Chapter Sixteen
Making amends
A/N So this is a retelling of S7E1, following the main plot of the episode originally but for if my retelling of season 6, Anyway, I will do about three to four chapters per episode. Only doing specific ones because some just wouldn't change that much. Stay tuned.
Istanbul, the world without shrimp 2002
It was dark, dry and dangerous. The slow hum of the middle east drove her further, she was running, the streets barren and bare. It was the middle of the night, her legs were taking her as fast as possible, but the dirty cobble of the streets was making her feet pound and ache. Arms twitching with sweat she looked back at her attacker, he was a hooded figure in all black. Almost like a dark monk, a secret order of evil worshipping monks. That sounded likely. Then there were more of them, chasing her, her heart couldn't take this much strain usually, why was it working so hard now? She felt a power spark a little within her, like this was what she had been waiting for her entire life, that hint of adrenaline making her legs work faster.
Her head lolled over her shoulder again and again, quietly checking there wasn't a whole army behind her unawares. She ran down another empty street, there was a door quickly shunned in her face as she dove for the nearest alleyway. It was dead. A dead end, nowhere to turn to now. She stopped running, facing the wall that would be her destruction, turning around to face her attacker. A look of pain, panic and fear ran across her now sweaty face. Her breath halted as she realigned her sense, what to do? Where to go? Run?
Turning back around she headed for the only available escape route, she'd noticed the drainpipe the first time but now it was crucial. Using the sturdy metal for balance she climbed the thing rapidly, her legs gasping as she hoisted herself atop the complaining white building. The hooded spectres behind her grabbed and clung to her foot, the other slipping slightly before she regained control, hoisting herself higher.
Upon reaching the tiled roof she clambered for stability, but it was too late. She was standing face to face with the figure that was chasing her, it was in front of her everywhere she could see. Then it was over, one fatal shove over the side left her breathing ragged, her back soaked with sweat and aching. She hadn't the strength to fight, they'd found her, the cloaked figures. Holding her arms high above her head, she died. The curving knife plunging into her heart, an instant death, a hero's capturing.
Sunnydale, the world without shrimp 2002
"Who's got the power?"
Buffy's familiar voice asked at her younger sister. Dawn was standing beside the grave, stake in hand, sarcasm awaiting use. She gave an aggravated eye roll and opened her mouth, "he does." It was annoying but true, why don't I have the power, I want the power, the power is mine. Dawn's inner monologue chimed in, she laughed at her own evilness and then braked when Buffy started speaking. She gave her annoying speech about 'being prepared' it was the 'little girl' quote that finished her off.
"Woman." Dawn corrected, fifteen was totally woman standard, she'd fought demons before, if that didn't make her a woman what did? Because she was already tall and sprouting quite nicely.
"Little woman." Buffy interjected, countered only by Dawn's 'I'm taller than you.' Yes ok sis, don't make it a big deal, I'm fun-size. I'm a cute fun-sized person. Very lovable. Buffy shook her head, forgetting her clever little tangent, Dawn needed to learn.
"He's a vampire. Ok? Demon?" Dawn you in there, come on start thinking. Oh. There we go. Then she heard him from behind her. The vamp quietly crawling out of his grave appeared to stuckso. Buffy's annoyance at the uselessness of the undead only grew. He was stuck, how? Graves aren't that difficult to climb out of. Knowing that first hand was something else she could add the ever growing list of things she shouldn't have had to do. He looks so pathetic, oh a sarcastic comment Dawn, how helpful.
"Zip it," she said pointing in Dawn's direction, the first night out of training should be a breeze if the vamp is this useless. Dawn rolled her eyes again, concentrating on her moves, it was slightly nerve wracking, her first vamp. That was like, a big thing. Something she'd kinda dreamed of for years since Buffy had become the slayer, sometimes at the back of Dawn's mind she wondered about the other slayers, whether if she was one how she would use her power. She would definitely be more famous than Buffy, it would be so cool to be that well-known, the one and only slayer (well except Faith) and she'd definitely charge the government for the service or something.
Yanking the useless demon out of his grave, he gave a start, turning around slowly only to feign attack before Buffy could remedy him. "Listen up, I'm the slayer." She could easily over power him, so maybe she had the power. No, not relevant, to teach Dawn he must have the power. Gripping his neck tighter, she turned him on Dawn, pushing his bloodless bones towards her sister.
He growled, teeth flaring. He was coming for her. Dawn dove to the ground, almost hitting a huge tree. His leg hit hers suddenly, tossing his body to the floor, his back crushing against an old gravestone, the name clear as day but the corner chipped from weathering. Dawn pulled herself up forcing her feet to the floor, grasping her stake she lunged for him, stabbing into his chest, she expected him to die. Smiling to herself in appreciation she looked back towards him to find his body still intact and not at all dusty. Dawn's face fell, how did that go wrong? That works when Buffy does it. Plunging for him again, he grabbed her wrist tossing her aside.
One of these times I swear she's going to land on that thing. I told her stakes can be a hazard, but does she listen? No, I feel like I'm talking to myself here. Buffy thought as she watched the vampire stand to his full height, leering over Dawn. She held out the stake in her forearm, the snarl on his face glinting with saliva coated fangs, almost pulsing with the thought of a kill. She charged towards him, arm outstretched aiming at something. She wasn't entirely sure what she'd done wrong the first time, so aiming posed a little difficulty.
She looked towards where Buffy should've been, then the vampire was trapping her to him, her tiny body a chasm of space for him to invade. "Buffy!" Dawn screamed in desperation, as arms tightened around her throat, fangs dipping into the crux of her neck, drawing blood. She could feel it leaving her system, the steady flow. Then it was over, Buffy tore her out of the demon's reach and towards the tree again, scraping her back.
Buffy began one of those classic martial arts fights she's famous for, punches, side-kicks, flips. Eventually flipping the vamp onto his back, he kneeled up preparing for another round of standing battle when his head fell clean from his body. Three seconds of headlessness before instant dusting. Three seconds of still feeling the sword slice away your unlife.
Buffy sighed, dropping the sword she walked over to where Dawn was crouching, hand on bleeding neck. "It's real. It's the only lesson Dawn. It's always real." Holding out a hand, she pulled Dawn up, inspecting the bite to see if it was worth disinfection.
"Plus I had a plan the whole time," Buffy posed her a look of doubt and a 'really?' "Yeah, I planned to get killed, come back as a vampire and bite you." There was a nod to go with it and really sell the idea but Buffy was concentrating on work. Dawn phased out not really listening, her newest idea for a comeback was making its way out of her mouth when she heard.
"You did pretty well." She smiled, ebbing the flow of words spilling from her bloody lip.
"I did?" She questioned, then yet another ramble until, "plus, I nearly got the heart." In the midst of watching Buffy fight she'd remembered the advice Buffy had given her the night before, and all those times she'd overheard accounts of various battles and shouting. What her brain had forgotten during the life or death fight.
"My first time out, I missed the heart too." Buffy said, oh well, sometimes I guess she can know my faults. I'm not perfect, my hair is, but not me. She noticed Dawn smiling more now, I guess that helped, well what do you know?
"Oh, just the once." She retorted, gotta leave her on her toes, can't give too much leverage away, I might need that in the future for arguments.
They tidied the weapons into the trunk and moved out of the cemetery towards home, that was enough patrolling for tonight. Plus the next day posed a much bigger threat to humanity. The new high school was opening, Principal Wood standing on the steps cutting a ribbon, it was built right over the remains of the old one, the Hellmouth ferociously still intact and willing to strike at any moment.
Giles stood with his arms folded over his chest, back against a large oak tree. He was wearing an oversized brown overcoat, he had gotten used to English climate again and didn't really want to take it off for the fear it might rain. UC Sunnydale stood proudly over the greenery, the grassy space was where they usually practiced any sort of outdoor magic because it was closest to Tara's dorm.
Over the summer Giles had taken them to a wonderful but slightly chilly English country house, set deep in ploughed countryside and thick elm trees. Tara had loved it, something about how it reminded her of her mother and the magic they used to perform when she was little. When she was tiny, she'd been read every fairy tale and so then to find herself in such a magic filled quiet country manor. She felt at home. The coven had been surprisingly welcoming given Willow's dark side she'd exposed, and they set to work learning the energy of the Earth, of Gaia. Something Tara felt so at peace with that it made Willow finally feel like a part of Tara could be proud of her, the way she'd learnt to channel the energy and roots of the Earth was something else entirely, she'd completely retrained her mind to work with the connection of everything rather than on pure emotions such as grief and rage.
They'd left a couple days before the start of the new semester, obviously the plan was too continue Willow's training and study at home; but with Tara's old dorm room. Kept because a) they needed somewhere for storage and 2) it had Tara's perfect energy balance to practice. With the advantage of being near college so if they needed a place to study and crash or just somewhere to go to be fully alone, they had it. After all, the Summers' house could get busy when everyone was around.
Willow sat crossed legged opposite Tara on the dewy grass, a little patch of greener grass growing around them slowly, transforming into a tiny circular meadow as they worked. Four eyes closed, palms linked, outstretched in front of them. Tara gave Willow's a squeeze every now and again to give her confidence. It had surprised Willow just how confident and overtaking Tara could be, maybe being apart had allowed her to grow, develop her own magic. Then the guilt followed slowly, breaking the steady spell. The meadow retreated into the ground swallowed by the Earth goddess.
Willow looked down, her green eyes darkening as she broke Tara's grip, letting her fingers slide back to her own lap. Giles suddenly looking back at the witches noticed they'd stopped and began walking slowly over to where they sat.
"Sweetie, what's the matter?" Tara asked, she looked inquisitive, her eyes poignant and staring slightly. Willow played with a piece of loose skin on her thumb, she'd gained this awful habit of biting her nails. It did prevent her from having to cut them, which even though it had been a couple years still seemed like a chore.
"I-I just..." She started and trailed off.
"Willow are you alright?" Giles said as he reached them, bending over to glance at the look on the redhead's face. She brushed him off, making him sit down on the grass beside the two of them.
"I just feel guilty." She replied looking at Tara, the blue eyes boring into her, made her look away again. She couldn't lie, not to those eyes, nor could she keep a secret. "Like, when we broke up, you actually got to do your own thing with your magic, instead of having to look out for me all the time. I hate the feeling that I was preventing you from becoming a more powerful witch and that I was just feeding off you."
Tara was about to reply with a smirk and a joke about the 'feeding' part, but sensed the tone and presence of Giles and decided against it. Taking a deep breath and a quick glance at Giles, she received an affirming nod and replied. "Sweetie, n-no part of you was ever stopping me from doing magic, I-I loved doing our spells together, we were growing together. You just took off, you were gaining power much faster than I was and it worried me. Mum used to say that magic takes time, practice and steady growth to achieve true power. You weren't h-holding me back, you were going through something massive and it was important for you to make mistakes, to learn from them." She paused slightly before adding, "and it's not my magic it's ours."
Willow sighed, hearing Tara speak so wisely made her feel safe, squeezing on her hand affirmingly, she still didn't quite know what to say. Something, Giles picked up on and began speaking.
"Tara's right, the connection you two have is nothing like I've ever seen, its the most good, and the most powerful when you two are together." His kind words seeped in slowly. He was right, and Tara was right too. They could float themselves, that must mean they were pretty powerful. The words still failing her she leaned into Tara's shoulder, letting the blonde kiss her forehead lightly before putting a knowing hand on her thigh. She was still picturing the 'feeding' thing. This action alone made Giles immediately clean his glasses, something he'd learned to do to give people their own privacy. It only made Willow and Tara giggle though, Willow finally smiling as she smelt the comfort of vanilla and grass loom around her.