A Sequel to "Even Standing"
Part 6a/? - "Open Your Eyes"
Disclaimer: I own none
of the characters here, save for the Scepter of Zeus and the Archon of Zerod...
please don't sue me, I don't intend to earn money from this unless I'm offered
a contract by the Buffy people... then I can toss this disclaimer out the window
anyway.
Rating (Series): PG-13 (a little language and violence... its like ES, not too
heavy on either, but enough to warrant a rating)
Spoilers: Same as ES... continuity flies right off the handle.
Author's Notes/Summary - The plan was anything but successful. The dig site
was disrupted, but the Scepter had already been transported out. Now begins
the 'race' to research how and where the Old Ones can use it to accomplish their
mission. Possible character growth, not willing to say who. And, amidst it all,
Buffy and Xander finally address what's going on between them.
Note #2 - This is my awkward attempt at imitating the style of "The Longest
Day" from Dawson's Creek. It also pays homage to "The Zeppo"
in that the character growth will go unnoticed, for the most part. ES lives
on in the sequel. Hopefully this is turning out enjoyable for you all. Feedback
is the lifeblood of fic writers, and suggestions are our meat and potatoes.
So, by all means, fill my plate up. I accept blood as well, but that goes to
the pale guy living in my attic. I prefer plant matter, myself. :)
Perspective #1 - Xander
*FADE TO: Giles apartment. It's just getting dark outside. Giles, Buffy, Riley, and Xander are at various spots around the room, bandaged and bruised.*
Xander tried rolling
around on the couch, doing his best not to hit his re-injured arm. Unfortunately,
his newly injured leg wasn't making that easy. He finally sat up so that neither
was receiving pressure. He observed that everyone else looked as bad as he did.
Riley had the worst of it, which a bandage covering half his face. He was being
attended to, hand-and-foot, by Anya. He also seemed to be milking it for everything
it was worth. Xander smirked, 'A man after my own heart.'
Giles had the lightest injuries, since he wasn't in the fight much at all. The
worst part of him that had been hit was his pocketbook. He had the extreme displeasure
of trying to explain just *what* had turned the rental car into a block of Swiss
cheese.
He reluctantly took stock of Buffy's injuries. She had a heavy bandage around
her midsection; bruised ribs hurt more from a fall than any laser fire. She
also wore her arm in a sling. She was already moving around quite well; meaning
her slayer healing was in full effect. She'd be good as new in a day or two.
He didn't know if he could say the same for their 'relationship.' She seemed
twice as angry with him now, after the failed mission, than she did before.
He wondered if he could *ever* repair the damage.
He nearly screamed when Buffy's eyes met his. He hoped to all things that she
didn't see *how* he was looking at her. He knew his eyes were probably full
of love... and that was the last thing he needed to throw on the bonfire that
was burning the both of them up.
As if a saving grace, if saving grace were a vampire, Spike strode through the
front door. He didn't look happy. Actually, he resembled Swiss cheese. At least
his jacket did, anyway. There were holes all over the place. Xander spotted
an opportunity to lighten the mood and pull some heat off of himself. He sprung
up off the couch, ignoring the pain in his leg, and began clapping wildly, "All
hail, Spike, the Inhuman Shield!"
Riley, despite hardly being able to see him, stood up and started clapping,
too, "Here, here!" Even Giles and Buffy started a small clap.
Spike glared, "Oh, sod off!" He took his ruined jacket off and threw
it in front of Xander, "You're all buying me a new coat."
Riley laughed, "Anything, for our protector!" Spike looked ready to
explode.
"Funny, real funny." He looked at Xander, "Harris, I want to
go home."
"Then go, Spike. Why do you need me?"
Spike assumed a 'don't you remember?' stance, "Forgetting the little fact
that my keys went boom-boom in the bland lands of Kansas?"
Xander groaned, "Fine... I should probably get some sleep anyway... big
day ahead of me tomorrow."
Giles stood up as well, following him to the door, "Remember... tomorrow
evening we're going to research. We have to stay on top of this." Giles'
voice was whisper quiet.
Xander nodded, and replied in just as hushed a tone, "I know, G-Man...
I've just gotta recover from the jet lag that's setting in." He paused
before really leaving, expecting a biting comment from Buffy. Instead, she looked
fairly out of it.
Spike stood there impatiently, "Can we *go*?"
Xander smirked, "Yes, junior." Spike just glared and took off, "He
just gets sooo impatient..." Xander turned and walked off into the courtyard,
"Now you get back here, young man... don't make me take away your TV privileges..."
Giles shut the door quickly after that, for fear he might actually start laughing.
*CUT TO: Morning, Xander & Spike's apartment. The windows are now darkened with regular slat shades. Spike is pouring cereal into a bowl.*
Xander came out of his
room, looking clean and well dressed. Spike noticed it as he headed for the
microwave, "Well, well... look whose all spiffy today! Got a hot afternoon
date?"
Xander adjusted the tie around his neck, "No, I've got a job interview
today." He saw Spike heating up his 'breakfast,' "Would you be careful?
I don't want to have to clean bloody Lucky Charms out of the microwave again.
Don't heat it for so long."
Spike mocked, before doing a double take, "Wait, did you say job interview?
You're getting a job?" Spike shook his head, "Why? You got enough
money to have us set for life."
Xander was brushing his hair, before making sure he didn't have any crumbs in
his goatee, "Contrary to what I did in high school, I *don't* enjoy sitting
on my ass all day. I might as well go out and accomplish something with my time."
"Right..." Spike shook his head as he took his 'breakfast' out of
the microwave, "Where's this job interview at?"
"Why do you care?" Xander pulled on his jacket, "Never mind...
I've got to get going. Don't break anything while I'm out." He opened the
door and headed out.
Spike made his way over to the door quickly, calling after Xander, "You
say that every bloody time!"
Xander laughed, walking down the hall. He glanced at the floor for a second,
and looked up to find himself colliding with a young woman with fire-red hair.
He apologized quickly, but she said nothing in return. He shook his head, supposing
she was new to the building, and continued on to the building's exit.
*CUT TO: Willy (the weasely informant), with a look of complete confusion on his face.*
"You want to *what*?"
Willy croaked.
Xander stared right back at him. His tie was now gone, his hair was ruffled,
and he looked slightly angry, "I want to be your bartender."
Willy quickly glanced around for signs of the Slayer, "Why would *you*
want to work for *me*?"
"Why?" Xander leaned closer, "Because I need something to do.
What better place than a bar full of non-human types."
Willy frowned, "I don't want your roughing up my customers."
"Yeah, well, the feeling is mutual. I'm not looking to drive away your
business. I just need a day job... or more accurately, a night job. I've got
previous experience with bartending."
"I still don't see what's going on here... why did the Slayer put you up
to this?"
Xander seemed to get even more ticked off by this comment. Xander leaned in
dangerously close, "I'm having a bad day. My car broke down. A dog bit
me. And I screwed up the most promising job interview I have *ever* had. The
last thing I need somebody to do right now is bring up Buffy. Understand?"
"Fine, fine... uh... when c..can you work?"
"Sun down to sun up works fine for me. Anything to keep me busy."
Willy nodded, then began stuttering, "I... c..can't pay you v..very well..."
"I'll work for free. Money isn't what I'm here for."
"Okay... um... you can start tomorrow." Willy started getting up.
Xander's hand clamped down on Willy's arm, forcing him back down, "How
about tonight?"
Willy wasn't dumb, at least not as dumb as people thought he was. He knew better
than to cross one of the Slayer's friends. He nodded quickly, "Come in
whenever you want."
Xander let go of him, and stood up, smirking, "I'll do that." He left
the bar, and a trembling Willy, to head out.
Just a minute or two afterwards, a towel-wearing man in a Swiss cheese-looking
leather duster came in, and immediately declared, "Pour me a pint, will
you, Willy?" He sounded stressed.
*CUT TO: The Magic Box. Evening. Research party, G-Man style.*
"Giles... I don't
think I could get any more bored if you *physically* drained all the fun out
of this room. There isn't much left as it is." Xander whined. He felt like
dipping back into his roots.
Giles glared, "Oh, and I suppose you'd like me to call a few 'ladies of
the night' so we could have a stripping party."
Xander smirked, "Well, if by 'ladies of the night' you mean vamps... I'll
take a rain check. But if you mean 'ladies of the night' as in strippers, I'm
all for it."
"Xander, this is serious."
"No... *you're* serious. This..." He motioned to the surrounding area,
"...this is downright torturous."
"Could please stop Xander?" Buffy said, softer than usual. Xander
quieted down, not sure why.
He'd felt Buffy's eyes for a while now. She seemed to keep sneaking glances
at him every few minutes. But they weren't her, now usual, glaring glances.
They were softer now. Perhaps she was starting to forgive him. He didn't want
to get his hopes up. He went back to reading his assigned book, until he just
couldn't stand it anymore, "What is it, Buffy? Am I growing a second head?
Cause I'd like to be aware of that."
Willow interrupted, "Oooh... I found something." Giles started taking,
large steps in her direction. When she felt the heat was diverted, she relented,
"Wait, no... my bad." Giles nearly fell flat on his face coming to
a halt. He looked a little mad, but when back to digging through relics.
Xander glanced at the wall clock, and shot up out of his seat, "I, uh,
have to get going. There's somewhere I need to be."
"Where would that be?" Buffy said, standing up as well.
"Umm... a job. I got a job." Xander admitted.
Willow perked up, "Ooo, a job! You got a job!" She set her book down,
"Where did you get your job?"
Xander sighed, "I'd love to go into this, Will... but I'm late as it is...
I'll talk to you later, alright?" She nodded, and Xander looked to the
rest of the, "Anyone else have a problem with that?" Nobody answered,
not even Buffy. He grabbed his coat and headed out the door.
*CUT TO: Xander behind the bar. He's looking annoyed, while flipping through a tiny book.*
"What the hell is
in a Colorado Bulldog?" He asked angrily.
Willy stood there, just as angry. "Previous experience my ass, Harris.
Do you know *anything*?"
Xander glared right back at him, "My last experience was all tap. Beer,
beer, beer. Who the hell came up with these drink names, anyway? I've come up
with cleaner things after watching a porno. These guys must have repressed up
until the day they had the inspiration."
Willy put together a Colorado Bulldog as fast as he could, "Our business
is not to ask such things, Harris. Our business is to shove it in their faces
until closing time."
Xander shook his head, "Fine, then I won't even ask about a Bloodjob, or
its non-vampiric counterpart." A patron sidled up to the bar, and asked
what was on tap. Xander tried to smile charmingly, "Ahh... it depends...
we've got your Coors and your Budweiser... then there's what I liked to call
the Bloodweiser... what do you have a taste for?"
The person momentarily flashed their vamp face, "I think I'll have the...
Bloodweiser? Cut joke, kid. Put in an olive or two." Xander nodded, and
started pouring the tap. He tried his best to ignore the fact he was pouring
blood into a beer glass. He set the glass on the counter, and started digging
into the cooler. In the midst of pulling small containers out of the cooler,
he made the mistake of stacking them on the edge. When he finally nabbed the
jar of lemon slices, he knocked three other containers onto the floor. He cursed
himself, and bent down to pick them up.
While he was underneath the bar, the doors swung open, and a determined young
woman came through them. She strutted towards the bar, declaring, "Willy!
Just the person I was looking for. I've got some questions for you." Xander
shot up abruptly, coming face-to-face with said determined young woman. Buffy
gasped in surprise, as Xander dropped the jar of olives, smashing it open. Willy
yelped, screaming obscenities at Xander, as Buffy spoke breathlessly, "Xander?
What are you doing here?"
End Part 6a
(Next time... Buffy's perspective on the day. New parts are put into the puzzle...)
