Title: Love Squared (2/9)
Author: Cyclone
Feedback: Please be gentle.
Distribution: Gimme credit and a link. Plus, archived at http://fanfiction.net/profile.php?userid=62966
Rating: I'm gonna go say R.
Spoilers: Up to Normal Again.
Disclaimer: The characters depicted herein belong to the almighty Joss. I'm just borrowing them for a while.
Summary: Sequel to Dancing Around Love. The Scooby Gang comes to grips with the recent events and deals with the Trio.
Author's Note: B/W/T/X.
* * *
"That's the demon," Buffy said. "I was right. Good work, Dawnie," she patted her sister on the back.
Dawn smiled at the compliment and said, "Anytime."
Buffy turned, "Tara, we've got a demon to hunt. Xander, take care of Willow."
Xander nodded and shot a worried look at the catatonic redhead curled up on the couch, "It's what I'm here for."
* * *
"What do you mean, 'not real'?" Willow demanded. "Of _course_ he's real!"
"No, he isn't," Jesse said softly. "Th-the doctor said he's like some kind of idealized version of me, one that never..." his voice broke and dropped in volume, "...one that never left you, Wills."
Willow looked up at the doctor, who nodded sadly. She turned her gaze toward Cordy, suddenly desperate, but the cheerleader shook her head and said, "And this 'Buffy' is like my good side, my friendly side when I wasn't being a bitch to you for appearance's sake."
She shook her head in denial, "No, no. I-it can't be..."
Her mother took her by the shoulders and said, "Say it with me, Willow. 'Xander's not real.'"
"Xander's... not... real?"
* * *
Buffy and Tara walked through the forest near the house where Buffy and Willow had been ambushed. Tara clutched the tranquilizer rifle uncertainly. She wasn't comfortable with the gun, but they wanted to take the demon alive... just in case.
"A-are you sure we can find it?"
"We have to," Buffy said, determined. "I'm not going to let Willow go through that."
Before Tara could ask what Buffy was talking about, the demon suddenly launched itself from the bushes at Buffy, who grabbed the demon and flung it against a tree. Tara fumbled with the tranquilizer and fired, but the dart went off-target, striking the tree instead.
Buffy continued wrestling with the demon and suddenly found herself in a headlock.
"Oh, this is _so_ not good," she muttered, then twisted and elbowed the demon's midsection. She stuck her foot between its ankles and brought her leg around in an arc, tripping it and freeing herself.
"Shoot it!"
Tara -- having taken the opportunity to load another tranquilizer dart into the rifle -- screwed her eyes shut and pulled the trigger, this time scoring a direct hit on the demon.
* * *
"Got the demon," Buffy said, hauling its unconscious form over her shoulder. Tara was a step behind her, carrying the tranquilizer rifle.
The Slayer dumped the demon on the floor... and froze. "What's wrong, Xander?"
"I'm not real," he said, his voice hollow. "In Willow's little world... I'm not real. I-I'm her Xander. I've _always_ been her Xander, and now... now she doesn't even believe in me anymore."
"It's not her, Xander; it's the demon's crazy juice. As soon as we get her the antidote, she'll be back to normal. Don't fall apart on us now," Buffy said, shoving aside the envy that threatened to rise. "We need you. _Willow_ needs you."
Tara was a little more direct, instead setting the tranq rifle down and pulling him into a hug.
Buffy bit her lip and watched for a moment to make sure he would be okay before turning to Dawn, "Can you make the antidote?"
"I-I think so," she said hesitantly. "I-I mean... this is Willow's specialty, y'know. I-I've never done the whole 'magic potion mixing' thing before."
"I know, but now it's up to you."
"Right."
"I'll help," Tara said. "W-we'll need some things from the Magic Box."
* * *
"Here's the cure!" Dawn said triumphantly as she and Tara entered the Summers home. "Buffy? Xander?"
"They're not here right now."
"Willow?" Dawn blinked.
The redhead stood rigid, her face grim, her eyes black, and she said, almost sadly, "You're not real."
She held an arm out, and Tara stepped forward between them, "No!"
Red lightning crackled out from Willow's fingertips and struck the magical barrier Tara erected.
* * *
Amy shifted and sat up. She... sensed something. Something was happening outside. Maybe she should...?
Nononono. No. Better to stay here, inside, where it's safe. No mirrors, no demons, no vampires, no magic, no... other stuff.
She curled up again and tried to shut out the world.
* * *
Dawn blinked her eyes open groggily. "What...?"
"You're not real," Willow said, repeating the phrase like a mantra as she fiddled with the ropes tying the demon down.
Dawn's eyes went wide, and she whipped her head around, "Xander? Buffy? Tara?"
They too were tied up. Buffy struggled with the manacles that bound her, and a strip of duct tape covered Tara's mouth, keeping her from speaking... and thus from casting any spells.
Tara's eyes looked... -- Dawn blinked -- no, must've been a trick of the light.
Thoughts about Tara suddenly fled her mind as Willow finished freeing the demon, which began stalking towards the tied-up Slayerettes.
* * *
"Shut up!" Amy shrieked at the empty room, clutching at her temples, trying to drive out and ignore what she was sensing, but she couldn't, and it was driving her nuts!
She had to do something about it, mirrors, demons, vampires, magic, and other stuff be damned!
* * *
"Take your time, sweetie," Willow's mother said, stroking her hair aside. "I know it's hard, but you'll be okay."
Jesse draped a comforting arm around her shoulders, "C'mon, Wills, she's right. It's rough, but you have to come back to us. The real world's not a nice place, but you can handle it. You're the strongest woman I know, and you can deal with this. No matter what happens, we'll always be with you. Remember that."
Willow blinked up at him, then smiled, "I will. Thank you, Jess." Her smile faded, "Goodbye."
"Willow? Willow!"
* * *
Amy stormed down into the basement and flung out a hand, "Eximete!"
Slayer and Slayerettes suddenly found themselves free as Amy grabbed the demon and punched it in the face, her own face twisted into a mask of fury, but the demon backhanded her and easily threw her against the wall.
Tara rose and tore the duct tape from her face, "Vis zenobia! Solvere!" The demon was flung across the room, and Buffy ran over to pull it into a headlock.
The demon struggled against Buffy's hold, but just as it was about to break free, a small pipe flew through the air and embedded itself in the demon's chest.
Willow leaned shakily against the stair railing, her hand still extended toward the demon from when she cast the spell that skewered it.
* * *
"No response," the doctor said, shining his penlight into Willow's blank eyes. He looked up at the four people in the room and shook his head. "We've lost her."
* * *
"I'm sorry, Xander," Willow said, rocking back and forth. "It's just... it made so much _sense_, you know? I-I mean, crazy girl in the psych ward or world-saving super-witch on the mouth of hell?"
"I know, but that wasn't you, Willow," Xander said, giving her comforting hug. "You don't have to apologize. It wasn't you, and you're cured now. It's not going to happen again."
Buffy nodded, "Yeah. I'd probably do the same if it were me." She blew out a sigh, "Back when I first... when I was first Called, I kinda panicked, told my parents. They put me away until I shut up about it. Sometimes... sometimes I wonder if I'm still back there."
"You aren't, Buffy," Xander said firmly.
"I know," she said, "but sometimes... I wonder, y'know?"
Willow nodded, "Yeah. I do."
After a long silence, Xander and Buffy left to see to Amy and Dawn's welfare. Tara -- who had been silent up until now -- glowered at the redhead, who shrank back. It didn't look like she was going to be as understanding as everyone else.
The blonde witch said quietly, "You used magic. I thought you'd quit."
"Tara, I..."
"You used magic, Willow!" Tara accused harshly. "Against _us_! When we were saving Xander, that's one thing, but... this! How could you?!"
"I-I'm sorry..." the redhead mumbled, but Tara whirled and stormed out before she could get the apology out.
"Oh, God," Willow said, her heart heavy. "What have I done?"
* * *
Author's Postscript:
Well, there's part two. Expect a slowdown, since classes have now started, which will severely curtail my free time.
Author: Cyclone
Feedback: Please be gentle.
Distribution: Gimme credit and a link. Plus, archived at http://fanfiction.net/profile.php?userid=62966
Rating: I'm gonna go say R.
Spoilers: Up to Normal Again.
Disclaimer: The characters depicted herein belong to the almighty Joss. I'm just borrowing them for a while.
Summary: Sequel to Dancing Around Love. The Scooby Gang comes to grips with the recent events and deals with the Trio.
Author's Note: B/W/T/X.
* * *
"That's the demon," Buffy said. "I was right. Good work, Dawnie," she patted her sister on the back.
Dawn smiled at the compliment and said, "Anytime."
Buffy turned, "Tara, we've got a demon to hunt. Xander, take care of Willow."
Xander nodded and shot a worried look at the catatonic redhead curled up on the couch, "It's what I'm here for."
* * *
"What do you mean, 'not real'?" Willow demanded. "Of _course_ he's real!"
"No, he isn't," Jesse said softly. "Th-the doctor said he's like some kind of idealized version of me, one that never..." his voice broke and dropped in volume, "...one that never left you, Wills."
Willow looked up at the doctor, who nodded sadly. She turned her gaze toward Cordy, suddenly desperate, but the cheerleader shook her head and said, "And this 'Buffy' is like my good side, my friendly side when I wasn't being a bitch to you for appearance's sake."
She shook her head in denial, "No, no. I-it can't be..."
Her mother took her by the shoulders and said, "Say it with me, Willow. 'Xander's not real.'"
"Xander's... not... real?"
* * *
Buffy and Tara walked through the forest near the house where Buffy and Willow had been ambushed. Tara clutched the tranquilizer rifle uncertainly. She wasn't comfortable with the gun, but they wanted to take the demon alive... just in case.
"A-are you sure we can find it?"
"We have to," Buffy said, determined. "I'm not going to let Willow go through that."
Before Tara could ask what Buffy was talking about, the demon suddenly launched itself from the bushes at Buffy, who grabbed the demon and flung it against a tree. Tara fumbled with the tranquilizer and fired, but the dart went off-target, striking the tree instead.
Buffy continued wrestling with the demon and suddenly found herself in a headlock.
"Oh, this is _so_ not good," she muttered, then twisted and elbowed the demon's midsection. She stuck her foot between its ankles and brought her leg around in an arc, tripping it and freeing herself.
"Shoot it!"
Tara -- having taken the opportunity to load another tranquilizer dart into the rifle -- screwed her eyes shut and pulled the trigger, this time scoring a direct hit on the demon.
* * *
"Got the demon," Buffy said, hauling its unconscious form over her shoulder. Tara was a step behind her, carrying the tranquilizer rifle.
The Slayer dumped the demon on the floor... and froze. "What's wrong, Xander?"
"I'm not real," he said, his voice hollow. "In Willow's little world... I'm not real. I-I'm her Xander. I've _always_ been her Xander, and now... now she doesn't even believe in me anymore."
"It's not her, Xander; it's the demon's crazy juice. As soon as we get her the antidote, she'll be back to normal. Don't fall apart on us now," Buffy said, shoving aside the envy that threatened to rise. "We need you. _Willow_ needs you."
Tara was a little more direct, instead setting the tranq rifle down and pulling him into a hug.
Buffy bit her lip and watched for a moment to make sure he would be okay before turning to Dawn, "Can you make the antidote?"
"I-I think so," she said hesitantly. "I-I mean... this is Willow's specialty, y'know. I-I've never done the whole 'magic potion mixing' thing before."
"I know, but now it's up to you."
"Right."
"I'll help," Tara said. "W-we'll need some things from the Magic Box."
* * *
"Here's the cure!" Dawn said triumphantly as she and Tara entered the Summers home. "Buffy? Xander?"
"They're not here right now."
"Willow?" Dawn blinked.
The redhead stood rigid, her face grim, her eyes black, and she said, almost sadly, "You're not real."
She held an arm out, and Tara stepped forward between them, "No!"
Red lightning crackled out from Willow's fingertips and struck the magical barrier Tara erected.
* * *
Amy shifted and sat up. She... sensed something. Something was happening outside. Maybe she should...?
Nononono. No. Better to stay here, inside, where it's safe. No mirrors, no demons, no vampires, no magic, no... other stuff.
She curled up again and tried to shut out the world.
* * *
Dawn blinked her eyes open groggily. "What...?"
"You're not real," Willow said, repeating the phrase like a mantra as she fiddled with the ropes tying the demon down.
Dawn's eyes went wide, and she whipped her head around, "Xander? Buffy? Tara?"
They too were tied up. Buffy struggled with the manacles that bound her, and a strip of duct tape covered Tara's mouth, keeping her from speaking... and thus from casting any spells.
Tara's eyes looked... -- Dawn blinked -- no, must've been a trick of the light.
Thoughts about Tara suddenly fled her mind as Willow finished freeing the demon, which began stalking towards the tied-up Slayerettes.
* * *
"Shut up!" Amy shrieked at the empty room, clutching at her temples, trying to drive out and ignore what she was sensing, but she couldn't, and it was driving her nuts!
She had to do something about it, mirrors, demons, vampires, magic, and other stuff be damned!
* * *
"Take your time, sweetie," Willow's mother said, stroking her hair aside. "I know it's hard, but you'll be okay."
Jesse draped a comforting arm around her shoulders, "C'mon, Wills, she's right. It's rough, but you have to come back to us. The real world's not a nice place, but you can handle it. You're the strongest woman I know, and you can deal with this. No matter what happens, we'll always be with you. Remember that."
Willow blinked up at him, then smiled, "I will. Thank you, Jess." Her smile faded, "Goodbye."
"Willow? Willow!"
* * *
Amy stormed down into the basement and flung out a hand, "Eximete!"
Slayer and Slayerettes suddenly found themselves free as Amy grabbed the demon and punched it in the face, her own face twisted into a mask of fury, but the demon backhanded her and easily threw her against the wall.
Tara rose and tore the duct tape from her face, "Vis zenobia! Solvere!" The demon was flung across the room, and Buffy ran over to pull it into a headlock.
The demon struggled against Buffy's hold, but just as it was about to break free, a small pipe flew through the air and embedded itself in the demon's chest.
Willow leaned shakily against the stair railing, her hand still extended toward the demon from when she cast the spell that skewered it.
* * *
"No response," the doctor said, shining his penlight into Willow's blank eyes. He looked up at the four people in the room and shook his head. "We've lost her."
* * *
"I'm sorry, Xander," Willow said, rocking back and forth. "It's just... it made so much _sense_, you know? I-I mean, crazy girl in the psych ward or world-saving super-witch on the mouth of hell?"
"I know, but that wasn't you, Willow," Xander said, giving her comforting hug. "You don't have to apologize. It wasn't you, and you're cured now. It's not going to happen again."
Buffy nodded, "Yeah. I'd probably do the same if it were me." She blew out a sigh, "Back when I first... when I was first Called, I kinda panicked, told my parents. They put me away until I shut up about it. Sometimes... sometimes I wonder if I'm still back there."
"You aren't, Buffy," Xander said firmly.
"I know," she said, "but sometimes... I wonder, y'know?"
Willow nodded, "Yeah. I do."
After a long silence, Xander and Buffy left to see to Amy and Dawn's welfare. Tara -- who had been silent up until now -- glowered at the redhead, who shrank back. It didn't look like she was going to be as understanding as everyone else.
The blonde witch said quietly, "You used magic. I thought you'd quit."
"Tara, I..."
"You used magic, Willow!" Tara accused harshly. "Against _us_! When we were saving Xander, that's one thing, but... this! How could you?!"
"I-I'm sorry..." the redhead mumbled, but Tara whirled and stormed out before she could get the apology out.
"Oh, God," Willow said, her heart heavy. "What have I done?"
* * *
Author's Postscript:
Well, there's part two. Expect a slowdown, since classes have now started, which will severely curtail my free time.