The Pride of Sunnydale

by The Saint Of Killers

When Xander is possessed by a different animal spirit on his fateful trip to the zoo, a new champion against the darkness is born on the Hellmouth. With new options available to him, Xander's different choices and actions cause ever expanding ripples in the tapestry of fate. With the future of the Scoobies changing with every step, will they still succeed in saving the world?

10. Boys and Girls

Chapter 10 – Boys and Girls

There wasn't a whole hell of a lot to be said about being skewered by a seven foot demon. Fortunately, Buffy had managed to save him from becoming a Xander Kebob by tackling him out of the way. They rolled along the ground then both sprang to their feet.

"Can't believe I lost Mjolnir!" yelled Xander as he turned to face the purple monstrosity that lumbered toward them. It had a yellow stripe going down the middle of its face and a large yellow spike growing out of the back of each hand. He swore if this was the inspiration for the comic he would burn every copy of the Maxx that he had.

"I still have my short sword," said Buffy as she brandished the short sword Giles had specifically requested made for her. Even with the added weight and resilience she hadn't been able to cut very deeply into the demon. Xander had tried to smash its head in but the demon had blocked his attack with a punch from its spike. The force had wrenched his hammer out of his grip.

"Go for the head," he said to Buffy as he maneuvered to catch the demon from its flank.

"Why?"

"It's the only place this thing has defended since we started, probably a weak spot."

"Ah, okay, gotcha."

"I'll distract!" yelled Xander as he rushed forward. He stopped at the last moment as the demon's massive fist crashed down right in front of him. He could feel the impact through his feet. Xander ran up the demon's arm and poked it in the eye as he leapt off its massive shoulder. Despite its massive height it was still wider then it was tall. The demon roared as he passed and clipped him in the hip with one massive fist. Xander spun and careened from the blow, landing fifteen feet away from where he intended. He landed on his back and had all the breath knocked out of him.

"Ny-uk ny-uk," he forced out as he saw Buffy impale her sword through the back of the demon's head. Her sword burst out the front of the skull. The demon swung wildly and Buffy had to leave her sword behind as she leapt back out of range. The demon stumbled and swung wildly around itself. Xander got up and found his hammer. He was contemplating hammering Buffy's sword on the pommel in order to drive it all the way through when the demon collapsed to one knee before toppling over. Buffy sidled up to Xander.

"You think we killed it?" she asked in a whisper.

"I think so. Go over there and poke it," said Xander as he held out his hammer to her.

Buffy's eyes widened and she stepped back from him. "Nuh-uh! It's your hammer, you poke it!"

"It's your kill!"

"That's right, I brought it down and as my loyal sidekick, you have to make sure it stays that way," she said firmly with a nod.

"A, I am not your sidekick and two, he who kilt it must make sure it's dead-eth!"

"You're making that up!"

"Aww, Buff, you don't have to be scared of the demon-"

"Who's scared? I just think poking dead things is gross!"

"Are you kidding me!"

"No, that's totally ew!" Xander continued to stare at her in disbelief. "What? Why do you not want to poke it?"

"Cause that thing almost shanked me twice and my hip hurts like a bitch!"

"Oh," Buffy glanced at the still form of the purple demon. "Well, I think it is dead."

"Yeah, I'm pretty sure it's dead too. Come on, let's get your sword and go home."

"Oh!" said Buffy as her eyes lit up, "Kill of the Night! That makes you the sidekick!"

"I should sidekick you," grumbled Xander as he hobbled over to the demon.

"What was that?" asked Buffy in a mock-threatening tone.

"Nothing, dear."

*BTVS*

"Ah, yes, here it is," said Giles as he set a book down in front of Buffy and Xander. "The Ma'acks. Usually found in the deserts of Australia."

"Are you kidding me?" asked Xander and Jenny at the same time. Giles stared at them in bewilderment.

"What?"

"The Maxx?" asked Jenny leadingly.

"From the Outback?" added Xander.

"Big and purple?"

"With a huge spike on each fist?"

"Yes, that is their description," said Giles in confusion before he turned to Jenny. "And it's pronounced Ma'acks, not Macks."

Xander and Jenny turned to each other before they both sighed. "If only you were a few years younger," muttered Xander.

Jenny smiled at him. "Or you a few years older."

"What do you see in him anyway?"

"Oh, a little of this, a little of that, a lot of something else," she answered with a wicked grin.

"I-I-I know I shall regret this, but what are you two talking about?"

"Yeah, we're both kind of confused," said Buffy as Willow nodded. Xander scooted over to sit in front of the computer and jiggled the mouse before typing. After the screech of the modem ended Xander typed some more and clicked the mouse several times before he turned the monitor to face the rest of the group.

"Why did you bring up an artist's rendition of the demon, Xander?" asked Giles before reading the title splashed above the drawing, "the Maxx?"

"It's a comic book Rupert," answered Jenny.

"Surely you jest," said Giles.

"It's about…" Xander trailed off as he considered his audience.

"Never mind," sighed Jenny.

"Is this why you tried talking to it?" said Buffy as she leaned over the table to get a better look at the screen.

"Yeah, fat lotta good that did me. My hip still hurts," said Xander as he gingerly rose to his feet at the sound of the bell. Buffy, Willow and Xander gathered their things. As the three students cleared out of the library Giles turned back to the monitor.

"I can't believe someone made a comic book about a Ma'acks. They could have at least used the inspiration for something worthwhile."

"Rupert! You do realize that comics are the modern mythology?" Giles scoffed. "Oh, you may scoff but any competent psychologist will tell you that comic books provide most of modern society with the knowledge of the old archetypes and fables. Superman, Batman, Spiderman, Captain America, these aren't characters in a funny book they're the Heracles and Achilles of our time."

"And this is something to be celebrated?" asked Giles skeptically.

"Where do you think Xander gets at least half his suggestions from? All those bright ideas that you wonder why no one else thought of them before?"

"He gets those from comic books?" Giles asked in disbelief.

"The weighted weapons were featured in a Wonder Woman comic that talked about the craftsmanship of the weapons the Amazons used. The Amazons in the comic book being basically a race of Slayers," said Jenny as she collected her things. "And why do you think Xander is so dedicated to this fight? He's merely following Batman's heroic quest."

"Batman? Heroic quest?" asked Giles incredulously. Jenny glared at him for a moment as she started speaking.

When she spoke her voice was sharp and direct. "Batman's parents were killed by criminals. He devotes the rest of his life to fighting crime. He learns the tricks of the trade of detective work, studies martial arts relentlessly, trains his body to a physical peak, and gathers or outright builds the tools he needs. Xander's best friend was killed by vampires. He's devoting his life to fighting supernatural threats. He's learning all the tricks of the trade of demon fighting, studies martial arts relentlessly, trains his body constantly and he's been gathering or outright building the tools he needs." Jenny motioned to the counter where some of Xander's stakes and holy water vials sat. Giles' incredulity melted away as Jenny spoke. Once his face became contemplative, Jenny's tone softened.

"Batman is a melding of a few archetypes but he still follows the same mold of skill and brains that Robin Hood did, or Odysseus before him. You have to learn to keep an open mind about these things, Giles. Sure, the forms are different but the archetypes are still there. Why do you think I read comic books at all? You know my reading habits, do you really think I would devote so much time to a purely puerile pursuit?" she asked before she smirked then added, "and try saying that three times fast."

"I guess I didn't think about it that way," muttered Giles as he sat sullenly on the table. Jenny sighed at Giles. Swinging her bag onto her shoulder she stepped in front of him and stroked his chin before she pushed his head up.

"I'll see you tonight?" she asked him. She laughed joyfully when he smiled at her. She kissed him on the cheek the said, "Tonight then."

"I await your arrival with bated breath." She smiled over her shoulder at him before walking away with a definite sway to her hips as she exited the library.

Giles watched her every step of the way.

*BTVS*

Giles and Xander stared ahead in shock. Slowly, Xander turned to look over at Giles, who was still staring out the windshield in stark disbelief.

"Gi-iles," Xander frowned as his voice crack. He swallowed and tried again. "Giles? Giles?"

Giles started then turned to face Xander. "Uh, y-y-yes, Xander?"

"You have to get this car," said Xander with all the gravity he could muster.

"I-i-i-it is a quite, um, ex-expenisve vehicle," said Giles as he shakily pulled his glasses off his face. He wiped his forehead with the sleeve of his jacket.

"Giles. Think about what just happened." Xander paused for a moment as Giles shakily placed his glasses back on his face. "You have to get this car."

"I-I-I-I-I," Giles closed his mouth for a moment before he looked down at the steering wheel. A long moment passed before he turned to Xander and grinned. "I think, in this rare instance, you are correct. Shall we see how quickly we can get back?"

"Tell me when to start timing," said Xander as he grinned in return and watched the second hand of his wristwatch.

"Now!" yelled Giles as he gunned the engine. The squeal of tires marked the beginning of their trip.

*BTVS*

Xander couldn't decide if this was the most torturous or most wonderful thing to ever happen to him. He was sandwiched in the back of Giles' brand new BMW M3 and Giles had just finished showing off how awesome the car was. Buffy and Willow were clutching at him in fear. He could feel their breast pressed up against his arms as they both buried their heads in his shoulders. He was desperately keeping from popping a tent. He was slowly losing.

"That! Was! Awesome!" yelled Jenny.

Giles was still flush from the joy of driving such a powerful and precise machine. He turned and smirked at Jenny. "If you thought that ride was fun, you should wait until later," said Giles as he leered at her.

"Fuck later," growled Jenny to the shock of everyone else in the car. She practically ripped off her seatbelt. "Kids. Get. Out." Buffy, Xander and Willow scrambled to exit the vehicle as Jenny pounced on Giles.

Once safely outside the vehicle, the three friends stared at each other for a moment. Willow spoke first, "You don't think they're really…" Willow trailed off as she stared back at the car. Xander and Buffy turned to find Giles and Jenny in a passionate embrace as they rolled over the front seats and collapsed into the back. "Eep!" squeaked Willow.

"Hey, I have, uh, books! Books in the house! Away from here!" cried Xander as he clung to the first excuse to cross his mind.

"Yes! Books!" agreed Buffy. "Inside! Let's go!" The three kids scrambled into the house.

A few minutes later the disheveled forms of Giles and Jenny walked into the living room. "Wow," said Xander as he smirked, "that was quick. Or should I say premature?"

"Eww! Xander!" cried Buffy and Willow in unison. Buffy punctuated her disgust with a slap to his shoulder.

"I assure you Xander, Giles is exceptionally mature," said Jenny with a grin.

"Oh, I so did not need to know that," grumbled Buffy. Willow merely blushed so hard she began to take on a purple tint.

Giles seemed poised to overtake Willow in the blush race. "We, we, we realized we may have acted, um, hastily, earlier. Our apologies."

"Just don't do it again," answered Buffy sharply before she huffed and slumped in her seat.

"It's okay, it's just a natural biological function," recited Willow as she stared off into space, pointedly not paying Giles or Jenny much attention.

"One of my future favorites," said Xander with a smirk as he leapt off the couch and out of smacking range. "So what are we going to eat?" The three teens turned expectantly at Giles.

"What?" he asked blankly.

*BTVS*

The next day, Willow and Xander are exiting the front of the school after classes ended.

"Man, I am wiped. And we still have to train with Giles tonight. And patrol."

"Oh, come on, I know you actually like patrolling."

"It does help relieve the stress from working for the man all day."

"Power to the people," said Willow softly as she shyly raised her fist.

"Slow down there Wills before your crazy revolution lands us all in jail," joked Xander. Willow smiled at his gentle teasing.

"So are you taking us out again?" asked Willow hopefully.

"Of course! What kind of Alpha would I be if I didn't provide for my girls? So what'll it be tonight? Dinner? Dancing? Movies?"

"We should ask Buffy," said Willow as they pointed at their friend. "Buffy!" she called they neared their friend.

"Hey there gorgeous," said Xander as he leaned against the railing Buffy was sitting on. Buffy smiled brightly at him.

"Aren't you supposed to be doing your homework in the library?" asked Willow as she glanced at the lack of space between Xander and Buffy.

"I'm dawdling," said Buffy as she took Xander's arm. Xander grinned as he leaned in closer to her. "With my friends," she added as she glanced at Willow over her sunglasses. Xander's jaw clenched for a moment before he decided to pull Willow into a one armed hug with his free arm.

"Works for me!" he cried as he leaned against Buffy and pulled Willow in close. "So," he drawled, "what are we doing tonight?" The three friends were distracted for a moment as Cordelia bumped past Willow.

"Rude much?" said Buffy as she gave Cordelia's retreating back the evil eye.

"Ah, ignore her. So where am I talking my girls tonight?"

"Your girls?" asked an amused Buffy.

Xander arched a brow before he smirked at Buffy, "Well, if you don't want to be one of them then you can pay for-"

"Let's not be hasty," interrupted Buffy quickly, "I never said I didn't want to be. I'm still one of your girls."

"Oh ho!" said Xander facetiously, "I see the dollar signs in your eyes! Why should I take you back?" he asked snootily.

Buffy turned her pout on him. "Don't you love me anymore?"

Xander blushed and turned away. "Of course I do."

"I'm still your girl Xander," interjected Willow. Xander smiled at his oldest friend.

"Always," he said as he kissed her on the top of the head.

"Come on. Richard and his fraternity brother want to meet you," said Cordelia as she grabbed Buffy's hand.

"Well, I don't really want to meet any fraternity boys," said Buffy as she gripped onto Xander's arm. Cordelia pulled at her anyway. Buffy allowed herself to be lead away instead of potentially hurting Cordelia by pulling back.

"And if there was a God, don't you think he'd keep it that way?" said Cordelia sarcastically as she pulled Buffy over to her boyfriend Richard and his friend Tom.

Being practically pressed up to Xander's side, Willow felt him stiffen. "What's wrong?"

"Those guys are giving me the wiggins." She looked up to see a deep frown on Xander's face. She turned back to see Buffy begin to walk away when one of the college boys pursued her. They walked close enough that Xander and Willow could easily overhear their conversation.

"I'm Tom Warner. I'm a senior at Crestwood College, and I," Tom paused and smiled sheepishly, "and I just feel like a complete dolt meeting you this way, so," he crossed his arms uncomfortably, "here I stand in all my doltishness."

"That had to be the worst pick-up line I've ever heard," grumbled Xander. Willow stifled a giggle as she leaned forward to overhear the conversation better.

"I'm Buffy Summers," answered Buffy tentatively.

"Oh, nice to meet you. Are you a Senior here?"

"Junior."

"Oh, me, too," he replied quickly before he made a face. "Except that I'm a Senior and I'm in college. So we have that in common, and," Tom shuffled his feet awkwardly for a moment, "I major in History."

Buffy made a mild tone of dislike as she wrinkled her nose, "History stumps me. I have a hard enough time remembering what happened last week."

Tom shook his head eagerly, "No, nothing happened last week. Don't worry, I was there." Buffy smiled at his joke which made Tom grin back in return.

"Should I intervene?" Xander asked Willow.

"Huh? Why?" she asked him in confusion.

Xander turned to her and raised a brow. "Uh, hello, college guys trolling for jailbait? Not exactly a sterling recommendation for these guys' morals."

"Buffy'll be fine." Xander grunted noncommittally.

"So, uh, my friend invited your friend to a party we're having this weekend." Tom turned to his friend and grimaced, "You know, actually he's not even really my friend. I only joined the fraternity because my father and grandpa were in it before me. You know, it meant a lot to them."

Buffy nodded. Tom continued when she made no response to him, "Oh, I know, I talk too much anyway. They're really dull parties full of really dull people, so... would you like to come and save me from a really dull fate?"

Buffy considered his offer for a moment before she sighed. "Oh, I wish I could, but I'm sort of involved."

Tom's face crumbled before he managed to plant a false smile on his face. "Well, sure, of course you are. Well, thanks for letting me ramble."

Buffy smiled at him encouragingly, "You know, people underestimate the value of a good ramble."

"You're late," said Giles. Willow jumped away from Xander, not having heard the librarian's approach. Xander pulled himself up from where he had been leaning against the railing.

"We're coming right now," Xander answered as he jogged down the steps and strode over to Buffy. "Hey, we gotta go." Buffy turned and spotted Giles at the top of the steps. Giles glared mildly and tapped at his wristwatch. She turned back and smiled at Tom.

"It was nice to meet you."

Tom smiled back. "Same here."

Xander and Buffy walked back up the stairs where an impatient Giles was waiting for them.

"I hope there was a matter of vital importance to explain your tardiness to training?"

"We were just dawdling," answered Xander with a shrug. Giles gaped at him for a moment as Buffy smirked.

"Hurry up," muttered Giles with a defeated sigh.

*BTVS*

Buffy lunged forward and ducked under Xander's straight. Xander spun around the hook she sent at his ribs and sent a hook at her head. Buffy ducked back, letting the blow pass her by. She sent a barrage of punches that Xander blocked as he stepped back, forcing her to extend her attacks as much as possible. The occasional jab kept her from closing in. Buffy spun and tried to catch him through his guard with a mule kick. Xander sidestepped her attack and grabbed her leg. He spun her through the air before tossing her almost ten feet.

Rolling with the landing, Buffy turned and charged back at Xander. Xander dashed forward with a powerful straight. Buffy cart wheeled out of the way. Xander rolled forward as Buffy sent a roundhouse kick at his back. Spinning as he came up Xander launched a front kick at Buffy's stomach as she stepped forward. The rare kick from Xander caught her by surprise and knocked her to the ground. Buffy stared up at Xander in surprise. Xander grinned as he danced back a few steps before miming licking his finger and marking a point on an invisible board. Buffy frowned at him before she exploded to her feet.

Xander covered up as Buffy bombarded him with punches. He swayed as best as he could to avoid being tagged fully. Buffy's pace picked up and Xander was forced to turtle up even further. When Buffy's pace picked up again Xander forced his way forward and grabbed Buffy around the waist. He picked her up in order to tackle her to the ground when Buffy pulled herself over his body by his shirt. Xander fell to his knees as Buffy rolled over his back. Xander was taken by surprise when Buffy landed on top of him and wrenched his arm behind his back.

"Give up?" asked Buffy as she pulled on his arm. With his shirt pulled up, Xander had to wrench his attention away from feeling Buffy's breasts pressed into his back. He slid a hand down under his stomach before he pushed up as hard as he could. The strength of his push actually sent both Xander and Buffy into the air four feet from the ground. As they fell, Buffy lost her leverage on his arm and Xander forced his arm from its lock. Xander caught himself as he fell and rolled out from under Buffy. Buffy landed roughly on her hands and knees.

Both combatants sprung to their feet and faced off against each other. Xander led off with a series of jabs. Buffy tried to slip past his jab to close the distance but Xander kept moving back and circling around her. Xander tagged Buffy several times in the side of the head. Buffy began moving faster, trying to get past Xander's fist. Xander stepped up his tempo in order to match her movements. Buffy began to move faster and faster. Xander matched her at every step. Giles, who was observing their sparring, could only see two large blurs chasing each other around.

Eventually a large crack sounded and Xander slammed into the book cage. Buffy hopped on one foot as she massaged her raised foot. Xander pushed himself off the book cage and held his dislocated arm before he grabbed his shoulder and wrenched it into place. Xander ran forward and jumped at Buffy knee first. Buffy side stepped his attack and tagged him in the back with a roundhouse kick. Xander stumbled as he landed. Buffy was on top of him immediately and sent a flurry of kicks and punches at Xander. Xander's arms blurred as he blocked and deflected her attacks.

Once again, Giles marveled at their speed as their arms became a blur of motion. Occasionally he caught a jerk of their bodies and heard the telltale sound of a fist striking flesh. It continued for ten seconds, for twenty seconds. They were rapidly approaching a minute and had continued to get faster at every moment. Suddenly there were a series of loud impacts and Xander flew back from Buffy's outstretched leg. He fell back and through the bottom of the library's counter.

"Ow," deadpanned Xander loudly.

"Ha! That's six spars to me!"

"Are you injured, Xander?" asked Giles in concern as he extracted Xander from the counter.

"I think I bruised my pride," muttered Xander softly. Giles snorted as he suppressed his laughter.

"I dare say that you're in better form than my counter is now."

"Yeah, it wasn't that bad at all."

"Well then, resume your positions," Giles told both of his charges. "One more spar and then you need to patrol."

"Ugh, today isn't my day," muttered Xander softly to himself.

*BTVS*

Today was not his day! Xander cursed again as he escaped the torrent of magma that consumed the streetlight behind him. The metal screeched as it collapsed on itself. The streetlight crashed the bulb bursting with a bang as it hit the ground. Xander scanned the empty street around him. Why was it that when all the big noticeable demons attacked, there was never anyone around?

He brushed his nose again. All he could smell was burnt hair. Burnt nose hair. The smell would have been horrifying if he wasn't faced with imminent melt-y burn-y death. He looked over Mjolnir, examining the slightly charred handle. There wasn't any other damage from his ill-advised smash attack on a magma demon. He shrugged off the remains of his burnt shirt. Thank god for his jacket! That first ranged attack with the flying ball of magma would have killed him if he hadn't been able to shrug off his jacket in time. Unfortunately that attack also took almost all his equipment with it. Too bad he didn't have anti-magma demon tools in his bag.

A gurgle of boiling asphalt made Xander look up. The magma demon was now following him down the street. If his nose wasn't filled with the awful smell of singed hair the foul stench of melted tar would have made him gag. As it was, he ran down another alley as the beast flung another ball of magma at him. Xander looked over his shoulder as he neared the midpoint of the alley. The demon had ceased to resemble a vaguely bipedal humanoid form and now looked like a rushing torrent as it flowed along the ground. For a semi-solid mass of molten rock, that thing could move!

Xander burst out the end of the alley and quickly scanned the street. He snapped back from his examination and stared in front of him in delight. He rushed across the street then turned to face the alley. The demon, sensing him standing still, stopped rushing toward him. Seemingly rising from the pool of magma, a humanoid form stepped toward him. The remaining magma flowed up into the demon, reforming into its humanoid shape as it moved forward. Xander waited until the demon moved into range before he brought his hammer down and smashed open the fire hydrant next to him.

The torrent of water blasted outward, dousing the magma demon. It screamed with the sound of a crackling fire as steam billowed out from where the water was striking it. It was very quickly obscured in a cloud that quickly filled the street. Xander backed away from the burning hot steam. Ten or fifteen seconds later, even though it felt much longer to Xander, the cloud of steam finally blew away to reveal the solid black form of the magma demon. Xander sighed in relief before he wondered exactly how he was going to kill this thing when the demon dissolved into nothing. Xander stared for a moment before shrugging.

"That's a win for me," he said as his body slumped. He momentarily doused his red hands in the fire hydrant's torrent. "Fucking un-smash-able blobs," muttered Xander. He splashed some water onto his back to help cool his still hot skin and checked his eyebrows again to make sure they were still there. He hefted the hammer onto his shoulder and sighed. Hopefully his increased healing factor would take care of all his irritated skin. He looked around the now flooded street and then down at his shirtless body. It was time to call it a night.

He walked down the street toward his home. It was strange how quickly he got used calling Giles' house home, or how quickly he got used to heading there at the end of every day. Xander brushed his nose as he blew a breath out of his nostrils. He hoped that the smell of burnt hair would be out of his nose by tomorrow. Because it smelled terrible!

Looking at the cemetery he was passing Xander idly considered joining up with Buffy on her patrol. He was too tired to do that at the moment, however. Plus, he would have to explain his lack of a shirt.

A blow to the back of his head sent Xander sprawling. He slid along the sidewalk for a moment before he caught himself and rolled to his feet. He spun around to face his attacker. Unfortunately he'd been caught totally by surprise and had dropped his hammer. There was one vampire wearing a long coat across from him. Xander smirked. He could take one vampire easily. Two more vampires, one in jeans and a t-shirt, the other in a large sweater, exited the alley he had passed by just moments ago. Xander frowned. This would certainly be harder. The click of heels on concrete made him turn around. There were three more vampires behind him. One female and two large males, bigger than even him, blocked his path. The two large vampires were dressed almost exactly the same. They could have been twins except one was bald and the other had a long ponytail.

He grimaced as he considered the six vampires surrounding him. No hammer, no stakes, no backup. This could be trouble. A vampire in high heeled motorcycle boots sauntered within five feet of him. She leered over his bare torso and licked her lips. Xander felt vaguely disgusted at her open lust.

"It's a shame the bounty called for your corpse. It could be fun to have you as a minion." She shrugged her jacketed shoulders at him. "Oh well, we'll just have to console ourselves with the bounty on your head." Her expression turned serious as she glanced at the vampires behind Xander. "Kill him."

Xander spun around and let out an ear-splitting roar. The three vampires he faced grabbed at their ears and crumpled to the floor. He started to run toward his fallen hammer when a meaty hand grabbed his shoulder and jerked him back. Xander turned and brought his fist down on Baldy's elbow. The arm reflexively bent as Xander hammered the inside part of the joint. He slammed his foot down on the vampire's instep. The steel toe boots Baldy was wearing prevented the move from crushing his foot as Xander intended. Baldy grinned but Xander was already moving as he spun to his right and let loose with a powerful left uppercut. The blow staggered Baldy and he fell to the floor, dazed.

Ponytail unleashed a powerful front kick to Xander's shoulder that nearly dislocated his arm. Fortunately it only sent him stumbling into the nearby brick wall. Xander run up the wall for three steps before leaping off of it into a diving tackle on Ponytail. Xander hammered Ponytail in the face with repeated punches. He grinned as he felt the bones in Ponytail's cheek give way under his attack.

Taking no chances the lone female lashed out with a kick from her heavy boots. She caught Xander across the face. Xander rolled with the impact. He brushed his nose as he stood up again. There was blood on his hand. And he still couldn't smell anything other than burnt hair! Xander dashed forward with a quick jab-straight combination. Boots managed to block his attack but her lighter frame was pushed back from the strength of his blows. Xander continued his assault, looking to create an opening in her defense. A quick kick to her shin forced her to a knee. A powerful hook sent her sprawling into unconsciousness.

Powerful arms grabbed him around the chest, trapping his arms at his side. Xander immediately bent forward, pulling his assailant over him and straightened, sending his head flying back to smash into someone's face. He turned to see Baldy cradling his crushed nose. Two powerful hooks followed by a punt kick put Baldy down.

A powerful blow smashed Xander into the ground. He rolled as a foot came down. Ponytail stomped down again, trying to crush Xander's head. His face was sunken in on the left side, where Xander had struck him. The vampire paid no heed to the pain he was feeling as he tried to stomp on Xander once more. Xander rolled to his feet and thrust a powerful straight into Ponytail's face. Ponytail grabbed his hand. There was a loud cracking sound and Xander felt some part of the vampire's fist give way. It didn't matter as the vampire used his free hand to land a powerful haymaker. Xander stumbled and tried to keep his feet. He turned back in time to guard against another powerful haymaker. Xander stepped to the vampire's left in an attempt to keep out of range of the vampire's good hand. The vampire, heedless of the damage done, swung his left arm and struck Xander with his forearm like a club. Xander staggered again. He was not expecting that attack at all!

Xander reared back and took in a deep breath. The vampire lashed out with a knife thrust that almost jammed into Xander's throat. It was only Xander's reflexes that allowed him to redirect the blow. Unfortunately this also made him expel the breath he had just taken in. Maybe he had played his card too early? Xander twisted the arm in his hand and brought his free hand down sharply on the locked joint. The vampire screamed as his arm broke. Xander kicked the back of Ponytail's knee. He stepped behind the forcibly kneeling vampire grabbed the chin and the back of the head and twisted. The vampire fell limply to the floor.

Teeth sunk into his shoulder. Xander turned and just barely saw one of the vampires he'd felled with his roar was now feeding on him. He reached over and was about to pull the vampire off of himself when another vamp clamped down on his other shoulder. He felt his strength begin to leave his body and knew he had to act quickly. He was about to spin in order to try and dislodge the feeding vampires when the vampire with the long coat stepped in front of him and punched him in the face. He felt dazed from the blow as the vampire grabbed his head and tilted it back.

Xander roared feebly. His voice didn't carry the power it did before, though the volume was still immense. The vampire in front of him grinned.

"That might have worked if you hadn't already burst our eardrums." He grabbed and tilted Xander's head as he once again moved in to feed. The vampire then burst into dust. Once the dust fell Xander saw Buffy standing in front of him.

"Looks like we just have to burst the rest of you then," she quipped. Xander groaned as the two vampires feeding on him let him drop. He struggled to keep conscious as the sound of fighting drifted down to his prone position. He pushed himself up slowly as he heard the tell-tale sound of a vampire dusting. He looked up in time to see Buffy drive her stake into the vampire wearing the sweater. It burst into dust a moment later.

"Buffy?" he asked, unsure if she had really come or if he was imagining being saved at the final moment. He staggered into the building nearby and tried to hold himself up.

"Be with you in a sec," she said as she staked the three other downed vampires. Hefting his hammer she came over to him. "Are you okay?"

"Just peachy," he muttered as he pushed off the wall and wobbled unsteadily on his feet.

Buffy placed a hand on his bicep to steady him. "What happened to your shirt?"

"Got burnt off."

"Burnt off? By what?"

"The Abominable Lava-man."

"Huh?"

"Okay, I admit, this isn't my best material." Xander's words were slightly slurred even as he felt his head clearing as his accelerated healing kicked in. "Let's see if your Pun Fu is that good when you're missing half your blood."

"Xander, are you sure you're okay?" asked Buffy seriously.

"Yeah, I'll be alright. Thanks for saving my life." Xander stumbled a bit until Buffy leaned into his side. She pulled his arm around her and helped him to stand.

"Don't mention it. Come on, let's get you home."

"Can you not mention to Giles that I almost died? I don't want him having a fit about it."

"I'm about to have a fit about it! What happened?"

"I was attacked earlier by this demon made out of lava. It hit me with a flying ball of magma. Melted my jacket and shirt when it hit. Almost melted me too."

"But you're okay?"

"Kinda lost my sense of smell for a bit. Burnt hair and all. I still have my eyebrows, right?"

"Yeah, you still have them. Your hair is a little singed on the ends," said Buffy as she brushed the tips of his hair.

"Just great. Today is not my day."

"Same here," mumbled Buffy.

"What happened to you?" Buffy merely shook her head. Xander decided not to press her on why she was feeling down.

"So what was up with the vamps?"

"They managed to get the drop on me since I couldn't smell them coming."

"They thought you'd make a nice meal?"

"Nah, they were hunting me. They wanted to collect the bounty on my head."

"Another one? How much is that bounty? And you should be careful. What if I hadn't heard your roar earlier?"

"These guys just got lucky tonight. And I'm going to make damn sure it never happens again."

"How are you going to do that?"

"Training. Lots of training."

Buffy pulled a face at Xander's words. "Ugh, don't remind me."

"You need to train too. I mean, you heard me roar but what happens if you get into trouble?"

"I know, I know," grumbled Buffy, "it's just that he's being so pushy about it."

"Yeah, I feel you on that one. He's just worried about us is all."

"We'll he's going to worry us down to a nub if he keeps going!"

"You might be right. I'll try and have a talk with him, get him to lay off."

"Thanks Xan! I'll owe you one."

"Well you can pay me back by not telling him how I screwed up tonight."

"Deal!"

*BTVS*

Fortunately Giles was preoccupied with Jenny when they got home. Xander was able to clean himself up without revealing the extent of his injuries and Buffy pushed back reporting about patrol until school tomorrow.

A good night's sleep had worked wonders for Xander and he felt almost one hundred percent healed. Of course, now Buffy was heading to the frat party with Cordelia of all people. While he was happy that she seemed to be moving away from Deadboy he didn't trust those college guys at all. But a regular guy would be much less of a challenge since she wouldn't be able to share her slaying with them. And she had been clamoring for a break for the past two weeks.

They walked into the library to find Giles about to stab a rapier in his hands down into the ground. He glanced over his shoulder at the three teens as they walked into the library. Xander stifled a chuckle as Giles nonchalantly hid the sword behind his back and edged toward the book cage. "I didn't see you three," Giles quickly tossed the sword into the book cage and kicked the door shut, "creeping about."

"No running with sword mister," chastised Xander with smirk on his face, "you could put someone's eye out."

"Ha, ha," said Giles dryly as he adjusted his glasses, "So, um, how did it go last night?"

Buffy pulled out an object from her pocket and handed it to Giles. "Found this."

Giles read the engraving on the broken bracelet, "E-N-T."

"I've seen something like that before," said Willow as she frowned in thought.

"It's broken in two. I don't know what the rest of the letters might have spelled. And there's blood on it," added Buffy.

"Uh, I didn't see any."

"Angel showed up. He could smell it."

"Really? Let me see," said Xander as he took the bracelet from Giles and gave it a long sniff. "Yeah, there's definitely blood on it. Not a lot though." Another sniff. "It's a girl's bracelet. She must have lost it last night."

"You can tell it was a girl from the blood?" asked Willow curiously.

"Uh, no, I can still smell her perfume on it. It's really strong too. Usually smells like that don't hang around on metal for very long." He took another long sniff of the bracelet. "She was sweating a lot when she lost this. She was scared."

"That could mean any number of things, unfortunately."

"A scared girl in Sunnydale, what a surprise," muttered Willow sarcastically.

"Well, you two can try and figure out who it belonged too. If you can guess what it said maybe that'll help. I'll patrol, see if I can't find her trail," said Xander.

Giles nodded, "uh, yes, with the both of you covering more ground perhaps-"

"Sorry, I'm not available," interrupted Buffy.

Giles looked at her over his glasses. "Why not?" he asked her.

Buffy stuttered for a moment. Xander sighed and decided to help. "Is your mom not feeling better?" he asked Buffy. Willow turned a sharp look on him that Giles didn't notice.

"Yes!" exclaimed Buffy, "I mean, uh, no, no she's not feeling better. I should really stay with her tonight." Willow stared at Buffy and Xander in disbelief.

"Oh, w-w-well, um, sorry, of course. If-if-if she's not well."

"I'll take an early pass this evening, and, um, one later on, but for the bulk of the evening-"

"Y-y-you should stay home with your mother, of, of course."

"Thanks Giles."

The three teens headed out of the library at the sound of the bell. Xander chanced a glance in Willow's direction. She did not look happy.

"You lied to Giles," said Willow unhappily.

"Look, I wasn't lying. I was just," Buffy searched for the right words, "protecting him from information that he wouldn't be able to, uh, digest properly."

"Like a corn dog," quipped Xander in an attempt to make Willow relax. It didn't work.

"Like you don't have a sick mother, but you'd rather go to a frat party where there's going to be drinking and older guys and probably an orgy," Willow nearly spat.

"There's no orgies!" rebutted Buffy quickly. At least, she really hoped there weren't any orgies!

"I heard a lot of wild things go on at frat parties," said Willow worriedly.

"You hear a lot of things about college life, Willow. Don't worry so much," said Xander as he rubbed Willow's back comfortingly.

"Okay, you know what?" said Buffy hotly, "Look, seven days a week I am busy saving the world. Once in a great while I want to have some fun. And that's what I'm going to have tonight. Fun!"

"This is a terrible idea," muttered Willow.

*BTVS*

This was a terrible idea. Honestly, what excuse was he going to give her? Hey, I was in the neighborhood killing vampires, thought I'd drop by? This was a terrible idea.

Despite his doubts Xander found himself inside the frat house. The party was in full swing, with loud music, louder party goers and an abundance of alcohol. Except for the festive atmosphere and pleasant conversation, this could have passed for his last Christmas. Xander pushed away thoughts of his… progenitors. There was a myriad of scents but only one that mattered to him. He found himself quickly heading toward a corner of a large room converted into a dance hall. There she was, standing by herself in the corner. She looked so beautiful in her little black dress. How could these idiots be ignoring her? Where they blind? Xander slowly came up from behind her. He took a moment to breathe deep of her scent. Sunshine and flowers and honey and fluffy yellow snack cakes. A part of him despaired for how hopelessly smitten he was with this girl who only had eyes for another.

"Hello Buffy." Buffy nearly jumped out of her skin as she felt the hot breath caress her ear. She spun around ready to strike until she saw who it was. She closed her eyes and collected herself for a moment.

"Xander!" she hissed in annoyance.

"Sorry, didn't mean to startle you."

"Well you did, god! And what are you doing here?"

Xander gazed at Buffy for a moment as he tried to think up an excuse. "I came to see you." That was so not an excuse. Who made that decision? Xander's brain, you're fired!

"To see me?"

"Uh, yeah, uh," Okay Xander's brain, you're not fired, maybe just on probation? Come on, help out here! "I was checking out that house on Clayton street? Turns out there was a nest there. One of them led me here when I was chasing him. I saw the frat house and I thought I'd drop by." Buffy smiled at him but said nothing about how sweet it was for him to drop by and check on her. Xander was able to read her approval. Xander's brain, you are officially given a raise. "So, is every guy here blind?"

"Uh, no, why do you ask?"

"Because they're leaving the most beautiful girl here by herself. I'd thought they'd be tripping over themselves to get to you."

"I think Cordelia might take exception to that," said Buffy through the grin that blossomed on her face.

"Oh," said Xander in surprise. "Let me revise my statement then. They're definitely leaving the most beautiful girl here by herself." Buffy smiled coyly at Xander as she felt her cheeks redden. "So why are you here by your lonesome?"

"Cordelia dumped me to spend time with her boyfriend. No one else here seemed to be paying me any attention."

"Their loss," said Xander with a smile as he clasped Buffy's hand and led her into the dance floor. A slow crooning ballad was playing over the sound system. Holding up her right hand in his left, Xander wrapped his right arm around her waist and pressed his left cheek to the top of her head as he swayed in place. Buffy melted into his embrace. She hadn't realized how cold she was until she felt his warmth seeping into her body. She could hear his heart beating in his chest. She could even smell the faint trace of dust on him that she remembered from her own patrols.

Xander wondered how long this moment would last. Here he was, in the arms of this gorgeous being that had changed everything in his life. It would have been a perfect moment except he knew that it would end. And the moment it ended, everything would go back to the way it was before they began this dance. Xander breathed deep again and tried to remember every sensation, tried to burn them into his memory, into his soul, so he could always return to this blissful moment.

Pressing herself closer to Xander, Buffy wondered how she could have never felt so warm in another man's embrace. Angel hadn't been cold, not really, but he wasn't blazing… Angel! This wasn't Angel this was Xander! Sweet, warm, caring- Xander! Willow's crush Xander! She stepped back abruptly.

He bit back a sigh as she broke the moment. He opened his eyes to see her stepping back as far as she could on the crowded dance floor. He gazed at this girl who made him try to become a better man than he ever thought he could be, who filled him with such a sensation of life and joy that he felt like he could burst, who could tear his heart to shreds so easily, who devastated him at every turn. Xander closed his eyes and took a deep breath to try and still his roiling emotions.

Buffy shivered and wrapped her arms around herself. Part of her longed to be back in Xander's warm embrace. She rubbed her arms as she watched Xander sigh. This really wasn't fair, to either of them. Xander knew how she felt, except she wasn't so sure how she felt about Angel right now. And Willow… when was Willow going to make her move? She loved Willow but this waiting game was getting ridiculous!

"Are you going to stay here?" Buffy was startled by Xander's sudden question.

"Uh, yeah, at least until Cordelia's ready to go," she muttered as she avoided looking at his face.

"Buffy," the tone of his voice forced Buffy to look up. There was a sad smile on his face that tore at her because she knew she put it there. "Stay. Have fun. You deserve it." Xander turned and vanished into the crowd. Buffy wandered over to her previous corner. She finally decided that this sucked.

Xander quickly leapt over the wall surrounding the frat section of campus, heedless of who could have seen him perform the superhuman feat. He picked up Mjolnir from its hiding place in a bush then he broke into a light jog as he crossed the cemetery toward the large road. What was he doing to himself? Why did he keep doing it to himself? He hated this! Xander ran his hand through his hair roughly. He turned and headed toward the school. He took a moment to prime his senses. It wouldn't do to get caught off guard again, especially not after he almost died the night before. Of course, part of him wanted to just shrivel up and die. The other part snarled about claiming its mate. Another part screamed and raged at everything for not getting the girl he loved. And the last and largest part of him? That side just hoped that Buffy would finally find some happiness.

He spun and brought his hammer down on the vampire that tried to sneak up on him. The force of his blow tore the vampire in two before both halves burst into dust. This was really not a good time to try and take him on. A few hours and a few vampires and a demon later, Xander broke into a run. He very quickly found himself at the school. The library followed soon after. Opening the library doors he saw Giles, Willow and him standing near a window. They paused in their conversation as they watched him enter.

"What's going on?" asked Xander warily. Why was the corpse here?

"Uh, we were, uh, attempting to ascertain the area that the bracelet was found," answered Giles.

"She found the bracelet in the cemetery. Near the south wall," said Angel gruffly as he glared openly at Xander. The boy smelled like Buffy!

Xander blinked as Angel's words sunk in. "Next to the college?"

"Yeah and- the fraternity!" exclaimed Willow with wide eyes as she stared at Xander. Xander reared back as he realized the wall he had just climbed was next to the frat house.

"A fraternity?" asked Giles curiously. Willow nodded nervously as Giles and Angel both began to consider the implications.

"Could they be taking these girls?" Giles asked the room at large. Willow again nodded nervously.

"Let's get out there," said Angel as he and Giles turned to go. Xander stood still, clearly not intending to leave. He stared back at Willow which caused Giles and Angel to turn around.

"Buffy!" cried Willow, more to Xander than anyone else. However, Giles took her cry as a sudden suggestion.

"W-w-we don't know that it's concrete. Uh, let's not disturb her until-"

"Is there! With Cordelia! They went to a party at the Zeta Kappa house," confessed Willow in a rush.

"She lied to me?" asked a startled Giles.

"Well…" Willow trailed off nervously when Giles turned on Xander.

"You lied to me?" Xander opened his mouth to answer but found that he didn't have anything to say. He shrugged and ducked his head.

"Did she have a date?" Angel asked Willow.

"Well…" Angel huffed as Willow temporized. She finally snapped. "Well, why do you think she went to that party? Because you gave her the brush-off!" she snapped at Angel angrily before rounding on Giles. "And you never let her do anything except work and patrol! And I know she's the Chosen One, but you're killing her with the pressure! I mean, she's sixteen going on forty!" Giles stepped back at Willow's vehemence. She turned back to Angel "And you! I mean, you're going to live forever! You don't have time for a cup of coffee?" Angel stepped back as well. Xander thought he had escaped this tirade when she suddenly stepped toward him. "And you lied for her! Are you just going to do everything she says! You can't just let her slack off like that!"

While Giles and Angel stared at Willow's fury speechlessly, Xander was already used to her explosive temper. However, he usually managed to keep his. Tonight his already bruised and jumbled feelings lashed out angrily at this last slight.

"Who's letting who slack off! I always do a double patrol whenever she doesn't go out! She's not a machine; she needs to rest, to relax! I was just trying to give her the chance to have more in her life than studying and violence!" Willow stepped back as Xander's voice began to rattle the windows. "Buffy has every reason to fight but no reasons to live!"

Silence reigned in the library for a very long beat. "Uh, W-w-what do you mean?" asked Giles cautiously.

"Buffy's been trying to tell you since day one but you just don't see it. When she says she wants a normal life, it isn't because she wants to stop being the Slayer, although part of her certainly wants that," he added as an aside before he continued, "she wants more than to just be a fighting machine. She's not a weapon Giles, she's a human being. Human beings need reasons to fight but they also need reasons to live. It's the only thing that will give her the strength to fight when there isn't anything else left."

Xander turned to Willow who looked back at him sheepishly. "I'm not the slacker slash loser I was before Willow. I've changed. I have commitments, a purpose now and I'm putting everything I can into that. I'm not just plain-old Xander now. The lion spirit changed how I thought about my place in the world. It changed what I could do. Now instead of trying to help from the sidelines I can fight on the frontlines. I swore on Jessie's grave that I would do my best to help Buffy in this fight. And I hold myself to that oath every day. So don't point your finger at me and tell me I'm letting her slack off! If she needs a break, she deserves it. It's the least I can do."

Xander turned to face Angel with a snarl. "And you," Xander grit his teeth. Part of him wanted to tell him to finally ask Buffy out. The part of him that knew it would make her happy. But now, here, at the moment of truth, when he was face to face with the man who had captured Buffy's heart, he could only think of one thing to say. "Just," he shook his head in frustration. "Fuck you man, fuck you," he muttered sourly. "Come on, those frat guys were giving me the wiggins before. Let's go find out what's going on."

*BTVS*

It was a tense drive to the frat house. Xander pushed Angel to the front and sat in the back with Willow. Angel glared at Xander but said nothing as he slid into the front seat. Willow wrung her hands nervously as Giles started up the car before peeling out of the school parking lot. Xander sighed as he looked over at his nervous best friend. Her knuckles were white as she gripped her seat belt. He reached his hand out. Willow turned and spotted his outstretched hand. She stared at it for a long moment before finally taking it. He held her hand softly even as she tried her best to squeeze the life out of his hand. Eventually her grip lessened until they were comfortably holding hands in the back seat.

They were soon pulling in front of the frat house. The house was darker than it had been earlier.

"Looks like the party is over," said Xander.

"Y-y-yes, the house does seem rather dark for a frat party."

"Hey, is that Cordelia's car?" asked Willow as she pointed to the cherry red Mercedes parked on the other side of the road. Xander was the first to get out as Giles shut off the car. He walked over to the front of the car and read the 'Queen C' license plate. This was definitely Cordelia's car.

"Yeah, it is. They're still here." The group walked up to the front door. They stopped as they heard the crunching under their shoes. They looked down to find glass strewn over the ground and then looked up to find the hastily repaired glass door.

"What's all this then?" asked Giles softly as he studied the broken balcony door. Xander and Angel both crouched down and sniffed.

"Blood," said Angel.

"The same blood as on the bracelet," said Xander as he sniffed at a grain of glass he picked up.

"So the missing girl was here," said Willow. They all looked at the now sinister looking fraternity house.

Angel growled as he spun around. His face was contorted into its demonic visage. "Buffy," he growled before moving forward. Xander jogged passed him and knocked on the door.

"What the hell are you doing?"

"Put your fangs away blood-breath before you scare the frat boys."

Angel shifted his face back as Willow and Giles caught up to the two of them. The door opened to reveal a slightly drunk fraternity member. "What do you guys want?"

"Left my wallet behind. Can we come in and take a look?"

"Come on, be quick about it," he said as he waved the group in. Xander smirked at Angel as he stepped inside. "By the way," he said casually as he stepped inside. "We're looking for our friends. One's a short gorgeous blonde and the other's a stacked brunette. You wouldn't happen to know where they are would you? Or where any of the other missing high school girls ended up?" The frat boy froze for a moment at Xander's last question. He glanced at the group before swinging a fist at Xander's face. Xander caught his fist and squeezed. There was an audible crunch and the frat boy stared at his ruined hand for a moment. "Now, that wasn't very nice," said Xander coldly.

"Aaah-Intruders!" screamed the frat boy. Xander quickly knocked him unconscious as several footsteps thundered down the stairs. A group of five fraternity members burst into the foyer. Xander quickly decked the frat member whose hand he broke. Angel stepped forward as the other members rushed them. Willow squealed and hid behind Giles who hung back as Xander and Angel met the charge. One of the members was faster than the others and closed in on Angel with a wild haymaker. Angel blocked the blow and casually backhanded his foe. The young man crumbled to the ground like a puppet with its strings cut. Two large guys jumped on Xander who easily lifted them with one hand each.

"What the hell!"

"What are you!"

Xander ignored their incredulous cries and tossed them at one unlucky frat member. They crashed through a set of glass doors before the heap of bodies landed in the next room. The three men did not rise again.

"Where's Buffy?" growled Angel as he held the last frat member up by his neck. The struggling young man kicked at Angel's head. Angel squeezed harder and the man's attack faltered.

"I think it's in your best interest to answer his question," said Xander as he walked up to Angel and his victim. He cracked his knuckles in an exaggerated fashion once he saw he had the frat member's attention.

"Guys! The basement!" cried Willow. Angel and Xander turned to see her holding open a door in the kitchen. Angel quickly punched out the guy he was holding. The four of them then made their way an uncommonly long set of stairs. Eventually the stairs exited into a cavern.

"I don't think this is a common feature in many homes," said Giles. Angel and Xander were steadily heading deeper into the cavern nearly heedless at the danger they could be encountering. Both Angel and Xander froze as they stepped into the cavern proper. Over 30 robed figures were gathered in a loose circle around where three girls were chained up. A large snake demon with a humanoid torso were the head of a snake would normally be was rising out of a large crevasse across from the chained girls.

"Buffy!" yelled Xander as he plunged into the group of robed figures.

"Stop them!" yelled Tom as he hefted the ceremonial blade.

Angel cursed as he followed behind Xander. He quickly settled into a rhythm as the group swarmed around him.

Xander burst out the other side of the line, one robed figure held crossways in front of him as a shield. He turned and threw the hapless figure into the robed figures behind him. He spared a glance at the snake demon as he rushed up to Buffy and helped her break her chains.

"Look out!" she yelled. Xander turned in time to see Tom bearing down on him with a sword. Xander slapped the strike aside, sending the sword Tom was holding clattering off to the side. He picked up Tom over his head and tossed him at Machida before he turned to help Buffy unlock her chains.

Machida grabbed his high priest out of the air. This was unexpected. It seemed that his acolytes had inadvertently captured the Slayer. There was also the Vampire with the stench of a human soul. He was allied with the Slayer, if the beating he was giving his acolytes was any indication of his allegiance. The other one, however, seemed to be just as strong as the Slayer. Machida licked at the air once more. Ah, a Primal. No, this array of forces was too much for his current weakened state.

"Machida, I swear that I will feed these to you!" proclaimed Tom. Machida regarded his high priest for a moment. Tom didn't even have time to draw breath for a scream when Machida's mouth opened impossibly wide and began swallowing him whole.

Cordelia and the other girl were now free, leaving Buffy and Xander able to help Angel defeat the rest of the fraternity brothers. Suddenly all the fraternity brothers screamed as blood began pouring out of their eyes and ears and noses. They all flopped over and fell dead. Cordelia screamed as she and the other would-be sacrifice ran out of the cavern. Giles and Willow flipped one of the bodies over.

"My word," breathed Giles, "what has happened?" Willow stumbled back and fainted. Xander and Buffy rushed toward their fallen friend when Angel's words stopped them.

"We have a problem here!" They turned to see Machida begin to glow with a poison green light. Machida's body flopped forward as he stepped out of his own skin. He was now a snake featured humanoid. He turned toward Buffy and her friends and hissed. His eyes glowed green for a moment and he raised his hand.

His eyes widening, Xander turned and saw that they were standing directly in front of Willow's fallen body. They couldn't dodge the attack without risking it hitting Willow. Xander braced himself as he resolved to allow the attack to hit him. The movement of his feet struck one of the bodies of the fallen fraternity brothers.

The green blast of energy flew from Machida's outstretched hand. It collided with the flying body of one of the fraternity brothers. The man floated in midair as the green light enveloped his body. There was a flare once his body was completely enveloped. Once the flare dispersed, only a few pieces of ash remained behind to fall to the ground. Angel and Buffy turned to Xander, whose hand was still stretched out from his throw.

"Okay, getting hit with glowing light bad," said Xander. Machida reared back as his chest inflated like a frogs before he bent forward and unleashes a hissing scream. Angel, Buffy and Xander clapped their hands over their ears as the vibrations assaulted their bodies. Giles tried to stand but fell back to the ground, disoriented. Xander took a deep breath and unleashed his roar. For a moment, the entire cavern shook until Machida stumbled back as Xander's roar overpowered his attack. His eyes glowed again. "Take him down!" yelled Xander.

The three demon fighters burst into motion. Buffy ran to Machida's left, to where she could see Tom's fallen sword. Angel ran to his right in order to try and flank Machida. Xander stepped to the side in order to remove Giles and Willow from the line of fire and then ran straight at Machida. Machida tracked Xander and unleashed another green blast of energy. Buffy ran past Machida and grabbed Tom's sword. Angel attacked Machida from behind. Machida twisted and struck Angel in the gut with a powerful kick. Angel flew back until he struck the wall of rock that surrounded the crevasse Machida rose from.

Machida turned and swatted Xander from the air as he came down from leaping over Machida's green blast. Xander crashed into a table set up with the materials needed for ritual the fraternity had attempted. He rolled along the ground until he finally slowed enough for him to stop.

Ducking under her flying friend, Buffy slashed down with her sword. Machida dodged her strike by the barest of margins. She pressed her attack and unlashed a flurry of slashes that had Machida retreating. She sped up her attacks but none of them landed. Finally Machida seemed to flow in a boneless manner and came up inside her guard. His uppercut launched her off her feet and sent her sword flying. She slowly climbed to her feet but stumbled and had to pick herself up again. Machida's eyes began glowing green again.

Leaping onto his back, Angel sank his teeth into the back of Machida's neck. Machida hissed in pain and anger before he reached a hand back and flung Angel onto Buffy, who was still attempting to rise. Machida stretched out his hand toward the two tangled fighters when Xander struck him with a table. The old oak table, that had survived Xander crashing into it, shattered as it struck Machida. Machida turned and hissed at Xander as he pointed his glowing hand at Xander. The point of a sword burst through Machida's chest.

Behind Machida, Giles stepped back and let go of the ceremonial sword as it began to glow the same poison green as Machida's blasts. The glow steadily grew in intensity as Machida began to scream. The cavern began shaking.

"I-I-I believe we should retreat!" yelled Giles. Xander quickly ran to Willow as Angel and Buffy picked each other up. They began to run out of the cavern. They had just reached the exit when Machida exploded in a burst of green light. When they turned to see what had occurred, Machida was no more. Xander carried Willow as they all headed out of the fraternity.

*BTVS*

"So how does it feel to have saved the day G-man?" asked Xander as he patted his mentor on the shoulder in congratulations. Willow had finally recovered from her fainting spell and they were all heading toward Giles' car.

"Xander will you stop calling me," Giles stopped for a moment before simply shaking his head in resignation. "I-I-I'm glad that we all escaped unscathed from our encounter. That, that was almost certainly one of the more higher level demons in our plane."

"Well you are certainly welcome to research it on your own," said Xander with a grin.

Giles smirked at Xander. "Oh, I think I smell a homework assignment, don't you?" Xander groaned. Willow giggled at him.

"So, um, you know that club, uh, the Bronze," began Angel hesitantly. Buffy eyed him curiously. Angel cleared his throat and continued. "They serve coffee, you know? I thought that maybe you and I could go get some. Coffee. If you want."

Buffy smiled softly at him before she sauntered over to Giles' car. "Yeah, sometime," she said with affected apathy, "I'll let you know."

Angel smiled softly at Buffy for a moment before backing into the shadows. Xander sneered at Angel's vanishing form before he plopped himself into the front seat. "Let's go home," he said sourly. Giles patted him consolingly on the shoulder before he drove away.