Title: Dark Knight Over Sunnydale -3/?
Author: Godeater
Disclaimer: Don't own jack. Or anyone else that might appear in this thing.
Summery: Xander's the original Dark Avenger. AU obviously.
Notes: This story has the same title as another Batman/Buffy fic I had started. I threw that one away. Now I'm writing this one. See how that works out? *g*
Rupert Giles was enjoying his position as Librarian of Sunnydale High School, for a number of reasons. First was the school itself. It was large and spacious, very much unlike Hermey High School in Los Angeles. Sunnydale High reminded him of the public school he had gone to back home in England. The Library itself was another benefit. While the one at Hermey had been rather small and very unappealing, the one in Sunnydale High had it's own separate wing in the school. It was large and airy, great stained-glass windows filtered the sunlight, giving the main room a comfortable feeling. Three floors held thousands of books of every kind. A series of small rooms on the second floor were made so students could study in peace. But most of all, it was almost always empty.
The students of Sunnydale High School rarely used this magnificent library, choosing instead to use the smaller public library, or the much larger reference library in Gotham City. That tendency to forget this part of school existed was a great relief to Giles, as it gave him the security to conduct training sessions with Buffy without much threat of interruption. The other, mostly trivial aspect, was that Giles didn't have to deal with teenagers much. Sitting in his office, sipping a cup of tea, Rupert Giles once again sighed at his good fortune and enjoyed the peace and quiet.
Which is probably why Buffy chose that moment to charge into the library.
His moment of Zen at an end, Giles rose from his desk and exited his office, raising an eyebrow at the serious look on his Slayer's face. "Something I can help you with, Buffy?"
"Yeah," Buffy answered, throwing herself into a plush leather chair. "A bat. A big one. Apparently flying around my new town, eating people."
"Ah," the Watcher responded with a smile, taking a seat on the long table that ran through the main room. "You refer to the mysterious 'Man- bat' that is being written about in the papers."
"It made it into the newspaper?" Buffy asked with surprise. "Whatever happened to the 'ignorance is bliss' thing that was going on in LA? And what kinda info do you have on this thing?"
"Calm yourself, Buffy." Taking his glasses off to give them a cleaning, Giles shook his head. "There is no such creature as is being described by the newspapers. It's most likely just hysteria. People seeing something in the shadows."
Buffy looked at her watcher in mild shock. "I cannot believe I just heard you, of all people, say something like that!"
"Buffy, I heard about this phantom my first day in this town," the Englishman said with a sigh. "I researched all my books for something…anything that would fit the description that is given. There is nothing!" Placing his glasses back on his face, Giles shrugged. "For once, I think that it really is nothing." Giles raised his hand even before Buffy could argue. "There is no such thing as a giant flying bat that eats people. The closest thing that I've come across is a gargoyle. Those are no larger then three feet tall and they only attack dogs."
Buffy stared at her Watcher, unhappy for some reason. "Well…those people are seeing something!"
Giles shrugged again, apparently unconcerned. "It's probably just rumor and…what you Americans like to refer to as 'hype'. One person saw something, probably a regular vampire or a common demon. They told someone else, who told someone else, and so on. Till this one incident took on almost legendary proportions. Now, every time someone sees something in the dark they don't understand, they call it this 'Man-bat'. It's an easy way for a populace to explain the unexplainable. Urban legend, nothing more."
"Maybe," the Slayer said reluctantly.
"Buffy, you are the Slayer. The Chosen One. You should be concerning yourself with real dangers! Not non-existent bogeyman."
"Fine!" Buffy said in exasperation. "Tell me, oh wise Watcher of mine! What are the real dangers I need to worry about?"
Giles now smiled with something close to real excitement. "This town is sitting right on top of a Hellmouth!"
"Huh?"
"A Hellmouth! A mystical convergence of otherworldly energies, that attracts demons, vampires and other creatures like a magnate attracts metal! A potential doorway to a Hell-dimension!"
"Okay," Buffy drawled. "Sleepy little town of rich people is a monster magnet and a the welcome mat to Hell. Got it. Just one question; where do they all hide?"
Giles gave his Slayer a confused look. "Excuse me?"
Sighing, Buffy got up and started to pace. "I mean, I don't know if you noticed, but this town ain't exactly huge. In fact it's small! Really small. Aside from the grandiose buildings and mansions, there aren't all that many places for demons to hide. The town has one small cemetery. One! I did a patrol of the town last night after Mom and Dawn went to bed. It took me an hour! And I did find one thing to kill. Aside from the apparent Bat sighting last night, there was nothing. Hellmouth or not, there is very little in this town that is slay-worthy."
"Yes," Giles affirmed, eyes apparently tired. "I wondered about that myself. The lack of hiding places and the fact that Sunnydale is a rather small hunting ground. I can only conclude that, while this town sits atop the center of the Hellmouth, its main effects reach into Gotham City…"
"Gotham City!" Buffy exclaimed, her eyes wide. "You mean that I moved from LA, which was bad enough, to here, just so I could protect possibly the biggest blight on the American landscape??"
"Well, I wouldn't' go that far," the Watcher sniffed. "Gotham City is hardly unattractive. I mean, its architecture alone is by far superior to say, that of Los Angeles…"
"Yeah, I'm sure that its hundred story skyscrapers are simply breathtaking" Buffy said, annoyance audible in her tone. "What I MEANT was that I'm used to things trying to bite me and eat me, not being shot at by big men named Mario. I mean, jeez! Gotham City has more people each year from homicides then from cancer!"
"That's an exaggeration, I'm sure." Giles responded sarcastically. "Either way, it's the only place around the Hellmouth large enough to support the numbers of demons that it must attract. Also, the Hellmouth probably explains a much of the violence that happens there. Besides, LA was hardly an oasis of law and order, and you managed find there for three years."
"Giles, have you ever been to Gotham City?" the young girl asked. "I haven't, but I've seen a map of it. It's a maze! The place must have a billion places for demons to setup shop. And that's just the surface! I don't want to even think about what they're sewer system is like!"
"There is no point complaining about it, Buffy" the Englishman said with a verbal shrug. "The fact is, you will have to patrol in Gotham City, as well as in Sunnydale. You're the Slayer. You'll manage. I recommend familiarizing yourself with Sunnydale and Gotham City a little better."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah," Buffy grumbled grabbing her backpack. "And complaining doesn't need a point. It's an end into itself." Turning to look at her Watcher, the Slayer snapped her fingers. "While I'm here, I need my text books."
While Buffy began to root through her bag for her schedule, Giles went to the counter and reached below, producing a pile of thick books. "I took the liberty of learning your class schedule and gathering the necessary text books for you, this morning."
Eyes wide at the number and size of the textbooks, Buffy sighed and picked them up. "Well, I'm glad to know you've been doing something more productive then sitting in your office, drinking tea." With a glare in her eyes, the Slayer turned and stalked out of the Library.
Rolling his eyes, Giles went back into his office, closing the door behind him.
Which meant neither one of them saw a rather a petite red-haired girl with a stunned expression on her face come down the stairs from the second level. Exiting , Willow simply stood outside the doors to the Library, the book on Percy Shelly that she had gone to the Library for now forgotten. "What the hell is Slayer?"
…___…___…
Willow Rosenburg went through the rest of the day in a daze. The conversation she had accidentally overheard in the Library at lunch running over and over in her head. Words like Slayer, demon, and vampire echoed especially loudly. 'It's like they really believe in that stuff,' Willow thought to herself as she exited the school at the end of the day. 'I heard two people having a serious discussion about killing demons.'
While she considered herself very open-minded, the idea that creatures from late night horror movies actually existed and that the small girl she had befriended today actually killed them was almost too much for Willow's brain to wrap around. 'Maybe…maybe there were rehearsing for a play or something. Going over their lines and they didn't know I was there…' But no, while she was far from convinced that Buffy or the librarian were actually right about all that demon stuff, she could tell by their voices that they actually believed it all. 'That makes them either insane or…' Willow couldn't come up with an 'or' that made any sense. 'Or they're right? And there are demons and vampires, and that Sunnydale is on top of some kind of vortex from hell?'
Occupied with these thoughts, Willow exited the school and walked right past Xander without noticing. "Hey," he said in greeting, falling into step beside her. "You okay?"
"Oh!" Willow said in surprise, blushing slightly. "Sorry Xander. I'm just thinking about…something."
"It's okay." Giving her an appraising look, her dark-haired friend gave her a smile. "If it's something you need to talk about…"
"No," Willow said right away, causing Xander to raise an eyebrow at her. "I mean…it's a secret. I think. I'm not sure…"
Xander stared her for a moment, his dark eyes seeming to look into her soul. Then he shrugged and smiled again. "Okay. Better not tell me then. You know I can't keep a secret very long."
"Right!" Willow said, relieved that her friend wouldn't push. "You're the biggest flibbery-gibbit in Sunnydale!"
"Part of my charm," Xander said, giving her a wink, before turning serious. "Are you and Tara going to the Bronze tonight?"
"I don't know," Willow said with a shrug of her own. "Maybe. I mean, there's nothing else to do that doesn't involve a trip into Gotham. Why?"
"Well, Cordy kinda talked me into going tonight, and I was hoping, well, praying actually, that I would have someone to talk to…that, you know…"
"Had a brain?" Willow supplied, giving her friend a sweet and innocent smile.
Xander sighed a long suffering sigh, making Willow immediately regret her words. "Will, I know Cordy makes it hard sometimes, but I really want you to get along with her."
"I know," Willow answered, frowning a bit. "But you're right. She does make it hard, and more then sometimes. Face it, Xander. She and I are from different worlds, and I don't think we'll ever get along."
Xander sighed again, before a slight smirk formed on his lips. "Speaking of getting along, you and your new friend seemed awfully chummy at lunch. I think I may feel the need to warn Tara of competition."
"Please!" Willow exclaimed with mock indignation. "There's only one blonde gal that I have eyes for, and it's not Buffy Summers." Now the redhead smirked, resuming their walk out of the school. "Anywise, I saw you looking at her in class this morning. You sure it isn't me who should be warning Cordelia about competition?"
"Right." Xander replied dismissivly. "You know, I'm not as shallow as you may think I am, Willow. Takes more then a pretty face to interest me."
Willow stopped and put a hand on Xander's arm. "I don't think you're shallow, Xander. Which is why I just don't get you and Cordelia." Willow knew that this was a conversation they'd had many times, but she just couldn't let it go. "Yeah, she's gorgeous, I can admit that. But other then her looks, I don't see what could interest you about her. You make references to her depth and layers, but I don't see it. Everyday I see her belittle and mock people who she thinks are her inferiors. I don't understand how you, one of the most kind and open-minded people I've ever met, could be with someone like that."
Xander looked down at Willow, knowing that his friend was generally confused. "Will, I don't want to keep having this conversation with you. You're right, if the impression that you have of Cordy were right, I wouldn't be with her." Seeing the unsatisfied look on Willow's face, Xander smiled at her. "You think that Cordelia uses her social standing as a weapon to hurt people. Well I know that she uses it as a shield to keep people at a distance."
Willow remained unconvinced. "That's crap," she said with confidence. "Cordelia is the most popular girl in school. She basks in the envy and attention she gets. That doesn't sound like a someone who uses a shield to me."
"She's jealous of you," Xander said quietly.
Willow gave him an incredulous look. "What?"
"You heard me." Xander gave her a hard look, but placed his hand over the one she still had on his arm to temper it. "Everyone respects you, not because of how much money you have or who you're dating, but because you're you. You're smart, pretty and kind." Ignoring the blush that she knew was rising on her cheeks, stayed silent. "People are your friends because they want to be, not because you're a step on a social ladder. People respect you, while they fear her. She knows the difference."
"You're making this up," Willow said, still not willing to believe it.
Dropping his hand to his side, Xander straightened his back slightly. "I wouldn't lie to you, Willow," the dark-haired boy said calmly, though Willow could detect a bit of hurt in his eyes. "She knows you don't think much of her, that's why she talks to you the way she does. She tries to distract you by insulting you, so that you don't see how much she likes you. You're my best friend and Cordy knows it. She knows that you are a major part of my life and it bugs her to no end that you think so little of her." With one last sigh, Xander started walking away toward the student parking lot. "And frankly, it's starting to bug me too."
Watching her best friend walk away disappointed in her, made Willow's stomach twist. She'd had no idea that Cordelia was jealous of her. It was almost too much to believe, but she knew to her soul that Xander wouldn't have told her if it wasn't. 'He's not the type to cover other people's short comings, no matter who they are,' she thought with certainty. 'And it really bothers him that Cordelia and I fight so much.' Running to catch up, Willow stepped in front of Xander and blocked his progress. "I'm didn't know," she said simply, meaning both what he'd said about Cordelia and the obviously real feelings he had for her.
"Now you do," Xander answered just as simply.
They stared at each other for a moment, reading more in each others eyes and body language then anyone could suspect. Willow knew that her best friend of a master at hiding his emotions and thoughts, whether it was with an amused smile or blank face. But she could read him better then even Alfred, and he knew it. Just like she knew that she was an open book to him, whether she wanted to be or not. Both knew that they could not see each other for years, and they'd still be able to do it.
"So, you think Buffy's pretty, eh?" Willow said with a smile, to break the tension.
Xander started walking again, knowing that Willow was right beside him "Excuse me?"
"You said it takes more then a pretty face to interest you," she said, a teasing glint in her eyes. "That means you think Buffy has a pretty face."
"Yeah, she's pretty. Very pretty, even," Xander answered and then shrugged. "But there's something about her that's…odd. Anyway, I don't think she likes me very much."
"Why?" Willow asked, knowing that he'd done something deliberately. "What did you do?"
"Nothing!" Xander said, stressing his innocence. "After you left, we sat there for awhile. She was eating her lunch and I was thinking about…stuff. Then she freaked out on me. I think that she thinks that I'm a snob."
Willow stared at her friend with suspicion. "And what might have given her that impression, hmm?"
Willow saw a flash of what she guessed was embarrassment cross Xander's face, before it was covered by a bored detachment. "I…may have been…slightly withdrawn. I had…other things on my mind."
Willow tried to think what might have stopped the usually suave and friendly Xander from chatting up a girl as attractive and pleasant as she knew Buffy was. It suddenly dawned on her. 'It's almost the anniversary of his parents death.' She did her best to hide the fact that she knew, knowing that her friend never talked about that event. "Well, I'm sure she was just nervous. First day in school and all. Plus, you are a kind of celebrity, you know…"
Xander rolled his eyes, as Willow knew he would. While not embarrassed by his status in pop culture, the girl knew her friend disliked it sometimes. "Well then she's definitely not my type. Anyone who can't look past a magazine cover holds no interest for me."
Reaching the parking lot, Xander turned and smiled at Willow, cocking his head toward his motorcycle. "Do you want a ride home?"
It was the usual offer. And more often then not, Willow accepted. She was about to do just that now, when a flash of blond hair caught her eye. She saw Buffy walking down the steps of the school and turning in the same direction of her home. "Um, not today. I think I'll walk." Xander raised an eyebrow and followed her eyes. Willow gave him a quick smile. "It's her first day. I thought she'd like some company afterward…and maybe I can convince her you're not an asshole."
Xander gave her an amused grin, a real one, before walking off toward his bike. "Don't hurt yourself," he said over his shoulder, a sparkle in his eye.
Laughing, Willow turned and watched Buffy started walking by herself away from the school. Hurrying to catch up, the redhead took a deep breath. 'We have things to talk about, Miss Buffy Summers.'
Author: Godeater
Disclaimer: Don't own jack. Or anyone else that might appear in this thing.
Summery: Xander's the original Dark Avenger. AU obviously.
Notes: This story has the same title as another Batman/Buffy fic I had started. I threw that one away. Now I'm writing this one. See how that works out? *g*
Rupert Giles was enjoying his position as Librarian of Sunnydale High School, for a number of reasons. First was the school itself. It was large and spacious, very much unlike Hermey High School in Los Angeles. Sunnydale High reminded him of the public school he had gone to back home in England. The Library itself was another benefit. While the one at Hermey had been rather small and very unappealing, the one in Sunnydale High had it's own separate wing in the school. It was large and airy, great stained-glass windows filtered the sunlight, giving the main room a comfortable feeling. Three floors held thousands of books of every kind. A series of small rooms on the second floor were made so students could study in peace. But most of all, it was almost always empty.
The students of Sunnydale High School rarely used this magnificent library, choosing instead to use the smaller public library, or the much larger reference library in Gotham City. That tendency to forget this part of school existed was a great relief to Giles, as it gave him the security to conduct training sessions with Buffy without much threat of interruption. The other, mostly trivial aspect, was that Giles didn't have to deal with teenagers much. Sitting in his office, sipping a cup of tea, Rupert Giles once again sighed at his good fortune and enjoyed the peace and quiet.
Which is probably why Buffy chose that moment to charge into the library.
His moment of Zen at an end, Giles rose from his desk and exited his office, raising an eyebrow at the serious look on his Slayer's face. "Something I can help you with, Buffy?"
"Yeah," Buffy answered, throwing herself into a plush leather chair. "A bat. A big one. Apparently flying around my new town, eating people."
"Ah," the Watcher responded with a smile, taking a seat on the long table that ran through the main room. "You refer to the mysterious 'Man- bat' that is being written about in the papers."
"It made it into the newspaper?" Buffy asked with surprise. "Whatever happened to the 'ignorance is bliss' thing that was going on in LA? And what kinda info do you have on this thing?"
"Calm yourself, Buffy." Taking his glasses off to give them a cleaning, Giles shook his head. "There is no such creature as is being described by the newspapers. It's most likely just hysteria. People seeing something in the shadows."
Buffy looked at her watcher in mild shock. "I cannot believe I just heard you, of all people, say something like that!"
"Buffy, I heard about this phantom my first day in this town," the Englishman said with a sigh. "I researched all my books for something…anything that would fit the description that is given. There is nothing!" Placing his glasses back on his face, Giles shrugged. "For once, I think that it really is nothing." Giles raised his hand even before Buffy could argue. "There is no such thing as a giant flying bat that eats people. The closest thing that I've come across is a gargoyle. Those are no larger then three feet tall and they only attack dogs."
Buffy stared at her Watcher, unhappy for some reason. "Well…those people are seeing something!"
Giles shrugged again, apparently unconcerned. "It's probably just rumor and…what you Americans like to refer to as 'hype'. One person saw something, probably a regular vampire or a common demon. They told someone else, who told someone else, and so on. Till this one incident took on almost legendary proportions. Now, every time someone sees something in the dark they don't understand, they call it this 'Man-bat'. It's an easy way for a populace to explain the unexplainable. Urban legend, nothing more."
"Maybe," the Slayer said reluctantly.
"Buffy, you are the Slayer. The Chosen One. You should be concerning yourself with real dangers! Not non-existent bogeyman."
"Fine!" Buffy said in exasperation. "Tell me, oh wise Watcher of mine! What are the real dangers I need to worry about?"
Giles now smiled with something close to real excitement. "This town is sitting right on top of a Hellmouth!"
"Huh?"
"A Hellmouth! A mystical convergence of otherworldly energies, that attracts demons, vampires and other creatures like a magnate attracts metal! A potential doorway to a Hell-dimension!"
"Okay," Buffy drawled. "Sleepy little town of rich people is a monster magnet and a the welcome mat to Hell. Got it. Just one question; where do they all hide?"
Giles gave his Slayer a confused look. "Excuse me?"
Sighing, Buffy got up and started to pace. "I mean, I don't know if you noticed, but this town ain't exactly huge. In fact it's small! Really small. Aside from the grandiose buildings and mansions, there aren't all that many places for demons to hide. The town has one small cemetery. One! I did a patrol of the town last night after Mom and Dawn went to bed. It took me an hour! And I did find one thing to kill. Aside from the apparent Bat sighting last night, there was nothing. Hellmouth or not, there is very little in this town that is slay-worthy."
"Yes," Giles affirmed, eyes apparently tired. "I wondered about that myself. The lack of hiding places and the fact that Sunnydale is a rather small hunting ground. I can only conclude that, while this town sits atop the center of the Hellmouth, its main effects reach into Gotham City…"
"Gotham City!" Buffy exclaimed, her eyes wide. "You mean that I moved from LA, which was bad enough, to here, just so I could protect possibly the biggest blight on the American landscape??"
"Well, I wouldn't' go that far," the Watcher sniffed. "Gotham City is hardly unattractive. I mean, its architecture alone is by far superior to say, that of Los Angeles…"
"Yeah, I'm sure that its hundred story skyscrapers are simply breathtaking" Buffy said, annoyance audible in her tone. "What I MEANT was that I'm used to things trying to bite me and eat me, not being shot at by big men named Mario. I mean, jeez! Gotham City has more people each year from homicides then from cancer!"
"That's an exaggeration, I'm sure." Giles responded sarcastically. "Either way, it's the only place around the Hellmouth large enough to support the numbers of demons that it must attract. Also, the Hellmouth probably explains a much of the violence that happens there. Besides, LA was hardly an oasis of law and order, and you managed find there for three years."
"Giles, have you ever been to Gotham City?" the young girl asked. "I haven't, but I've seen a map of it. It's a maze! The place must have a billion places for demons to setup shop. And that's just the surface! I don't want to even think about what they're sewer system is like!"
"There is no point complaining about it, Buffy" the Englishman said with a verbal shrug. "The fact is, you will have to patrol in Gotham City, as well as in Sunnydale. You're the Slayer. You'll manage. I recommend familiarizing yourself with Sunnydale and Gotham City a little better."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah," Buffy grumbled grabbing her backpack. "And complaining doesn't need a point. It's an end into itself." Turning to look at her Watcher, the Slayer snapped her fingers. "While I'm here, I need my text books."
While Buffy began to root through her bag for her schedule, Giles went to the counter and reached below, producing a pile of thick books. "I took the liberty of learning your class schedule and gathering the necessary text books for you, this morning."
Eyes wide at the number and size of the textbooks, Buffy sighed and picked them up. "Well, I'm glad to know you've been doing something more productive then sitting in your office, drinking tea." With a glare in her eyes, the Slayer turned and stalked out of the Library.
Rolling his eyes, Giles went back into his office, closing the door behind him.
Which meant neither one of them saw a rather a petite red-haired girl with a stunned expression on her face come down the stairs from the second level. Exiting , Willow simply stood outside the doors to the Library, the book on Percy Shelly that she had gone to the Library for now forgotten. "What the hell is Slayer?"
…___…___…
Willow Rosenburg went through the rest of the day in a daze. The conversation she had accidentally overheard in the Library at lunch running over and over in her head. Words like Slayer, demon, and vampire echoed especially loudly. 'It's like they really believe in that stuff,' Willow thought to herself as she exited the school at the end of the day. 'I heard two people having a serious discussion about killing demons.'
While she considered herself very open-minded, the idea that creatures from late night horror movies actually existed and that the small girl she had befriended today actually killed them was almost too much for Willow's brain to wrap around. 'Maybe…maybe there were rehearsing for a play or something. Going over their lines and they didn't know I was there…' But no, while she was far from convinced that Buffy or the librarian were actually right about all that demon stuff, she could tell by their voices that they actually believed it all. 'That makes them either insane or…' Willow couldn't come up with an 'or' that made any sense. 'Or they're right? And there are demons and vampires, and that Sunnydale is on top of some kind of vortex from hell?'
Occupied with these thoughts, Willow exited the school and walked right past Xander without noticing. "Hey," he said in greeting, falling into step beside her. "You okay?"
"Oh!" Willow said in surprise, blushing slightly. "Sorry Xander. I'm just thinking about…something."
"It's okay." Giving her an appraising look, her dark-haired friend gave her a smile. "If it's something you need to talk about…"
"No," Willow said right away, causing Xander to raise an eyebrow at her. "I mean…it's a secret. I think. I'm not sure…"
Xander stared her for a moment, his dark eyes seeming to look into her soul. Then he shrugged and smiled again. "Okay. Better not tell me then. You know I can't keep a secret very long."
"Right!" Willow said, relieved that her friend wouldn't push. "You're the biggest flibbery-gibbit in Sunnydale!"
"Part of my charm," Xander said, giving her a wink, before turning serious. "Are you and Tara going to the Bronze tonight?"
"I don't know," Willow said with a shrug of her own. "Maybe. I mean, there's nothing else to do that doesn't involve a trip into Gotham. Why?"
"Well, Cordy kinda talked me into going tonight, and I was hoping, well, praying actually, that I would have someone to talk to…that, you know…"
"Had a brain?" Willow supplied, giving her friend a sweet and innocent smile.
Xander sighed a long suffering sigh, making Willow immediately regret her words. "Will, I know Cordy makes it hard sometimes, but I really want you to get along with her."
"I know," Willow answered, frowning a bit. "But you're right. She does make it hard, and more then sometimes. Face it, Xander. She and I are from different worlds, and I don't think we'll ever get along."
Xander sighed again, before a slight smirk formed on his lips. "Speaking of getting along, you and your new friend seemed awfully chummy at lunch. I think I may feel the need to warn Tara of competition."
"Please!" Willow exclaimed with mock indignation. "There's only one blonde gal that I have eyes for, and it's not Buffy Summers." Now the redhead smirked, resuming their walk out of the school. "Anywise, I saw you looking at her in class this morning. You sure it isn't me who should be warning Cordelia about competition?"
"Right." Xander replied dismissivly. "You know, I'm not as shallow as you may think I am, Willow. Takes more then a pretty face to interest me."
Willow stopped and put a hand on Xander's arm. "I don't think you're shallow, Xander. Which is why I just don't get you and Cordelia." Willow knew that this was a conversation they'd had many times, but she just couldn't let it go. "Yeah, she's gorgeous, I can admit that. But other then her looks, I don't see what could interest you about her. You make references to her depth and layers, but I don't see it. Everyday I see her belittle and mock people who she thinks are her inferiors. I don't understand how you, one of the most kind and open-minded people I've ever met, could be with someone like that."
Xander looked down at Willow, knowing that his friend was generally confused. "Will, I don't want to keep having this conversation with you. You're right, if the impression that you have of Cordy were right, I wouldn't be with her." Seeing the unsatisfied look on Willow's face, Xander smiled at her. "You think that Cordelia uses her social standing as a weapon to hurt people. Well I know that she uses it as a shield to keep people at a distance."
Willow remained unconvinced. "That's crap," she said with confidence. "Cordelia is the most popular girl in school. She basks in the envy and attention she gets. That doesn't sound like a someone who uses a shield to me."
"She's jealous of you," Xander said quietly.
Willow gave him an incredulous look. "What?"
"You heard me." Xander gave her a hard look, but placed his hand over the one she still had on his arm to temper it. "Everyone respects you, not because of how much money you have or who you're dating, but because you're you. You're smart, pretty and kind." Ignoring the blush that she knew was rising on her cheeks, stayed silent. "People are your friends because they want to be, not because you're a step on a social ladder. People respect you, while they fear her. She knows the difference."
"You're making this up," Willow said, still not willing to believe it.
Dropping his hand to his side, Xander straightened his back slightly. "I wouldn't lie to you, Willow," the dark-haired boy said calmly, though Willow could detect a bit of hurt in his eyes. "She knows you don't think much of her, that's why she talks to you the way she does. She tries to distract you by insulting you, so that you don't see how much she likes you. You're my best friend and Cordy knows it. She knows that you are a major part of my life and it bugs her to no end that you think so little of her." With one last sigh, Xander started walking away toward the student parking lot. "And frankly, it's starting to bug me too."
Watching her best friend walk away disappointed in her, made Willow's stomach twist. She'd had no idea that Cordelia was jealous of her. It was almost too much to believe, but she knew to her soul that Xander wouldn't have told her if it wasn't. 'He's not the type to cover other people's short comings, no matter who they are,' she thought with certainty. 'And it really bothers him that Cordelia and I fight so much.' Running to catch up, Willow stepped in front of Xander and blocked his progress. "I'm didn't know," she said simply, meaning both what he'd said about Cordelia and the obviously real feelings he had for her.
"Now you do," Xander answered just as simply.
They stared at each other for a moment, reading more in each others eyes and body language then anyone could suspect. Willow knew that her best friend of a master at hiding his emotions and thoughts, whether it was with an amused smile or blank face. But she could read him better then even Alfred, and he knew it. Just like she knew that she was an open book to him, whether she wanted to be or not. Both knew that they could not see each other for years, and they'd still be able to do it.
"So, you think Buffy's pretty, eh?" Willow said with a smile, to break the tension.
Xander started walking again, knowing that Willow was right beside him "Excuse me?"
"You said it takes more then a pretty face to interest you," she said, a teasing glint in her eyes. "That means you think Buffy has a pretty face."
"Yeah, she's pretty. Very pretty, even," Xander answered and then shrugged. "But there's something about her that's…odd. Anyway, I don't think she likes me very much."
"Why?" Willow asked, knowing that he'd done something deliberately. "What did you do?"
"Nothing!" Xander said, stressing his innocence. "After you left, we sat there for awhile. She was eating her lunch and I was thinking about…stuff. Then she freaked out on me. I think that she thinks that I'm a snob."
Willow stared at her friend with suspicion. "And what might have given her that impression, hmm?"
Willow saw a flash of what she guessed was embarrassment cross Xander's face, before it was covered by a bored detachment. "I…may have been…slightly withdrawn. I had…other things on my mind."
Willow tried to think what might have stopped the usually suave and friendly Xander from chatting up a girl as attractive and pleasant as she knew Buffy was. It suddenly dawned on her. 'It's almost the anniversary of his parents death.' She did her best to hide the fact that she knew, knowing that her friend never talked about that event. "Well, I'm sure she was just nervous. First day in school and all. Plus, you are a kind of celebrity, you know…"
Xander rolled his eyes, as Willow knew he would. While not embarrassed by his status in pop culture, the girl knew her friend disliked it sometimes. "Well then she's definitely not my type. Anyone who can't look past a magazine cover holds no interest for me."
Reaching the parking lot, Xander turned and smiled at Willow, cocking his head toward his motorcycle. "Do you want a ride home?"
It was the usual offer. And more often then not, Willow accepted. She was about to do just that now, when a flash of blond hair caught her eye. She saw Buffy walking down the steps of the school and turning in the same direction of her home. "Um, not today. I think I'll walk." Xander raised an eyebrow and followed her eyes. Willow gave him a quick smile. "It's her first day. I thought she'd like some company afterward…and maybe I can convince her you're not an asshole."
Xander gave her an amused grin, a real one, before walking off toward his bike. "Don't hurt yourself," he said over his shoulder, a sparkle in his eye.
Laughing, Willow turned and watched Buffy started walking by herself away from the school. Hurrying to catch up, the redhead took a deep breath. 'We have things to talk about, Miss Buffy Summers.'