For Him
rei_ite
Summary: There's a force that drives Xander, he just doesn't know why.
I dont own any thing in this fic
Hey this things taken a life of it's own. I'll try to improve grammar and such for ya's
*******
Xander and Willow pushed through the Rosenburg's heavy front door. Dumping their bags in practiced habit in the hall before moving onto the kitchen, to "defeat the munchies".
This practiced ritual was usually performed in high spirits but with a missing member it felt hollow, like they were just going through the motions.
Willow placed some cups on the kitchen bench as Xander raided the fridge for a bottle of juice. He turned to fill them but stopped, bottle halfway to the first cup... of ...three.
Willow was staring at the cup as well. Jesse's cup.
"He's never coming back is he Xander? We'll never see him again." Than more quietly "We'll never fill that cup again..." Willow's voice sounded detached, almost lifeless. Xander could see the tears in her eye's and knew there were some in his as well. He quickly blinked them away.
He started pouring juice again.
"No, we wont see him again Will." He looked at the third cup for a moment before filling it. "But we'll always fill this cup."
They looked at each other for a moment, than downed their glasses, and left the room.
A glass of juice sat on the kitchen bench, in front of an empty stool and warmed in the afternoon sunlight coming through the kitchen windows.
And a friend was remembered.
******
"So Xan, what do ya think of Buffy?" The pair were currently lounging around Willows bedroom. Xander, draped on his back over willow's bed, while she herself was lounging in the chair by her desk.
Both were trying their hardest not to think about Jesse.
"She's nice... a bit of a looker too.." Willow frowned slightly "... But she's kinda bossy, probably cause of that slayer gig. That's gotta be a mind trip."
"Finding out the fate of the world rests on your shoulders will do that." Willow was staring out the window, absently swinging the swivel chair back and forth.
Xander followed her gaze to find her staring at the horizon. Staring at, where in minutes, the sun would touch.
"Hard to believe that stuffs out there isn't it?"
"Yeah... and to think we lived here all our lives and never knew we lived on the mouth of hell." She sighed and looked over at Xander. "We have to help her."
"I know Will. We will help her. If we dont keep her alive...we all die" Xander was looking over at the horizon now. A sad look on his face. The sun had touched and was beginning it slow trek down behind it.
Willow shivered.
"Xander... You said before..that...you could teach me to fight?" Xander looked up at Willow and laughed good naturedly.
"I dont fight Willow, I brawl. I could teach you that if you really wanted but I doubt you'd like it. But dont worry we're going to be taught to fight. He's gonna teach us. We'll learn together."
Xander looked at a spot next to him on the bed, before laughing out loud again.
"But He does want me to get you fit .....softy."
Willow looked slightly embarrassed but mostly angry.
"Hey! I'm fit. I'm just not...Athletically minded!" She threw a pillow at him.
"Will, dont worry. It wont be much. You just have to come running with us a couple of nights a week, do some stretching, push-ups, sit-ups, and some sets on the bag at my place." Xander rattled off his weekly exercise routine.
"You call that not much?!" Willow almost shouted at him.
"Dont worry! It'll be fun" Willow just rolled her eye's at him.
"Will? Do you still want to do this? You really don't have to if you don't want to." Xander had flicked to serious.
"I do Xander. I want to be able to help." There had been no hesitation in Willow answer. Even though her reasoning was different to that she had told him, mostly anyway.
"All right.....Well I guess it's time for initiation. Hand us a candle?" Willow reached out and pulled a pink decorative candle down from the top of her desk before handing it to Xander.
"Cute" Xander dead panned. Willow smiled at her small victory.
Xander pulled a small silver lighter out of his pocket and flicked open the lid. There was a quick scratching sound as he sparked it up.
"When'd you get that?" Willow asked nodding at the lighter.
"Dad lost this one about six months ago. Tore the place apart looking for it. I found it in the garage last week, and he's already got a knew one so I decided to keep it." He said giving the little lighter a quick grin as he lit the candle.
He felt around under the bed for a moment before pulling a pencil up and started scratching the eight pointed star and pyramid symbol into the candle.
"Hey, that was my favorite one" Willow whined as he carved up the candle.
"Well you picked it so naaah" Xander emphasized his 'naaah' with a poke of his tongue.
"hmmph"
" Stop being such a cry baby, you've got plenty of candles" he waved a hand at the top of her desk where bunches of colored candles stood.
"Here" He handed her the lit candle. "Alright now all you have to do is say 'I fight for Him' than blow it out"
"That's it?" Willow asked suspiciously
"You were expecting a virgin sacrifice perhaps?" He grinned at her.
"Well no, but, it just seems a little.... I dont know...cheap?" she said searching for the word.
"Dont worry Will, He doesn't ask for anything except you fight for him. This is just kinda recognition of that I 'spose"
Willow gave him a look before shrugging and ...
"I fight for Him" and a blow and it was done. She looked around expecting something to be different.
"Nothing happened" She sounded a bit disappointed .
"Sure it did. I can see it already." And he could. Right next to Willow it looked like a small blue cloud was forming up. It slowly darkened to a deep blue before expanding into almost a sphere shape the size of a cars tyre. A small flash of light ended the phenomenon and left floating there was a creature maybe 4 inches shorter than Glyndaf.
This creature was covered in sleek sectioned black and blue armor. It was supported by four long sharp legs that bent like a spiders above it's body before coming back down. They ended with sharp points that, if it made a sound in this dimension, Xander was sure would make 'Click' sound whenever they touched the ground. Another two of the appendages were held out in front of the creature and seemed like they could be used as weapons or another set of feet. Behind the creature writhed nine whip thin tails. Each ended in what looked like little claws that held small glowing stones. It's head was low, lower than the bend in it's long legs, on a short neck that shot up from it's low torso. A single, wide, sharp horn flowed over it's head. It's mouth was a maze of mandibles and teeth. But it's eye's held unmentionable wisdom.
Like Glyndaf this creature just seemed wrong, but unlike Glyndaf this creature screamed speed. Thin appendages, that seemed so fragile betrayed their agility.
Where Glyndafs form screamed inevitable and final destruction, this creature was the very essence of a quick, painful strike.
"Xander, why is there a red cloud floating next to you?"
"Hey, see I told you there was a change. This is Glyndaf, That so called voice in my head. You wont be able to see him real well until you dedicate a few fights or until you get your 'eye's'." He made a gesture towards his face.
"Say 'Hi' Glyndaf" To Willow it actually looked like he gave the cloud a nudge and it moved forward a bit.
*Hello Willow. It is a pleasure for me to finally be able to talk to you* said Glyndaf in his strangely kind voice.
"Ahh hey, umm nice to meet you too. How long have you wanted to talk to me anyway?"
* Well, I've been with Xander since he was about six... so it's been quite a while. *
"Huh really?"
"Ohh enough about Glyndaf" said Xander cheerfully. "You've yet to talk to your familiar" Xander pointed to the blue black creature next to Willow. Unfortunately or fortunately depending on the way you see it, it still looked like a blue cloud to Willow.
*Hello Willow. I am Crytex. He is very pleased you have decided to fight for him. And I to serve you* The voice was the thick, deep and cultured voice of a women. Again it seemed remarkably friendly.
"Ahhh hi" Willow seemed a bit shy, nervous, freaked out she was talking to floating clouds. Xander noticed.
"Dont worry about them Willow. They're here to help. Even though this may seem a little freaky and they look a bit terrifying, they'll be nothing but helpful and never steer you wrong. Though they may egg you on to fight a bit, they'll be your knew best friend." Xander spoke with the confidence of someone use to a situation. Willow had stopped listening after terrifying. Though the mention of best friend saddened and enraged them both.
"Terrifying?" Though they still looked like clouds to Willow, the word had got her a bit ultra nervous, wondering what was under the cloud.
"Willow calm down. They wont hurt you. Anyway, what were you expecting? They're the servants of a god who wants nothing but battle, were you expecting bunnies or something?" Xander was giving her a reassuring grin, though she could tell he was laughing just under the surface.
"Oh you would have to find this funny." Willow glared at him. But he just grinned back at her and got to his feet. She gave him a worried look.
"What are you doing?"
"Going home to get ready, it's almost time to meet Buffy"
"You cant leave me here with... it." She looked at her cloud "No offence"
*None taken*
"Dont worry Will. She'll look after you. Do you really think I'd leave you alone with her if I thought you'd be hurt?" He gave her a knowing look, heading for the door.
"Well no it's just...."
"Dont worry Will, you'll be fine. I'll come by and pick you up in half. Bye" And the door was shut behind him.
Willow looked at her cloud awkwardly.
"Soo... um... what do you think I should wear to a pre ordained slaughter?"
*******
It was just settling on full dark when Xander walked up Willows drive. Her parents cars were parked in the driveway. He shifted the bag on his back and pulled his glasses down again to hide his eye's from the porch light before knocking. Willow was at the door rather quickly.
"Where have you been? You should have been here ten minutes ago" She sounded a bit cross.
Xander took a step back though before answering noting Willow clothes. She had on a pair of baggy jeans maybe three sizes to large for her, in fact they might have been Xanders. She had a nice blue T-shirt on with a denim jacket probably a size to small for her. The arms and shoulders fit her ok but it only came down to her mid riff, probably an inch above her belly button. The jeans were cinched at her waist with a nice yellow hemp belt, silver buckle reflecting the light, and Xander could see she had her black leather school shoes on.
All in all, a far cry from Willows usual soft wool attire.
She looked good. Very good.
Xander gave here a long wolf whistle in appreciation.
"Nice duds Will" Willow went VERY red but smiled, before looking cross again and smacking on the shoulder.
"Dont change the subject! You're late!"
"Hey hey, I picked up some supplies" He jiggled the bag. "So hurry up or we'll be late" He grinned his goof ball grin at her. She glared back at him but stepped out the door.
"Mum I'm off."
"Okay. Have fun"
The two were already on their way. The response from Willows mom was identical every time.
"So whats with the clothes?" Xander asked as the walked towards the library, both keeping a look out for anyone that could be a vampire. Both nervous now they knew they should be keeping a look out.
"Actually the jeans and the jacket are yours, you left them here ages ago and haven't bothered to pick them up" Willow explained.
"No I meant why are you wearing them now? What happened to your usual ensemble?"
"Oh, Crytex suggested I wear them. Said they were hardier than my other stuff." And than more quietly to herself "And would get your attention"
*And mission accomplished* said Crytex so only Willow could hear. Willow proceeded to grin like a maniac.
"Soo you two are hitting it off then? I told you it would be alright" said Xander matter of factly.
"Yeah, actually you were right. Crytex is really nice. It's just a bit hard to not talk to her in front of other people. If my parents saw me talking to thin air they'd freak"
"It's gets easier, but it's probably harder for you. You're not young enough to play it off as an invisible friend."
"So you mean Glyndaf was your invisible friend all those years ago?"
*The one and only*
"Oh you cheat." She smacked him in the arm, grinning "All those time we played hide and seek, and you found us cause 'your invisible friend helped'. You really did have an invisible friend to help you!"
Xander grinned un-repentedly as they walked up the school steps and laid a hand over his heart.
"Guilty as charged" he chuckled out. Than grinned at her as they headed down the empty halls of Sunnydale High..
Suddenly Xander couldn't help it. After whats happened to Jesse, talking to Willow like this. It was just such a relief that between them nothing had changed. That they were still best friends.
"Will, you have no idea how great it feels to be able to share this with someone. I dont have to keep things all to myself. It's just so...." Xander stopped looking for words and just turned, grinning all the while, and lifted Willow off her feet in a hug and spun her around. They were both laughing when he set down.
"Glad to see you two so happy just before we go into a massacre" Buffy scared the crap out of them.
"Aaargh Jesus H. Christ Buff, you scared the shit out of me."
Willow was too busy trying to breath to make a remark. Xander rubbed her on the back for a minute.
"Are you guys ready?"
"Yeah were good."
"Where's *gasp* Giles? *Gasp*"
"He's getting the crossbow he'll just be a sec."
"Crossbow?" Asked Willow starting to get a bit nervous. She was just starting to realize this would be a fight in which she could die. She had every right to be scared.
"Cool" Xander on the other hand was used to going into fights. He knew how to control his fear... well he knew how to hide it better than Willow.
The library doors burst open and Giles trotted through, crossbow cradled in his arms, a few bolts held precariously in one hand, a book in the other.
"Everyone's here? Good. Lets go shall we?" Giles had a no nonsense air about him. He had a rather vivid idea of what would happen if they failed tonight. He wasn't about to let that happen. They all started heading for started heading out. Willow dropping back to talk in low murmurs with Buffy. Xander walked ahead of them with the G-man.
"Need a hand ?" he asked as Giles almost dropped everything, trying to juggle them into a better position.
"If you dont mind" He handed his book to Xander, and got a better hold on the crossbow.
"Do you mind if I just...?" he motioned the book towards his back pack.
"No no go ahead, I really dont know why I brought it with us actually" Giles gave off a nervous chuckle " I must have read the passage six times already"
"Hey, if it makes you feel any better" Xander told him with a shrug as he put book in his bag, it clanked as it fell among the bags other items.
"What have you brought ?" Giles looked at Xanders bag curiously.
"Just some useful odds and ends" he opened the bag to give Giles a look.
Inside were a few crosses, about half a dozen stakes, a large kitchen knife and a seven hundred mill J b bottle full of holy water.
"Got a priest to bless it on the way over. For some reason he didn't seem to worried about doing it" Xander looked puzzled at that for a moment " Oh well, if holy water dont work that bottle will. You ever been brained with one of them before? They'll put you down just well as any baseball bat" He told him as they headed out towards the faculty car park and the piece of scrap parked in the middle of it.
"Actually Yes I have, in my younger days that is.... but don't worry, holy water works."
"Just like in the movies hey?"
"Yes actually, well except for the whole garlic thing."
"Damn, guess I didn't need to take those garlic capsules after all. Oh well, no making out for me tonight."
Giles gave him a strange look.
"Yes..... quite"
They all piled into Giles car and headed towards the Bronze.
The trip was made in nervous silence.
Xander and Willow held hands the entire way.
*******
rei_ite
Summary: There's a force that drives Xander, he just doesn't know why.
I dont own any thing in this fic
Hey this things taken a life of it's own. I'll try to improve grammar and such for ya's
*******
Xander and Willow pushed through the Rosenburg's heavy front door. Dumping their bags in practiced habit in the hall before moving onto the kitchen, to "defeat the munchies".
This practiced ritual was usually performed in high spirits but with a missing member it felt hollow, like they were just going through the motions.
Willow placed some cups on the kitchen bench as Xander raided the fridge for a bottle of juice. He turned to fill them but stopped, bottle halfway to the first cup... of ...three.
Willow was staring at the cup as well. Jesse's cup.
"He's never coming back is he Xander? We'll never see him again." Than more quietly "We'll never fill that cup again..." Willow's voice sounded detached, almost lifeless. Xander could see the tears in her eye's and knew there were some in his as well. He quickly blinked them away.
He started pouring juice again.
"No, we wont see him again Will." He looked at the third cup for a moment before filling it. "But we'll always fill this cup."
They looked at each other for a moment, than downed their glasses, and left the room.
A glass of juice sat on the kitchen bench, in front of an empty stool and warmed in the afternoon sunlight coming through the kitchen windows.
And a friend was remembered.
******
"So Xan, what do ya think of Buffy?" The pair were currently lounging around Willows bedroom. Xander, draped on his back over willow's bed, while she herself was lounging in the chair by her desk.
Both were trying their hardest not to think about Jesse.
"She's nice... a bit of a looker too.." Willow frowned slightly "... But she's kinda bossy, probably cause of that slayer gig. That's gotta be a mind trip."
"Finding out the fate of the world rests on your shoulders will do that." Willow was staring out the window, absently swinging the swivel chair back and forth.
Xander followed her gaze to find her staring at the horizon. Staring at, where in minutes, the sun would touch.
"Hard to believe that stuffs out there isn't it?"
"Yeah... and to think we lived here all our lives and never knew we lived on the mouth of hell." She sighed and looked over at Xander. "We have to help her."
"I know Will. We will help her. If we dont keep her alive...we all die" Xander was looking over at the horizon now. A sad look on his face. The sun had touched and was beginning it slow trek down behind it.
Willow shivered.
"Xander... You said before..that...you could teach me to fight?" Xander looked up at Willow and laughed good naturedly.
"I dont fight Willow, I brawl. I could teach you that if you really wanted but I doubt you'd like it. But dont worry we're going to be taught to fight. He's gonna teach us. We'll learn together."
Xander looked at a spot next to him on the bed, before laughing out loud again.
"But He does want me to get you fit .....softy."
Willow looked slightly embarrassed but mostly angry.
"Hey! I'm fit. I'm just not...Athletically minded!" She threw a pillow at him.
"Will, dont worry. It wont be much. You just have to come running with us a couple of nights a week, do some stretching, push-ups, sit-ups, and some sets on the bag at my place." Xander rattled off his weekly exercise routine.
"You call that not much?!" Willow almost shouted at him.
"Dont worry! It'll be fun" Willow just rolled her eye's at him.
"Will? Do you still want to do this? You really don't have to if you don't want to." Xander had flicked to serious.
"I do Xander. I want to be able to help." There had been no hesitation in Willow answer. Even though her reasoning was different to that she had told him, mostly anyway.
"All right.....Well I guess it's time for initiation. Hand us a candle?" Willow reached out and pulled a pink decorative candle down from the top of her desk before handing it to Xander.
"Cute" Xander dead panned. Willow smiled at her small victory.
Xander pulled a small silver lighter out of his pocket and flicked open the lid. There was a quick scratching sound as he sparked it up.
"When'd you get that?" Willow asked nodding at the lighter.
"Dad lost this one about six months ago. Tore the place apart looking for it. I found it in the garage last week, and he's already got a knew one so I decided to keep it." He said giving the little lighter a quick grin as he lit the candle.
He felt around under the bed for a moment before pulling a pencil up and started scratching the eight pointed star and pyramid symbol into the candle.
"Hey, that was my favorite one" Willow whined as he carved up the candle.
"Well you picked it so naaah" Xander emphasized his 'naaah' with a poke of his tongue.
"hmmph"
" Stop being such a cry baby, you've got plenty of candles" he waved a hand at the top of her desk where bunches of colored candles stood.
"Here" He handed her the lit candle. "Alright now all you have to do is say 'I fight for Him' than blow it out"
"That's it?" Willow asked suspiciously
"You were expecting a virgin sacrifice perhaps?" He grinned at her.
"Well no, but, it just seems a little.... I dont know...cheap?" she said searching for the word.
"Dont worry Will, He doesn't ask for anything except you fight for him. This is just kinda recognition of that I 'spose"
Willow gave him a look before shrugging and ...
"I fight for Him" and a blow and it was done. She looked around expecting something to be different.
"Nothing happened" She sounded a bit disappointed .
"Sure it did. I can see it already." And he could. Right next to Willow it looked like a small blue cloud was forming up. It slowly darkened to a deep blue before expanding into almost a sphere shape the size of a cars tyre. A small flash of light ended the phenomenon and left floating there was a creature maybe 4 inches shorter than Glyndaf.
This creature was covered in sleek sectioned black and blue armor. It was supported by four long sharp legs that bent like a spiders above it's body before coming back down. They ended with sharp points that, if it made a sound in this dimension, Xander was sure would make 'Click' sound whenever they touched the ground. Another two of the appendages were held out in front of the creature and seemed like they could be used as weapons or another set of feet. Behind the creature writhed nine whip thin tails. Each ended in what looked like little claws that held small glowing stones. It's head was low, lower than the bend in it's long legs, on a short neck that shot up from it's low torso. A single, wide, sharp horn flowed over it's head. It's mouth was a maze of mandibles and teeth. But it's eye's held unmentionable wisdom.
Like Glyndaf this creature just seemed wrong, but unlike Glyndaf this creature screamed speed. Thin appendages, that seemed so fragile betrayed their agility.
Where Glyndafs form screamed inevitable and final destruction, this creature was the very essence of a quick, painful strike.
"Xander, why is there a red cloud floating next to you?"
"Hey, see I told you there was a change. This is Glyndaf, That so called voice in my head. You wont be able to see him real well until you dedicate a few fights or until you get your 'eye's'." He made a gesture towards his face.
"Say 'Hi' Glyndaf" To Willow it actually looked like he gave the cloud a nudge and it moved forward a bit.
*Hello Willow. It is a pleasure for me to finally be able to talk to you* said Glyndaf in his strangely kind voice.
"Ahh hey, umm nice to meet you too. How long have you wanted to talk to me anyway?"
* Well, I've been with Xander since he was about six... so it's been quite a while. *
"Huh really?"
"Ohh enough about Glyndaf" said Xander cheerfully. "You've yet to talk to your familiar" Xander pointed to the blue black creature next to Willow. Unfortunately or fortunately depending on the way you see it, it still looked like a blue cloud to Willow.
*Hello Willow. I am Crytex. He is very pleased you have decided to fight for him. And I to serve you* The voice was the thick, deep and cultured voice of a women. Again it seemed remarkably friendly.
"Ahhh hi" Willow seemed a bit shy, nervous, freaked out she was talking to floating clouds. Xander noticed.
"Dont worry about them Willow. They're here to help. Even though this may seem a little freaky and they look a bit terrifying, they'll be nothing but helpful and never steer you wrong. Though they may egg you on to fight a bit, they'll be your knew best friend." Xander spoke with the confidence of someone use to a situation. Willow had stopped listening after terrifying. Though the mention of best friend saddened and enraged them both.
"Terrifying?" Though they still looked like clouds to Willow, the word had got her a bit ultra nervous, wondering what was under the cloud.
"Willow calm down. They wont hurt you. Anyway, what were you expecting? They're the servants of a god who wants nothing but battle, were you expecting bunnies or something?" Xander was giving her a reassuring grin, though she could tell he was laughing just under the surface.
"Oh you would have to find this funny." Willow glared at him. But he just grinned back at her and got to his feet. She gave him a worried look.
"What are you doing?"
"Going home to get ready, it's almost time to meet Buffy"
"You cant leave me here with... it." She looked at her cloud "No offence"
*None taken*
"Dont worry Will. She'll look after you. Do you really think I'd leave you alone with her if I thought you'd be hurt?" He gave her a knowing look, heading for the door.
"Well no it's just...."
"Dont worry Will, you'll be fine. I'll come by and pick you up in half. Bye" And the door was shut behind him.
Willow looked at her cloud awkwardly.
"Soo... um... what do you think I should wear to a pre ordained slaughter?"
*******
It was just settling on full dark when Xander walked up Willows drive. Her parents cars were parked in the driveway. He shifted the bag on his back and pulled his glasses down again to hide his eye's from the porch light before knocking. Willow was at the door rather quickly.
"Where have you been? You should have been here ten minutes ago" She sounded a bit cross.
Xander took a step back though before answering noting Willow clothes. She had on a pair of baggy jeans maybe three sizes to large for her, in fact they might have been Xanders. She had a nice blue T-shirt on with a denim jacket probably a size to small for her. The arms and shoulders fit her ok but it only came down to her mid riff, probably an inch above her belly button. The jeans were cinched at her waist with a nice yellow hemp belt, silver buckle reflecting the light, and Xander could see she had her black leather school shoes on.
All in all, a far cry from Willows usual soft wool attire.
She looked good. Very good.
Xander gave here a long wolf whistle in appreciation.
"Nice duds Will" Willow went VERY red but smiled, before looking cross again and smacking on the shoulder.
"Dont change the subject! You're late!"
"Hey hey, I picked up some supplies" He jiggled the bag. "So hurry up or we'll be late" He grinned his goof ball grin at her. She glared back at him but stepped out the door.
"Mum I'm off."
"Okay. Have fun"
The two were already on their way. The response from Willows mom was identical every time.
"So whats with the clothes?" Xander asked as the walked towards the library, both keeping a look out for anyone that could be a vampire. Both nervous now they knew they should be keeping a look out.
"Actually the jeans and the jacket are yours, you left them here ages ago and haven't bothered to pick them up" Willow explained.
"No I meant why are you wearing them now? What happened to your usual ensemble?"
"Oh, Crytex suggested I wear them. Said they were hardier than my other stuff." And than more quietly to herself "And would get your attention"
*And mission accomplished* said Crytex so only Willow could hear. Willow proceeded to grin like a maniac.
"Soo you two are hitting it off then? I told you it would be alright" said Xander matter of factly.
"Yeah, actually you were right. Crytex is really nice. It's just a bit hard to not talk to her in front of other people. If my parents saw me talking to thin air they'd freak"
"It's gets easier, but it's probably harder for you. You're not young enough to play it off as an invisible friend."
"So you mean Glyndaf was your invisible friend all those years ago?"
*The one and only*
"Oh you cheat." She smacked him in the arm, grinning "All those time we played hide and seek, and you found us cause 'your invisible friend helped'. You really did have an invisible friend to help you!"
Xander grinned un-repentedly as they walked up the school steps and laid a hand over his heart.
"Guilty as charged" he chuckled out. Than grinned at her as they headed down the empty halls of Sunnydale High..
Suddenly Xander couldn't help it. After whats happened to Jesse, talking to Willow like this. It was just such a relief that between them nothing had changed. That they were still best friends.
"Will, you have no idea how great it feels to be able to share this with someone. I dont have to keep things all to myself. It's just so...." Xander stopped looking for words and just turned, grinning all the while, and lifted Willow off her feet in a hug and spun her around. They were both laughing when he set down.
"Glad to see you two so happy just before we go into a massacre" Buffy scared the crap out of them.
"Aaargh Jesus H. Christ Buff, you scared the shit out of me."
Willow was too busy trying to breath to make a remark. Xander rubbed her on the back for a minute.
"Are you guys ready?"
"Yeah were good."
"Where's *gasp* Giles? *Gasp*"
"He's getting the crossbow he'll just be a sec."
"Crossbow?" Asked Willow starting to get a bit nervous. She was just starting to realize this would be a fight in which she could die. She had every right to be scared.
"Cool" Xander on the other hand was used to going into fights. He knew how to control his fear... well he knew how to hide it better than Willow.
The library doors burst open and Giles trotted through, crossbow cradled in his arms, a few bolts held precariously in one hand, a book in the other.
"Everyone's here? Good. Lets go shall we?" Giles had a no nonsense air about him. He had a rather vivid idea of what would happen if they failed tonight. He wasn't about to let that happen. They all started heading for started heading out. Willow dropping back to talk in low murmurs with Buffy. Xander walked ahead of them with the G-man.
"Need a hand ?" he asked as Giles almost dropped everything, trying to juggle them into a better position.
"If you dont mind" He handed his book to Xander, and got a better hold on the crossbow.
"Do you mind if I just...?" he motioned the book towards his back pack.
"No no go ahead, I really dont know why I brought it with us actually" Giles gave off a nervous chuckle " I must have read the passage six times already"
"Hey, if it makes you feel any better" Xander told him with a shrug as he put book in his bag, it clanked as it fell among the bags other items.
"What have you brought ?" Giles looked at Xanders bag curiously.
"Just some useful odds and ends" he opened the bag to give Giles a look.
Inside were a few crosses, about half a dozen stakes, a large kitchen knife and a seven hundred mill J b bottle full of holy water.
"Got a priest to bless it on the way over. For some reason he didn't seem to worried about doing it" Xander looked puzzled at that for a moment " Oh well, if holy water dont work that bottle will. You ever been brained with one of them before? They'll put you down just well as any baseball bat" He told him as they headed out towards the faculty car park and the piece of scrap parked in the middle of it.
"Actually Yes I have, in my younger days that is.... but don't worry, holy water works."
"Just like in the movies hey?"
"Yes actually, well except for the whole garlic thing."
"Damn, guess I didn't need to take those garlic capsules after all. Oh well, no making out for me tonight."
Giles gave him a strange look.
"Yes..... quite"
They all piled into Giles car and headed towards the Bronze.
The trip was made in nervous silence.
Xander and Willow held hands the entire way.
*******