Title: Bonded
Author: Pulpgeek
E-mail: pulpgeek@hotmail.com
Rating: Say PG-14 same as the show
Disclaimer: The characters do not belong to me. They belong to Joss Whedon and some suits. If they belonged to me there would be a lot less angst on the show.
Category: B/X friendship mostly. Romance and love triangles follow.
Note: This is not a romantic story to begin with but it is going in a B/X direction so if that is not your thing this might not be for you.
One o'clock on a Thursday afternoon was a time to be doing things. Work, school, something other than just tooling around the house. At the moment that was all Buffy had to do. She couldn't keep a job and school was still out of the question. At least this long afternoon she had company, Xander was between projects and had volunteered to help out with the home maintenance. Her knight in flannel armor.
Between Buffy's raw strength and Xander's feel for building things they had patched up most of the money holes sucking funds out of her house. Replacing the insulation, putting in new windows and patching up the cracked basement floor. A good afternoon's work. Xander had even started teaching her the basics of furniture making, a vital skill when your home is usually a combat zone.
They were on break now and Buffy's Slayer appetite was crying to be fed. When a guy spends his afternoon off doing manual labor for you it would follow that lunch was the least you could offer him. Pity Buffy still couldn't cook.
"Sandwiches and soda ok for you Xander?"
"Lunch of champions. I'll whip us up some desert."
While Buffy demonstrated her skills with lunch meat Xander started melting some chocolate. By the time she had slapped together a plate of sandwiches he had whipped the chocolate together with some cream and a pinch of nutmeg. Chocolate mousse, yummy. The boy sure knew the real way to a girl's heart.
Buffy wolfed down her lunch eager to get her hands of the desert. If she didn't have an audience the mousse would have been lunch, balanced diets are so overrated. It was worth the rush. Chocolate ambrosia.
"Didn't know you could cook like this Xander."
"Deserts anyway. Division of labor, Anya makes dinner and desert is my domain."
"How'd you pick this little skill up? Willow and I are both pathetic in the kitchen. You haven't been doing things with Tara behind my back now have you?"
"Anya taught me. She's a great cook."
"Anya. Seriously? I thought something as human as making food would have her reaching for the take out menus."
"Maybe in the beginning. Anya is very serious about being human, she read dozens of cookbooks and served meals that would kill a goat but eventually she got better. She's like that, practice until perfect."
"So speaks a man in love."
"I'm a bit biased. Anya is one hell of a girl. She's smart and funny, cute and sexy, a more loyal person I couldn't imagine. If I end up hurting her I don't think I'd ever forgive myself."
Buffy had been so lost in rich, chocolatey bliss she almost missed the abrupt change in Xander's tone. Trouble in paradise? Why didn't that bother her more?
"Something wrong with you two crazy kids?"
"No, not yet anyway. I've just got this feeling you know? Anya is the first and only serious relationship I've had. I love her to death but then there is this odd feeling I can't quite shake. Like I'm missing something and if I don't figure out what we are both going to end up miserable."
"But you love her right?"
"Yea, but sometimes I wonder if that is enough. Like there should be some mad passion that makes me act like a total idiot. More so than usual. That was your cue to contradict me by the way."
Mad passion, Like what she had with Angel. Passion the burned you up inside and made loving someone hurt even more than not loving them. She wanted to tell Xander he wasn't missing much, that kind of heartache he could do without. On the other hand given how her calm, mature relationship with Riley had ended maybe she should just keep her big mouth shut.
"Stability gets a bad rap Xander. Look at Willow and Tara, no craziness there and they stay happy. Love is more than fireworks and heartache. You and Anya have something special, don't downplay that."
"She doesn't like all the time I spend with you."
"What? Anya?"
"I think she's a bit jealous of my feelings for you. The crush I used to have. No matter how many times I tell her that we are just good friends she still doesn't quite believe me."
Maybe because you don't quite believe it yourself? Or was she just reading things into his tone of voice? Sure they flirted a lot but that was just something friends did. Or at least that is what Buffy thought they did. Xander was the only guy friend she had ever had, all the others were boyfriends or wana-be boyfriends.
"So Buff, we've been good today, what say we go do something fun? Pretend to be normal people for a couple of hours."
A much safer line of conversation. Thank you Xander.
"How about a movie, we could just make the last matinee showings."
"I'm always up for a film but isn't that kind of sedate for you?"
"When I'm too poor to go shopping the cinema makes a good fallback."
"So if you had money then I'd be blown off so you could go try on dresses."
"Don't be silly, I would bring you along to carry my bags and tell me how cute I look."
"Why don't we see a latter show then, I spring for your new outfit."
"Xander that is sweet but"
"But nothing. I can't have my best girl running around naked now can I."
"I just had to be naked didn't I?"
"It's my fantasy so what I say goes. Come on Buffy, let me do something nice for you. If ever there was a girl who deserved a pick-me-up it's you."
"You talked me into it Mr. Harris. I'll let you waste your paycheck on my wardrobe."
"A hard won battle but well worth it. Maybe we can even find you something at the lingerie store. I hear they have a sale on thongs this week."
"Xander!"
Just harmless flirting, just harmless flirting. Keep telling yourself that girl and maybe you might believe it. Guys always take platonic friends clothes shopping. Yep, all the time. Perfectly normal. Just because this is beginning to sound like a date is no reason to get nervous.
.
A happy Buffy was too rare a sight in recent months. Xander was enjoying just watching her have a little fun. If Anya had dragged him to this many clothing stores he would have long since been planing his escape. Not so with Buffy. It made his day seeing her smile as she tried on outfits and pout when he avoided the questions women always ask in this situation. When all your friends are girls a guy learns how to duck the dreaded does this make me look fat?'. A good chunk of his disposable income was going into those shopping bags but it was worth it to make Buffy happy. He'd do anything to make her hard life a little easier, what was a few bucks? So what if this was bordering on boyfriend-like activity?
Nine stores, three hours and a bit over two hundred dollars latter Buffy was positively aglow. And hungry. Time to go do some damage to the food court.
"Better?"
"Much. Shopping is highly therapeutic. All the best doctors say so."
"Who am I to argue with medical opinion. So what kind of grease dripping poison are you in the mood for?"
"As long as I'm being a wild girl today might as well go with the most deep fried thing they have to offer."
"Steak strips it is, arteries be dammed."
Eddy's Fried Steak claimed to serve Australian style fast food. Their major claim to fame was thin cuts of steak deep-fried in a thick batter then served with a rich gravy. Rumor held that the American Heart Association had ordered a hit on the owner. As food went it was pure evil. Not surprisingly it was probably Xander's favorite place to grab a bite.
They tore into deep-fried goodness while debating the options in movie viewing.
"This looks good, some of the guys at work loved it."
"Three hours of monsters and sword fights? I get enough of that in real life."
"So what doesn't offend your Slayery sensibilities?"
"I want something funny. No violence, no drama, just silly."
"This one then."
"No magic."
"This one?"
"I hate the actress, she gives blondes a bad name."
"Picky aren't you? How about The Majestic then, a good old fashioned type movie"
"I can live with that, next showing is in thirty so we still have time for desert."
"Sugar junkie."
"Just for that you're not getting any of mine."
"Aww, come on Buffy. You know how long I've wanted to get some from you."
"Maybe if you ask real nice I'll think about it."
The easy flow of jokes between them came to an abrupt stop. Buffy's expression was suddenly all business. When Xander turned to follow her hard stare he could see why. They were being watched. The man didn't look in any way exceptional, a bit taller than average and unshaven. A large scar on the neck was the only real standout feature. His aura though, after a lifetime on the Hellmouth Xander could feel the menace hanging in the air. The same cruel cast to the face as the firebug.
"Xander, get my stuff out of harm's way. I'll try and make this quick."
As Buffy moved to intercept her new foe he pulled something from his jacket and changed. His clothes did anyway. From mostly normal gear to what looked like a leather fetishists idea of medieval garb complete with hooded cloak. It was the swords the really drew Xander's attention. Twin blades that leapt into this guy's hands. Blades that looked a lot like Gwen. This was defiantly not good.
Survival instincts were kicking in so the mall crowd was clearing a path between sword guy and the advancing Slayer. No preamble, he just started taking swings at her. Buffy struck back, or at least tried to, neither of them could land a hit on the other. This creep was fast, Buffy was being forced backwards by the wall of spinning steel. Despite his speed there was something weird about this fighting style. Wait a second. He was attacking with the blunt side, striking to subdue rather than kill. Odd that one of these guys would suddenly develop compassion for human life.
Whatever this fantasy flick reject had in mind one thing was obvious, Buffy needed help. Her opponent's speed and skill matched her own, those sharp pointy things didn't help either. If he could just give her a split second opening that would be all Buffy needed to take this guy down. Xander grabbed one of the plastic food court chairs and inched his way towards where Buffy and her foe circled each other.
A quick strike from behind should have worked. There was no way he could have been seen coming. Somehow he was. Right before Xander took his swing an elbow lashed back, connecting with the bridge of his nose. Darkness was almost instantaneous.
..
Buffy hadn't noticed her friend trying a sneak attack until the last second. Her enemy's eyes never broke from her own as a serpent quick strike took Xander down. She tried to use the momentary distraction to land a telling blow but his guard was back up even before Xander hit the floor. Buffy fought back the urge to throw herself on her friend's body. Getting emotional in a fight this close would be suicide, even when your opponent looked to be pulling him blows.
Quick feints from both parties were leading nowhere. She was too fast for him and those damn blades made it impossible to land a hit. If only she had a weapon damn it. If you can't hit the body go for the mind. She used to laugh at Giles when he'd quote that to her, most demons didn't have anything to their minds beyond crush and destroy'. This one might be different.
"So, pissed that the leather show got canceled?"
"I am here to retrieve you Slayer, nothing more."
"So getting me involved burning people to death?"
"Arc enjoyed his work overmuch. I will settle this without bloodshed."
"Don't bet on that one, I plan to shed quite a lot of your blood."
A lunge for the gut was blocked by his blades. He lead with the left one, not quite ambidextrous there guy. Could be an opening.
"What about Spike then, you the one who took his chip out?"
He cut at her legs but Buffy easily leapt over his attack.
"The beast? Our commander handled it personally."
"What the hell for? He went after my sister you sick little freak!"
Getting emotional. Stupid. She overextended on that last kick and almost left herself open. Keep control damn it. Focus.
"Emotional trauma sometimes aids in the awakening. After losing your mother it was a long shot but we hoped to avoid this confrontation. It would have been easier if you joined us voluntarily."
"No chance creep."
There, she had a window. His left side was weak, exposed. Buffy drove in an open handed slice to just below the rips. Not a lethal blow but it should slow him down. Probably would have if the hit had connected. An instant before her hand reached him shadows swallowed his form. He was gone.
Crap.
No.
Wait a sec.
Buffy ducked, twisted around and unleashed a powerful spin kick at the same time. The power in her leg driving her foe to the ground. Didn't see that one coming did you?
"Oh please, you'd think I've never fought someone who could do that before. Of course you were going to re-appear right behind me. Now say good night."
Buffy focused her anger into a single blow aimed at the heart of her downed foe. Bastard was quicker than she thought, still tagged him but he managed to roll so the blow only grazed his side. He retaliated with a kick to her head, Buffy pulled back but her nose got clipped. Ouch. Her opponent tried to follow up with a slash at her neck, dumb move on his part. Buffy ducked and drove a thumb into his wrist, that made him drop the sword. Got him.
Buffy swept the other blade aside and prepared to deliver a finishing blow. She could beat answers out of him latter. Buffy caught the fallen blade moving on it's own out of the corner of her eye. Too late to do anything before the hilt slammed into her skull. Damn she thought as consciousness fled, that is just not playing fair.
A cop shook Xander awake with all the care and compassion the Sunnydale police are known for. Hard won experience with the idiocy of local law enforcement kept Xander from crying out Buffy's name. Instead he surveyed the wreckage and asked the nice police man what the hell had happened.
"Witnesses tell us you tried to break up a fight."
"Well I had met this cute blonde and next thing I know some psycho ex-boyfriend is trying to stab her. Thought playing the hero might score me a few point ya know?"
"Leave people with knives up to us son. So you don't know anything more about the two people involved in this dispute?"
"Just that the girl had a nice rack. She get out ok?"
"Her assailant apparently knocked her out and carried her off. Something about using smoke bombs to make it look like he just vanished."
"Can I get gone then? People to see, girls to chase and all that."
"Hit the road. If you remember anything that could be useful give us a call."
"Always looking to help out the law, officer."
Xander made his way out of the mall as fast as his legs would carry him. Keeping this fake smile on his face was getting painful, trying not to panic was even worse. They had Buffy and there was no one with the strength to go and save her. Not that he was going to let that stop him. At least he had someplace to start, those swords gave him a lead. Xander needed to have a little talk with Gwen. Right now.
Anya was getting ready to close up show when he burst into the Magic Box. She beamed at him and tried to start a little flirting but Xander brushed her off with as much tact as he could manage. This was not the time to worry about hurt feelings. He stormed back to the training room and snatched Gwen from her hiding place.
"What are you?"
"Haven't we been through this already Xander?"
"Are you a Reaver? Is your precious bondmate one of them?"
"Where did you hear that name?"
"Answer me damn you!"
"Reavers are the people I've spent the last few centuries fighting. Now where did you hear that name child?"
"They are burning down this town for the past week and one of them just kidnapped Buffy. Now it's your turn. Tell me about them."
"Here? On this world? That should be impossible, the souls of our world's people are bound to it. Madmen like the Reavers may attack other worlds for sport but even they couldn't stay more than a few days without perishing."
"Looks like they found a way. Care to fill in the blanks for me?"
"Contain your emotion Xander, it does neither of us any good. As to the Reavers they are a plague on my world. All our kind worship the Chaos gods but only they embrace the worst of it, pure destruction for it's own sake. Ages ago they fought with the rest against the demon hoards but now they attempt to re-make the world in their own likeness. It is during the last Reaver war that my memories end. We had defeated all but the most powerful of their number and thenI know not."
"So you're not on their side?"
"I should hope not after the number of times I almost faced destruction at their hands."
"Fine. Then come on, we are going to go rescue Buffy."
"Do you even know where they have taken her?"
"No, but I'll find her. Maybe Tara can do a spell or something. Between your knowledge and my suicidal stupidity they don't have a chance."
"I wish I could aid you in this Xander I truly do, but I can not."
"Why? Because I'm not your bondmate? Buffy's life is at stake here!"
"It is not a matter of not wanting to help. I can not aid you in battle. The sword you
hold is just a manifestation, my true form is raw energy. If anyone but he to whose soul I am bound tried to use my power that energy would destroy them."
"If that is what it takes to save Buffy then fine. I'll deal. Let's go."
"Stop. What is it with young men and the desire to die for love? I may not be able to help you directly but I may still be of service. There is another like me in this town, her power is less than mine and muted in someway but the power is there. I can feel her out there, perhaps a weapon the Reavers brought with them. With luck you can use it against them."
"Where?"
"That way."
Gwen's image pointed right towards the heart of residential Sunnydale. Right towards the Summers house in fact. Wait a second. No, it couldn't be.
"You said she is like you? Like one of the other bondswords?"
"Yes, the aura reminds me of Frea, a lesser warpbade maybe."
"What do you look like?"
"I don't."
"Your true from, what do you look like."
"I don't look like anything. Just green light. There is a reason I prefer a more solid manifestation you know."
This couldn't be right. An energy being who could warp time and space. That part fit but the rest Xander had to be sure before he would even allow himself to think it.
"Come on, time for you to maybe see an old friend."
A young man lurking outside the home of a young woman with a sword stuck through his belt should have attracted attention. This was Sunnydale, Godzilla could have gone unnoticed.
"Well?"
"Well what Xander? Is it her? Yes, I feel what appears to be Frea's spirit in this house impossible as that is. Can I explain how she could be in this world alone? No. Why are you resonating with her when there is no way you can be her bondmate? I don't even want to think about it."
"I'm resonating with Da-Frea?"
"Don't. This is giving me a headache and I don't even have a head. Let us just go talk with her, maybe find some sense in all this chaos."
Sense. Right. Dawn isn't just a Key she's an ancient magical sword and for some reason they had some kind of bond. Ok, so he liked the girl. Dawnie was special to him but not in the mystical sense of things. She was someone for him to protect not drag into trouble. No choice though, once again Dawn was part of this like it or not. She had to at least know, he owed her that. Dawn hated being treated like a child, sheltered from harsh truths. There had been enough of that already.
"Fine. Let's go."
Buffy had given him a key months ago, better to aid in Dawn-sitting, so Xander let himself in the house. Five-thirty according to his watch, Dawn should be home from school.
"Dawnie? You here?"
"Xander!" Dawn jumped up from her position in front of the television and bounded over to given him a hug. This sort of casual closeness has sneaked back into their relationship the last few days. It was nice being the object of someone's affections but when she got this close it became hard to ignore that Dawn wasn't such a little girl anymore.
"Nice sword Xander, this some new fashion statement or is Anya just that kinky?"
He looked at her then, a normal teenage girl with a slightly crazy grin. God damn it all but he did not want to drag her into this. Even with a Slayer for a sister the girl deserved some shot at a normal life. Gwen took the decision out of his hands.
"Hello Frea, I see you finally got your wish. How is humanity treating you?"
"Xander, who is this ghost chick and what is up with that neckline?"
Trust Dawn to not even be mildly fazed by an apparition in her living room.
"It's kind of complicated Dawnster, you might want to sit down."
"Something happed to Buffy didn't it?"
Summers women are hard to lie to.
"Dawn, let me"
"No! What happened to my sister?"
"Let me deal with this Xander, we are old friends even if she doesn't remember it. Take a seat child and I will tell you what has transpired. Your sister is fine for the moment and you need to understand your own role in this."
Maybe it was just something about being around for a few thousand years but when Gwen spoke Dawn listened. She continued listening while Gwen explained the circumstances of the last few days. Occasionally Xander would interrupt to fill in some detail but mostly he just kept his eyes on Dawn. She wasn't breaking down, in fact the girl was strangely calm by the time Gwen finished.
"So, that is what a Key is for then. I'm a weapon."
"I like to think we are more than that child. You have loved and lost as much as anyone I've know. Hardly the emotions of a thing created for violence."
"Sounds like some stupid fantasy novel. If all this happened to me why don't I remember any of it."
"Another time, another life. Frea is who you were, Dawn is who you are."
"You always talk like that?"
She was joking but the edge in her voice was becoming more pronounced.
"Whatever she says Dawn you're still my girl. Nothing is going to change that."
"Thanks. So if I have all this power you keep talking about why do I feel like little Ms. Normal Teenager? Shouldn't I at least be able to make that tramp Becky's face fall off?"
"You are one of a partnership. What you can do together is far greater than what you are alone."
"So where is this partner guy then? From the way you told it he should have been beating down my door years ago. The only guys who have come after me were after other things."
"UmI think he's right here Dawnie."
"This is a joke right?"
"As much as I would like to believe so child the two or you have linked auras. You are Frea but he is not Marek. It makes no sense but yet so it is. You two are bonded, for better or worse."
"Can I just say for the record that when I made that wish on my twelfth birthday this was not what I meant."
"You wished for me Dawn? I'm flattered."
"I was young and impressionable at the time."
"This is as opposed to the sophisticated sixteen year old you are now."
"You better believe it. This year I'm wishing for world domination."
"Children, if we can get back to saving the world for a minute. As you two are bonded together Xander should be able to access Frea's power. That should give him the edge to rescue your sister."
"No."
"What the hell do you mean no' Xander?"
"I'm not dragging you into this Dawnie. If we start dealing with power from before you were you who knows what could happen. I'm not going to risk losing you. The gang and I can rescue Buffy. You are going to stay put."
"Nothing doing Xander, she's my sister and I'm going to help."
"Dawn"
"She died for me Xander, I can't spend my life hiding behind her. If there is something I can do then I don't care what the risk is. You understand don't you?"
More than he wanted to.
"Ok, you win. I never could stand against you."
"Right. So what do I do sword-lady? Yell out sword power activate'?"
"It should be quite simple. Just take each others hands and think about being one."
"I don't know. I am still underage, Xander might get arrested."
"Dawnie"
"Ok, ok. Give a girl one last joke."
Xander took a firm grasp on Dawn's hand and closed his eyes. He pictured the times they had together. Having to carry her back home when she would follow them on patrol. Dawn listening to him gripe about Angel. Buffy getting mad at him for buying Dawn her first make-up kit. Late night gaming sessions while Buffy was busy with slaying or boyfriends. Competitions over who could devour the most sugared cereal.
Something shifted and Xander's eyes opened to behold a near translucent Dawn. In his hand was the hilt of a gleaming blade. There was only one thing to say under the circumstances.
"Wow."
