Xander Quartermain
DISCLAIMER: I do hereby declare that I do not own BTVS.
Author's Note: Many thanks to Cassy, Oxnate, and Jesternz for ideas and help.
Chapter One
"It's not too bad," Giles said.
"It is unless you have a costume fund for slayers," Buffy said. "I already spent my allowance on a costume that doesn't meet the requirements the troll gave us."
"You aren't the only one," a new voice said.
"I thought teachers had salaries instead of allowances," Buffy said after recognizing the computer teacher, Ms. Calendar.
The computer teacher replied, "Well, the name may be different but the amount is sadly similar. Or smaller even, in the case of some students."
Giles sighed then said, "Well then, it's a good thing I can help you all. I do indeed have a discretionary fund. It will even stretch to cover the adult who drives them to the costume shop the mayor apparently favors." He pulled out a platinum American Express and said to Ms. Calendar, "You will take them to get their costumes won't you?"
She smiled and agreed, "I certainly shall. Do you need one as well?"
"Yes," Giles said. "I have also been signed up to coordinate the program that has students escorting children. Feel free to get whatever as long as it will pass muster to be worn here tonight."
She smiled, "Thank you! Come on students, I'll drive you all to the costume shop."
They met Cordelia at the costume shop, "I can't believe that troll disallowed my cat costume! Clearly daddy is donating far too much to the school board." She looked at Buffy, "Are you sure he isn't something you and your gang of freaks and geeks can take care of?"
Buffy rolled her eyes, "He's evil but human, at least as far as I know so not in my jurisdiction. If you find him doing anything related to magic or that he's a demon in disguise then I will happily slay his ass."
"Ugh, fine. I'll just have to go buy a second costume then," the other girl replied and wandered off.
"I see a safari outfit so I think I'm set," Xander said. He grabbed it and came back. "It comes with a toy rifle!" he added enthusiastically.
"I think I see two noble lady costumes Buffy," Willow said. "Let's go check them out."
"Sure," Buffy said.
~~~
It was the day after Halloween and the Scooby gang plus Cordelia were gathered in the Sunnydale high Library. Giles said, "Thank you all for coming in on a Saturday. We should all say what we retained from last night's Halloween spell and then I shall see what can be done to mitigate any undesirable bits."
Buffy said, "Oh. Well it was a 19th century theme and it was supposed to be a normal night so I went as a noble lady who actually turned out to be a lady adventurer. I now know how to use a breech loading rifle, how to use a compass and map, can make black powder, and am better at using a machete for defense or to clear a path through a jungle. I don't think I picked up anything I want to get rid of, except maybe the memories of wearing a corset in the tropics."
Giles nodded, "Very well, I'm happy you came through relatively unscathed. Xander, how did you fare?"
"I went as Alan Quartermain," Xander replied. "I have retained knowledge similar to Buffy's except it includes several sorts of old rifles and pistols and also knowledge of tracking that may come in handy if we have to track a demon or other supernatural creature. I think I may have run into both Willow and Cordelia last night and I shot Spike with an elephant gun, a .577 nitro express rifle to be exact." He sighed, "It didn't kill him unfortunately."
"Thank you," Giles said. "We will get him eventually I'm sure." He looked at the two girls Xander had mentioned, "Do you remember meeting him?"
Cordelia snorted, "I remember almost eating him. I became a cat girl, with fur and everything. When I ran into Xander I was feeling rather feral but him talking to me like he was chatting at a tea party helped me, or the me I was then, rein it in. Together we rescued a few people and killed a few vamps then we got separated by Spike and his minions and I didn't see him again until we got here this morning." She scowled, "Don't tell anyone but I can now switch back and forth to that form. I seem to be in control of it but I didn't spend that long in it. I just shifted back and forth a few times."
Giles nodded, "Very good. If you have trouble later, do not hesitate to come see me." He looked at Willow, "And you?"
"Well what about you?" Willow asked. "Who did you go as?"
Giles said, "I went as Edward Law, First Earl of Ellenborough. He was First Lord of the Admiralty at the time, the man in charge of the British Navy. I don't believe I have changed much aside from extra knowledge of naval warfare as it used to be back then." He then raised his eyebrows at her.
"Well I went as Mina Harker," Willow said. "From the book, Dracula. I'm not a vampire but I have some very uncomfortable memories of being seduced and bitten." She sighed, "I didn't pick up any new skills worth mentioning."
"I'm sorry to hear that," Giles said. "Well if nobody needs any immediate help I suggest we all go get some rest. Good day gentleman and ladies."
After he left they all agreed he had become even more stiff and proper than he had been.
"Do you want to try and track Spike down by daylight Buffy?" Xander said.
"I'll help if you do," Cordelia said. "I can probably track him by scent if we can find where you shot him last night."
Buffy sighed, "It's a shame but I have nothing better to do on a Saturday afternoon so let's go. Are you coming too Willow?"
"Sure," Willow replied. "Undead are a scourge upon the land and all that."
Xander pulled his .577 rifle from its hiding place in the stacks, "I'm ready, Let's go."
"Will they let you carry that through the streets in daylight?" asked Willow.
Xander paused, "Good point." He went back into the stacks and came back with a long duffle bag that he stuck the rifle into. "Okay, now I'm ready."
Cordelia nodded, "Alright, I'm ready too. I won't get furry yet but if we find them I'll switch. It's easier to fight them as a catgirl."
Xander smirked, "Be very, very quiet, we're hunting vampires." Everyone groaned and they left the library.
They tracked down his warehouse but by then the sun was setting, Xander said, "Now that we know we can come back in the morning. There are a dozen or so vamps in there so I don't think we should enter at sunset."
Buffy nodded, "I'll swing by the church for more holy water and meet you here at nine a.m.?"
"Sure," Xander said.
"Yes," Willow said.
"Meh, we'll see," Cordelia said.
The next morning Cordelia was there but Spike and Drusilla had moved.
"He must have seen us when we found him," Xander said.
"We'll get him another time," Buffy said.
Cordelia grabbed Xander's hand and dragged him towards her car, "I know a collector who will pay big bucks for that rifle. It being an antique and still in such good condition." She beamed at him, "And once you have money in your pocket you can take me to lunch."
He nodded, "Sure, why not?"
Willow scowled but said nothing as they drove away and Buffy hugged her.
Buffy said, "It's a little early for ice cream but how about I treat you to a decadent coffee drink with whipped cream and both mocha and caramel syrup?"
Willow replied, "Sure, thank Buffy."
Xander met them for patrol that night at the library and brought donuts.
"How did your date go Xan?" Buffy asked.
"Pretty well," he said.. "I've got some pocket money and that rifle would have been pretty awkward to carry concealed." He selected a falchion from the book cage, "Close enough to a machete that I can use it. Let's go cull some fledgelings."
Epilogue
Xander started dating Cordelia regularly and was admired at the local shooting club for his accuracy with both rifle and pistol. When Cordelia's father invited him hunting he also showed off excellent tracking skills and wilderness knowledge. There was no Fluke with Willow and after a little luck raiding nests and selling off ancient weapons and old coins as well as working construction he was able to support Cordelia after her parents fled the country. They got married after graduation and both stayed in Sunnydale until its collapse.