Disclaimer: I do not own Marvel Cinematic Universe, Buffyverse or anything else you may recognize
Thank you to everyone who has favorited, followed or reviewed this fic so far.
Sorry for the late update, just got focused on my LOTR/MCU/Buffyverse/Smallville/Blade/Merlin/Arrowverse crossover fic which is called 'Heroes, Vampires and Slayers.' If you're interested, please check that one out.
And in this chapter, Peter meets the Watcher Council, and suffice to say, they won't make a good impression, and might even remind him too much of his first meeting with a billionaire in a suit of armor (Not Batman!)
Agent N: Yes, I've read it. Now I've a request- if your review is not about the story, please do not review. If you wanna talk about random stuff, slip it in with a regular review, or make an account and message me.
Chapter 16- Such old elitists
"Here, I'll get that", Buffy said to her friends. "Sorry. Mom's still not a hundred percent, and I guess I haven't really been taking up the slack."
Peter, Tara, Anya, and Willow sat on the sofa. Xander sat in a chair. Buffy and Giles were standing. Buffy moved around trying to pick up stuff that was lying around.
"No, the place looks fine, Buffy", Willow said.
"Yeah, it's just us", Tara added.
"Oh no kidding. You should have seen my old place, now that was a mess", Peter told her.
Buffy picked up a sweater and looked sadly at it.
"That must have belonged to, uh…." Xander trailed off. "Um, aren't we supposed to have a meeting?"
"Uh, yes, yes, we, we're here for a reason."
Buffy sat as Giles said. "I've had some rather, uh ... well, I've had some news. It seems that the Council of Watchers has ... found some information that may help us out."
"About Glory?" Buffy asked.
"Presumably", Giles said. "We'll find that out when they ... arrive. Could be very important."
"Arrive?" Buffy asked incredulously. "They're coming here? Now? W-why do they have to come here?"
"Yeah, don't they have phones?" Xander did a fake British accent. ""Allo, Buffy, here's some stuff we know, pip pip.""
"Nicolas Cage has a better accent than that", Peter commented.
"Yeah!" Buffy said. "Phones. See, I'd like them on phones."
"Well, what's so bad about them coming here? Aren't they good guys?" Tara asked. "I mean, Watchers, that's just like other Gileses, right?"
"Yeah, they're scary and horrible!" Buffy said.
"Um, they, well, they can appear a bit ... well, uh, hard-nosed, but, uh, well, essentially, their agenda is the same as ours, they want to save the world and kill demons", Giles explained.
"Kill the current demons, right?" Anya asked. "Current demons."
"Giles, I don't want them to come here. I don't trust them", Buffy said. "Make them not come here."
"They're probably already on their way. Our old friend Quinton Travers is ... heading up the delegation", Giles said.
"And I think that sounds really bad", Peter said, remembering the drugging incident Buffy had mentioned last week.
"They put me through that test, and it almost killed me", Buffy reminded. "And then, when I was Faith, they almost killed me again. Honestly, I really can't handle almost being killed right now."
"None of us can", Peter said.
"I don't like the sound of this. They don't sound very ex-demon-compatible", Anya commented.
"Are you sure they're English?" Tara asked. "I-I thought English people were, um, gentler, then, uh", she trailed off. "Normal..."
"Maybe it won't be so bad this time", Willow said before reminding. "I mean, Buffy, they did think you were Faith last time. Now that they know you're just you, maybe they won't care enough to kill you."
"Who's Faith?" Peter asked.
"Not important", Buffy said before saying to the others. "They're gonna screw everything up. I-it's a delicate time right now. I-I have to take care of Dawn, and-"
"But that's not new, you've always taken care of her", Xander reminded.
"Right. Right, I, I know that, it's just, you know, there's, there's Glory, and..."
Peter looked a bit uncomfortable as counting out Buffy, Giles and Joyce, he was the only one in the know.
Dawn was on the stairs, listening in, wearing pajamas as Buffy continued. "And I don't need the Council looking over my shoulder when I don't even know what we're dealing with."
Giles said. "Well, that's precisely why we need to talk to them."
Joyce came down the stairs and saw Dawn. "Dawn, honey, what are you doing up at this hour? Go back to bed."
Buffy heard Joyce and looked alarmed.
"I was just getting a snack", Dawn said.
Buffy yelled over at her shoulder. "Dawn, are you listening?"
"I can get a snack if I want to", Dawn said back. She then turned and went back upstairs.
Buffy looked alarmed. "She was listening."
"Does it matter?" Willow asked. "I mean, is she really gonna set the junior high school buzzing with "ooh, there's a delegation a-coming"?"
"I might", Peter quipped, making everyone chuckle.
"No, I, I guess not. You know, it's just ... sometimes we ... say stuff, and, and ... it's all good", Buffy said lamely. "Giles, you were saying ... something?"
Giles said. "Um, just that ... if the Council knows something about Glory, her agenda or her origins, then ..." he sighed. "Then maybe it will help us get a, a, a grip on what we're dealing with. Right now I think we're, we're a bit lost."
Next day, school
Peter and Dawn were walking together as she asked him. "So, what was Buffy talking about last night?"
"The Council coming", Peter shrugged, as he wasn't going to tell her. "It has her all wrecked up."
"She mentioned me", Dawn said, but Peter didn't change his expression. "Why did she mention me?"
"Last time the Council got you and your mom in trouble, she is afraid it can happen again", Peter told her.
"Oh!" Dawn nodded, though it was obvious she wasn't fully convinced as she walked off for class while Peter watched, feeling bad he had to lie to her, but he had no choice unfortunately.
Later, Magic Box
Giles was talking to a female customer. He was holding two books. "Well, if you're serious about these matters, all right, but ... you need to be very careful. Measure precisely, and, and, please don't step ahead."
"No, he's quite right."
Quinton Travers stood there with six other Watchers standing behind him: four men, two women. Quinton took one of the books from Giles and looked at it.
"You wouldn't want to do anything dangerous. Turn the wrong person into a badger", Quinton smiled, handing the book back.
"Quinton", Giles greeted. "I didn't realize you were here." He gave the book to the customer; she walked off.
"Well, evidently", Travers said. "Been a while."
"I see you've, uh, brought some of our ... colleagues with you. Would you care to introduce us?" Giles asked.
"Well, first I thought we might catch up", Travers said. The other Watchers began to spread out through the store.
"Well, certainly, certainly. Uh, well, um, this is the shop, obviously", Giles began walking toward the counter. Travers followed. "Uh, i-it's been a very interesting transition into the world of retail. But I think it's gone rather well. I'll give you the grand tour if you like."
"No, that's all right, I think I can see what you've been up to", Travers said.
Anya came up to them behind the counter.
"Yes, well, I, I, uh, do limit my time here, obviously", Giles said.
Nigel came up behind Anya, looking at the racks of magic stuff behind the counter. Anya looked at him suspiciously.
"Buffy and I have been training a great deal these days. Uh, there's a, a back room..." Giles pointed toward the back, not mentioning Peter or Spider-Man for good reason.
Travers sat on a chair beside the counter. "Oh yes. I thought perhaps you were keeping that space for the really dangerous items that should be kept out of the public's hands." Giles frowned. "Or maybe you don't worry about that."
"I'm very careful", Giles said.
Nigel came over holding a vial. "Most of this stuff couldn't harm anyone. Incense, dime store trinkets ... but there are some things." He handed the vial to Travers.
"I'm sorry, who are you?" Giles asked.
A female Watcher was looking at the stuff on another shelf. "There are some very potent elements here ... focusing crystals, runic artifacts, an amulet of Cauldis... Also this statue." She picked up a statue about 2 feet tall. "Its removal from Burma is a criminal offense..." Giles looks surprised. She carried the statue over to Travers. "...and when triggered, it has the power to melt human eyeballs." She gave the statue to Travers and walked off.
"In that case, I severely underpriced it", Giles said.
Travers nodded to Nigel. "Uh, Giles, sorry, but this is just for the duration of our stay. I think you can see why."
Nigel took the book from Giles. "What, what, wha-what is just for the duration?"
Nigel stood in the middle of store and spoke loudly. "Magic Box shoppers! We're going to have to ask you to leave. The store is, uh, closing early today."
Philip took an item away from a customer. "Terribly sorry for the inconvenience."
Customers began to leave. Anya looked alarmed. "Hey! Giles, what are they doing? Customers! Please bring your money back."
Watchers escorted the customers out. Giles glared at Travers. "You knew you were gonna do this before you even saw the place."
"I'm sorry. It's just for the duration of the Council's review", Travers said.
"Council? You're the Council?" Anya smiled. "Welcome to our store. We're closed now. I'll be in the back."
She began walking to the back as Giles asked. "What review, Quinton? Let's just stop a moment and talk about this."
Travers asked Anya. "Miss, excuse me, you, uh, you work here?"
Anya stopped walking, turning back looking apprehensive. "Yes I do. Ever since I moved here from southeastern Indiana, where I was raised by both a mother and a father."
"Anya, just go. You don't have to talk to him", Giles said as Anya looked relieved and left. "She works for me. Now tell me about this review. No one said anything to me about this."
"Let's sit down and talk about it over here", Travers said as all the Watchers moved toward the round table at the far end of the store. A female Watcher poured tea as the others stood around.
"You all stand around and look somber." They did. Giles rolled his eyes. "Good job."
"You used to respect us, Giles. You used to be one of us", Travers reminded.
"You used to pay me. If you recall, firing me was not my idea", Giles reminded too.
"Touche", Travers sat at the table. "But you were on the inside once. You know what sort of resources we command."
Another Watcher put a suitcase on the table, opening it, took out some papers and put them in front of Travers. The female Watcher gave Travers a cup of tea. "We've discovered information about this creature, your Glory. Some of it is clearly vital, the rest merely extremely disturbing. And it won't be handed over until we're convinced that you and your Slayer are prepared for it. Thus the review."
Giles leaned over to put hands on table, speaking softly. "I'm not having you put her through another one of your insane tests."
"It's not a test. It's a check of her methods", Travers said. "We need to know that this information is safe."
"You can trust her", Giles straightened up. "Buffy's come very far recently. She's acquired a remarkable focus."
Same time, UC Sunnydale classroom
Buffy was sitting among the students, yawning while the professor lectured.
"Now, Rasputin was associated with a certain obscure religious sect."
Buffy tapped her pencil on her desk. The girl next to her glared. Buffy saw her and stopped tapping the pencil but continued fidgeting.
"They held the tenet that in order to be forgiven, one first had to sin. Rasputin embraced this doctrine and proceeded to sin impressively and repeatedly. The notion that he was in fact evil gained strength years later", Buffy fiddled with her pencil, dropped it, shrugged and didn't pick it up. "When the conspirators who set out to kill him found it nearly impossible to do so."
"Nearly impossible?" Buffy muttered to herself.
"I'm sorry, there's a question?"
The students looked at Buffy. The professor sighed. "Miss Summers, of course."
Buffy made a pained face, standing up as the professor gave her a disapproving look. "I, uh, about, you know, killing him ... you know, they, they poisoned him and, and they beat him and they shot him, and he didn't die."
"Until they rolled his body in a carpet and drowned him in a canal", the professor reminded.
"But there are reported sightings of him as late as the 1930s, aren't there?" Buffy asked.
"I can assure you there is near consensus in the academic community regarding the death of Rasputin", he said.
"There was also near consensus about Columbus, you know, until someone asked the Vikings what they were up to in the 1400s, and they're like, "discovering this America-shaped continent."" The professor looked annoyed. "I just ... I'm only saying, you know, it might be interesting, if we ... came at it from, you know, a different perspective, that's all."
"Well, I'm sorry if you find these facts so boring, Miss Summers. Maybe you'd prefer I step aside, so that you can teach your own course. Speculation 101 perhaps?"
The other students laughed.
"Intro to Flights of Fancy?"
The students laughed more.
"I only meant-"
"What was it you were going on about last week? Mysterious sleeping patterns of the Prussian generals?"
Buffy looked annoyed.
"Now, some of us are here to learn. Believe it or not, we're interested in finding out what actually happened. It's called studying history. You can sit down now. Unless you have something else to add, professor?"
Buffy scowled and sat.
Later, night time
Buffy fought a vampire. "Miss Summers!"
She kicked him backward. "Some of us are here to learn, professor!" She kicked and punched twice. The vamp swung, she ducked. She grabbed him and spun him around, throwing him against a headstone. "Maybe you'd like to teach your own class!"
"Who are you talking to?" The vamp asked. Buffy approached and the vamp punched her in the face. She spun around from the blow, got her bearings and turned to attack again. Spike came flying over the headstone and grabbed the vamp from behind, knocking him to the ground. As he got up, Spike kicked him, then staked him. Spike grinned at Buffy, who stalked forward.
A Vamp fell down next to them, covered in webs like a cocoon as Peter jumped down as staked him.
"Spike, hi!" Peter greeted.
"Bug boy", Spike greeted back as they shared a chuckle.
"Spike ... why did you do that?" Buffy asked.
"Not for money, if that's what you're thinking. Your heartfelt gratitude's plenty", he stopped grinning. "I expect I'll be getting that any moment."
"Gratitude. For getting in my way?
"Ge-getting in your way? I saved you."
"I was regrouping."
"You were about to be regrouped into separate piles. You needed help."
"Umm, he does have a point there", Peter agreed, making her look at him incredulously
"I didn't need you. I never need you, Spike", Buffy said, then she turned and started to walk off.
"Oh, I get it", he followed as Peter rolled his eyes. "Not again."
"You just don't like who did the rescuin', that's all. Wishin' I was your boyfriend what's-his-face", Spike said. "Oh wait, he's run off."
"You know what? I don't need a boyfriend, to rescue me or for any other reason", Buffy said.
"Don't need or can't keep?" Spike asked as she stopped walking to glare at him. "You keep making notches in the headboard but eventually they get up out of the bed and run off, don't they?"
Buffy was deeply annoyed. "You're disgusting."
"Oh, rough talk. " They resumed walking. "Maybe that's your problem, maybe you push 'em away. Or is it the other? Maybe you cling too much. Or maybe ... your beauty's fading."
They stopped again. "The stress of slaying, aging you prematurely. Things not as high, not as firm."
Spike grinned and made a gesture with his hand as if trying to hold up sagging breasts.
"You know what, Spike? The more I get to know you, the more I wish I didn't", Buffy said.
"Or maybe you just don't hold their interest." He started walking off, leaving Buffy looking stung.
"You know what?" Peter asked as both looked at him. "Just kiss and get over it."
"What?" Buffy asked.
"Wha-" Spike said but then stopped himself when he realized what the kid was suggesting.
Neither of them could see his naughty smirk as he said. "I mean, come on! This is all just sexual tension, right? Making you two fight. You two kiss and I will record and post it on whatever secret Slayer/Vampire site we have- "Slayer and Vampire kiss.""
"Oh I'm gonna kill you", Buffy said as she rushed Peter but he ran off and then swung away with a laugh.
"Guess I'll be off now", Spike said as he walked off while Buffy just stood there.
Later, Magic Box
Giles was walking out of the back room, along with the other Watchers. "We've been developing sort of a, a hybrid fighting style ... let me outline her progress for you and I-I think you'll see that your review isn't strictly needed."
Buffy and Peter entered, then she saw the Watchers and tried to back out.
"Bad day. Bad, baaad..." she muttered.
"Miss Summers ..." Buffy stopped backing away. "Good to see you again."
Buffy entered reluctantly, closing the door behind her as Peter sensed the tension.
"Mr. Travers", she greeted.
"And who might you be, young lad?" Travers asked Peter.
"Peter, Peter Parker", Peter said as Travers held out his hand and Peter shook it, deciding he could cheer Buffy up a little.
Travers winced as Peter pressed slightly harder than normal, and felt like his hand was going to be broken as Peter made no expression. "So, how do you do?"
"I….I do….just fine….." Travers said, trying to keep his tone even in spite of the pain in his hand.
"Oh, okay, umm, did you eat something unhealthy before coming here?" Peter asked, not letting his hand go. "I mean, there are quite some junk spots around here, I won't recommend them."
"No, I didn't eat anything!" Travers snapped, and he was almost going to scream.
"Really? Because that kind of expression you can only get if you're having a bad stomach problem", Peter quipped and Buffy put her hand on her mouth to prevent anyone from seeing her silent laughing face, while Giles looked down and smirked, trying to keep it even. "Umm, maybe you're trying to keep some, you know, gaseous stuff in, is that it? Don't worry, no one will laugh at you."
"Yes that's it!" Travers said, and he would have screamed had Peter not let his hand go in the moment.
He rubbed that hand with his other one and commented. "You have a strong grip."
"Oh, thanks. Since you guys are Watchers I thought you'd be strong too", Peter commented.
Travers rubbed his hand for about 2 minutes and then said to Buffy. "Giles has just been telling us of your training regimen. Perhaps you'll favor us with a demonstration while we're here."
"Right now?" She asked.
"No need to rush you", he said.
Giles said ruefully. "They're ... staying a little longer than I'd anticipated."
"We've already laid out our project for Mr. Giles. Nigel?"
The Watchers and Buffy moved toward one side of the room while Giles and Peter stayed leaning against the counter.
"What are the plans?" Peter asked.
"Nothing good", Giles muttered.
Nigel said. "It's an exhaustive examination of your procedures and abilities. We'll observe your training, talk to your friends..."
"Talk to my friends?" Buffy asked.
"Yes, we understand you're still taking civilians out on patrols", Travers said.
"Oh, you've gotta be kidding me", Buffy said. "And I don't anymore, I take Spider-Man with me."
"And do you know who he is?" Travers asked.
"Uhh, ummm", Buffy trailed off, not wanting to reveal Peter's secret since he trusted them with it.
"Buffy ... I can sense your resistance, and I don't blame you. But I think your Watcher hasn't reminded you lately of the resolute status of the players in our little game. The Council fights evil. The Slayer is the instrument by which we fight. The Council remains, the Slayers change. It's been that way from the beginning", Travers explained it all coldly.
Giles scornfully said. "Well, that's a very comforting, bloodless way of looking at it, isn't it?"
"Giles, let me talk to Buffy, because I think she's understanding me", he turned to Buffy. "Glory is stronger than you and Spider-Man both. She is more than what you think. She's a more powerful instrument, if you will. We can help you. We have information that will help. Pass the review and we give it to you without reservation. Fail the review, either through incompetence, or by resisting our recommendations..."
Giles angrily moved to them. "Resisting your recommendations? She fails if we don't do whatever you say! How much under your thumb do you think we are?"
"How much do you want our help?" Travers asked as Peter clutched his fists, reminded of familiar incidents.
Giles poked his finger angrily at Travers; the other Watchers restraining him. "She's not your bloody instrument and you have no right to do any of this!"
"Giles!" Buffy called out.
Giles shook off the other Watchers and moved away, frustrated.
"I understand you think this is unfair. But there are factors which should motivate you to go along with the review", Travers said. "Now, I don't want to do this, but obviously we could shut this place down permanently."
"You can't do that. You don't have that kind of power", Buffy said.
"Of course we do, and a great deal more. In fact, if you insist on fighting us, we'll arrange to have Mr. Giles deported within the day. Never set foot in this country again. Now perhaps you're used to idle threats and sloppy discipline, Miss Summers, but you're dealing with grownups now." He paused. "Am I making myself clear?"
Buffy looked angrily from Travers to Giles, who didn't look at her, and then back. She glared at Travers.
"So, you're blackmailing us to do what you want if we want the information?" Peter asked angrily, not wanting to face this situation again, and be dumb about it like he was before. "And you dare to say you are on the side of good after that?"
"You are but a young boy", Travers said condescendingly. "You will not understand."
"I think I understand just fine", Peter said. "No different from the Sokovia Accords. The Avengers didn't do what the governments wanted, so they made them fugitives, and if we don't do what you want, you will deport Giles."
"You may be the Slayer's friend, but this does not concern you", Travers snarled at him. "We will give out information the way we feel is appropriate."
"I missed the part where that's my problem", Peter snarked at Travers, who was inwardly infuriated by this little child's insults.
"Nigel, please escort Mr. Parker out of this shop's premises", Travers ordered.
Nigel walked to Peter and put a hand on his shoulder, only for Peter to grab it and in a spin motion, punch him in the gut, sending him to his knees as he groaned while the Watchers all looked shocked, and embarrassed.
Peter then grabbed his face and pushed him to the ground, as he continued groaning, feeling humiliated that a child had defeated an old Watcher like him.
"I trained before moving here", Peter lied to them. "And I have some experience in using it, unlike you lot."
"Peter!" Buffy said, putting a hand on his shoulder, as Peter looked at her. "Please, stop."
Peter started. "But they-"
"I know, and it's unfair, but this is gonna make it worse", Buffy said gently as Peter realized she was right and calmed down. "I'm sorry."
Peter just gave a nod and glaring at Travers said. "Do what you want, but if anything bad happens, you're not gonna like what follows."
For some reason he couldn't tell, Travers believed Peter and felt a shiver run down his spine.
Later, Magic Box
Now only Peter, Buffy and Giles were standing there. Giles was pacing around.
"It's a power play, that's what it is. It's about who has the power", Giles grunted.
"I'm guessing they do?" Buffy said lamely. "Big power outage in Buffy county?"
"Yes, they have power", Peter said, reminded too much of Tony. "Like Tony had over me when he first recruited me to fight for him."
Not calling him 'Mr. Stark' felt like character growth to Peter now.
"I should have set you two loose on them, that's what I should have done", Giles said.
"Giles, that Travers guy is like sixty. I can't hit him", she looked up. "Can I?"
"I suppose not", Giles said. "Well, I could. I think I will."
"Well, I did shake his hand", Peter reminded as Buffy and Giles laughed at the reminder.
"Can they really do the stuff they threatened? Kick you out the country?" Buffy asked in concern.
"In a heartbeat", Giles took off his glasses, then took out a handkerchief and began cleaning his glasses. "See, the rough stuff, they're all right out there, a bit ham-handed, but they get it done, but, uh ... this stuff, the, uh, bureaucracy, the pulling of political strings, they're among the best in the world. They can kill you with the stroke of a pen. Poncy sods."
There was a crunching noise as Giles's glasses broke in his hands from too vigorous a cleaning. One of the lenses had popped out of the frame. Giles looked down at them.
"Guess you're super strong too", Peter joked.
"Am I gonna be able to get through this review?" Buffy asked.
"Well, I... " Giles came over and sat next to her. "I suppose they'll make it as difficult as they want to. The physical stuff could be a bit of a challenge." He put on his glasses, immediately taking them off again.
"That's not what I'm worried about. It's the other stuff. Examining decisions I've made. I mean, twice now I've been within slaying distance of Glory, and twice she's kicked my ass without even tensing a muscle", Buffy reminded.
"You did beat Deacon Frost two weeks ago", Peter reminded.
"Yes, but even there, me and Blade were captured first and Deacon became the Blood God, we got lucky Blade's serum could work on him too", Buffy reminded as Peter and Giles sighed.
"And I haven't been able to figure out ... what Glory is, or anything about her except that she wants the key, which I have, and I can't even figure out if it's okay for me to tell anyone that", Buffy said lamely.
"Yes, she is getting suspicious", Peter told Buffy. "She even asked me today what we were talking about."
"What did you tell her?" Buffy asked.
"I said the Council, and the fact that she and your mom had gotten into trouble last time they had been here", Peter said as Buffy sighed in relief.
"Buffy, no one could have done any better than you in these cases", Giles assured.
"But no one else is gonna be asked the questions that I can't answer", Buffy got agitated. "They're gonna expect me to ... to be like a Slayer and, and know stuff, but I'm just me and I don't know anything, and they're gonna go away, and they're not gonna tell me how to fight Glory, and I'm not gonna be able to protect Dawn."
"We will protect her, don't worry", Peter said, though he was wondering who he was trying to convince.
"Buffy, calm down", Giles assured. "The scandal here is not anything you've done wrong, it's the way they're behaving. Holding what they know hostage with a gun pointed at my bleeding green card, no less." He sighed. "It's humiliating."
"Also smart. They picked the perfect thing. I can't lose you", Buffy said to him.
"Thank you", Giles said softly as Peter felt he was intruding on a private moment.
Buffy sighed. "I guess I should be getting ready. What do you think it'll be like, I mean, how do you think they'll start?"
"Well whatever they do, you've got something they don't know about", Peter said to them. "Me."
Later
"So, your name is Peter Parker", Philip said as Peter nodded, feeling like this was an interrogation, which it was.
"And you were born in Queens, New York, correct?" Philip asked.
"Yes", Peter said.
"Why did you move here then?" Philip asked.
"Well, you see, I had an internship under Tony Stark", Peter explained his fake story which had some truth to it too. "But he treats his workers like trash, so he fired me because of a blunder which was partly his fault too, but then he wanted me back. I refused, but he was insistent, so my Aunt decided moving here would be the best way to get away from him."
"All right then", Philip noted it all. "How did you come to know the Slayer?"
"I met her sister. A Demon had split me into two with its special weapon", Peter said. "When her sister found out, she took me to her, and Buffy beat the Demon while Willow put me back together. That's how I came to know her."
"And how do you know fighting?" Philip then asked.
"I used to take up classes back in my previous school", Peter said. "And I do have some practical experience, since I have gotten into fights with muggers in New York, and some Demons here."
"Well then, that would be all", Philip said, satisfied before he walked off and Peter sighed in relief.
Later, Magic Box
"Agility, clarity, stamina and strength...these are the qualities that the Slayer must possess to do her job", Travers said as Nigel tied a blindfold around Buffy's head while Peter, Giles and the other Watchers watched.
"What came after agility?" Buffy asked lamely.
"Clarity, stamina and strength", Peter reminded.
Giles started. "If you want her to attack the dummy-"
"No, no. Philip will attack the dummy", Travers said as Philip stood next to the dummy, wearing a karate robe. "The Slayer's job is to protect it. Do you understand?"
"Protect the dummy."
"As if it were precious", Travers said. "Now, getting the best of Philip will require agility. Listening to my instructions at the same time, that will demonstrate clarity. And stamina and strength will win the long fight. Good luck."
"Instructions?" Buffy asked.
"Yeah, I'll be telling you what to do, how to counter Philip's attack. We assume you're familiar with the Japanese names for aikido and jiu-jitsu moves", Travers said to her.
"Japanese?" Buffy asked.
The female Watcher clicked a stopwatch. "And, go!"
"Whoa, hold on a second. We uh, you know in America, we usually just work our way up to "go."" Buffy said.
Philip bowed toward Buffy. He was holding a short axe.
Travers spoke Japanese.
"He is saying 'bow'", Peter said as Travers gave him a look. "What?"
"Do you want to instruct her?" He asked.
"Nope, just translating your instructions", Peter said. "After all, if I translate fast, she listens fast, and then she will do as instructed fast."
Buffy and Giles both chuckled as Travers glared while Buffy also took a bow.
Philip circled around her. Buffy followed his movements. He thrust at the dummy and Buffy blocked. Then she kicked at him and missed. She spun around and blocked his overhead punch.
Travers spoke in Japanese again as Peter said. "Punch!"
Buffy punched Phillip before he could punch her.
Travers spoke Japanese again as Peter said. "Back kick and elbow strike."
Buffy back-kicked and Philip moved out of the way but Peter secretly fired a thin web line from the corner with a shooter in his pocket, hitting Phillip's pant leg, and pulled, making Philip fall forward towards Buffy who gave him an elbow strike on the face, sending him to the floor as he groaned while Buffy took off her blindfold.
Giles smirked. "I've trained her to win."
Buffy gave Peter a smile as he secretly winked before moving to Philip to take off the thin web line, though his pretext was of course helping Philip.
"Something hit my leg!" Philip protested.
"Now, now, don't make excuses for humiliating loss. Accept it like a wise man does", Peter quipped as Philip gave him a glare.
"I can do more tests like these", Buffy said, now more confident.
"No, that's all right, I don't think we need to see any more physical tests for a while", Travers said. "We can move on to the real review. Look into your strategies, plans ... figure out what's going on in that head."
"Good", Buffy said unhappily. "Head stuff."
"We start at seven tonight. Give you time to, uh ..." he looked from Buffy to Giles to Peter. "Prepare."
The Watchers left. Buffy and Peter shared a secret high five behind Giles.
Later
Buffy entered the Summers home. She put down her bag and called. "Mom?"
She walked toward the living room. As she rounded the corner, she comes face-to-face with Glory.
"Long day, sweetie?"
So ... this is where the Slayer eats, sleeps, and", Glory ran her finger through the dust on a side table. "...combs her hair?"
Oh..." She picked up a photo. "So cute." She held it up for Buffy to see, then put it down. "I can't even stand it. Personally? I need more space, but uh, this is good for you, it's, it's so quaint, and..."
As Glory was speaking with her back to Buffy, Buffy moved across the room to the fireplace and picked up a poker. When she straightened up, Glory was right behind her.
"Buffy..." she took the poker. "If I wanted to fight, you could tell by the being dead already."
She went to sit in an armchair, giggling. "So play nice, little girl."
"What do you want?" Buffy asked.
"The key", Glory said. "Why else do you think I'd come here? See", she pointed poker at Buffy. "I think you knew where it is. And that's a good thing."
"I'm glad you think so", Buffy said.
"Well, it's the only thing keeping you alive right now", Glory said. "Because you may be tiny queen in vampire world..."
Dawn entered behind Glory. Buffy looked at Dawn in alarm, trying not to let Glory see her looking.
"...but to me, you're a bug, and your spider friend too. Well, he is a bug really. You two should get down on your knees and worship me!"
Dawn walked closer. Buffy widened her eyes to signal Dawn to go away.
"But oh, no, you still think it's neat having Slayer strength."
Dawn mouthed "What?" at Buffy.
"Ooh, big deal! Stronger than humans!"
Dawn began to back away.
"Who isn't? I could crush the life from you as easy as you'd break a nail. But I need the key."
Dawn had reached the stairs. She began to turn away.
"Kid!"
Dawn stopped. Buffy looked alarmed.
"Come here a sec."
"Leave her out of this", Buffy snarled.
"Not asking twice", Glory said.
Dawn approached, still behind Glory and out of her line of sight.
"This is between you and me", Buffy said.
"No. This is between me and my key", Glory corrected. "You just happen to be the thing in the way."
Glory lifted her hand over her head and snapped her fingers. Dawn walked into her view, folding her arms over her chest sullenly.
"And you are just the darlin'-est thing I ever did see in my life. What's your name, honey?" Glory asked.
"Dawn."
"Dawn? Did you know your sister took my key, Dawnie? And she won't give it back!" Glory said. "I bet you know where she put it, don't you?"
"She doesn't know anything", Buffy said.
Dawn looked at Buffy, annoyed. "I know some stuff."
"I bet she takes your stuff all the time without asking, doesn't she? Where's my key, Dawn?" Glory asked.
"Go upstairs, Dawn", Buffy said.
Dawn angrily said to Buffy. "You're always talking about stuff I'm not supposed to hear." Glory looked interested. "I'm gonna figure it out, you know." Dawn left.
Glory grinned. "Ooh, I like her. She's sassy." She paused, getting serious. "And I'll kill her. I'll kill your mom, I'll kill your friends ... and I'll make you watch when I do. And the bug will be crushed like a bug."
She sighed. "Just give me the key. You either have it or you know where to find it." She stood up. "Obviously, this is a one-time-only deal. Next time we meet, something you love dies bloody. You know you can't take me. You know you can't stop me."
She dropped the poker on the floor and left. Buffy watched her go with a grim expression.
Joyce entered. "Buffy, who was that?"
"Pack a bag", Buffy immediately said.
Spike was asleep in his crypt. A ray of sunshine fell on his face as the door opened. He screamed and jumped up to find Buffy standing beside his "bed." "Oh, it's the Slayer. For a second there I was worried."
He started to rub his eyes sleepily, paused and looked over at the other end of the crypt. Dawn and Joyce were standing by the door.
"So, what's with the family outing?" He asked, surprised.
Buffy quietly walked close up to him. "I need your help."
"Great. I need your cash."
"I'm serious", she got quieter. "You have to look after them."
"Well, that's a boatload of manly responsibility to come flying out of nowhere", Spike said. "What's the matter, Slayer? You're not feeling a hundred percent?"
Buffy frowned. "No."
Spike frowned too. "They didn't put a chip in your head, did they?"
"No!"
"Be funny if they did."
"Spike, I need an answer. Now. In or out?" Buffy asked annoyed before getting quieter. "You're the only one strong enough to protect them."
Spike looked at her for a moment. "All right then." He called to Joyce and Dawn. "Ladies..." he walked toward them; Buffy followed. "Come on in. There's plenty of blood in the fridge."
"Do you mean like, real blood?" Dawn asked.
"What do you think?" He asked.
"Mostly I think "ew."" She said.
Buffy said to Joyce. "Keep Dawn here as long as you can. I'll be back soon."
"Okay."
Buffy walked over to Spike. "I don't think I need to remind you, but-"
"Yeah, yeah, "anything happens to 'em I'll stake you good and proper." Sing me a new one sometime, eh? That bit's gone stale."
Buffy left. Spike, Dawn, and Joyce stood around looking uncomfortable.
"I, I love what you've, um, neglected to do with the place", Joyce attempted to make conversation.
"Just don't break anything." He went to turn on the TV. "And don't make a lot of noise. Passions is coming on."
Joyce came forward. "Passions? Oh, do you think Timmy's really dead?"
"Oh!" Spike said, happy to find a kindred spirit and gestured to his armchair. He and Joyce each sat on one arm. "No, no, she can just sew him back together. He's a doll, for god's sake."
"Uh, what about the wedding? I mean, there's no way they're gonna go through with that", Joyce said.
Dawn made an exasperated face, walking off.
Later
Buffy was walking through a dark alley. She looked at her watch.
"Crap."
She walked faster. Suddenly someone appeared from behind a trash can and grabbed her around the waist, pulling her down to the ground. They both got up. It was a person in medieval armor with chain-mail covering his face. He backhanded Buffy, she spun around and flew into a pile of garbage. As she straightened up, two more knights appeared. The first one had a sword, the other two had metal staves. They circled around Buffy, twirling their weapons.
"Uh ... guys? A-any way we could ... not do this?" She asked. Overhead shot of the three knights circling her.
The knight with the sword swung. Buffy ducked. She spun and punched him, ducking a staff thrust, kicked the other staff, ducked again, kicked the first staff-holder in the stomach. Ducking another swing, she kicked the second staff guy twice. Ducking a swing from sword guy, she blocked a punch, punched him in the face while holding his sword arm. Kicking him back, she grabbed the staff of another and pushed him away. She deflected the other staff holder. Then she did two back-flips that carried her over the two staves, grabbed one staff and thrust it into that knight's stomach, deflected a sword thrust with it, kicked the sword guy in the stomach. Jabbing the staff into disarmed knight's stomach again, she ducked a thrust from the other staff, kicked that knight so he went spinning away.
Buffy and the disarmed knight grappled for his staff, finally she hit him in the face with it. He went down. She dropped her staff and blocked an overhand sword thrust, punched the sword holder and he went down.
Buffy kicked the other staff holder away, picked up the staff again and faced off with the sword holder. Buffy knocked the sword out of the knight's hand and pushed him to the ground, jumping on top of him and holding the staff to his throat.
"Okay. Let's see what you are."
She removed the chain-mail mask to reveal an ordinary-looking human man with a symbol on his forehead.
"Or who you are."
"One soldier in a vast army", he said.
"What army?"
"The Knights of Byzantium, an ancient order. And now your enemy", he said.
Buffy pushed the staff harder into his throat. "You work for Glory?"
"You think we align ourselves with the Beast? You must be mad", he said incredulously.
"You're the ones tried killing me", she said.
"No, we were fools, three alone. But if it takes a hundred men, we send a hundred men, and if it takes a thousand, we send a thousand", he said.
"A thousand?" Buffy asked.
"So long as you protect the key, the brotherhood will never stop until we destroy it and you. You are the Slayer, and we know what we must do. Now, be done with it. Kill us, and let legions follow", the Knight said.
Buffy shoved the staff into his throat again, then tossed it aside, got up and picked up the sword. The knight got to his feet, and she put the sword to his throat. He turned his head away waiting for the kill stroke.
"Go."
The knight looked surprised, edging around her and left. Buffy stared at the sword.
Later, Magic Box
Buffy entered the magic shop, still holding the sword. The Watchers were all standing there while Peter stood in a corner with folded arms, probably waiting for an opportunity to have a verbal spat with Travers again. Willow, Tara, Xander and Anya were sitting on the upper level, and Travers was sitting at the table with a pile of papers spread out in front of him. Giles sat on the stairs leading up to the balcony.
"You're late", Travers said.
"Yeah."
Giles saw the sword and got up. "Was, was there an attack?"
"Yeah."
"You okay?" Peter asked.
"Yeah."
"We can begin the review at last", Travers said.
"Umm, she was just attacked and you're still thinking about a review?" Peter asked incredulously.
Travers ignored him to infuriate him. "We'll, uh, skip the more obvious questions... "
Buffy put the sword down on his papers. "There isn't gonna be a review."
"Sorry?" Travers asked.
"No review. No interrogation. No questions you know I can't answer", Buffy said to him. "No hoops, no jumps –"
Nigel started to speak.
"And no interruptions."
Nigel shut up.
"This is gonna be awesome", Peter whispered to himself.
Buffy looked around and began to pace. "See ... I've had a lot of people talking at me the last few days. Everyone just lining up to tell me how unimportant I am. And I've finally figured out why."
She looked Travers in the eye. "Power. I have it. They don't. This bothers them."
Buffy moved back to the table, removing her coat. "Glory ... came to my home today."
Giles and Peter were both alarmed. "Buffy, are you-"
Buffy put her coat on a chair. "Just to talk."
"Oh!" Peter mutered.
She resumed pacing. "She told me I'm a bug, I'm a flea, she could squash me in a second." She stopped, looks at Travers again. "Only she didn't. She came into my home, and we talked. We had what in her warped brain probably passes for a civilized conversation. Why?" She paused. "Because she needs something from me. Because I have power over her."
Buffy looked around, hands on her hips. She walked the floor, looking from one Watcher to the next as she talked. "You guys didn't come all the way from England to determine whether or not I was good enough to be let back in. You came to beg me to let you back in."
Peter smirked at how sassy she was right now with the truth of all things. If only he had been like this when Tony had first come to him. But then, the chain of events leading to him meeting Buffy, Dawn and the others wouldn't happen so probably for the best.
Buffy continued. "To give your jobs, your lives some semblance of meaning."
Nigel started. "This is beyond insolence-"
Buffy grabbed the sword from the table and threw it across the room in a single movement. It flew point-first into the wall directly in front of Nigel's nose. He jumped back looking shocked.
Buffy cleared her throat. "I'm fairly certain I said no interruptions."
"Next interrupter gets knocked on their ass", Peter spoke up as he looked at Nigel, who, combined from Buffy's sword throwing as well as Peter's beatdown of him from earlier, gulped.
Xander whispered to the others. "That was excellent!"
Willow and Tara grinned.
Buffy said. "You're Watchers. Without a Slayer, you're pretty much just watchin' Masterpiece Theater. You can't stop Glory. You can't do anything with the information you have except maybe publish it in the "Everyone Thinks We're Insane-O's Home Journal.""
She paused, addressing Travers again. "So here's how it's gonna work. You're gonna tell me everything you know. Then you're gonna go away."
She resumed pacing. "You'll contact me if and when you have any further information about Glory. The magic shop will remain open. Mr. Giles will stay here as my official Watcher, reinstated at full salary..."
Giles coughed. "Retroactive."
"...to be paid retroactively from the month he was fired. I will continue my work with the help of my friends..."
The female Watcher spoke up. "I, uh, I ... don't want a sword thrown at me or be knocked on my behind, but, but, civilians, I - we're talking about children."
Buffy first looked at Peter. "This 'boy' as you call him can knock all of you on your asses in under a minute. The guy on whom I threw my sword will say the same, from learned experience."
Nigel looked down in shame.
Peter smirked as she looked up at her other friends on the balcony. "Then we're talking about two very powerful witches and a thousand-year-old ex-demon."
"Willow's a demon?!" Anya said, still not wanting to be exposed to the Council.
"The older boy?" Philip asked about Xander. "No power there."
"The boy has clocked more field time than all of you combined. He's part of the unit", Buffy said.
Willow whispered. "That's Riley-speak."
Xander whispered back with a big, flattered grin. "I've clocked field time."
"Now." Buffy addressed the Watchers. "You all may be very good at your jobs. The only way we're gonna find out is if you work with me. You can all take your time thinking about that."
She turned back to Travers. "But I want an answer right now from Quinton, 'cause I think he's understanding me."
Travers cleared his throat. "Uh, your terms are acceptable."
Giles smiled hugely. The Scooby Gang burst into cheers and applause as Peter shook his head, again feeling older than them, as they quickly stopped, looking embarrassed. Buffy looked up at them, then at Peter, then at Giles. She didn't smile, but looked satisfied. She sat across from Travers.
"See? No biggie", she said.
Travers nodded. "Uh, Rupert."
"Quinton?"
"When we inventoried your shop, we found a bottle of single malt scotch behind the, uh, incense holders", Travers said.
"Well, it's, it's not, you know, during working hours."
"I think I could use a glass."
"Well, I suppose we could-" Giles started to move away.
Buffy got up. "Just a minute." Giles stopped. "Glory. I wanna know."
"Well, there's a lot to go through", Travers said.
"Just tell me what kind of demon I'm fighting", Buffy requested.
"Well, that's the thing, you see", Travers said, looking at Buffy. "Glory isn't a demon."
"What is she?" Buffy asked.
Travers spoke. "She's a god."
There was a long pause as Buffy's eyes widened, and so did everyone else's around her, including Peter.
"Oh."
"A God? Like Thor?"
And that's the end of this. Buffy's power speech at the end was perfection so I still wanted to keep it, but I added bits of Peter humiliating Travers, Nigel and Philip here and there, and hope all of those were enjoyed.
Also, anyone noticed teachers in this show are extra grumpy or turn out to be evil- She-Mantis, Snyder, Walsh, the Professor who kicked Buffy out in 4x1, the one in this chapter, etc.? And the good ones like Jenny, the teacher She-Mantis killed and the counselor in 3x4 die. Joss seems to have a problem with teachers I guess *snickers*
Hope everyone enjoyed and see you all next time with another chapter. Stay safe from the coronavirus ya all!