He wasn't counting on Snyder to be patrolling the halls for slackers.
"Hey-you!" The sniveling voice of the school principal rang loud down the corridor. The figure halted suddenly, and then slapped himself on the head, muttering under his breath.
The figure waited patiently until the troll-er, principal-caught up with him. Snyder approached the figure slowly, and then spun on his heel so that he was in front of him. He couldn't se the face, because the hood was pulled almost shut over the figure's face.
"The Student Code of Conduct," Snyder started, smiling his little evil grin, "clearly states that the Dress Code does not allow head coverings of any kind, and hoods of sweatshirts are included. And I bet you know that I do not give warnings-I give punishments. Does detention sound good to you?"
The hooded head slowly nodded in acknowledge. "Now take it off," Snyder sneered, quite happy at having bagged another slacker.
The figure hung it's head, and then one sleeve-covered arm slowly peeled off the hood, exposing the pale face of Xander Harris. His eyes squinted at the sunlight coming in from the large window only a few paces away, and he held his hand over his face to shield himself, but was still able to see Commandante Snyder standing there, grinning with his sharp, little teeth. Troll.
"Well, Mr. Harris. Why am I not surprised? And where were you headed to?"
"The library, Principal Snyder."
"Oh * really *. And why was that?"
" * Because * ." Xander said, struggling to keep his anger at bay. Who knew what could trigger his game face? " The first time I do my homework, I leave it in the library. How's that for luck?"
"Homework for what?" Oh no, what class was he suppose to be in right now?
"Science," he answered. "Mr. Brodie. We were suppose to do-"
"I don't care," Snyder said, cutting him off. "And I don't believe you either."
Xander's eyebrows creased in worry. "But Principal-"
"Quiet, Harris. I'm not afraid of cutting into you at all, now, that Mommy the Lawyer is gone. She's dead, and now I have free reign to make you start doing good in this school. Believe me, I waited for so long-"
"Don't," Xander said calmly. "Don't you * ever * talk about my mother that way."
Snyder's eyes narrowed into slits. "Don't you ever talk to * me * that way. That bi-"
With fluid reflexes that were still strange and new to him, Xander grabbed Snyder by the throat and pinned him up against a row of lockers, several feet off the floor. Snyder immediately started kicking and trying to peel Xander's hands of his throat, which were as cold and as unmoving as stone. "Help!!!" Snyder shrieked.
"If you * ever * speak about my mother like that I * swear * I'll do permanent damage do your shrunken little limbs," Xander growled, on the verge of completely vamping out. "And I'm not bluffing. You have * no * idea who you are messing with."
Snyder just looked at him shocked. Since his face was turning a purplish red, he choked out "I promise. Just let me go! Let me go!"
"Let him go, Xander!"
Xander whipped his head around to see Willow and Buffy standing there in the hall, just in front of the library doors. They were looking at him with shocked expressions, and immediately Xander felt guilty and ashamed. He turned back to Snyder and felt a little less murderous.
"Down?" he asked his captive. Snyder nodded quickly, and Xander let go of him, watching him fall hard on his butt and wince at the pain in his neck. Then Xander pulled the hood over his head and stomped off to the library, hurrying through the patch of sunlight, and pushing past Buffy and Willow, practically running inside.
Snyder was left on the floor, rubbing his neck and staring up at the Slayer and the Hacker. They exchanged odd looks and then hurried off to their own destinations as quickly as possible.
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Xander was headed as fast as possible towards Giles' office, but he couldn't escape Buff & Will. "The hell was that?" an angry voice demanded from behind.
Xander turned around, to see an angry Buffy and a frightened Willow, who were both crossing their arms. He sighed, and then asked, "What was what?"
"Xander, you were * hurting * him out there!" Willow declared. "He was turning red? How do you explain yourself?"
"I have nothing to ex*plain*," Xander said, idignant. "I was only hurting him for a little while, until apologizing for being glad that my mother was * dead * . It's not like I was going to 8 kill * him or anything."
"How do we know that?" Buffy interjected hotly. "Xander, who knows what's going on with you? I mean, I didn't know if you were going to hurt him or not out there! You were lucky I didn't suddenly rush you and stake you in the heart! You've got to control yourself!"
"You don't have to so * why * do I!" Xander yelled back at her, realizing how juvenile and kindergarten-ish he sounded. "Shut up at leave me alone!"
"Stop bringing up the past and * stop acting five * !" Buffy spat back. "We're dealing with serious stuff here!"
"I know," Xander growled. "Why the hell do you think that I'm already here? I don't even know when I'll turn into *what*ever. I'm here to make sure that I don't go psycho and really kill Snyder, and you're hear giving me crap because of some little choking incident. I * want * to control myself. I can't * help * that I might slip!"
He glared angrily at Buffy until she lowered her eyes in understanding. "Sorry," she murmured. "I was just worried for a moment . . . that I might actually have to do that then and there."
"Don't worry," Xander said matter-of-factly. "You'll get to do it soon enough."
Buffy was just about to retort when Giles came out of his office, apparently after hearing the exchange. "Stop fighting like children," he reprimanded harshly. "I will not allow that." Obviously, he was peeved for some reason unknown that lately had seemed to be bugging him. He held a piece of paper that was tightly clenched in his hand. He glared at the teens in HIS library and then stomped off to the counter to angrily stamp "Sunnydale High Library" into some books.
Buffy went off to console Giles, which left Willow and Xander standing there, the redhead's fear dissipated. Then Xander stormed off into the office, slamming the door loudly behind him. The loud clinking of metal was heard.
* I better go help him with those chains * , Willow though, heading towards the office door. * And maybe I can keep him company * .
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Xander knelt by the far wall of the office, trying in vain to chain himself up. It was an impossible task-sure, you could handcuff yourself, but after that it was like you were trying to do the Wave in a straightjacket. And the worst part was that Xander had already handcuffed himself, and he didn't have the key. Dammit.
"Dammit," Xander proclaimed aloud to the room and he tugged on his handcuffed hands again, just making the desk move more to the right and making the cool, click metal dig deep into his wrists. A little more than upset, he tugged once more again, and cried out in pain as the metal finally cut into his skin.
"Let me help you with that."
Xander looked over his shoulder to see Willow just closing the office door behind her. Xander sighed and shrugged. "Ok," he said, stepping as far back as he could while Willow examined what he had got himself into.
"You're bleeding," she noticed as she unlocked him.
Xander nodded. "Who cares."
Willow was silent. Once he was unlocked, she sat him down and starting to methodically chain him to the wall, doing it exactly as Oz & Giles had shown her. Xander was staring off into the distance as she went about her work.
"You know," Xander spoke up quietly, "I can do that thing."
Willow kept a straight face, but was smiling inside from the fact that Xander was talking to her. "What thing?" she asked curiously.
"That . . . ugly thing. With my face." He swallowed when he saw Willow's slightly creeped-out look. "Sorry. Shouldn't have mentioned it . . . don't know why I did."
"It's ok," Willow said, turning the key in the lock. Now Xander most definitely could not move, and his vampire form would have a hell've a hard time trying to break free. She stepped back and instead of leaving, sat down cross-legged before him. "C-can I see?"
Xander's head shot up sharply, and he looked at her like she was insane. " * Why? * "
Willow shrugged uncomfortably. "I don't know. But can I?"
Xander sighed. He ducked his head down, and when he looked back up he wore his vampire face. His yellow eyes were empty and read of shame and embarrassment. Then he looked away, face still vamped out.
"I'm a monster."
Willow's eyes teared up, and then she hugged Xander tightly. "Oh god Xander, you're not a monster. You're my best friend, you'll always be, and I * know * that this is going to turn out alright. Ok, Xander? Agree?"
When she pulled away, Xander's face was back to normal, but his eyes still expressed those dark feelings. "Whatever you say, Will," he agreed without conviction. "But . . . I would like to be alone now. Until night. And then you can-" Xander checked himself before he blurted out "kill"-"check up on me."
Willow looked at her friend and then bent over to kiss him on the forehead. "Whatever * you * say." She stood up and walked to the door. As she pulled open the doorknob, she looked back one more time. "I'll be right out there, ok?" Xander nodded, and then Willow left.
And he was alone.