A/N: Hi there...sorry about the long wait, we were experiencing a few
technical difficulties, but I figured that you guys waited long enough ;-)
So this chapter isn't beta-ed, but the next ones will be.
~
"Willow...I wouldn't do that if I were you..." Dawn said warily as Willow typed 'I have red hair' into the response box.
"Why not? He seems nice enough..."
"But he's a demon!" Dawn squeaked, causing many of the students around her to give her a strange look.
"Of the internet!" Buffy announced loudly, "Ya know...the type that preys on young girls and such."
"You guys are too paranoid. He's really nice." Willow said, her voice falling into a monotonous pattern. Buffy shot her gaze up to the room clock.
"Shit. I told Xan I'd meet him in the caf about 10 minutes ago. He said he'd skip half the period. Wanna join?" Dawn shook her head and motioned sharply towards Willow, who was falling deeper and deeper into conversation with Malcolm.
"C'mon, Dawn." Buffy grabbed her friend's hand and tapped her other friend's shoulder "Will, you just gonna stay here?"
"Uh-huh."
"'Kay. See ya." Buffy more or less dragged Dawn out into the hallway.
"Buffy! That is totally dangerous! He's a demon! WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING!" Dawn screamed.
"Shh! Stop that! God, you're gonna give me heart palpitations. Look, Wills is a big girl, she can take care of herself."
"Unless it's a controlling love demon thing!" Dawn replied urgently.
"Come on, how likely is that?" Buffy really, really didn't want to think shop.
"Over the Hellmouth? Pretty * damn * likely." Dawn replied incredulously. Buffy sighed and looked up, mouthing 'Why me?'
"Let's just give it a few days. If anything gets really suspicious, I'll look into it or run in by Giles. " Dawn nodding, knowing for certain that things * would * get suspicious.
I just hope that Willow has even a few days...
~
Buffy slammed her locker shut, the next day. Clutching her books to her chest, she looked around for a friendly face. She perked up happily when she noticed the friendly face she had been hoping to find...
"Willow!" Buffy called to her friend, who just kept walking by.
Weird.
"Hey! Willow!" Nothing. "Willow!" Buffy ran up to her best friend, yelling her name.
"Will! Wait up!" Buffy finally caught up to her and grabbed her arm.
"Huh? Oh! Buffy! I didn't even see you there." Willow said, genuinely.
"Or hear me. What was up last night? I tried your line, like, a million times." Willow giggled covertly.
"I was talking to Malcolm."
"The internet guy?" Buffy asked, ignoring the worry that began to build.
"Oh, Buffy, you wouldn't believe it! He's so amazing! He's funny and...and...and smart, and clever, oh, and Buffy he really likes me. And I think I might like him, too!" Willow burst out, practically floating on the air.
"That's great, Will." Buffy forced out, "But, um, what do you really know about this guy?" Willow's face fell.
"I knew you'd react like this..."
"React like what?" Buffy asked defensively, "Who's reacting? I just think that you might not know everything about him...he might be leaving something out."
"His name's Malcolm Black, he's 17, a senior, he loves Raspberry slushies, and he likes me. What else is there to know?"
"Short, tall, skinny, fat?" Buffy asked.
"Does everything have to be about looks?" Willow replied, an insulted look coming upon her.
Damn. I sure am Foot-in-Mouth Girl. Buffy pursed her lips.
"No, not everything. But some stuff is. I mean, sure he's great and everything, but what if you meet him and...and you find out he has, like, a hairy back or something?" Willow considered this.
"Well, that's just not possible. I mean, he doesn't talk like someone who would have a hairy back. Besides, it doesn't matter, Buffy! Me and Malcolm's connection is so much deeper than that. Maybe I'm not his ideal either." Buffy nodded, thinking.
"So, he goes here?"
"Used to. Past tense. He just transferred today...or yesterday. I'm not sure."
"How convenient." Buffy muttered, the worry beginning to seep up into her veins. She shook it off with a friendly smirk.
"Hey, I'm just checkin' to make sure this guy's good enough for ya, that's all. You coming to Xander's tonight? He's forcing me to watch that Pretty in Pink movie." Buffy said with an eye roll and a smile.
"Molly Ringwald, Anthony Michael Hall, and that tall, dark, and hunky guy? I'm there!" Willow said perkily. Buffy laughed, shaking off the last worry resting in her. Willow was going to be fine.
Fine.
~
"Is she really wearing her hair like that?" Buffy asked to Xander in response to Molly Ringwald.
"Hey, don't dis my girl Molly. She is a bonifed, classic hottie, okay?" He replied, tossing a piece of popcorn up in the air and trying to catch it with his mouth, to no avail. It hit his nose.
"You're gonna have a little popcorn nation on the floor if ya keep doing that." Buffy joked, grabbing the bowl.
"Then I can be King! Above all of the buttered subjects, who come to my every beck and call...Just imagine the possibilities, Buffy." She chuckled appreciatively and focused on the movie again.
"So, where's this big, bad quote, huh? I can't find where it'd be in the context." Buffy pointed out.
"Well, Molly wakes up on her birthday and no one remembers and she says it and then she goes to school and complains about it and holy crap, that's Sixteen Candles." Xander said, slapping his forehead.
"What?" Buffy laughed.
"The movie. It's not Pretty in Pink that she says that, it's Sixteen Candles. I don't even think my boy Anthony is * in * this shit movie, if you'll excuse the French." Xander explained, leaning back in disgust.
Buffy burst out laughing.
"Movie expert indeed!" She yelled, slamming Xander playfully with a pillow.
"Hey, hey...violence is completely unnecessary!" He said, trying to shield himself with his hands. Buffy stuck her tongue out at him, but sat back down, a few stray laughs being let out every now and then.
"Hey, I wonder where Will is." Buffy suddenly mentioned, "She said she'd be here."
"Right. Yeah. Willow. Well, if I had to guess I'd say she was...Fill in the blank, Buffster."
"Talking to Malcolm." Buffy said, slightly sobered.
"Yeah. So, what, do you gotta get out of here?" Xander asked out of the blue, "Ya know, go off with the very thrilling vampire slaying. I'd understand. Everyone abandons me."
"Look at the jealous man!" Buffy exclaimed.
"Excuse me?"
"Willow's got a thang and Xander's left hanging." Buffy said with a smug smile.
"No, no. Willow and I aren't like that. I don't feel "that way" about Willow." Xander said, stealing an extra glance at Buffy.
"Still. You're used to being the belle of the ball." Buffy replied, staring intently at a picture of Xander giving Willow a piggy-back ride, at the age of 8.
"True. But come on, don't tell me you aren't slightly wigged out by this guy?" Xander asked, raising his eyebrows.
"Slightly." Buffy admitted, "But it's just because he could be anyone! Especially since he "transferred" and I just -"
"I know! I mean, I could say * I * was a high school student."
"You * are * a high school student." Buffy interjected.
"Yes, but I could also say I was an elderly Dutch woman. And who's to say I'm not, if I'm in the Elderly Dutch Woman chat room?" Xander finished, staring Buffy straight in the eye. Her gaze faltered nervously, a true pit finally taking place inside her stomach.
"Oh, God...you're right. You are absolutely right. Xan! Willow could be in real danger!" Buffy said, her eyes widening a la Dawn, "I have to go...do some research on our Mr. Black." Xander grabbed Buffy's arm.
"I think I got ya a little too worked up. Deal with it tomorrow. More than likely, it's totally fine. So just sit back, relax, and finish watching Molly mack on Andrew McCarthy." Buffy nodded, exhaling deeply. They sat in silence for a few moments, watching the movie.
"This is actually not that bad." Buffy commented.
"She doesn't end up with Duckie."
"Well, that sucks!!"
~
Andrews...Andrews...Andrews...Another Andrews...Hey, look! Andrews!...Not a whole lotta variety in this town... Buffy paged her way through the confidential files inside the school basement, the next day, looking doggedly for Black-comma-Malcolm. She suddenly felt a presence behind her, moving in. She slipped her hand down her back, reaching for a stake, when she heard a voice right against her ear.
"Shouldn't you be in class, luv?" Buffy smiled and turned around.
"Can't you ever just say 'hello' like a normal person?"
"What's the fun in that? So, what, school project or somethin'?" Spike motioned toward the open file cabinet.
"Nope, just playing Willow's role for the day. Her new internet boyfriend apparently used to go here until he "just happened" to transfer the day he started talking to Willow." Buffy explained ruefully.
" 'Course." Spike replied sardonically, rolling his eyes.
"So now I'm looking for his past records. They've gotta have 'em somewhere." Spike breathed in and scanned the room, exhaling an 'Ah-ha!' when he found what he was looking for.
"Here, pet. 'Recently Transferred Students.' If he went here, all his info'd be in this little cabinet." Buffy slammed the other one shut and walked over to where Spike was now standing.
"You sure?"
"I'll look through the regular 'Past Students' one, if you'd like." Buffy nodded and the two of them broke the locks in unison.
"Last name: Black, First name: Malcolm." Buffy said to Spike, as she thumbed through the new files. After checking and re-checking, Buffy realized that she had nothing.
"I've got nothing. You?" Buffy cocked her head hopefully, watching as Spike kept diligently at his search.
"...Andrews...Andrews...Andrews...Lotta bloody Andrewses in this town...Andrews...Azula...Azze...Binworth...Bherty...Bumperty...No Blacks." Spike finally said, looking up regretfully, "Sorry, luv. And that was my second time through."
"So that's it then." Buffy said resignedly, "Malcolm is a phony, in one way or the other."
"What made you suspect him in the first place?" Spike asked.
"Dawn, actually. She got it set in my brain that Malcolm's a demon. I don't know what her backing for it was, though. Gut instinct, I guess. But..."
"I'll look into it." Spike said quickly, his mind reeling, "Search around, the works. I mean if Dawn said it..." He stopped himself suddenly, "I mean, Dawn was probably onto something, is all." He slammed both drawers shut and smiled down at Buffy, "I'll check up on your status later. This might require our full attention." Buffy nodded, confused.
"If you say so." She whispered, however. Spike's smile lightened and he cupped her face with his hand and felt light headed when she closed her eyes. He patted her shoulder and walked away, leaving Buffy to watch his retreating back.
Sighing, Buffy sat down, trying to take everything in. She hoped to God it wasn't a demon. She'd never forgive herself if it was. She was the slayer. It was her duty to keep her eye out for potential demons, no matter where she was. She buried her head in her hands in frustration, unaware that all the while, someone was watching her...
~
"That girl is dangerous." Fritz intercepted the message from Malcolm, "She will not foil my plans! Not for you, and especially not for the girl."
Fritz nodded, watching Buffy through the camera. He didn't like that girl. Too cocky for her own good. Thought she was God's gift.
"She will not be an easy fight." He said suddenly, feeling panic overtake him, "She would die for her friends."
"Then, my dear boy, be sure that she does." Malcolm replied. Fritz smirked sinisterly, laughing lightly.
"It will be done, Malcolm."
~
"Xan! Jesse!!" The pair spun around at the sound of their names. Buffy rushed over to their sides and held onto their shoulders' for support.
"Hey Buff, what's goin' on?" Xander asked, narrowing his eyes.
"Malcolm's a liar and an all-around asshole. Or demon, if Dawn's theory is correct. Spike and I looked through the "Previous Student" records and there was nothing, no Malcolm Black. He never went here."
"Wow. That's huge." Jesse said, scratching his cheek. "Dawn thinks that he's a controlling love demon, if that makes any sense."
"Not really, but Spike said that there might actually be really cause for alarm. He seemed a little preoccupied with the fact that Dawn said it...like she's some sort of demon expert of something..." Buffy said, cocking her head in confusion. That damned feeling came back, but this time it was more like she was missing a link, instead of the feeling that she was repeating something...
Pushing those thoughts away, once again, Buffy smiled cheerfully.
"No big. If he is a demon we'll just annihilate him like the rest."
"But Wills..." Jesse started, "She's probably gonna be right at the front line of protecting this jerk off."
"Okay, now I know I'm not usually the reasonable one, or the practical one, or the person who thinks," Xander said, looking back and forth between his two friends, "but we're jumping to some huge conclusions here. We have no proof that he's a * demon *."
"Yet." Buffy said, sighing, "I hate to be a pessimist, but it's not completely unlikely that this guy is demonic trouble. I'll run it by Giles; I'm heading to the library anyways. I'll let you know what's what."
"Good luck." Jesse said, giving Buffy a squeeze on the shoulder. Xander threw his arms around her and hugged her tightly, smelling her hair.
"Uh...Xander? I didn't get shipped off to 'Nam, I'm just going to the library."
"Oh, I know," Xander said, letting her go reluctantly, "It was just a good luck hug." Buffy gave him an incredulous look, before rolling her eyes and giving them a retreating wave.
"Kill me." Xander said, sneering at his behavior.
"It wasn't that bad..." Jesse lied, trying to make his best bud feel better.
"I'm mentally challenged. She'll never want me. Not with Mr. Brit-With-a- Leather-Duster around. Who wears a leather duster anyway?"
"I always wanted a leather duster." Jesse admitted.
"Yeah, me too..."
~
"Dawn!" Spike ran through the halls and grabbed her arm, "Basement, now!"
The two of them slipped silently onto the stairway, once again.
"What's up this time, Spike?"
"Willow's latest flame. Buffy said you thought he was a demon?"
"Not thought, know." Dawn replied with a grimace.
"What do you remember?"
"It controls Willow into loving it, then it got a Power Rangers-esque robot body and Buffy kicked its ass, as usual. It was actually sorta lame. Kinda like something those geeks would put into motion." Dawn explained, searching her memory.
"Right. Do you remember what Buffy called it?"
"When she told me about it, I asked the same thing and she did that thing with her eyebrows and said "Something like Mollusk." So if that gives you anything..."
"Gives me something to work with, at least. Thanks, Bit." Spike said with a smile. He patted her head and pulled himself up the stairs. He'd have to go straight to the source of the problem...
~
"Hold up." Jenny said as Spike finished his story, "Let me get this straight. You think there's a mollusk that's been controlling Willow through the computer?"
"No, I think there's a demon that's name sounds like the word "mollusk" that's been controlling Willow through the computer." Jenny stared at him incredulously.
"And you're telling me this why?"
"You know how computers work. You know how demons work. Seemed like a fitting person to ask about it, is all."
"How did you know that I...?" She began to ask, knowing that the only person she had told about being a technopagan to was Rupert.
"I've got my sources. Now look, are you gonna help me or not? Cuz if you're not, I'll just - "
"Oh, no! No, I'll help you, of course. I was just making sure I got everything."
"Right then. Now, I wasn't aware that demons could use the computer to control people; normally they need actual physical contact." Spike said.
"Unless...unless the computer is the demon! A demonic computer! Oh, Rupert will love this one." Jenny put her hands on her hips, shaking her head.
"Let's not jump to conclusions now. A demon trapped inside the computer is more likely. Now how the demon * got * inside the bloody thing is the real bugger." Spike replied, leaning against one of the alleged computers.
"I guess that's where research comes in. Should I get Rupert?"
"Not yet. Now, can you turn this thing on?" He said, patting down on the monitor.
"I see Rupert has you under his "Books, good. Computers, bad" spell." Jenny replied with a laugh, as she pressed in the "On" button.
"Actually, someone taught me how to, er, navigate? Right, thought that was it. Anyway, they taught me how to navigate, but never how to turn this bloody thing on." He took the mouse and clicked the Internet icon and then entered a search engine.
"Computer demons?" She asked.
"Demons are all real old, luv. I doubt he's stuck in here under his own will. I think "Demons + Mind Control" would be a better bet." He sent the information in.
"Alright, here we go...first website of..."
"50,000." Jenny finished.
"Well, damn. Let's try this..."Demons + Mind Control + Emotional Control + M"
Only 4 websites came up.
"Let's see, a fan website for Keanu Reeves, alright, umm...basic demonology, demon called Moloch...Moloch! Sounds like Mollusk! Here's our guy." Jenny motioned for him to enter the site. Spike read the text quickly before sitting back in confusion.
"It says the only way Moloch can be activated, now, anyway, is by freeing him. And to do that, you have to read this spell, cuz he's stuck in a book. That doesn't make any sense why he would be active in here."
~
Fritz navigated the camera.
"He's more dangerous than the Slayer." Moloch hissed, "He has the information."
Fritz nodded, until he felt Moloch laugh.
"He is a vampire."
Fritz nodded again.
"But I smell a soul."
"It's probably just Miss Calendar's." Fritz said, bowing his head in reverence, "Vampires don't have souls."
"I'd hope for your life that you are correct, boy."
~
"Maybe it's not him."
"Please! Moloch, Mollusk? The similarity is bloody uncanny." Jenny bit her lip.
"How the hell did you get "Mollusk" anyway?"
"Sources." Spike grunted.
"Well, I did scan some of Rupert's books into the computer...maybe a few occult books got mixed into the pile. Would that set him free?"
"It's worth a shot. Can you check to see what you did?" Spike asked, feeling like maybe Jenny had hit something.
"Sure can. Hold on a sec." She pressed some foreign buttons and entered a file tracker. She scrolled down until Spike stopped her. There was a file without a name, which (if his computer knowledge was correct) was an impossibility, under normal circumstances.
"Click that." She obeyed his instructions and up came Italian poem set-up, which looked suspiciously like a spell. Spike scanned it until a smile broke onto his lips.
"We got our guy." He said, pointing to the one word he could decipher.
'Moloch'
"Great! Now, what?"
"Now we get Giles." Spike said, throwing Jenny a smile, "Finding this guy was the hardest part. Once we get him back in the book, it'll be over."
"Good. Hey." Spike turned around again and stopped by the door.
"Yeah?"
"I really like your hair." Spike gave her a smirk and shrugged.
"I'm Spike, by the way, if ya ever need some help eradicating your demon troubles."
"Eradicating?"
"Destorying. Spending a lot of time with Giles has its advantages."
"Yeah..." Jenny said, feeling oddly wistful.
"I'll see ya. Giles'll probably be over in a few."
"Okay. See ya."
"Bye."
Spike stepped out of the lab to run straight into Buffy.
"Well, hi there." She said, smiling up into his face. He felt his insides go weak for a second, for remembering he had a mission.
"Hey pet. I'd love to stay and chat, but I've gotta run. I found out some info on "Malcolm." "
"Uh oh. What's up? I was going in there now to see if I could catch him online and then give him a good, heart threat-fest."
"He's a demon, real name Moloch. He got into the computer when Jenny, or Miss Calendar, and Giles accidentally scanned in an occult book."
"Fuck." Buffy whispered, holding her temples, "Can we stop him?"
"Most likely. We just have to get him into the book, again." Buffy nodded, feeling tears build in her eyes. I'm not going to cry, I'm not going to cry... However, this didn't seem to be what her body had decided to follow.
"Geez, luv! What's wrong?" Spike jumped back in alarm, realizing that Buffy had tears rolling down her cheeks.
"Nothing! Nothing is exceptionally wrong. I don't know. I'm a hormone bomb...you said that once."
Yeah, in the * other * reality. And that was about Dawn...
"No, I didn't, pet." Spike said softly.
"Whatever. You could never understand the pressure on me. Willow is in trouble because of what I do. If I wasn't here, if I had no purpose, Willow wouldn't be controlled by demons and I mean, demons only exist because I exist and that's my fault and Willow is in trouble because of that." Buffy rambled as more and more tears broke loose.
"So, let me get this straight. You feel bad because demons exist and because you exist?"
"Pretty much, yeah. It's kinda complicated. It makes sense in my head." Buffy exclaimed with an ironic laugh. Spike took an unnecessary breath and drew her into his arms. Suddenly, however, she tensed up and in an unthinking reaction, she backed away from him. Spike felt a wave of indignation go through him.
"Right then." He said curtly, moving her out of the way.
"No, Spike, it wasn't. I just-"
"Don't." He whispered, his face stone, "I almost forgot. I can't win with you. Doesn't matter, though. You're probably better off without me." Spike gave a disgusted sneer and sauntered off.
"I just have a problem being open about my emotions." She whispered to his retreating figure. But he was gone. And she wasn't exactly comfortable with the amount of pain she felt at the thought of him mad at her.
Suddenly, Willow's face flashed before her.
She had more important things to deal with.
She was done with Spike.
Yeah, right.
~
tbc...
"Willow...I wouldn't do that if I were you..." Dawn said warily as Willow typed 'I have red hair' into the response box.
"Why not? He seems nice enough..."
"But he's a demon!" Dawn squeaked, causing many of the students around her to give her a strange look.
"Of the internet!" Buffy announced loudly, "Ya know...the type that preys on young girls and such."
"You guys are too paranoid. He's really nice." Willow said, her voice falling into a monotonous pattern. Buffy shot her gaze up to the room clock.
"Shit. I told Xan I'd meet him in the caf about 10 minutes ago. He said he'd skip half the period. Wanna join?" Dawn shook her head and motioned sharply towards Willow, who was falling deeper and deeper into conversation with Malcolm.
"C'mon, Dawn." Buffy grabbed her friend's hand and tapped her other friend's shoulder "Will, you just gonna stay here?"
"Uh-huh."
"'Kay. See ya." Buffy more or less dragged Dawn out into the hallway.
"Buffy! That is totally dangerous! He's a demon! WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING!" Dawn screamed.
"Shh! Stop that! God, you're gonna give me heart palpitations. Look, Wills is a big girl, she can take care of herself."
"Unless it's a controlling love demon thing!" Dawn replied urgently.
"Come on, how likely is that?" Buffy really, really didn't want to think shop.
"Over the Hellmouth? Pretty * damn * likely." Dawn replied incredulously. Buffy sighed and looked up, mouthing 'Why me?'
"Let's just give it a few days. If anything gets really suspicious, I'll look into it or run in by Giles. " Dawn nodding, knowing for certain that things * would * get suspicious.
I just hope that Willow has even a few days...
~
Buffy slammed her locker shut, the next day. Clutching her books to her chest, she looked around for a friendly face. She perked up happily when she noticed the friendly face she had been hoping to find...
"Willow!" Buffy called to her friend, who just kept walking by.
Weird.
"Hey! Willow!" Nothing. "Willow!" Buffy ran up to her best friend, yelling her name.
"Will! Wait up!" Buffy finally caught up to her and grabbed her arm.
"Huh? Oh! Buffy! I didn't even see you there." Willow said, genuinely.
"Or hear me. What was up last night? I tried your line, like, a million times." Willow giggled covertly.
"I was talking to Malcolm."
"The internet guy?" Buffy asked, ignoring the worry that began to build.
"Oh, Buffy, you wouldn't believe it! He's so amazing! He's funny and...and...and smart, and clever, oh, and Buffy he really likes me. And I think I might like him, too!" Willow burst out, practically floating on the air.
"That's great, Will." Buffy forced out, "But, um, what do you really know about this guy?" Willow's face fell.
"I knew you'd react like this..."
"React like what?" Buffy asked defensively, "Who's reacting? I just think that you might not know everything about him...he might be leaving something out."
"His name's Malcolm Black, he's 17, a senior, he loves Raspberry slushies, and he likes me. What else is there to know?"
"Short, tall, skinny, fat?" Buffy asked.
"Does everything have to be about looks?" Willow replied, an insulted look coming upon her.
Damn. I sure am Foot-in-Mouth Girl. Buffy pursed her lips.
"No, not everything. But some stuff is. I mean, sure he's great and everything, but what if you meet him and...and you find out he has, like, a hairy back or something?" Willow considered this.
"Well, that's just not possible. I mean, he doesn't talk like someone who would have a hairy back. Besides, it doesn't matter, Buffy! Me and Malcolm's connection is so much deeper than that. Maybe I'm not his ideal either." Buffy nodded, thinking.
"So, he goes here?"
"Used to. Past tense. He just transferred today...or yesterday. I'm not sure."
"How convenient." Buffy muttered, the worry beginning to seep up into her veins. She shook it off with a friendly smirk.
"Hey, I'm just checkin' to make sure this guy's good enough for ya, that's all. You coming to Xander's tonight? He's forcing me to watch that Pretty in Pink movie." Buffy said with an eye roll and a smile.
"Molly Ringwald, Anthony Michael Hall, and that tall, dark, and hunky guy? I'm there!" Willow said perkily. Buffy laughed, shaking off the last worry resting in her. Willow was going to be fine.
Fine.
~
"Is she really wearing her hair like that?" Buffy asked to Xander in response to Molly Ringwald.
"Hey, don't dis my girl Molly. She is a bonifed, classic hottie, okay?" He replied, tossing a piece of popcorn up in the air and trying to catch it with his mouth, to no avail. It hit his nose.
"You're gonna have a little popcorn nation on the floor if ya keep doing that." Buffy joked, grabbing the bowl.
"Then I can be King! Above all of the buttered subjects, who come to my every beck and call...Just imagine the possibilities, Buffy." She chuckled appreciatively and focused on the movie again.
"So, where's this big, bad quote, huh? I can't find where it'd be in the context." Buffy pointed out.
"Well, Molly wakes up on her birthday and no one remembers and she says it and then she goes to school and complains about it and holy crap, that's Sixteen Candles." Xander said, slapping his forehead.
"What?" Buffy laughed.
"The movie. It's not Pretty in Pink that she says that, it's Sixteen Candles. I don't even think my boy Anthony is * in * this shit movie, if you'll excuse the French." Xander explained, leaning back in disgust.
Buffy burst out laughing.
"Movie expert indeed!" She yelled, slamming Xander playfully with a pillow.
"Hey, hey...violence is completely unnecessary!" He said, trying to shield himself with his hands. Buffy stuck her tongue out at him, but sat back down, a few stray laughs being let out every now and then.
"Hey, I wonder where Will is." Buffy suddenly mentioned, "She said she'd be here."
"Right. Yeah. Willow. Well, if I had to guess I'd say she was...Fill in the blank, Buffster."
"Talking to Malcolm." Buffy said, slightly sobered.
"Yeah. So, what, do you gotta get out of here?" Xander asked out of the blue, "Ya know, go off with the very thrilling vampire slaying. I'd understand. Everyone abandons me."
"Look at the jealous man!" Buffy exclaimed.
"Excuse me?"
"Willow's got a thang and Xander's left hanging." Buffy said with a smug smile.
"No, no. Willow and I aren't like that. I don't feel "that way" about Willow." Xander said, stealing an extra glance at Buffy.
"Still. You're used to being the belle of the ball." Buffy replied, staring intently at a picture of Xander giving Willow a piggy-back ride, at the age of 8.
"True. But come on, don't tell me you aren't slightly wigged out by this guy?" Xander asked, raising his eyebrows.
"Slightly." Buffy admitted, "But it's just because he could be anyone! Especially since he "transferred" and I just -"
"I know! I mean, I could say * I * was a high school student."
"You * are * a high school student." Buffy interjected.
"Yes, but I could also say I was an elderly Dutch woman. And who's to say I'm not, if I'm in the Elderly Dutch Woman chat room?" Xander finished, staring Buffy straight in the eye. Her gaze faltered nervously, a true pit finally taking place inside her stomach.
"Oh, God...you're right. You are absolutely right. Xan! Willow could be in real danger!" Buffy said, her eyes widening a la Dawn, "I have to go...do some research on our Mr. Black." Xander grabbed Buffy's arm.
"I think I got ya a little too worked up. Deal with it tomorrow. More than likely, it's totally fine. So just sit back, relax, and finish watching Molly mack on Andrew McCarthy." Buffy nodded, exhaling deeply. They sat in silence for a few moments, watching the movie.
"This is actually not that bad." Buffy commented.
"She doesn't end up with Duckie."
"Well, that sucks!!"
~
Andrews...Andrews...Andrews...Another Andrews...Hey, look! Andrews!...Not a whole lotta variety in this town... Buffy paged her way through the confidential files inside the school basement, the next day, looking doggedly for Black-comma-Malcolm. She suddenly felt a presence behind her, moving in. She slipped her hand down her back, reaching for a stake, when she heard a voice right against her ear.
"Shouldn't you be in class, luv?" Buffy smiled and turned around.
"Can't you ever just say 'hello' like a normal person?"
"What's the fun in that? So, what, school project or somethin'?" Spike motioned toward the open file cabinet.
"Nope, just playing Willow's role for the day. Her new internet boyfriend apparently used to go here until he "just happened" to transfer the day he started talking to Willow." Buffy explained ruefully.
" 'Course." Spike replied sardonically, rolling his eyes.
"So now I'm looking for his past records. They've gotta have 'em somewhere." Spike breathed in and scanned the room, exhaling an 'Ah-ha!' when he found what he was looking for.
"Here, pet. 'Recently Transferred Students.' If he went here, all his info'd be in this little cabinet." Buffy slammed the other one shut and walked over to where Spike was now standing.
"You sure?"
"I'll look through the regular 'Past Students' one, if you'd like." Buffy nodded and the two of them broke the locks in unison.
"Last name: Black, First name: Malcolm." Buffy said to Spike, as she thumbed through the new files. After checking and re-checking, Buffy realized that she had nothing.
"I've got nothing. You?" Buffy cocked her head hopefully, watching as Spike kept diligently at his search.
"...Andrews...Andrews...Andrews...Lotta bloody Andrewses in this town...Andrews...Azula...Azze...Binworth...Bherty...Bumperty...No Blacks." Spike finally said, looking up regretfully, "Sorry, luv. And that was my second time through."
"So that's it then." Buffy said resignedly, "Malcolm is a phony, in one way or the other."
"What made you suspect him in the first place?" Spike asked.
"Dawn, actually. She got it set in my brain that Malcolm's a demon. I don't know what her backing for it was, though. Gut instinct, I guess. But..."
"I'll look into it." Spike said quickly, his mind reeling, "Search around, the works. I mean if Dawn said it..." He stopped himself suddenly, "I mean, Dawn was probably onto something, is all." He slammed both drawers shut and smiled down at Buffy, "I'll check up on your status later. This might require our full attention." Buffy nodded, confused.
"If you say so." She whispered, however. Spike's smile lightened and he cupped her face with his hand and felt light headed when she closed her eyes. He patted her shoulder and walked away, leaving Buffy to watch his retreating back.
Sighing, Buffy sat down, trying to take everything in. She hoped to God it wasn't a demon. She'd never forgive herself if it was. She was the slayer. It was her duty to keep her eye out for potential demons, no matter where she was. She buried her head in her hands in frustration, unaware that all the while, someone was watching her...
~
"That girl is dangerous." Fritz intercepted the message from Malcolm, "She will not foil my plans! Not for you, and especially not for the girl."
Fritz nodded, watching Buffy through the camera. He didn't like that girl. Too cocky for her own good. Thought she was God's gift.
"She will not be an easy fight." He said suddenly, feeling panic overtake him, "She would die for her friends."
"Then, my dear boy, be sure that she does." Malcolm replied. Fritz smirked sinisterly, laughing lightly.
"It will be done, Malcolm."
~
"Xan! Jesse!!" The pair spun around at the sound of their names. Buffy rushed over to their sides and held onto their shoulders' for support.
"Hey Buff, what's goin' on?" Xander asked, narrowing his eyes.
"Malcolm's a liar and an all-around asshole. Or demon, if Dawn's theory is correct. Spike and I looked through the "Previous Student" records and there was nothing, no Malcolm Black. He never went here."
"Wow. That's huge." Jesse said, scratching his cheek. "Dawn thinks that he's a controlling love demon, if that makes any sense."
"Not really, but Spike said that there might actually be really cause for alarm. He seemed a little preoccupied with the fact that Dawn said it...like she's some sort of demon expert of something..." Buffy said, cocking her head in confusion. That damned feeling came back, but this time it was more like she was missing a link, instead of the feeling that she was repeating something...
Pushing those thoughts away, once again, Buffy smiled cheerfully.
"No big. If he is a demon we'll just annihilate him like the rest."
"But Wills..." Jesse started, "She's probably gonna be right at the front line of protecting this jerk off."
"Okay, now I know I'm not usually the reasonable one, or the practical one, or the person who thinks," Xander said, looking back and forth between his two friends, "but we're jumping to some huge conclusions here. We have no proof that he's a * demon *."
"Yet." Buffy said, sighing, "I hate to be a pessimist, but it's not completely unlikely that this guy is demonic trouble. I'll run it by Giles; I'm heading to the library anyways. I'll let you know what's what."
"Good luck." Jesse said, giving Buffy a squeeze on the shoulder. Xander threw his arms around her and hugged her tightly, smelling her hair.
"Uh...Xander? I didn't get shipped off to 'Nam, I'm just going to the library."
"Oh, I know," Xander said, letting her go reluctantly, "It was just a good luck hug." Buffy gave him an incredulous look, before rolling her eyes and giving them a retreating wave.
"Kill me." Xander said, sneering at his behavior.
"It wasn't that bad..." Jesse lied, trying to make his best bud feel better.
"I'm mentally challenged. She'll never want me. Not with Mr. Brit-With-a- Leather-Duster around. Who wears a leather duster anyway?"
"I always wanted a leather duster." Jesse admitted.
"Yeah, me too..."
~
"Dawn!" Spike ran through the halls and grabbed her arm, "Basement, now!"
The two of them slipped silently onto the stairway, once again.
"What's up this time, Spike?"
"Willow's latest flame. Buffy said you thought he was a demon?"
"Not thought, know." Dawn replied with a grimace.
"What do you remember?"
"It controls Willow into loving it, then it got a Power Rangers-esque robot body and Buffy kicked its ass, as usual. It was actually sorta lame. Kinda like something those geeks would put into motion." Dawn explained, searching her memory.
"Right. Do you remember what Buffy called it?"
"When she told me about it, I asked the same thing and she did that thing with her eyebrows and said "Something like Mollusk." So if that gives you anything..."
"Gives me something to work with, at least. Thanks, Bit." Spike said with a smile. He patted her head and pulled himself up the stairs. He'd have to go straight to the source of the problem...
~
"Hold up." Jenny said as Spike finished his story, "Let me get this straight. You think there's a mollusk that's been controlling Willow through the computer?"
"No, I think there's a demon that's name sounds like the word "mollusk" that's been controlling Willow through the computer." Jenny stared at him incredulously.
"And you're telling me this why?"
"You know how computers work. You know how demons work. Seemed like a fitting person to ask about it, is all."
"How did you know that I...?" She began to ask, knowing that the only person she had told about being a technopagan to was Rupert.
"I've got my sources. Now look, are you gonna help me or not? Cuz if you're not, I'll just - "
"Oh, no! No, I'll help you, of course. I was just making sure I got everything."
"Right then. Now, I wasn't aware that demons could use the computer to control people; normally they need actual physical contact." Spike said.
"Unless...unless the computer is the demon! A demonic computer! Oh, Rupert will love this one." Jenny put her hands on her hips, shaking her head.
"Let's not jump to conclusions now. A demon trapped inside the computer is more likely. Now how the demon * got * inside the bloody thing is the real bugger." Spike replied, leaning against one of the alleged computers.
"I guess that's where research comes in. Should I get Rupert?"
"Not yet. Now, can you turn this thing on?" He said, patting down on the monitor.
"I see Rupert has you under his "Books, good. Computers, bad" spell." Jenny replied with a laugh, as she pressed in the "On" button.
"Actually, someone taught me how to, er, navigate? Right, thought that was it. Anyway, they taught me how to navigate, but never how to turn this bloody thing on." He took the mouse and clicked the Internet icon and then entered a search engine.
"Computer demons?" She asked.
"Demons are all real old, luv. I doubt he's stuck in here under his own will. I think "Demons + Mind Control" would be a better bet." He sent the information in.
"Alright, here we go...first website of..."
"50,000." Jenny finished.
"Well, damn. Let's try this..."Demons + Mind Control + Emotional Control + M"
Only 4 websites came up.
"Let's see, a fan website for Keanu Reeves, alright, umm...basic demonology, demon called Moloch...Moloch! Sounds like Mollusk! Here's our guy." Jenny motioned for him to enter the site. Spike read the text quickly before sitting back in confusion.
"It says the only way Moloch can be activated, now, anyway, is by freeing him. And to do that, you have to read this spell, cuz he's stuck in a book. That doesn't make any sense why he would be active in here."
~
Fritz navigated the camera.
"He's more dangerous than the Slayer." Moloch hissed, "He has the information."
Fritz nodded, until he felt Moloch laugh.
"He is a vampire."
Fritz nodded again.
"But I smell a soul."
"It's probably just Miss Calendar's." Fritz said, bowing his head in reverence, "Vampires don't have souls."
"I'd hope for your life that you are correct, boy."
~
"Maybe it's not him."
"Please! Moloch, Mollusk? The similarity is bloody uncanny." Jenny bit her lip.
"How the hell did you get "Mollusk" anyway?"
"Sources." Spike grunted.
"Well, I did scan some of Rupert's books into the computer...maybe a few occult books got mixed into the pile. Would that set him free?"
"It's worth a shot. Can you check to see what you did?" Spike asked, feeling like maybe Jenny had hit something.
"Sure can. Hold on a sec." She pressed some foreign buttons and entered a file tracker. She scrolled down until Spike stopped her. There was a file without a name, which (if his computer knowledge was correct) was an impossibility, under normal circumstances.
"Click that." She obeyed his instructions and up came Italian poem set-up, which looked suspiciously like a spell. Spike scanned it until a smile broke onto his lips.
"We got our guy." He said, pointing to the one word he could decipher.
'Moloch'
"Great! Now, what?"
"Now we get Giles." Spike said, throwing Jenny a smile, "Finding this guy was the hardest part. Once we get him back in the book, it'll be over."
"Good. Hey." Spike turned around again and stopped by the door.
"Yeah?"
"I really like your hair." Spike gave her a smirk and shrugged.
"I'm Spike, by the way, if ya ever need some help eradicating your demon troubles."
"Eradicating?"
"Destorying. Spending a lot of time with Giles has its advantages."
"Yeah..." Jenny said, feeling oddly wistful.
"I'll see ya. Giles'll probably be over in a few."
"Okay. See ya."
"Bye."
Spike stepped out of the lab to run straight into Buffy.
"Well, hi there." She said, smiling up into his face. He felt his insides go weak for a second, for remembering he had a mission.
"Hey pet. I'd love to stay and chat, but I've gotta run. I found out some info on "Malcolm." "
"Uh oh. What's up? I was going in there now to see if I could catch him online and then give him a good, heart threat-fest."
"He's a demon, real name Moloch. He got into the computer when Jenny, or Miss Calendar, and Giles accidentally scanned in an occult book."
"Fuck." Buffy whispered, holding her temples, "Can we stop him?"
"Most likely. We just have to get him into the book, again." Buffy nodded, feeling tears build in her eyes. I'm not going to cry, I'm not going to cry... However, this didn't seem to be what her body had decided to follow.
"Geez, luv! What's wrong?" Spike jumped back in alarm, realizing that Buffy had tears rolling down her cheeks.
"Nothing! Nothing is exceptionally wrong. I don't know. I'm a hormone bomb...you said that once."
Yeah, in the * other * reality. And that was about Dawn...
"No, I didn't, pet." Spike said softly.
"Whatever. You could never understand the pressure on me. Willow is in trouble because of what I do. If I wasn't here, if I had no purpose, Willow wouldn't be controlled by demons and I mean, demons only exist because I exist and that's my fault and Willow is in trouble because of that." Buffy rambled as more and more tears broke loose.
"So, let me get this straight. You feel bad because demons exist and because you exist?"
"Pretty much, yeah. It's kinda complicated. It makes sense in my head." Buffy exclaimed with an ironic laugh. Spike took an unnecessary breath and drew her into his arms. Suddenly, however, she tensed up and in an unthinking reaction, she backed away from him. Spike felt a wave of indignation go through him.
"Right then." He said curtly, moving her out of the way.
"No, Spike, it wasn't. I just-"
"Don't." He whispered, his face stone, "I almost forgot. I can't win with you. Doesn't matter, though. You're probably better off without me." Spike gave a disgusted sneer and sauntered off.
"I just have a problem being open about my emotions." She whispered to his retreating figure. But he was gone. And she wasn't exactly comfortable with the amount of pain she felt at the thought of him mad at her.
Suddenly, Willow's face flashed before her.
She had more important things to deal with.
She was done with Spike.
Yeah, right.
~
tbc...
