Lily, the Vampire Slayer
Author's Note: Yeah, yeah. I know that I really should be placing some l/j in this fic, so if you guys can wait for it, I promise that it'll be out in the next chapter. Nothing but fluffiness, no action or nothing like that. Maybe a bit of comedy or something, but I'll try to make it as sweet as I can. Hope you guys like this, it's really important or else there wouldn't be any fluff in the next chappie.
Oh, and I hope no one takes offense to the way I portrayed New York here. I haven't really been there yet.
Chapter Fifteen
"Shit!" she swore under her breath, checking her watch for the umpteenth time as she ran through the relatively dirty New York streets, the early morning sun shining on her locks, making them shine a brilliant amber.
Making a mad dash through a deserted and grimy back alley, though still keeping her speed in check, she slammed open an Employee's Door. Running towards her locker, she sighed in relief as she saw Constance smiling down at her, tying on her apron.
"Morning, Lils!"
She mumbled a greeting then irritatedly grumbled out a question, "What's up with not waking me up?"
"I thought you needed more beauty sleep."
"My face really that ugly?" she teased, her exasperation long gone.
"Only as much as I need it, too."
Lily grinned as she took of her jacket, brushed it off out of habit and put on the long-sleeved starched shirt over her tank top. "I really am a hybrid, aren't I? Going around looking like a zombie and everything." She buttoned up her shirt and put on a black tie.
Constance gave her a sympathizing smile, "Well, at least yer not the only one anymore."
Lily shook her head as she put on the regulation black pants that came with her uniform, "Yeah, I kinda figured that out."
"Ready?" Constance asked, head tilted towards the swinging doors on the other side of the room.
"Just about," she mumbled through a mouthful of hairpins as she pulled her curls into a civilized bun.
"Alright, let's go."
Constance smirked, as she watched the other Slayer approach the enormous swinging doors and peer through the circular panes situated at just above her head. Then, noticing that Hope had not joined her, she turned and saw the other Slayer hold up a piece of white cloth by its strings.
Rolling her eyes, she grabbed the ivory white fabric and walked out the door with Constance at her side.
"Noon shift's a bitch," the Celt muttered, causing Lily to elicit a grin. The Irish girl hardly ever swore and when she did, it came out quite sweet as it were tinged with her accent.
But she was right, noontime at The Café was a bitch, indeed.
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Sweeping her hair out of her face and late into her second hour, Lily smiled automatically as she came upon a new table, though she didn't even bother glancing at the customers' faces. It wouldn't have mattered anyway, all the faces would blend in together, sooner or later, so she had resolved, long ago, that glancing at numerous faces gave her a headache, so she was indifferent when it came to handling restaurant patrons.
Handing out a greeting and automatically reciting the day's specials by heart, she patiently waited for the family to order, her mind on other things yet keeping up a façade of utmost attention.
That is, until she heard the deafening crash that originated just out of the kitchen doors and her companion's distinct laughter.
Groaning, she muttered an excuse towards the clientele she was attending to and rushed towards Constance, whom lay sprawled on her butt on the floor, surrounded by a dozen or so dirty dishes.
"Hope!" She scolded, putting out a hand to help her friend to her feet. "What in the fuckin' hell happened?"
"Newbie here couldn't read," one of the other waiters, Matt, playfully taunted, his deep blue-green eyes tinged with an adorable sparkle. "Went in the 'out' door."
"Not at fault, innit? Couldn' see through all o' the plates on me head, now could I?"
"'Stance, stay outta trouble, aight, girl? I'll clean this crap up," Matt sniggered, chucking Hope on the chin. "And Lils? Better get back ta your table, seems they're ready."
He pointed at her table and she trudged back towards it, wiping her palms on her apron and resuming her altogether fake smile. "Sorry 'bout that, are you guys ready to order?"
"We sure are, Lillian," her name was much too emphasized said with too much familiarity than the name she had placed on her tag.
Glancing up from her pad, she frowned at the entirely familiar voice/greeting and upon viewing the source, she allowed a real grin to spread on her face. "Siri!"
"Lil!" he imitated, all smiles as he stood to hug her.
"Hey," she returned the hug and glanced at his companions, one of which was James Potter. "So, whatcha doin' here?" she asked as she stepped out of the embrace.
Sirius made a face. "Have you gone stupid? I'm on vacation. What about you, then?"
She swept a hand over her waitress outfit. "Doy! I work here, Einstein."
"Who's Einstein?"
"Some really smart guy."
"Oh, so, I'm smart?" he was the utter embodiment of cluelessness. "Thanks!"
"That was sarcasm, Sirius."
"Oh.oh!" A light of understanding sparked in his eyes. "Wait, ey! I'm insulted."
"As you should be," she smirked.
"Well.guess who's here! Jamesie and Mr. and Mrs. Jamesie's parents!"
"I can see that, Black." Then she turned to face the Potters, "How do you do?"
They nodded and she held out her pad. "So whatcha havin'?"
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It was about five in the afternoon before Lily could leave the restaurant and she did so happily, wearily walking towards the apartment she shared with Constance, who had left to who knows where and with God knows who.
Climbing up the stairs to the third floor, she knocked on Ernie's door, deciding to hang with him for a while before she went out to patrol.
"Come in."
"Hey, Ern!" she called, throwing herself onto his musty yet comfortable couch.
"Hello Lillian," he nodded, carrying a cup of tea in his hand.
"Decided I was gonna bum around here for a while before I go patrolling."
"Well, then, I think you should change your plans."
"Why?" she leaned forward on the couch, staring at Ernie.
"She just called, right before you came. She needs you to 'take her shift' as she put it, at the club."
"What?"
"She also said to inform you that you need to be there by seven, there's supposed to be an inventory that she needed to do."
"Hell no!" she sputtered, flabbergasted. "If she can't handle two jobs then it ain't my problem! Ernie! Tell her!"
Ernie waited patiently for her pointless tirade to end. "Lily, you know very well that neither I nor you can force her to resign. Besides, it's the environment in which she wants to hunt in."
The club in which Constance worked in as a bartender was the breeding ground of most of the vampires in New York.
Lily glared at him, but he stood there, unrelenting. "Fine, then! But this is the absolute last time I'm gonna save her undeserving ass!"
She stomped off towards the door, muttering profane words under her breath, leaving Ernie to grin at her retreating back.
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(A/N: This is going to be insane, but I'm gonna use Coyote Ugly as a basis for the bar, I really liked the bar's concept but I'm changing its name. So to all who'd think it's cheesy, well I gave you a warning, didn't I?)
Scooping half a dozen bottles of beer off of the counter for the hundredth time, Lily was truly puzzled at the working of her fellow Slayer's mind. The bar was overly crowded, raucously intimidating and altogether stank of tightly pressed human bodies. The bartenders dancing atop the bar didn't help calm the customers either.
Wiping the bar top, she wondered how Constance could possibly work in this atmosphere, lest spot a vampire with her limited experience, Lily herself had to shut down all the other happenings around her and concentrate to actually notice a demon. She had slayed five the past hour, but her musings had not stopped there.
How could timid and conservative Constance fit in here when she herself, the bad ass Slayer could not bring herself to perform on the bar?
Lily was relieved that Constance's boss, Rhia, was an understanding woman, who, from her first time, excused her from the embarrassing experience of the almost profligate job. All she did was serve drinks and she was quite happy with the arrangement.
Nodding to a customer, she expertly threw down a dozen shot glasses, twirled a couple of bottles of Johnny Black in her hands and poured them into the glasses.
"Ten bucks, dude," she muttered, taking the bill in her palm and stuffing it into her pocket.
Cleaning the counter once more, she turned around to replenish the stock in her spot and nodded as some random ordered two beers. Quickly uncapping them, she mumbled a sum and handed them over, looking the guy over, seeing if he were underage, which he was.
He was Sirius Black.
"Black!" she yelped, surprised. "Why you here? How'd you get past Robbie?"
Robbie was a burly African-American who served as the club's bouncer.
Sirius grinned. "He told us we could get in if we made him laugh, so we did."
She slapped her head and groaned. "Potter here with you too?"
His grin widened and he reached out behind him, grabbing a young man, who was having an animated conversation with a couple of girls, by the scruff of his leather trench coat and settling him down on the stool.
"What was that for?" James growled, rubbing his neck. "She was nice."
"Guess who's here!!!" he sing-songed, an insane grin on his face.
James looked up and was taken-aback. "Lily?"
"James," she nodded, taking the beers away.
"Oi! What gives?" Sirius complained, eyeing the bottles of beer.
She smirked. "You fuck-ups are underage, I should know. I think this would suit you better."
She slammed two long-necked glasses on the countertop, pouring in some orange liquid and sweeping the beer bottles off the table.
Sirius stared at it fastidiously while James frowned and cautiously asked, "What is it?"
She snorted, amused at their reproach towards the drink. "A virgin screwdriver."
"What's that?"
"Try it, you'll find out."
James shook his head during which Sirius shrugged, threw all caution to the wind and downed the glass in one gulp.
"Well?" James stared at him expectantly as if waiting for his chum to fall to the floor, clutching at his throat due to some strange poisoning.
"Tastes like oranges," he said nonchalantly, wiping his mouth with the sleeve of his well-fitted black shirt.
"Well, doy! It is Orange juice."
"Trust Evans to state the obvious," Sirius muttered, glancing at James' glass.
"Only to clear things up for the slow at mind," she shot back sweetly, pointedly gazing at James.
"I am not quite as torpid as you are," he raised his brow, a bit of contempt laden in his words. "Though why should you mind if Padfoot and I down alcoholic beverages to the point ofintoxication? We are paying for it," James mumbled, being such an ass that it took all of her willpower not to smack him right there, staring her straight in the eye, somewhat challenging her.
She stared into those pools of chocolate and bluntly answered, "There's a law against that, y'know. Human or not, it'd be my butt on the line, not to mention my buddy's, whose shift I'm covering, if I give you alcohol. And stop talking like a genius, we don't need to know the length of your verbal capabilities."
"Well, it is an arse worth saving," Sirius cracked, to which Lily snorted.
About to fire a witty retort, she stopped halfway opening her mouth when she heard an almost deafening crash in the alley behind the bar. Frowning, she quickly turned and peeked out the grimy window situated near the back door.
Her suspicions were confirmed when she spotted a blur of red with yellow horns positioned above its scaly forehead.
Running out of the bar, she vaguely heard the boys follow her. Slamming the door open, she set into a fighting stance as the demon attacked her, coal black eyes blazing with some otherworldly fire that she had seen in others such as itself.
She did a spinning sidekick and dodged an attempted attack, taking note of the demon's lengthy sword. It smelled of an ancient evil, older than most creatures she had to deal with. She steeled herself and ducked as it made a swipe at her head, sliding between its legs and kicking the small of its back.
She quickly stood up and heard Constance distinct voice taunting something from behind her. She threw the old one-two, aiming for the beast's grotesque face, grinning up at it. The monstrosity backhanded her and she landed with her back to the dumpster, nearly shattering it.
Groaning, she rubbed the back of her head, feeling blood on her fingertips. Growling, she attacked and rammed her already messed- up head into the creature's unprotected torso. She grabbed the weapon from its sheath and pushed the beast into the one Constance's was fighting.
As if it were choreographed, both Slayers drew their 'borrowed' arms and decapitated both demons.
Lily stared at the other girl expectantly, waiting for an explanation as they both caught their breaths.
"Well?" Lily raised an eyebrow intimidatingly, wincing as she momentarily forgot her injury.
She smiled. "I was walking, to relieve you of my chore when they started attacking me. After my blood, I think."
Lily nodded. "Quetz, they're stupid but bloodthirsty, prefer dogs but once in a while attack humans if they sense free chow. I thought you were out with what's-his-name?"
"Jake."
"Yeah, what happened? You done early."
"I had broken it off."
"Big problems?"
"Yes."
"Don't wanna talk about it?"
Constance stared at the two boys behind Lily. "Later, when we're alone."
Lily followed her gaze. "Right. 'Satnce, James and Sirius. Guys, Constance, she's a Slayer."
They looked at her curiously.
"Remember when Zeke kinda almost killed me? Well, the Powers That Be kinda thought I wouldn't survive, so they sent another Slayer." She spoke so nonchalantly that Marauders could not imagine her to be the girl they met a few months ago. Then she turned to Constance and bluntly implied, "They know 'bout us."
They shook hands, though the other Slayer seemed to linger on James for a moment, not enough for anyone to notice but long enough for Lily and Sirius to take note of.
"Look," Lily directed her gaze at Constance. "If you don't need me anymore, I gotta get back 'home'. My head's knocked up pretty bad. Think you can handle trash duty?" She nodded at the demon carcasses.
"I'll be fine, are you sure yer feelin' up to walking ten blocks?"
"I'll go with you, Lils," Sirius responded, holding out his arm.
Lily hooked her arm in his. "I'll take this retard twin, you gonna be all right if I leave you the other?"
Constance smiled coquettishly at James, fluttering her lashes.
"I'll take that as a yes," Lily grinned, walking home with Sirius in tow.
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"What happened?" was the first thing out of Ernie's mouth the moment she saw Lily's profoundly bleeding wound.
She had explained the situation as he cleaned the wound and set bandages around her head.
Then, she set out for patrol, reluctantly allowing Sirius to come along, frightened at the thought of leaving him alone with Ernie.
After an hour of no action, Lily decided to retire.
Racing up the stairs with Sirius for no apparent reason at all other than an unrestrained childish fancy, their jaws dropped down to the floor as they chanced upon seeing Constance and James locked in a furious snogging session.
They stood there for quite some time, hiding giggles behind their palms, feeling like ignorant five-year-olds.
Lily, hearing footsteps from across the hall, figuring that it was Ernie, quickly broke James and Stance apart and shoved them into the apartment, fearing Ernie would see such an improper show for young men and women.
Trying to keep a straight face was hard with Sirius muttering, "You could've just told them to get a room, not shove them into it. So eager are we?"
"Lily?" Ernie's head protruded from behind the door. "You're home quite early."
"Business was slow."
"Oh," Ernie frowned at her, smiling face, sensing something was off. "Shouldn't your friend be going off by now?"
Ernie knew that she and Sirius were nothing but friends, but the fatherly side of him couldn't help but take unnecessary precautions.
"He ain't gonna make a move on me, are you Siri?"
"No, I won't. I swear." He placed a hand to his heart and put on a solemn façade that did not deceive the Watcher.
"I trust you Lily, but I don't quite trust the boy."
And with that, Ernie closed the door.
Sirius let out a chortle. "Sounds like what Remy would say."
"Speaking of which, how are Remy and Peter?"
"Remy's staying home getting some hard earned rest for the summer while Petey's off in Hawati something or the other, trying to get a tan."
"You mean Hawaii or is it Tahiti?"
"Does it matter?"
"Not really," she shrugged. "Aren't James' parents worried 'bout you guys?"
"They're off somewhere and told us to be home by eleven."
Lily glanced at her watch. "It's close to that by now. We better check on the love birds before they do something we'll all regret."
"What makes you think we haven't?"
They both jumped at the sound of the new voice and smirked at the sight of a very disheveled James Potter.
"What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be in there entertaining her?" Sirius cracked.
"Very funny," James rolled his eyes.
"Damn right, it was," Lily snorted.
"We better go, Padfoot."
"See ya 'round, fellas," she smiled, laying a hand on the cool metal knob and pushing the door open.
"You surely will."
"Hey, what's that supposed ta mean?" she called out to James' retreating figure as he and Sirius walked down the hall, heading for the stairs.
"Just what it says," he voiced back, waving a hand behind him.
"Asshole," she muttered beneath her breath, frowning at the thought of him brushing her off.
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Author's Note: Yeah, yeah. I know that I really should be placing some l/j in this fic, so if you guys can wait for it, I promise that it'll be out in the next chapter. Nothing but fluffiness, no action or nothing like that. Maybe a bit of comedy or something, but I'll try to make it as sweet as I can. Hope you guys like this, it's really important or else there wouldn't be any fluff in the next chappie.
Oh, and I hope no one takes offense to the way I portrayed New York here. I haven't really been there yet.
Chapter Fifteen
"Shit!" she swore under her breath, checking her watch for the umpteenth time as she ran through the relatively dirty New York streets, the early morning sun shining on her locks, making them shine a brilliant amber.
Making a mad dash through a deserted and grimy back alley, though still keeping her speed in check, she slammed open an Employee's Door. Running towards her locker, she sighed in relief as she saw Constance smiling down at her, tying on her apron.
"Morning, Lils!"
She mumbled a greeting then irritatedly grumbled out a question, "What's up with not waking me up?"
"I thought you needed more beauty sleep."
"My face really that ugly?" she teased, her exasperation long gone.
"Only as much as I need it, too."
Lily grinned as she took of her jacket, brushed it off out of habit and put on the long-sleeved starched shirt over her tank top. "I really am a hybrid, aren't I? Going around looking like a zombie and everything." She buttoned up her shirt and put on a black tie.
Constance gave her a sympathizing smile, "Well, at least yer not the only one anymore."
Lily shook her head as she put on the regulation black pants that came with her uniform, "Yeah, I kinda figured that out."
"Ready?" Constance asked, head tilted towards the swinging doors on the other side of the room.
"Just about," she mumbled through a mouthful of hairpins as she pulled her curls into a civilized bun.
"Alright, let's go."
Constance smirked, as she watched the other Slayer approach the enormous swinging doors and peer through the circular panes situated at just above her head. Then, noticing that Hope had not joined her, she turned and saw the other Slayer hold up a piece of white cloth by its strings.
Rolling her eyes, she grabbed the ivory white fabric and walked out the door with Constance at her side.
"Noon shift's a bitch," the Celt muttered, causing Lily to elicit a grin. The Irish girl hardly ever swore and when she did, it came out quite sweet as it were tinged with her accent.
But she was right, noontime at The Café was a bitch, indeed.
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Sweeping her hair out of her face and late into her second hour, Lily smiled automatically as she came upon a new table, though she didn't even bother glancing at the customers' faces. It wouldn't have mattered anyway, all the faces would blend in together, sooner or later, so she had resolved, long ago, that glancing at numerous faces gave her a headache, so she was indifferent when it came to handling restaurant patrons.
Handing out a greeting and automatically reciting the day's specials by heart, she patiently waited for the family to order, her mind on other things yet keeping up a façade of utmost attention.
That is, until she heard the deafening crash that originated just out of the kitchen doors and her companion's distinct laughter.
Groaning, she muttered an excuse towards the clientele she was attending to and rushed towards Constance, whom lay sprawled on her butt on the floor, surrounded by a dozen or so dirty dishes.
"Hope!" She scolded, putting out a hand to help her friend to her feet. "What in the fuckin' hell happened?"
"Newbie here couldn't read," one of the other waiters, Matt, playfully taunted, his deep blue-green eyes tinged with an adorable sparkle. "Went in the 'out' door."
"Not at fault, innit? Couldn' see through all o' the plates on me head, now could I?"
"'Stance, stay outta trouble, aight, girl? I'll clean this crap up," Matt sniggered, chucking Hope on the chin. "And Lils? Better get back ta your table, seems they're ready."
He pointed at her table and she trudged back towards it, wiping her palms on her apron and resuming her altogether fake smile. "Sorry 'bout that, are you guys ready to order?"
"We sure are, Lillian," her name was much too emphasized said with too much familiarity than the name she had placed on her tag.
Glancing up from her pad, she frowned at the entirely familiar voice/greeting and upon viewing the source, she allowed a real grin to spread on her face. "Siri!"
"Lil!" he imitated, all smiles as he stood to hug her.
"Hey," she returned the hug and glanced at his companions, one of which was James Potter. "So, whatcha doin' here?" she asked as she stepped out of the embrace.
Sirius made a face. "Have you gone stupid? I'm on vacation. What about you, then?"
She swept a hand over her waitress outfit. "Doy! I work here, Einstein."
"Who's Einstein?"
"Some really smart guy."
"Oh, so, I'm smart?" he was the utter embodiment of cluelessness. "Thanks!"
"That was sarcasm, Sirius."
"Oh.oh!" A light of understanding sparked in his eyes. "Wait, ey! I'm insulted."
"As you should be," she smirked.
"Well.guess who's here! Jamesie and Mr. and Mrs. Jamesie's parents!"
"I can see that, Black." Then she turned to face the Potters, "How do you do?"
They nodded and she held out her pad. "So whatcha havin'?"
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It was about five in the afternoon before Lily could leave the restaurant and she did so happily, wearily walking towards the apartment she shared with Constance, who had left to who knows where and with God knows who.
Climbing up the stairs to the third floor, she knocked on Ernie's door, deciding to hang with him for a while before she went out to patrol.
"Come in."
"Hey, Ern!" she called, throwing herself onto his musty yet comfortable couch.
"Hello Lillian," he nodded, carrying a cup of tea in his hand.
"Decided I was gonna bum around here for a while before I go patrolling."
"Well, then, I think you should change your plans."
"Why?" she leaned forward on the couch, staring at Ernie.
"She just called, right before you came. She needs you to 'take her shift' as she put it, at the club."
"What?"
"She also said to inform you that you need to be there by seven, there's supposed to be an inventory that she needed to do."
"Hell no!" she sputtered, flabbergasted. "If she can't handle two jobs then it ain't my problem! Ernie! Tell her!"
Ernie waited patiently for her pointless tirade to end. "Lily, you know very well that neither I nor you can force her to resign. Besides, it's the environment in which she wants to hunt in."
The club in which Constance worked in as a bartender was the breeding ground of most of the vampires in New York.
Lily glared at him, but he stood there, unrelenting. "Fine, then! But this is the absolute last time I'm gonna save her undeserving ass!"
She stomped off towards the door, muttering profane words under her breath, leaving Ernie to grin at her retreating back.
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(A/N: This is going to be insane, but I'm gonna use Coyote Ugly as a basis for the bar, I really liked the bar's concept but I'm changing its name. So to all who'd think it's cheesy, well I gave you a warning, didn't I?)
Scooping half a dozen bottles of beer off of the counter for the hundredth time, Lily was truly puzzled at the working of her fellow Slayer's mind. The bar was overly crowded, raucously intimidating and altogether stank of tightly pressed human bodies. The bartenders dancing atop the bar didn't help calm the customers either.
Wiping the bar top, she wondered how Constance could possibly work in this atmosphere, lest spot a vampire with her limited experience, Lily herself had to shut down all the other happenings around her and concentrate to actually notice a demon. She had slayed five the past hour, but her musings had not stopped there.
How could timid and conservative Constance fit in here when she herself, the bad ass Slayer could not bring herself to perform on the bar?
Lily was relieved that Constance's boss, Rhia, was an understanding woman, who, from her first time, excused her from the embarrassing experience of the almost profligate job. All she did was serve drinks and she was quite happy with the arrangement.
Nodding to a customer, she expertly threw down a dozen shot glasses, twirled a couple of bottles of Johnny Black in her hands and poured them into the glasses.
"Ten bucks, dude," she muttered, taking the bill in her palm and stuffing it into her pocket.
Cleaning the counter once more, she turned around to replenish the stock in her spot and nodded as some random ordered two beers. Quickly uncapping them, she mumbled a sum and handed them over, looking the guy over, seeing if he were underage, which he was.
He was Sirius Black.
"Black!" she yelped, surprised. "Why you here? How'd you get past Robbie?"
Robbie was a burly African-American who served as the club's bouncer.
Sirius grinned. "He told us we could get in if we made him laugh, so we did."
She slapped her head and groaned. "Potter here with you too?"
His grin widened and he reached out behind him, grabbing a young man, who was having an animated conversation with a couple of girls, by the scruff of his leather trench coat and settling him down on the stool.
"What was that for?" James growled, rubbing his neck. "She was nice."
"Guess who's here!!!" he sing-songed, an insane grin on his face.
James looked up and was taken-aback. "Lily?"
"James," she nodded, taking the beers away.
"Oi! What gives?" Sirius complained, eyeing the bottles of beer.
She smirked. "You fuck-ups are underage, I should know. I think this would suit you better."
She slammed two long-necked glasses on the countertop, pouring in some orange liquid and sweeping the beer bottles off the table.
Sirius stared at it fastidiously while James frowned and cautiously asked, "What is it?"
She snorted, amused at their reproach towards the drink. "A virgin screwdriver."
"What's that?"
"Try it, you'll find out."
James shook his head during which Sirius shrugged, threw all caution to the wind and downed the glass in one gulp.
"Well?" James stared at him expectantly as if waiting for his chum to fall to the floor, clutching at his throat due to some strange poisoning.
"Tastes like oranges," he said nonchalantly, wiping his mouth with the sleeve of his well-fitted black shirt.
"Well, doy! It is Orange juice."
"Trust Evans to state the obvious," Sirius muttered, glancing at James' glass.
"Only to clear things up for the slow at mind," she shot back sweetly, pointedly gazing at James.
"I am not quite as torpid as you are," he raised his brow, a bit of contempt laden in his words. "Though why should you mind if Padfoot and I down alcoholic beverages to the point ofintoxication? We are paying for it," James mumbled, being such an ass that it took all of her willpower not to smack him right there, staring her straight in the eye, somewhat challenging her.
She stared into those pools of chocolate and bluntly answered, "There's a law against that, y'know. Human or not, it'd be my butt on the line, not to mention my buddy's, whose shift I'm covering, if I give you alcohol. And stop talking like a genius, we don't need to know the length of your verbal capabilities."
"Well, it is an arse worth saving," Sirius cracked, to which Lily snorted.
About to fire a witty retort, she stopped halfway opening her mouth when she heard an almost deafening crash in the alley behind the bar. Frowning, she quickly turned and peeked out the grimy window situated near the back door.
Her suspicions were confirmed when she spotted a blur of red with yellow horns positioned above its scaly forehead.
Running out of the bar, she vaguely heard the boys follow her. Slamming the door open, she set into a fighting stance as the demon attacked her, coal black eyes blazing with some otherworldly fire that she had seen in others such as itself.
She did a spinning sidekick and dodged an attempted attack, taking note of the demon's lengthy sword. It smelled of an ancient evil, older than most creatures she had to deal with. She steeled herself and ducked as it made a swipe at her head, sliding between its legs and kicking the small of its back.
She quickly stood up and heard Constance distinct voice taunting something from behind her. She threw the old one-two, aiming for the beast's grotesque face, grinning up at it. The monstrosity backhanded her and she landed with her back to the dumpster, nearly shattering it.
Groaning, she rubbed the back of her head, feeling blood on her fingertips. Growling, she attacked and rammed her already messed- up head into the creature's unprotected torso. She grabbed the weapon from its sheath and pushed the beast into the one Constance's was fighting.
As if it were choreographed, both Slayers drew their 'borrowed' arms and decapitated both demons.
Lily stared at the other girl expectantly, waiting for an explanation as they both caught their breaths.
"Well?" Lily raised an eyebrow intimidatingly, wincing as she momentarily forgot her injury.
She smiled. "I was walking, to relieve you of my chore when they started attacking me. After my blood, I think."
Lily nodded. "Quetz, they're stupid but bloodthirsty, prefer dogs but once in a while attack humans if they sense free chow. I thought you were out with what's-his-name?"
"Jake."
"Yeah, what happened? You done early."
"I had broken it off."
"Big problems?"
"Yes."
"Don't wanna talk about it?"
Constance stared at the two boys behind Lily. "Later, when we're alone."
Lily followed her gaze. "Right. 'Satnce, James and Sirius. Guys, Constance, she's a Slayer."
They looked at her curiously.
"Remember when Zeke kinda almost killed me? Well, the Powers That Be kinda thought I wouldn't survive, so they sent another Slayer." She spoke so nonchalantly that Marauders could not imagine her to be the girl they met a few months ago. Then she turned to Constance and bluntly implied, "They know 'bout us."
They shook hands, though the other Slayer seemed to linger on James for a moment, not enough for anyone to notice but long enough for Lily and Sirius to take note of.
"Look," Lily directed her gaze at Constance. "If you don't need me anymore, I gotta get back 'home'. My head's knocked up pretty bad. Think you can handle trash duty?" She nodded at the demon carcasses.
"I'll be fine, are you sure yer feelin' up to walking ten blocks?"
"I'll go with you, Lils," Sirius responded, holding out his arm.
Lily hooked her arm in his. "I'll take this retard twin, you gonna be all right if I leave you the other?"
Constance smiled coquettishly at James, fluttering her lashes.
"I'll take that as a yes," Lily grinned, walking home with Sirius in tow.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"What happened?" was the first thing out of Ernie's mouth the moment she saw Lily's profoundly bleeding wound.
She had explained the situation as he cleaned the wound and set bandages around her head.
Then, she set out for patrol, reluctantly allowing Sirius to come along, frightened at the thought of leaving him alone with Ernie.
After an hour of no action, Lily decided to retire.
Racing up the stairs with Sirius for no apparent reason at all other than an unrestrained childish fancy, their jaws dropped down to the floor as they chanced upon seeing Constance and James locked in a furious snogging session.
They stood there for quite some time, hiding giggles behind their palms, feeling like ignorant five-year-olds.
Lily, hearing footsteps from across the hall, figuring that it was Ernie, quickly broke James and Stance apart and shoved them into the apartment, fearing Ernie would see such an improper show for young men and women.
Trying to keep a straight face was hard with Sirius muttering, "You could've just told them to get a room, not shove them into it. So eager are we?"
"Lily?" Ernie's head protruded from behind the door. "You're home quite early."
"Business was slow."
"Oh," Ernie frowned at her, smiling face, sensing something was off. "Shouldn't your friend be going off by now?"
Ernie knew that she and Sirius were nothing but friends, but the fatherly side of him couldn't help but take unnecessary precautions.
"He ain't gonna make a move on me, are you Siri?"
"No, I won't. I swear." He placed a hand to his heart and put on a solemn façade that did not deceive the Watcher.
"I trust you Lily, but I don't quite trust the boy."
And with that, Ernie closed the door.
Sirius let out a chortle. "Sounds like what Remy would say."
"Speaking of which, how are Remy and Peter?"
"Remy's staying home getting some hard earned rest for the summer while Petey's off in Hawati something or the other, trying to get a tan."
"You mean Hawaii or is it Tahiti?"
"Does it matter?"
"Not really," she shrugged. "Aren't James' parents worried 'bout you guys?"
"They're off somewhere and told us to be home by eleven."
Lily glanced at her watch. "It's close to that by now. We better check on the love birds before they do something we'll all regret."
"What makes you think we haven't?"
They both jumped at the sound of the new voice and smirked at the sight of a very disheveled James Potter.
"What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be in there entertaining her?" Sirius cracked.
"Very funny," James rolled his eyes.
"Damn right, it was," Lily snorted.
"We better go, Padfoot."
"See ya 'round, fellas," she smiled, laying a hand on the cool metal knob and pushing the door open.
"You surely will."
"Hey, what's that supposed ta mean?" she called out to James' retreating figure as he and Sirius walked down the hall, heading for the stairs.
"Just what it says," he voiced back, waving a hand behind him.
"Asshole," she muttered beneath her breath, frowning at the thought of him brushing her off.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
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