relented, joining him in the car as they drove to their destination.
It wasn't too hard to find, as the town really wasn't that big, and they easily found a parking space for the Mustang.
"Are you gonna, like ... hang out with us?" Claire wondered as they made their way into the Bronze.
"Aww, are you afraid I'm gonna put a damper on your 'cool' aspect?" he asked her.
"No, I'm more worried about you scalping my friends," Claire told him honestly.
Sylar sighed, spotting the bar through the crowd. "Well, unlike you, I'm of drinking age. If you need me, I'll be at the bar."
Claire nodded, making her way through the scatted bodies to find Xander and/or Willow. She finally spotted Xander's head bobbing to the music at a table near the back, and made a beeline for him.
"Hey," Claire greeted, her voice slightly louder to be heard over the music.
"Hey, you made it!" Xander called back, waiting for her to sit down.
Claire glanced around as she sat, placing her bag on the table in front of her. "This place is pretty cool," she commented.
Xander shrugged. "It's alright." He glanced over at the bar. "Alright, pick your poison. My treat," he added.
Claire smiled. "A soda would be great."
Xander nodded, leaving the two girls at the table as he went to get their drinks.
Claire sat awkwardly for a moment before turning her attention to Anya. "So, how long have you and Xander been together?"
"We've been having intercourse for a few months now," Anya replied.
Claire blinked in surprise. "Well, that's ... certainly a blunt way of putting it." She was saved from making more small-talk by another arrival at the table.
"Hey, Claire," Willow greeted. "Xander said you might be coming."
Claire nodded in response, noticing Tara standing quietly behind Willow. "Yeah, I thought I'd check this place out for myself. Hey, Tara," Claire added, waving at the other girl.
Tara smiled slightly in response, waving her hand a little.
Willow looked back at her friend. "Where's Xander?" she asked the brunette at the table.
Anya replied, "He went to the bar to get drinks. Non-alcoholic drinks ... 'cause we are apparently not of the required 'legal' age to drink alcohol." She murmured a complaint silently to herself.
Willow nodded slowly, grabbing an extra chair for Tara before she sat down. "Well, this is Tara. She's a friend of mine from Wicca group."
Anya nodded briefly in response, craning her neck to try and spot Xander in the crowd.
"So, did you get your classes all sorted out?" Willow asked Claire.
She nodded her head, thinking briefly about what Sylar had said before, about her just using Willow for her powers. She didn't want that to be true. "Yeah, I got into Walsh's psych class, and the other ones that I wanted."
Willow smiled, excited at the prospect of having another friend in the class. "That's great. It's such a fun course ... not too, fun, though," she added. "I mean, it's very intellectual and enlightening ... and fun."
Claire smiled, getting a little excited herself that she would be in the class. She didn't think about the fact that she should be wishing she would be home before the class even started.
Xander made his way back to the table with drinks, setting them down on the table. "Hey, look who I found," he spoke, motioning to the girl walking behind him. "Buff, this is Claire, and ... well, I don't actually know who you are," Xander spoke, looking at Tara as he said the last bit.
Buffy smiled at Tara, thinking that he meant her when he said 'Claire', but when her eyes fell on Claire, her entire body stiffened. "You?"
Willow looked back and forth between the two. "Oh, have you guys met already?"
Claire's eyes moved all around the table, suddenly wishing that she'd just stayed cooped up with Sylar all night.
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End of chapter nine.
What did you guys think of that one? Like it, hate it?
I'll try to keep up with the consistent updates, after today, I should be able to relax and get back to writing, just have to finish my online course stuff, and finish reading my book for another class.
Reviews are appreciated, flame if you must, but constructive criticism is much more useful.
Until next time ...!
