A/N: For those people who say Xander wouldn't act like I'm portraying
him, well I'm sorry but you lose an eye because of someone's idiocy and you
wouldn't act like Xander did for the last few episodes of the series. Fact
is, Xander let Buffy have it on more than one occasion (when she tried to
push everyone away leading to them being taken prisoner by the Master's
followers, she forced everyone to ensoul Angel, when she hid Angel's return
from them, etc.) It's just a shame his character didn't do the same in
later seasons.
It Had To Be Done 3
"Hi."
Xander beamed. "Oz, good to see you old buddy, pal of mine. Enter Slayer Central!"
The werewolf smiled politely before walking through the doorway. "Hi Wolfie," Faith smiled uncertainly, she'd always kinda liked the werewolf, it had been refreshing to hang with a guy who seemed completely oblivious to her hotness, a little disconcerting but comfortable too. She just didn't know how he felt about her being back.
The werewolf nodded at her before turning to Xander. "She good now?"
"Been in town four days, hasn't killed anyone."
Oz raised an eyebrow. "Hopeful."
"Oz, good lord it has been a long time," Giles hurried down the stairs, a beaming smile firmly in place, "and how are you?"
"Serene."
The Watcher chuckled. "I didn't really expect any different."
Faith looked around her, suddenly conscious of all the curious stares they were getting from the potentials. "Potentials, meet Oz, he's a werewolf-."
"Bloody hell!" that came from one of the English potentials, "do you buggers know anybody normal?"
The brunette hid a grin as she continued. "But don't worry about him, the wildest thing about Oz is," she ruffled the man's pink hair, "his choice in hair dye." Turning serious, she turned to Giles. "G, how's the research gig going?"
"Slowly."
Faith grimaced. "Nothing comes easy on the hellmouth," she winked at Xander. "Well, 'cept for the Xman."
"I was a seventeen year old virgin!" the man turned neon red. "Can we take this outside?"
"Hey Xand if you wanna a second try, that's five by five by me," Faith winked at the blushing man. "Didn't have you down as an exhibitionist though."
"I meant to brief Oz!"
"Way I remember last time was pretty brief," pretty special too, the Slayer added silently, she'd never been with a guy who was so respectful. Turning serious, she nodded. "Five by five, potentials annoy Andrew. G, get back with the research. Xman, Wolfie, follow me."
* * *
"So," Oz said slowly, "Buffy died a second time, and when you resurrected her that gave the First a foothold back in the dimension. And when she came back, she started sleeping with a soulless vampire who'd tried to kill us all on more than one occasion, that right? Then Will went insane when Tara was killed and tried to end the world, but you talked her down?" Xander nodded, the werewolf retained his customary expressionless. "In the meantime Wesley took away Angel's soul to find out about a demon that Angelus knew. When they couldn't restrain Angelus, they broke you out of prison," Faith nodded, this was the most she'd ever heard Oz say in one go. "And with Will's help you managed to get his soul back, then you came back here to help with the First and found Buffy had gone off the deep end, only listening to herself and an newly ensoulled Spike who'd just recently been under the First's control, is that right?"
"Pretty much," Xander agreed.
"Are you all crazy, loco, nuts!" Oz roared. "I mean is Buffy completely off the planet? The club owner who gave us our big break, Eric Draven, he's back from the dead some vengeance deal with a crow, but at least he's good, maybe I should fix him and Buffy up."
"We know the strangest people," Faith shook her head in disbelief, she'd never seen anything get a reaction like that from the Wolfman. "So you in Wolfie?"
"I'm here aren't I?" Inscrutable Oz was back.
"Five by five," Faith nodded. Another ally was always good. "Let's see what you've got," she laughed at the werewolf's raised eyebrow, "in your dreams Wolfie. I wanna see what the inner beast looks like." She winked at the werewolf, "last time I saw it you ended up on top, so ya never know your luck."
Xander shook his head. "I knew you weren't fussy but -."
"We were fighting," she interrupted with a glare. "I try to stay same species, unlike some Slayers."
"My mistake," Xander's grin took the edge of the irritation she felt at his remark. "So what does Wolf Oz look like?"
The werewolf wordlessly stripped to his underwear, revealing a slight but toned physique. After a few seconds, the guitarist started to change. First he began sprouting thick golden-brown fur all over his face and body, next his face started to change to that of a wolf's and finally his body grew. From standing around five and a half feet tall, the werewolf grew to a towering near eight feet, with a massively muscled body to match. But Faith could still see something Ozllike in her friend's piercing red eyes, at least that's what she told herself.
Xander coughed uncomfortably. "So that whole Willow and me thing, you don't still hold a grudge?"
* * *
"Where you going Slayer?"
Faith started at her friend's whisper from the hallway's shadows, she turned from the doorway to see him stood by the stairs. "Damn it Xand you're good at the sneaking shit, I never sensed you or nothing!"
Xander grinned at her. "Kind of have to be in this business, otherwise you don't last long." The man's face turned serious. "You off to that tomb Will thinks might have something to do with the Scythe?" She nodded, Xander's face hardened. "You were figuring on going alone?" She nodded again, now the man's eye looked furious. The Slayer swallowed, obviously he'd been practicing Giles' Ripper look. "Damn it Faith, you're our leader, you can't go off on lone wolf missions, I'm coming with you," the man's face softened slightly, "Faith, you've only just got back, we don't want to lose you again."
For a second Faith felt herself being torn in two directions. On the one hand, no-body 'cept Angel got away with using that tone with her. On the other, Xand was only angry 'cause he was concerned about her - and there weren't too many people who'd ever given a shit. Finally she came to a decision. "Fine you can come."
The man's face broke into a smile. "Thank god for that, I didn't want to have to hog-tie you."
"Bondage Xand? That ex-demon hottie has taught you some tricks," chuckling slightly at the man's flushed face, she opened the door and crept out into the night.
* * * "See this is why you can't keep a guy," Xander sighed theatrically. "Most girls want to be taken to the pictures, a club, or maybe a restaurant you," the man gestured towards their objective, "ask me to take you to a tomb. No second date for you."
"Oh I don't know, never done it in a graveyard, could be an experience," the Slayer winked at the man, "we going in?"
"Let's."
A single kick sent the heavy door flying off its hinges. Faith walked in, her Slayer senses tingling. "There's something here Xand."
"I know," Faith glanced at her friend's face, it was tight with tension. She half-thought about offering to let him to stay up here, but knew he'd only be insulted.
"Come on, let's go exploring."
"The places you take me to," Xander muttered.
Soon they found themselves in a torch lit room. "Whoa," Faith barely whispered, she'd been around some heavy shit in her days as a Slayer but this place was pressing down hard on her, the sheer weight of years humbling her. She glanced towards her friend and saw the awe she felt written on his face. Suddenly a curtain at the far end of the tomb moved, revealing a woman who could be aged anywhere from fifty to seventy. Sensing Xander bringing up his assault rifle behind her, Faith reached out and grabbed the barrel. "At ease soldier," she whispered, "she's on our side I can feel her goodness. Besides that much power you'd only piss her off."
The woman stepped forward, just out from behind the curtain, a benign smile on her face. "Greetings child," she nodded towards Xander. "I see you brought a man with you, most unexpected." The old woman peered at her friend, her smile broadening. "But a good choice, he has the heart of a warrior, the mind of a jester, and the soul of a poet. Is he your betrothed?"
The unflappable Slayer flapped, her cheeks crimson. "N..no," this was like talking about sex with your elderly grandma. "He's my bud," she tried to ignore Xander's muffled chuckles. She was glad one of them was enjoying this.
"Your friend?" the woman nodded approvingly. "A wise choice, he is steadfast and loyal to the causes and people who he believes in. Now to business. That scythe you carry, I placed it in the stone."
"Holy shit!" the Slayer flushed at the woman's glare, suddenly she was in 3rd grade again, getting told off by Mrs. Stevens for using a naughty word she'd heard one of her Ma's boyfriends use. "Sorry ma'am," she said meekly even as she fumed at Xander's choked laughter, if he repeated this to anybody, so help. "How old are you?"
"Let's just say I've been around for the odd eon or two," the woman said dryly. "Now child, what's your name?"
"Faith."
"A strong name for a strong woman, you'll need that strength in the days to come." Well that didn't sound good, mused the Slayer. "The scythe you carry was forged by my people for one such as you an eternity ago," Faith listened as the woman explained about an ancient order who watched the Watchers. "The fact you can wield the weapon used to kill the last pure demon can only mean that the end is truly near.."
Suddenly a hand shot out from behind the curtain, grabbed the woman's neck and snapped it. An instant later, and Caleb stepped out from behind the curtain. "Oh dear, just when she was getting to the good stuff."
"Bastard!" Xander's roar was followed by the emptying of an entire magazine into the priest.
Faith blinked, last time the bullets had slowed Caleb up, this time he didn't even blink. A grin on his face, the preacher surged towards her friend. The Slayer moved to intercept the man but was contemptuously back- handed to the floor. Dazed from the blow, she could only watch as Xander's feeble attempts at offence were knocked away before the preacher slammed his head into a wall. Even as Faith struggled to her feet she knew she'd never get there in time. The preacher turned towards her, a gleeful look on his face. "Say goodbye to your friend tramp."
"Sorry, can't let you do that." There was a black blur then Angel slammed into the priest's chest, knocking him to the ground, away from Xander. The priest surged back to his feet, a look of fury on his face, and swung a right hook that the Master Vampire swayed away from. "You know," Angel smashed a right into the preacher's stomach, "it's just about the only thing," he blocked a knee to the groin on his thigh, "that Liam, Angelus and Angel agree on. We all really hate," the vampire caught Caleb with a thudding uppercut to the jaw, "religion. You wanna help Faith?"
"Sure Overbite." Ducking under a left hook, Faith brought up a side kick into the priest's side, knocking him backwards. "I'll take over Angel, it's been a long time since I had some one-on-one action."
"That's not what I heard."
"Funny Angel, you're a real," she slipped inside a right cross before slamming her forehead into the priest's mouth, "laugh-a-minute." The preacher caught her with a right hook to the jaw that knocked her off- balance, looking to seek an advantage he followed up with an attempt at a leg-sweep that she leapt over, her foot flickering out to catch the man in his chest, sending him crashing into the wall behind him.
The preacher let out a bellow before charging forward and into a spin kick to the nose that sent him smashing back into the wall. Growling bestially, the preacher spun away from the wall, catching her with a back-handed punch that dazed her momentarily. Feeling the preacher grab the front of her shirt, Faith brought her knee up into his groin. "No touching," she followed up with a knee to the face, "the merchandise!"
"Bitch!" She slid inside the reverend's right cross before connecting with a kick to his left knee and spinning away.
"I'm telling you rev, it's lucky," she grunted as he caught her with a kick to the ribs, "you're a man of god, 'cause that pretty mouth ain't going get it down with the ladies." Finally she saw an opening, swinging the scythe up she took one of Caleb's hands off. As the man glanced down in disbelief, she changed the direction of her swing and sent the Scythe flashing through his neck. Before the headless body had hit the ground, she'd turned to face her mentor. "So how I do?"
"It's a hell of a lot more fun when I'm not on the receiving end."
Faith grinned at her hero. "You came," she said softly.
"You needed help, that's what I do," the vampire half-smiled. "Remember the company motto - 'We help the helpless'."
"Hey! Am not helpless!"
"Not what I heard," Angel crouched down by Xander's body. "How come he's with you and not Buff?"
Ah, this was awkward, Faith didn't have a clue what Red had told Angel when he was in town to ensoul him. "Let's wake him up first, then we'll talk."
The vampire stared at her searchingly for a second before nodding. "Fine, but then we talk."
"Five by five," the Slayer knelt down beside her friend for a second. And won't that be a fun conversation, she mused. "Xand," she whispered as she gently shook the man's shoulders, "wake up bud. The bad man's gone now."
"The bad man's gone. I'm not freakin' ten-," the man's amused expression died. "Deadboy," he scrambled to his feet. "Sunnydale isn't your home anymore," he growled before sneering, "hell, even Buff's moved onto another member of the undead." Angel started forward, only for Faith to get in the way. Xander's eye widened. "You sent for him, you bitch." Shaking his head, the man spun on his heel and stalked out of the tomb.
"Xand! I can explain!" The Slayer started after the man only for Angel to grab his arm.
"Explanation now."
It Had To Be Done 3
"Hi."
Xander beamed. "Oz, good to see you old buddy, pal of mine. Enter Slayer Central!"
The werewolf smiled politely before walking through the doorway. "Hi Wolfie," Faith smiled uncertainly, she'd always kinda liked the werewolf, it had been refreshing to hang with a guy who seemed completely oblivious to her hotness, a little disconcerting but comfortable too. She just didn't know how he felt about her being back.
The werewolf nodded at her before turning to Xander. "She good now?"
"Been in town four days, hasn't killed anyone."
Oz raised an eyebrow. "Hopeful."
"Oz, good lord it has been a long time," Giles hurried down the stairs, a beaming smile firmly in place, "and how are you?"
"Serene."
The Watcher chuckled. "I didn't really expect any different."
Faith looked around her, suddenly conscious of all the curious stares they were getting from the potentials. "Potentials, meet Oz, he's a werewolf-."
"Bloody hell!" that came from one of the English potentials, "do you buggers know anybody normal?"
The brunette hid a grin as she continued. "But don't worry about him, the wildest thing about Oz is," she ruffled the man's pink hair, "his choice in hair dye." Turning serious, she turned to Giles. "G, how's the research gig going?"
"Slowly."
Faith grimaced. "Nothing comes easy on the hellmouth," she winked at Xander. "Well, 'cept for the Xman."
"I was a seventeen year old virgin!" the man turned neon red. "Can we take this outside?"
"Hey Xand if you wanna a second try, that's five by five by me," Faith winked at the blushing man. "Didn't have you down as an exhibitionist though."
"I meant to brief Oz!"
"Way I remember last time was pretty brief," pretty special too, the Slayer added silently, she'd never been with a guy who was so respectful. Turning serious, she nodded. "Five by five, potentials annoy Andrew. G, get back with the research. Xman, Wolfie, follow me."
* * *
"So," Oz said slowly, "Buffy died a second time, and when you resurrected her that gave the First a foothold back in the dimension. And when she came back, she started sleeping with a soulless vampire who'd tried to kill us all on more than one occasion, that right? Then Will went insane when Tara was killed and tried to end the world, but you talked her down?" Xander nodded, the werewolf retained his customary expressionless. "In the meantime Wesley took away Angel's soul to find out about a demon that Angelus knew. When they couldn't restrain Angelus, they broke you out of prison," Faith nodded, this was the most she'd ever heard Oz say in one go. "And with Will's help you managed to get his soul back, then you came back here to help with the First and found Buffy had gone off the deep end, only listening to herself and an newly ensoulled Spike who'd just recently been under the First's control, is that right?"
"Pretty much," Xander agreed.
"Are you all crazy, loco, nuts!" Oz roared. "I mean is Buffy completely off the planet? The club owner who gave us our big break, Eric Draven, he's back from the dead some vengeance deal with a crow, but at least he's good, maybe I should fix him and Buffy up."
"We know the strangest people," Faith shook her head in disbelief, she'd never seen anything get a reaction like that from the Wolfman. "So you in Wolfie?"
"I'm here aren't I?" Inscrutable Oz was back.
"Five by five," Faith nodded. Another ally was always good. "Let's see what you've got," she laughed at the werewolf's raised eyebrow, "in your dreams Wolfie. I wanna see what the inner beast looks like." She winked at the werewolf, "last time I saw it you ended up on top, so ya never know your luck."
Xander shook his head. "I knew you weren't fussy but -."
"We were fighting," she interrupted with a glare. "I try to stay same species, unlike some Slayers."
"My mistake," Xander's grin took the edge of the irritation she felt at his remark. "So what does Wolf Oz look like?"
The werewolf wordlessly stripped to his underwear, revealing a slight but toned physique. After a few seconds, the guitarist started to change. First he began sprouting thick golden-brown fur all over his face and body, next his face started to change to that of a wolf's and finally his body grew. From standing around five and a half feet tall, the werewolf grew to a towering near eight feet, with a massively muscled body to match. But Faith could still see something Ozllike in her friend's piercing red eyes, at least that's what she told herself.
Xander coughed uncomfortably. "So that whole Willow and me thing, you don't still hold a grudge?"
* * *
"Where you going Slayer?"
Faith started at her friend's whisper from the hallway's shadows, she turned from the doorway to see him stood by the stairs. "Damn it Xand you're good at the sneaking shit, I never sensed you or nothing!"
Xander grinned at her. "Kind of have to be in this business, otherwise you don't last long." The man's face turned serious. "You off to that tomb Will thinks might have something to do with the Scythe?" She nodded, Xander's face hardened. "You were figuring on going alone?" She nodded again, now the man's eye looked furious. The Slayer swallowed, obviously he'd been practicing Giles' Ripper look. "Damn it Faith, you're our leader, you can't go off on lone wolf missions, I'm coming with you," the man's face softened slightly, "Faith, you've only just got back, we don't want to lose you again."
For a second Faith felt herself being torn in two directions. On the one hand, no-body 'cept Angel got away with using that tone with her. On the other, Xand was only angry 'cause he was concerned about her - and there weren't too many people who'd ever given a shit. Finally she came to a decision. "Fine you can come."
The man's face broke into a smile. "Thank god for that, I didn't want to have to hog-tie you."
"Bondage Xand? That ex-demon hottie has taught you some tricks," chuckling slightly at the man's flushed face, she opened the door and crept out into the night.
* * * "See this is why you can't keep a guy," Xander sighed theatrically. "Most girls want to be taken to the pictures, a club, or maybe a restaurant you," the man gestured towards their objective, "ask me to take you to a tomb. No second date for you."
"Oh I don't know, never done it in a graveyard, could be an experience," the Slayer winked at the man, "we going in?"
"Let's."
A single kick sent the heavy door flying off its hinges. Faith walked in, her Slayer senses tingling. "There's something here Xand."
"I know," Faith glanced at her friend's face, it was tight with tension. She half-thought about offering to let him to stay up here, but knew he'd only be insulted.
"Come on, let's go exploring."
"The places you take me to," Xander muttered.
Soon they found themselves in a torch lit room. "Whoa," Faith barely whispered, she'd been around some heavy shit in her days as a Slayer but this place was pressing down hard on her, the sheer weight of years humbling her. She glanced towards her friend and saw the awe she felt written on his face. Suddenly a curtain at the far end of the tomb moved, revealing a woman who could be aged anywhere from fifty to seventy. Sensing Xander bringing up his assault rifle behind her, Faith reached out and grabbed the barrel. "At ease soldier," she whispered, "she's on our side I can feel her goodness. Besides that much power you'd only piss her off."
The woman stepped forward, just out from behind the curtain, a benign smile on her face. "Greetings child," she nodded towards Xander. "I see you brought a man with you, most unexpected." The old woman peered at her friend, her smile broadening. "But a good choice, he has the heart of a warrior, the mind of a jester, and the soul of a poet. Is he your betrothed?"
The unflappable Slayer flapped, her cheeks crimson. "N..no," this was like talking about sex with your elderly grandma. "He's my bud," she tried to ignore Xander's muffled chuckles. She was glad one of them was enjoying this.
"Your friend?" the woman nodded approvingly. "A wise choice, he is steadfast and loyal to the causes and people who he believes in. Now to business. That scythe you carry, I placed it in the stone."
"Holy shit!" the Slayer flushed at the woman's glare, suddenly she was in 3rd grade again, getting told off by Mrs. Stevens for using a naughty word she'd heard one of her Ma's boyfriends use. "Sorry ma'am," she said meekly even as she fumed at Xander's choked laughter, if he repeated this to anybody, so help. "How old are you?"
"Let's just say I've been around for the odd eon or two," the woman said dryly. "Now child, what's your name?"
"Faith."
"A strong name for a strong woman, you'll need that strength in the days to come." Well that didn't sound good, mused the Slayer. "The scythe you carry was forged by my people for one such as you an eternity ago," Faith listened as the woman explained about an ancient order who watched the Watchers. "The fact you can wield the weapon used to kill the last pure demon can only mean that the end is truly near.."
Suddenly a hand shot out from behind the curtain, grabbed the woman's neck and snapped it. An instant later, and Caleb stepped out from behind the curtain. "Oh dear, just when she was getting to the good stuff."
"Bastard!" Xander's roar was followed by the emptying of an entire magazine into the priest.
Faith blinked, last time the bullets had slowed Caleb up, this time he didn't even blink. A grin on his face, the preacher surged towards her friend. The Slayer moved to intercept the man but was contemptuously back- handed to the floor. Dazed from the blow, she could only watch as Xander's feeble attempts at offence were knocked away before the preacher slammed his head into a wall. Even as Faith struggled to her feet she knew she'd never get there in time. The preacher turned towards her, a gleeful look on his face. "Say goodbye to your friend tramp."
"Sorry, can't let you do that." There was a black blur then Angel slammed into the priest's chest, knocking him to the ground, away from Xander. The priest surged back to his feet, a look of fury on his face, and swung a right hook that the Master Vampire swayed away from. "You know," Angel smashed a right into the preacher's stomach, "it's just about the only thing," he blocked a knee to the groin on his thigh, "that Liam, Angelus and Angel agree on. We all really hate," the vampire caught Caleb with a thudding uppercut to the jaw, "religion. You wanna help Faith?"
"Sure Overbite." Ducking under a left hook, Faith brought up a side kick into the priest's side, knocking him backwards. "I'll take over Angel, it's been a long time since I had some one-on-one action."
"That's not what I heard."
"Funny Angel, you're a real," she slipped inside a right cross before slamming her forehead into the priest's mouth, "laugh-a-minute." The preacher caught her with a right hook to the jaw that knocked her off- balance, looking to seek an advantage he followed up with an attempt at a leg-sweep that she leapt over, her foot flickering out to catch the man in his chest, sending him crashing into the wall behind him.
The preacher let out a bellow before charging forward and into a spin kick to the nose that sent him smashing back into the wall. Growling bestially, the preacher spun away from the wall, catching her with a back-handed punch that dazed her momentarily. Feeling the preacher grab the front of her shirt, Faith brought her knee up into his groin. "No touching," she followed up with a knee to the face, "the merchandise!"
"Bitch!" She slid inside the reverend's right cross before connecting with a kick to his left knee and spinning away.
"I'm telling you rev, it's lucky," she grunted as he caught her with a kick to the ribs, "you're a man of god, 'cause that pretty mouth ain't going get it down with the ladies." Finally she saw an opening, swinging the scythe up she took one of Caleb's hands off. As the man glanced down in disbelief, she changed the direction of her swing and sent the Scythe flashing through his neck. Before the headless body had hit the ground, she'd turned to face her mentor. "So how I do?"
"It's a hell of a lot more fun when I'm not on the receiving end."
Faith grinned at her hero. "You came," she said softly.
"You needed help, that's what I do," the vampire half-smiled. "Remember the company motto - 'We help the helpless'."
"Hey! Am not helpless!"
"Not what I heard," Angel crouched down by Xander's body. "How come he's with you and not Buff?"
Ah, this was awkward, Faith didn't have a clue what Red had told Angel when he was in town to ensoul him. "Let's wake him up first, then we'll talk."
The vampire stared at her searchingly for a second before nodding. "Fine, but then we talk."
"Five by five," the Slayer knelt down beside her friend for a second. And won't that be a fun conversation, she mused. "Xand," she whispered as she gently shook the man's shoulders, "wake up bud. The bad man's gone now."
"The bad man's gone. I'm not freakin' ten-," the man's amused expression died. "Deadboy," he scrambled to his feet. "Sunnydale isn't your home anymore," he growled before sneering, "hell, even Buff's moved onto another member of the undead." Angel started forward, only for Faith to get in the way. Xander's eye widened. "You sent for him, you bitch." Shaking his head, the man spun on his heel and stalked out of the tomb.
"Xand! I can explain!" The Slayer started after the man only for Angel to grab his arm.
"Explanation now."