Say What Kareoke?
Summary: Buffy and the gang head to L. A. and visit a certain Kareoke bar. The guys are there only to have fun!
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters, Joss Whedon and UPN do. David Bowie owns the song.
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Xander's palms were sweating, he had dropped the microphone two times already even before they had started singing. "Smile, Xander," Anya poked him. This was her way of getting back at him for not telling anybody about the engagement. Sure he had agree with the others that he would sing, but he hadn't actually intended to sing! The music started up. Anya seemed surprisingly calm. Big wow.
Xander started to sing the words that appeared on the screen.
I, I will be king and you, you will be queen
Though nothing will drive them away
We can beat them, just for one day
We can be Heroes, just for one day
Anya sang the next verse:
And you, you can be mean
And I, I'll drink all the time
'Cause we're lovers, and that is a fact
Then together:
Yes we're lovers, and that is that
Though nothing, will keep us together
We could steal time, just for one day
We can be Heroes, for ever and ever
Anya:
What d'you say?
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Willow and Tara were laughing into their hands. Dawn's face was red from trying not to laugh, but she finally burst out, laughing so loud that Xander looked down at her and gave her a look. A shut the hell up look. Spike had a smile of pure glee on his face.
Xander's voice was way off key. Plus when he was supposed to sing a high note he just sang louder. Anya's voice was a shocker. It was better than they thought it would be. They all expected it to be murder. It was pretty good. Up until it started cracking.
"We should have brought a bloody video camera," Spike sniggered. "Or a tape recorder," Tara said. "Not that we'd want to hear this ever again!" Dawn grinned. "It's a sound that cannot be duplicated by the human mouth," Buffy joked. She took a sip of her drink. Anya's voice cracked again and she choked. They all flinched.
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Though nothing... nothing will keep us together
We can beat them, for ever and ever
Oh we can be Heroes, just for one day
And we kissed, as though nothing could fall
And the shame.... was on the other side
Oh we can beat them...for ever and ever
Then we could be Heroes, just for one day
We're nothing, and nothing will help us
Maybe we're lying....then you better not stay
But we could be safer.... just for one day!
Anya's voice cracked again on the last note. The audience clapped, though most of them were just being polite. The Host waved them over to the table he was sitting at. A Denizen demon got up on stage and started to sing "Roxanne".
"Nice choice for you two love birds," he said as they sat down. "Though next time I recommend you two don't sing together, let the audience go tone deaf a little at a time."
"Yea, whatever," Xander grumbled. "Aren't you a happy little camper."
"So, how does this work?" Anya asked. "Do we have to tell you when we're born or who our parents were and stuff?"
"Nope, I just read your aura, sweetheart."
"Good, because I don't remember either of those things."
"Hell, your older than me. You're one of D'Hoffryn's kids aren't you?"
"Why, yes," she blushed slightly. "Was!" Xander pointed out. "She's an ex-vengeance demon, ex!"
"Why do you always sound like that?!" she raised her voice a bit. People turned to look at them. "Keep it down, Anya," Xander whispered. "Why do I always sound like what?"
"Like you're ashamed of me having been a demon."
"Well let's see, maybe because I am," he replied, with a little more malice in his voice than he had meant. "Well I'm not ashamed of you being a construction worker!"
"I wasn't the one cursing people," he muttered. "You see what I have to put up with," she turned to the Host. "Yea, the guys a train wreck," he replied. "Hey!" Xander had a tone of outrage in his voice.
"Do you see us getting married anytime soon?" she asked, changing the subject.
"Hmmmm..."
"I knew it," she sighed. "What? I proposed, weddings take a long time to plan."
"That's not the problem," the Host said. "He won't tell anyone, he won't let me tell anyone either. At first he was like 'Buffy just died,' then 'Buffy just got back,' now she's been back and she's fine!" She waved her hand over to the table where Buffy was sitting, laughing at something Spike said. "Everything's fine."
"Anya, we talked about this-"
"I'm tired of talking about it, we've talked about it to death!"
"Whoa boy," the Host put up a hand. "The Zeppo here has a lot of issues, plus you're just kids really, well...he is."
"The Zeppo...hey-"
"You two have a long way to go that's for sure. Might not even be together." Anya hit Xander with the back of her hand on his shoulder, hard. "Ow! What the hell was that for?"
"You're going to dump me!"
"How do we know you won't dump me?"
"Why would I dump you, I love you!" After a minute she spoke, "I just want to know if he's really ready for marriage, and not because he was afraid I was going to leave."
"Anya, I was never afraid you were going to leave...until you mentioned it."
"Shut up," she said. "Well, he has a point there, but....the boys not really ready. Plus there's the whole....how do I put this....his immatureness."
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"God, that guy really shouldn't come out for public appearances," Dawn said. "His teeth put the British to shame," Buffy joined with the mockery. Suddenly Anya swept past their table, looks fading from anger to sadness, and ran into the bathroom. A minute later Xander came back to the table, he had a sourpuss appeal. He hunched over the table. Everyone pretended to be absorbed in drinking their drink. After the next song Anya came out and sat down again. She took the seat next to Tara and Willow.
Well, if they don't want to talk about it I won't ask, Buffy thought. I'll be here for them if they need me though. Love was never easy for the Slayer and her Slayerettes.
Willow was the one to speak first. "Who wants to go next?" They all looked around the table at each other. "Oh, bloody hell, you're all a bunch of pansies," Spike said putting his cigarette out. He got up from his seat. "You're gonna sing?" Xander seemed surprised. "Why not? I can't be any worse than you two, sound like a couple of Gilkar demons mating." He walked over to the side of the stage.
"What's a Gilkar?" Dawn asked. "Something that must sound horrible when it's mating," Tara whispered. "I heard that," Xander said. "This should be interesting," Willow said. Buffy nodded and looked over to the stage.
End of Part 2
