A/N: I like Angel, I think of the two lead characters he's the far
superior, the better developed character, the superior performer. Fact is
the only two people in either program I didn't like were Captain Cardboard
and Princess Buffy. The views expressed about Angel in the segment are
most definitely Xander's and not mine. However Buffy fans beware, major
Buffy-bashing ahead. PS. The dyslexic joke - I hope no one take offence,
I'm dyslexic myself. If it wasn't for spell checker. Thanks to Ghostrider
for the input and especially the General Custer remark.
It Had To Be Done 4
"That bitch," Xander muttered as he charged up the steps leading out of the tomb at a run. After all he'd told her about the reasons why he hated Deadboy and what does she do? Bring him to town anyway. He'd trusted her with stuff he'd only ever said to Will and she'd gone and brought him here despite that. "Still looking after number one Faith?" Well, he knew better than to try and trust her again. Just ahead he saw a car. "Great, the Fang Gang."
Wesley stepped away from the car, a look of false cheer on his face. "Mr. Harris, Xander, it's been a long time," the Watcher's face turned serious. "Angel and Faith are all right?"
"Yeah, just dandy," he snarled before trying to step around the Watcher.
The Watcher moved to block him. "Xand -."
His fist slammed into the Watcher's jaw knocking him to the ground. The big African-American he assumed from Will's description to be Gunn started to move but Xander levelled his assault rifle at the man. "Don't," he bluffed knowing that the gun was empty. "I don't want any trouble, I'm just leaving."
* * *
"So you're telling me Buffy was with Spike," Faith nodded. "Soulless Spike?" she nodded again. "And despite the fact he murdered nearly ten people that they know of while having a soul, Buffy would only listen to him? And because of her stupidity two potentials got killed, a load got injured, and Xander lost an eye. Is this right?"
"That's about it yeah," Faith nodded. Well Angel was taking it better than she thought.
"IS SHE A COMPLETE AND UTTER IDIOT!!!" Angel's roar shook the tomb.
Or maybe not. "Calm down there Big & Broody," Faith said nervously. "Don't shoot the messenger."
"Fine, let's go and find Xander." Angel sighed. "No wonder he's pissed."
* * * "Xander, wait up!"
Xander ignored the Slayer's shout and kept walking. He hadn't expected to out-pace the Slayer and the vampire, he'd just hoped they take the hint and leave him the hell alone. Feeling a hand on his shoulder and not caring which of them it was, he grabbed the wrist, twisted slightly, drove his heel back into the other person's shin, knocking them off balance, and threw them to the ground. He stared down at a surprised Angel. "Get a clue, I want nothing to do with you or the bitch."
He continued on his way only for an upset looking Faith to block his path. "Xman you don't mean that, we're buds remember? And what you did to Wes, majorly uncool."
"He'll live," Xander shrugged. He noted the vampire had risen. "As for being buds, in my book buds don't go behind one another's back. My buds are people I trust - Will, G-Man, Dawn, & Anya. You don't come close," the Slayer looked incredibly hurt. "I told you how I felt about Bloodbreath and his spawn, and what do you do? Invite him to town behind my back." Xander shook his head. "Still it could have been worse, last time I trusted you, I nearly ended up dead."
"You said you'd forgiven me," the Slayer whispered, tears in her eyes.
"I had, but that was because I thought you'd changed. You're still the same two-faced psycho you always were," pulling free of the shocked woman's grip, he stepped around her and made to go on his way.
An enraged Angel grabbed him and slammed him into a near-by gravestone, driving the wind from his body. "I don't know or care what your problem is, but you will apologise to Faith now!"
"Eat shit." After applying a nerve hold to the pressure points of the surprised vampire's wrists, he drove an elbow into the vampire's nose, breaking it, followed quickly by a stamp to the knee that put Angel down on one knee. "The soldier who possessed me had three black belts, I've spent the last five years working out in every dojo in town. Now I've got four." He flicked out a foot at Angel's chin but the vampire knocked it aside as he surged to his feet, grabbed him round the throat and threw him to the ground, pinning him there with his hands.
"I don't care if you're the reincarnation of Bruce Lee, you will apologise!" Xander tried to struggle free but the vampire's grip on his shoulders was over-whelming.
Suddenly, Faith grabbed Angel and dragged him off. "Chill big guy," the Slayer's face was streaked with tears. She turned towards him. "Xand, for god's sake. At least give me a chance to explain, please."
Xander shook his head. "No explanation needed, Buff leans on Billy Idol, you need Deadboy. Us normals aren't good enough for the big fights." "Is that what all this is about, jealousy?" Angel shook his head. "For Christ's sake Buffy chose me, get over it, it was nearly seven years ago."
Xander looked up and laughed bitterly. "That's one of the few things I'm grateful to you for, saving me from that self-centred bitch. No this is why I hate you. One, you're a vampire, plain and simple. Two, the night after Buffy arrived in town my best friend was turned - maybe if you hadn't been such a coward and actually helped instead of playing Cryptic Guy we'd have been able to save him from Darla," Xander sneered at the vampire's wince. "Three, you tortured the nearest thing I had to a father and killed the woman he loved, remember that?" the vampire grimaced at the memory. "Oh yeah, you remember. Four, when you were trying to convince Faith you were Angelus to get the Mayor's plans, you knocked me out and left me lying on the streets of Sunnydale, the fucking murder capital of the U.S. Mind you I suppose you owed me."
"What do you mean?"
"Remember going to hell?" Xander smiled with none of his usual warmth. "I knew Will was going to re-try the soul spell but didn't tell Buffy."
"You bastard!" the vampire leapt towards him, demonic face showing.
The Slayer dragged the vampire back. "For god's sake Xander! Why the hell did you do that?"
Xander loosened his jacket, readying himself to draw his Desert Eagle. 50 if he needed it. "Buff had proven she didn't have the balls to get the job done, if she knew Will was re-trying the spell she'd have gotten herself killed trying to stop Angelus and ended the world in the process." He shrugged. "If Buffy's stupid enough to get herself killed for a vampire that's her problem, but one vampire's life versus the world, you do the math." He smiled again. "Oh Angel, you've got a problem with me, come after me by all means." His face hardened. "But kill me, for god's sake. I know I haven't got a chance against you in a fair fight but you beat me up and leave me alive, that'll be the worst and last mistake you ever make. Explosives, sniper's bullet - whatever it takes." The man turned to leave only to turn back to the Slayer. "You've got a new second-in-command now, congrats." He nodded at the vampire. "I'll still be a foot soldier, but stay the hell out of my way. I'm here for business not to socialise with you."
"Xand!" Ignoring the woman's anguished scream, he disappeared into the darkness.
* * *
"So the plan is we use the scythe to make new Slayers?" Xander shook his head in disbelief. "Has anybody thought this through?"
"We get you've got a problem with Slayers," Faith snapped, her posture defensive. "So what's your big plan, hot-shot?"
"Don't have one," he admitted. "Doesn't mean we should use yours though. I mean I actually think that in the short-term it's a pretty good idea, for taking on the First -."
"So what is your problem?" the brunette demanded angrily.
Xander bit back a groan. He knew Faith's anger was his fault, he'd had every right to be angry with her for going behind his back to bring Deadboy in, but he'd gone over the top in his anger and said things that he shouldn't. Now he was paying the price. "Because have you any idea how many new Slayers this spell will make?"
"So, more Slayers to fight demons isn't that a good thing?"
"It's not as simple as that Dawnie," he turned to the young girl with a sigh. "Some of the Slayers will be great. But what about the ones who are crims? What about those who are bullied at school, what will they do to the bullies? Hell, now that the Council's gone they're will be maybe dozens, hundreds or even thousands of girls with all these powers and no idea how to use them."
Faith snorted. "Yeah, 'cause the Council was so crash hot at what it did."
"No Faith," Giles broke in. "Xander has a point, while Travers and his cronies were a bunch of power-hungry cowards there is a need to re-build the Council on more modern lines with the emphasis on demon fighting and not simply gathering money and influence."
"What about the medallion your hero brought with him?" Xander refused to look at the vampire stood beside the brunette Slayer. "Is that any use? Could we use that?"
It was the vampire who answered, his tone distinctly unfriendly, like Xander could give a shit. "We don't know enough about it to risk everything on it."
"But what does it do?" Dawn broke in.
"Ah," Faith looked uncomfortable. "We don't know much except it's to be worn by a Champion," she hesitated, "so we've asked Spike."
"Spike, a champion?" Xander let out a bitter laugh. Suddenly he registered Buffy and Spike entering the basement as if on a cue. "G-Man, I'll bring the armoury and meet you at the school tomorrow morning, the air's suddenly started to stink around here." Rising he made for the door only for the blonde Slayer get in his way.
"I thought I told you we didn't use guns," her gaze was flinty.
Xander laughed. "Get this Summers, I don't listen or take orders from you anymore. Hell, I've been clearing nests on my own for the last two years. It's not like we've had a functioning Slayer. As bad as she is," he nodded towards a wincing Faith. "At least she gets the job done."
"You clearing nests?" Buffy snorted. "Yeah, right!"
"Ask Peroxide Boy about The Hunter," he started round the Slayer but again she blocked his path.
"I don't know who you think you're talking to -."
"I'll tell you exactly who I'm talking to," he interrupted, years of frustration exploding. "I'm talking to the bitch who in her first week back in town after slaying the Master, 'course she was so incompetent she had to die first before getting the job done, nearly got Giles, Will, Cordy, and Jenny killed with her arrogance over the Master's followers. I'm talking to the bitch that couldn't get the job done when it came to Angelus."
"You're just jealous that I chose Angel over you!"
Xander chuckled. "My feelings for you died that night you lap-danced me to get Deadboy jealous, that was my first inkling about what a self-absorbed little bitch you are. For your information I felt more for Cordy, Will, and Anya than I ever did for you. Would I have laid you if it was on offer, hell yeah. I know first-hand how great Slayers are," he drew his Desert Eagle .50 in a blur and pointed it at a snarling Spike, "give me a reason Billy, I'm begging you. No, the reason I wanted him dead, was because of the threat he was to the world in general and all the pain he'd caused G-Man, pain you were more than happy to overlook as long as you got your pet vamp back."
"That's so not true -."
"Shut it," he snarled, "I've had seven years of you telling me how useless I am now you have to listen to me. And then when you finally get the job done, what happens next, you run off like a little baby."
"I'd just killed Angel, you've no idea how that felt!"
"Haven't I?" Xander raised the eyebrow over his still functioning eye. "You know the homicidal bastard for around a year, sleep with him, turning back into his true self, and let him run wild for months murdering at will and for a grand finale trying to suck the world into hell. Let's face it Buff, if he'd have succeeded you'd have been in hell too, what was it that made you kill him? The greater good, or the good old self preservation instinct? But wait," Xander paused for a second. "Two days after you arrived, I killed my first vamp, normally a proud occasion for a growing boy, but this one was different. He'd been newly made, would take him centuries, if ever, to wreck as much havoc as Angelus did. And," Xander felt his throat choking with emotion, "he was my best friend, a boy I'd known for twelve years. But I staked him the first chance I got! I didn't leave him alive to wreck havoc on the town. In case you're wondering Buff, 'cause I know you won't remember him, him not being a hot master vampire, his name was Jesse! And G-Man lost both his love and his Slayer thanks to your undead lover, but he didn't leave his post, he didn't run off, he showed loyalty to us - he stayed and helped us hold down the Hellmouth as best as we could, a bunch of kids with no special talents. We didn't have to do it, but we did - Will, Cordy, Oz and me - because we had what you don't, a sense of duty."
"Xander, I think you've made your point." The Watcher's tone was strained.
"Sorry G-Man, I've only just started. And then you came back, and because you didn't get the red carpet treatment, you nearly left the same night, stamping your feet like the spoilt brat you've always been. And then your undead boyfriend comes back from hell and what do you do? Do you stake him? No. Do you tell us? No, you hide him away, not knowing if he's Angelus or insane."
"He was Angel!" the blonde weakly protested.
"Oh he was yeah, I'll grant you that," he nodded. "Did you know that straight away? No, but you were willing to risk all our lives for a chance, you selfish bitch. And then we get to Faith."
"Oh wicked, now it's my turn," the brunette muttered.
"Faith's a lot of things, irresponsible, hot-tempered, inconsiderate, - but at least she read the job description and knows you're meant to kill vampires not screw 'em. Is it any wonder she went off the rails dumped in the hotels we left her in? She couldn't stay with me, my dad and her not a good idea, Will and her didn't get along, but you, you had a nice clean house with plenty of rooms and a mom who knew what you both were. Talk about ideal, but did you try and help? Did you hell, you just looked down at her and used her as cover for patrols when you wanted some time with the demon you wanted to screw instead of slay. Oh, and by the way, the night of the Sisterhood of Jhe came to town? I was in the school basement stopping a gang of zombies from blowing you all to hell, old useless Xander, saved your - well Will, G-Man, & Faith's lives, you and Deadboy were just coincidental. Then came the night Faith killed Finch, a lousy accident. Remember Ted, Buff?"
"He was a robot!"
"Oh yeah, I'd forgotten that, silly me. But we all stood by you, even when we thought he was a man at first, but apparently you think Faith has to work under different rules. The only ones of us who tried to help Faith were me and," he gave Angel a brief nod, he might hate the bastard, but he could admit when the vampire was in the right, "Deadboy. Then Faith shot Angel with a magical arrow that could only be healed with a Slayer's blood and suddenly, all your morals about killing a human suddenly disappeared. You were willing to kill a human now, and for what? A blood-sucking murderer who'd killed more people than Faith had slept with, and that's a hell of a total." He heard the brunette behind him gasp in pain, but carried on. "Funny how adaptable your morals are. But your plan doesn't work so what do you do next? You unilaterally decide to let Deadboy feed on you. It doesn't matter that it means you'll be weakened just before the Ascension, putting the entire town at risk, all that matters is Buffy Summers gets her own way again. Then Billy comes back to town, gets chipped, you don't kill him oh no," Xander shook his head in disgust. "You make me, a person he's tried to kill on more than one occasion, take him in - would you have cared if the chip short-circuited? When Faith comes out of her coma, does she get the second and third chances that Deadboy and Billy get? God no, she has a pulse. Props to Deadboy though, stopping you from killing her. Spike betrays us to Adam," he clapped his hands, "another great decision from the bimbo, but still you don't kill him. Then we return to you back to life, a mistake sure, but," he paused to get his breath, "one that I didn't agree with in the first place. You had problems, but did you turn to your friends? No did you hell, you ignored your sister who adored you until she started stealing to get your attention, and start sleeping with a soulless vampire. Then you come to what little sense you have and turn him down so then the bastard tries to -."
"Don't you dare," the Slayer interrupted, her face terrified.
"Rape you."
"What!"
"Chill Deadboy, once I've finished you can have your say. And this year," he shook his head, "this year's been a doozy. Three weeks after charging out to kill Anaya, you decide that murdering bastard," he nodded towards a fuming Spike, "should be moved into my place, my life apparently means that much. Hey, G-Man remember how much she used to whine and bitch about her duties and how you treated her? Well Travers would be real proud of how you now Buff, you've treated the potentials like nothing but tools. Then, we get to Wood," he shook his head, "and you take the side of a homicidal vampire over a good man trying to avenge his murdered mother, a Slayer like you no less, that's a new low even for you. Then you devise a battle plan that General Custer would find stupid, gets two potentials killed, causes me," he flipped up his eye patch, revealing the hideous scarring beneath, "to lose an eye. And what do you think our next move should be? Try the same thing again - that sort of thinking went out with General Haig. When you don't get your own way, what happens? You run off in a five year old's temper tantrum again, talk about reverting to type. You take a poll of the people in this house to find out how many people actually like you, and you won't find a whole lot, respect your accomplishments maybe, but like you." He shook his head. "Every person in here has been treated with disdain and disrespect by you - G, Dawnie, me, Faith, Wood, the potentials, - the only people you listen to are either vampires and maybe, big maybe, Willow."
"Oh and you're so perfect!" "Perfect not even close, I've hurt each of the women I love more than anything in the world through my stupidity, I've experimented in dark magics, got people killed. But I acknowledge my mistakes and try harder to do better, you you're always in the right. Over the years, Will's become more confident, I've started to use my brain more, Cordy," his breath caught at the thought of his comatose ex, "Cordy's become more caring, Faith's stopped killing, G-Man's loosened up, but you," his lip curled up in disdain, "you're the same selfish, up-herself airhead you always were."
"If you feel so strongly what are you still doing here?"
The Slayer had tears in her eyes but he couldn't give a shit, her continual thoughtless rejections of him as a worthy ally had caused him plenty of heartache and pain, it was time she knew what he really thought about her. "It started off as one reason and grew to two. First off, I wanted to protect Will from your stupidity, then," he glanced towards Giles, "I started to love and respect your mom and the G-Man, I couldn't see the nearest thing to parents killed because of your idiocy." He decided it was time for his big announcement, something he'd been mulling over ever since Spike's return. "When this is over I'm leaving," he heard a collective gasp he guessed from Dawn, Will, and Anya, "Will's more powerful than any Slayer, Dawn's a few months away from being an adult, old enough to escape you, and Anya," he glanced fondly at his ex, "if she wants can come with me. G-Man won't be in the field anymore, now he's Council Head so he's as safe as we get in the business. And you," he sneered, "you can get back to being a Vampire Layer, jeez dyslexic much?"
* * *
"Xander wait!"
The young man turned reluctantly. He'd left the Summers house two blocks back and was hoping that he wouldn't see any of the others until tomorrow. "G-Man, I don't want to fight with you."
The older man's face softened slightly. "Xander, your behaviour in there was unforgivable. Buffy was in floods of tears when I left, Faith was rather upset, and Spike and Angel were furious."
Xander met his mentor's gaze evenly. "Was anything I said a lie?" the man's silence told him all he needed to know. "Thought not. I could care less what Buffy's feeling, my feelings for her have gone from love, respect, indifference, to complete contempt. As for the vamps," he grinned, "I can't take either in a fight, but if they come after me they better be willing to kill, because Betsy," he patted his Desert Eagle .50, "is filled with armour piercing incendiary rounds and I'll shoot both of the bastards without a second thought. A demon's a demon, soul or no soul."
He turned to leave only for the Watcher to grab his arm. "Xander, I was hoping that you'd consider becoming a Watcher when this was over." "Thanks for the offer," he shook his head, "but it's not what I want to do."
"Might I ask why?"
"You might," he hid a smile at the Englishman's stiff tone. "The way I see it you've got three types of Slayers - a psycho like Faith, a self-obsessed bimbo with a god complex like Buffy, or a robot like Kendra. I want nothing to do with the first two types and I sure as hell don't want to turn a girl into another Kendra. Besides, I intend to do the fighting myself not train a young girl to do it for me."
"What do you intend to do?" Giles' tone had changed to interested.
"Over the past two years, I've cleaned out over forty nests," the Watcher let out a choked gasp. "Nothing major, 5 vamps a nest at the most, but I always scavenge the place for cash afterwards, I've got over 250 K saved, I intend to go independent."
"There's not a particularly long life-span in that Xander."
"I know, but I've got advantages, seven years experience, soldier boy's memories, and," Xander hesitated before divulging a secret he'd held with him for over six years, "Remember the hyena?" the watcher nodded. "Well I can access some of his powers, I'm a little stronger, faster, and tougher than the usual person. Nothing like as strong as I was, but pretty good. As for how long I last," he shrugged, "I help people, that's what I do. That's what Slayers are meant to do too, but Buffy forgot that the first time she turned a blind eye to Angelus' murdering."
"Xander, come back to the house with me."
"What for, to apologise?" Xander shook his head. "I'm not going to lie, every word I said was true and needed to be said. See you tomorrow G-Man. Tell Wes and the others I'll bring weaponry for them too."
"It's not safe at your place, alone."
"Somehow I think that unless I get on my hands and knees and beg the great Buffy's forgiveness it's not that safe back there for me either," he chuckled. "I'll sleep with my guns beside me. Besides when things started getting hairy, I built a shit-load of highly illegal booby traps around the house, memories of a combat veteran, with Caleb out of the picture I'm as safe as anybody."
"Still, you should come back, try and build bridges."
He stared blankly at the Watcher. "Why would I want to do that? Buffy's a spoilt little bitch. I've saved her life half a dozen times at least, you're far more knowledgeable about demons, vampires, gods, and mythology than any normal mortal alive, Anaya's knowledge of demons probably exceeds yours, and Will could blast her out of existence with the blink of an eye. But do any of us get treated with respect by her? Do any of our opinions count more than a murdering demon's? My biggest regret was giving her that kiss of life after the Master drowned her."
"Xander! You can't mean that!" Giles looked horrified.
"Can't I?" Xander challenged. "If I hadn't brought her back, she'd never had slept with Deadboy, Jenny would never had died. Maybe Kendra would have lived, or maybe Faith would have been called and been more readily accepted into the group, got the family she always wanted, it's her I feel sorry for not Summers, Faith never got a look at a normal life, she never had the chances Buffy got and never appreciated - a great mom, dad in you, a good education, a best friend in Will, - but the only thing that she ever cared about was her vampires. If Faith had come here without Buffy being here, she might have had a chance."
It Had To Be Done 4
"That bitch," Xander muttered as he charged up the steps leading out of the tomb at a run. After all he'd told her about the reasons why he hated Deadboy and what does she do? Bring him to town anyway. He'd trusted her with stuff he'd only ever said to Will and she'd gone and brought him here despite that. "Still looking after number one Faith?" Well, he knew better than to try and trust her again. Just ahead he saw a car. "Great, the Fang Gang."
Wesley stepped away from the car, a look of false cheer on his face. "Mr. Harris, Xander, it's been a long time," the Watcher's face turned serious. "Angel and Faith are all right?"
"Yeah, just dandy," he snarled before trying to step around the Watcher.
The Watcher moved to block him. "Xand -."
His fist slammed into the Watcher's jaw knocking him to the ground. The big African-American he assumed from Will's description to be Gunn started to move but Xander levelled his assault rifle at the man. "Don't," he bluffed knowing that the gun was empty. "I don't want any trouble, I'm just leaving."
* * *
"So you're telling me Buffy was with Spike," Faith nodded. "Soulless Spike?" she nodded again. "And despite the fact he murdered nearly ten people that they know of while having a soul, Buffy would only listen to him? And because of her stupidity two potentials got killed, a load got injured, and Xander lost an eye. Is this right?"
"That's about it yeah," Faith nodded. Well Angel was taking it better than she thought.
"IS SHE A COMPLETE AND UTTER IDIOT!!!" Angel's roar shook the tomb.
Or maybe not. "Calm down there Big & Broody," Faith said nervously. "Don't shoot the messenger."
"Fine, let's go and find Xander." Angel sighed. "No wonder he's pissed."
* * * "Xander, wait up!"
Xander ignored the Slayer's shout and kept walking. He hadn't expected to out-pace the Slayer and the vampire, he'd just hoped they take the hint and leave him the hell alone. Feeling a hand on his shoulder and not caring which of them it was, he grabbed the wrist, twisted slightly, drove his heel back into the other person's shin, knocking them off balance, and threw them to the ground. He stared down at a surprised Angel. "Get a clue, I want nothing to do with you or the bitch."
He continued on his way only for an upset looking Faith to block his path. "Xman you don't mean that, we're buds remember? And what you did to Wes, majorly uncool."
"He'll live," Xander shrugged. He noted the vampire had risen. "As for being buds, in my book buds don't go behind one another's back. My buds are people I trust - Will, G-Man, Dawn, & Anya. You don't come close," the Slayer looked incredibly hurt. "I told you how I felt about Bloodbreath and his spawn, and what do you do? Invite him to town behind my back." Xander shook his head. "Still it could have been worse, last time I trusted you, I nearly ended up dead."
"You said you'd forgiven me," the Slayer whispered, tears in her eyes.
"I had, but that was because I thought you'd changed. You're still the same two-faced psycho you always were," pulling free of the shocked woman's grip, he stepped around her and made to go on his way.
An enraged Angel grabbed him and slammed him into a near-by gravestone, driving the wind from his body. "I don't know or care what your problem is, but you will apologise to Faith now!"
"Eat shit." After applying a nerve hold to the pressure points of the surprised vampire's wrists, he drove an elbow into the vampire's nose, breaking it, followed quickly by a stamp to the knee that put Angel down on one knee. "The soldier who possessed me had three black belts, I've spent the last five years working out in every dojo in town. Now I've got four." He flicked out a foot at Angel's chin but the vampire knocked it aside as he surged to his feet, grabbed him round the throat and threw him to the ground, pinning him there with his hands.
"I don't care if you're the reincarnation of Bruce Lee, you will apologise!" Xander tried to struggle free but the vampire's grip on his shoulders was over-whelming.
Suddenly, Faith grabbed Angel and dragged him off. "Chill big guy," the Slayer's face was streaked with tears. She turned towards him. "Xand, for god's sake. At least give me a chance to explain, please."
Xander shook his head. "No explanation needed, Buff leans on Billy Idol, you need Deadboy. Us normals aren't good enough for the big fights." "Is that what all this is about, jealousy?" Angel shook his head. "For Christ's sake Buffy chose me, get over it, it was nearly seven years ago."
Xander looked up and laughed bitterly. "That's one of the few things I'm grateful to you for, saving me from that self-centred bitch. No this is why I hate you. One, you're a vampire, plain and simple. Two, the night after Buffy arrived in town my best friend was turned - maybe if you hadn't been such a coward and actually helped instead of playing Cryptic Guy we'd have been able to save him from Darla," Xander sneered at the vampire's wince. "Three, you tortured the nearest thing I had to a father and killed the woman he loved, remember that?" the vampire grimaced at the memory. "Oh yeah, you remember. Four, when you were trying to convince Faith you were Angelus to get the Mayor's plans, you knocked me out and left me lying on the streets of Sunnydale, the fucking murder capital of the U.S. Mind you I suppose you owed me."
"What do you mean?"
"Remember going to hell?" Xander smiled with none of his usual warmth. "I knew Will was going to re-try the soul spell but didn't tell Buffy."
"You bastard!" the vampire leapt towards him, demonic face showing.
The Slayer dragged the vampire back. "For god's sake Xander! Why the hell did you do that?"
Xander loosened his jacket, readying himself to draw his Desert Eagle. 50 if he needed it. "Buff had proven she didn't have the balls to get the job done, if she knew Will was re-trying the spell she'd have gotten herself killed trying to stop Angelus and ended the world in the process." He shrugged. "If Buffy's stupid enough to get herself killed for a vampire that's her problem, but one vampire's life versus the world, you do the math." He smiled again. "Oh Angel, you've got a problem with me, come after me by all means." His face hardened. "But kill me, for god's sake. I know I haven't got a chance against you in a fair fight but you beat me up and leave me alive, that'll be the worst and last mistake you ever make. Explosives, sniper's bullet - whatever it takes." The man turned to leave only to turn back to the Slayer. "You've got a new second-in-command now, congrats." He nodded at the vampire. "I'll still be a foot soldier, but stay the hell out of my way. I'm here for business not to socialise with you."
"Xand!" Ignoring the woman's anguished scream, he disappeared into the darkness.
* * *
"So the plan is we use the scythe to make new Slayers?" Xander shook his head in disbelief. "Has anybody thought this through?"
"We get you've got a problem with Slayers," Faith snapped, her posture defensive. "So what's your big plan, hot-shot?"
"Don't have one," he admitted. "Doesn't mean we should use yours though. I mean I actually think that in the short-term it's a pretty good idea, for taking on the First -."
"So what is your problem?" the brunette demanded angrily.
Xander bit back a groan. He knew Faith's anger was his fault, he'd had every right to be angry with her for going behind his back to bring Deadboy in, but he'd gone over the top in his anger and said things that he shouldn't. Now he was paying the price. "Because have you any idea how many new Slayers this spell will make?"
"So, more Slayers to fight demons isn't that a good thing?"
"It's not as simple as that Dawnie," he turned to the young girl with a sigh. "Some of the Slayers will be great. But what about the ones who are crims? What about those who are bullied at school, what will they do to the bullies? Hell, now that the Council's gone they're will be maybe dozens, hundreds or even thousands of girls with all these powers and no idea how to use them."
Faith snorted. "Yeah, 'cause the Council was so crash hot at what it did."
"No Faith," Giles broke in. "Xander has a point, while Travers and his cronies were a bunch of power-hungry cowards there is a need to re-build the Council on more modern lines with the emphasis on demon fighting and not simply gathering money and influence."
"What about the medallion your hero brought with him?" Xander refused to look at the vampire stood beside the brunette Slayer. "Is that any use? Could we use that?"
It was the vampire who answered, his tone distinctly unfriendly, like Xander could give a shit. "We don't know enough about it to risk everything on it."
"But what does it do?" Dawn broke in.
"Ah," Faith looked uncomfortable. "We don't know much except it's to be worn by a Champion," she hesitated, "so we've asked Spike."
"Spike, a champion?" Xander let out a bitter laugh. Suddenly he registered Buffy and Spike entering the basement as if on a cue. "G-Man, I'll bring the armoury and meet you at the school tomorrow morning, the air's suddenly started to stink around here." Rising he made for the door only for the blonde Slayer get in his way.
"I thought I told you we didn't use guns," her gaze was flinty.
Xander laughed. "Get this Summers, I don't listen or take orders from you anymore. Hell, I've been clearing nests on my own for the last two years. It's not like we've had a functioning Slayer. As bad as she is," he nodded towards a wincing Faith. "At least she gets the job done."
"You clearing nests?" Buffy snorted. "Yeah, right!"
"Ask Peroxide Boy about The Hunter," he started round the Slayer but again she blocked his path.
"I don't know who you think you're talking to -."
"I'll tell you exactly who I'm talking to," he interrupted, years of frustration exploding. "I'm talking to the bitch who in her first week back in town after slaying the Master, 'course she was so incompetent she had to die first before getting the job done, nearly got Giles, Will, Cordy, and Jenny killed with her arrogance over the Master's followers. I'm talking to the bitch that couldn't get the job done when it came to Angelus."
"You're just jealous that I chose Angel over you!"
Xander chuckled. "My feelings for you died that night you lap-danced me to get Deadboy jealous, that was my first inkling about what a self-absorbed little bitch you are. For your information I felt more for Cordy, Will, and Anya than I ever did for you. Would I have laid you if it was on offer, hell yeah. I know first-hand how great Slayers are," he drew his Desert Eagle .50 in a blur and pointed it at a snarling Spike, "give me a reason Billy, I'm begging you. No, the reason I wanted him dead, was because of the threat he was to the world in general and all the pain he'd caused G-Man, pain you were more than happy to overlook as long as you got your pet vamp back."
"That's so not true -."
"Shut it," he snarled, "I've had seven years of you telling me how useless I am now you have to listen to me. And then when you finally get the job done, what happens next, you run off like a little baby."
"I'd just killed Angel, you've no idea how that felt!"
"Haven't I?" Xander raised the eyebrow over his still functioning eye. "You know the homicidal bastard for around a year, sleep with him, turning back into his true self, and let him run wild for months murdering at will and for a grand finale trying to suck the world into hell. Let's face it Buff, if he'd have succeeded you'd have been in hell too, what was it that made you kill him? The greater good, or the good old self preservation instinct? But wait," Xander paused for a second. "Two days after you arrived, I killed my first vamp, normally a proud occasion for a growing boy, but this one was different. He'd been newly made, would take him centuries, if ever, to wreck as much havoc as Angelus did. And," Xander felt his throat choking with emotion, "he was my best friend, a boy I'd known for twelve years. But I staked him the first chance I got! I didn't leave him alive to wreck havoc on the town. In case you're wondering Buff, 'cause I know you won't remember him, him not being a hot master vampire, his name was Jesse! And G-Man lost both his love and his Slayer thanks to your undead lover, but he didn't leave his post, he didn't run off, he showed loyalty to us - he stayed and helped us hold down the Hellmouth as best as we could, a bunch of kids with no special talents. We didn't have to do it, but we did - Will, Cordy, Oz and me - because we had what you don't, a sense of duty."
"Xander, I think you've made your point." The Watcher's tone was strained.
"Sorry G-Man, I've only just started. And then you came back, and because you didn't get the red carpet treatment, you nearly left the same night, stamping your feet like the spoilt brat you've always been. And then your undead boyfriend comes back from hell and what do you do? Do you stake him? No. Do you tell us? No, you hide him away, not knowing if he's Angelus or insane."
"He was Angel!" the blonde weakly protested.
"Oh he was yeah, I'll grant you that," he nodded. "Did you know that straight away? No, but you were willing to risk all our lives for a chance, you selfish bitch. And then we get to Faith."
"Oh wicked, now it's my turn," the brunette muttered.
"Faith's a lot of things, irresponsible, hot-tempered, inconsiderate, - but at least she read the job description and knows you're meant to kill vampires not screw 'em. Is it any wonder she went off the rails dumped in the hotels we left her in? She couldn't stay with me, my dad and her not a good idea, Will and her didn't get along, but you, you had a nice clean house with plenty of rooms and a mom who knew what you both were. Talk about ideal, but did you try and help? Did you hell, you just looked down at her and used her as cover for patrols when you wanted some time with the demon you wanted to screw instead of slay. Oh, and by the way, the night of the Sisterhood of Jhe came to town? I was in the school basement stopping a gang of zombies from blowing you all to hell, old useless Xander, saved your - well Will, G-Man, & Faith's lives, you and Deadboy were just coincidental. Then came the night Faith killed Finch, a lousy accident. Remember Ted, Buff?"
"He was a robot!"
"Oh yeah, I'd forgotten that, silly me. But we all stood by you, even when we thought he was a man at first, but apparently you think Faith has to work under different rules. The only ones of us who tried to help Faith were me and," he gave Angel a brief nod, he might hate the bastard, but he could admit when the vampire was in the right, "Deadboy. Then Faith shot Angel with a magical arrow that could only be healed with a Slayer's blood and suddenly, all your morals about killing a human suddenly disappeared. You were willing to kill a human now, and for what? A blood-sucking murderer who'd killed more people than Faith had slept with, and that's a hell of a total." He heard the brunette behind him gasp in pain, but carried on. "Funny how adaptable your morals are. But your plan doesn't work so what do you do next? You unilaterally decide to let Deadboy feed on you. It doesn't matter that it means you'll be weakened just before the Ascension, putting the entire town at risk, all that matters is Buffy Summers gets her own way again. Then Billy comes back to town, gets chipped, you don't kill him oh no," Xander shook his head in disgust. "You make me, a person he's tried to kill on more than one occasion, take him in - would you have cared if the chip short-circuited? When Faith comes out of her coma, does she get the second and third chances that Deadboy and Billy get? God no, she has a pulse. Props to Deadboy though, stopping you from killing her. Spike betrays us to Adam," he clapped his hands, "another great decision from the bimbo, but still you don't kill him. Then we return to you back to life, a mistake sure, but," he paused to get his breath, "one that I didn't agree with in the first place. You had problems, but did you turn to your friends? No did you hell, you ignored your sister who adored you until she started stealing to get your attention, and start sleeping with a soulless vampire. Then you come to what little sense you have and turn him down so then the bastard tries to -."
"Don't you dare," the Slayer interrupted, her face terrified.
"Rape you."
"What!"
"Chill Deadboy, once I've finished you can have your say. And this year," he shook his head, "this year's been a doozy. Three weeks after charging out to kill Anaya, you decide that murdering bastard," he nodded towards a fuming Spike, "should be moved into my place, my life apparently means that much. Hey, G-Man remember how much she used to whine and bitch about her duties and how you treated her? Well Travers would be real proud of how you now Buff, you've treated the potentials like nothing but tools. Then, we get to Wood," he shook his head, "and you take the side of a homicidal vampire over a good man trying to avenge his murdered mother, a Slayer like you no less, that's a new low even for you. Then you devise a battle plan that General Custer would find stupid, gets two potentials killed, causes me," he flipped up his eye patch, revealing the hideous scarring beneath, "to lose an eye. And what do you think our next move should be? Try the same thing again - that sort of thinking went out with General Haig. When you don't get your own way, what happens? You run off in a five year old's temper tantrum again, talk about reverting to type. You take a poll of the people in this house to find out how many people actually like you, and you won't find a whole lot, respect your accomplishments maybe, but like you." He shook his head. "Every person in here has been treated with disdain and disrespect by you - G, Dawnie, me, Faith, Wood, the potentials, - the only people you listen to are either vampires and maybe, big maybe, Willow."
"Oh and you're so perfect!" "Perfect not even close, I've hurt each of the women I love more than anything in the world through my stupidity, I've experimented in dark magics, got people killed. But I acknowledge my mistakes and try harder to do better, you you're always in the right. Over the years, Will's become more confident, I've started to use my brain more, Cordy," his breath caught at the thought of his comatose ex, "Cordy's become more caring, Faith's stopped killing, G-Man's loosened up, but you," his lip curled up in disdain, "you're the same selfish, up-herself airhead you always were."
"If you feel so strongly what are you still doing here?"
The Slayer had tears in her eyes but he couldn't give a shit, her continual thoughtless rejections of him as a worthy ally had caused him plenty of heartache and pain, it was time she knew what he really thought about her. "It started off as one reason and grew to two. First off, I wanted to protect Will from your stupidity, then," he glanced towards Giles, "I started to love and respect your mom and the G-Man, I couldn't see the nearest thing to parents killed because of your idiocy." He decided it was time for his big announcement, something he'd been mulling over ever since Spike's return. "When this is over I'm leaving," he heard a collective gasp he guessed from Dawn, Will, and Anya, "Will's more powerful than any Slayer, Dawn's a few months away from being an adult, old enough to escape you, and Anya," he glanced fondly at his ex, "if she wants can come with me. G-Man won't be in the field anymore, now he's Council Head so he's as safe as we get in the business. And you," he sneered, "you can get back to being a Vampire Layer, jeez dyslexic much?"
* * *
"Xander wait!"
The young man turned reluctantly. He'd left the Summers house two blocks back and was hoping that he wouldn't see any of the others until tomorrow. "G-Man, I don't want to fight with you."
The older man's face softened slightly. "Xander, your behaviour in there was unforgivable. Buffy was in floods of tears when I left, Faith was rather upset, and Spike and Angel were furious."
Xander met his mentor's gaze evenly. "Was anything I said a lie?" the man's silence told him all he needed to know. "Thought not. I could care less what Buffy's feeling, my feelings for her have gone from love, respect, indifference, to complete contempt. As for the vamps," he grinned, "I can't take either in a fight, but if they come after me they better be willing to kill, because Betsy," he patted his Desert Eagle .50, "is filled with armour piercing incendiary rounds and I'll shoot both of the bastards without a second thought. A demon's a demon, soul or no soul."
He turned to leave only for the Watcher to grab his arm. "Xander, I was hoping that you'd consider becoming a Watcher when this was over." "Thanks for the offer," he shook his head, "but it's not what I want to do."
"Might I ask why?"
"You might," he hid a smile at the Englishman's stiff tone. "The way I see it you've got three types of Slayers - a psycho like Faith, a self-obsessed bimbo with a god complex like Buffy, or a robot like Kendra. I want nothing to do with the first two types and I sure as hell don't want to turn a girl into another Kendra. Besides, I intend to do the fighting myself not train a young girl to do it for me."
"What do you intend to do?" Giles' tone had changed to interested.
"Over the past two years, I've cleaned out over forty nests," the Watcher let out a choked gasp. "Nothing major, 5 vamps a nest at the most, but I always scavenge the place for cash afterwards, I've got over 250 K saved, I intend to go independent."
"There's not a particularly long life-span in that Xander."
"I know, but I've got advantages, seven years experience, soldier boy's memories, and," Xander hesitated before divulging a secret he'd held with him for over six years, "Remember the hyena?" the watcher nodded. "Well I can access some of his powers, I'm a little stronger, faster, and tougher than the usual person. Nothing like as strong as I was, but pretty good. As for how long I last," he shrugged, "I help people, that's what I do. That's what Slayers are meant to do too, but Buffy forgot that the first time she turned a blind eye to Angelus' murdering."
"Xander, come back to the house with me."
"What for, to apologise?" Xander shook his head. "I'm not going to lie, every word I said was true and needed to be said. See you tomorrow G-Man. Tell Wes and the others I'll bring weaponry for them too."
"It's not safe at your place, alone."
"Somehow I think that unless I get on my hands and knees and beg the great Buffy's forgiveness it's not that safe back there for me either," he chuckled. "I'll sleep with my guns beside me. Besides when things started getting hairy, I built a shit-load of highly illegal booby traps around the house, memories of a combat veteran, with Caleb out of the picture I'm as safe as anybody."
"Still, you should come back, try and build bridges."
He stared blankly at the Watcher. "Why would I want to do that? Buffy's a spoilt little bitch. I've saved her life half a dozen times at least, you're far more knowledgeable about demons, vampires, gods, and mythology than any normal mortal alive, Anaya's knowledge of demons probably exceeds yours, and Will could blast her out of existence with the blink of an eye. But do any of us get treated with respect by her? Do any of our opinions count more than a murdering demon's? My biggest regret was giving her that kiss of life after the Master drowned her."
"Xander! You can't mean that!" Giles looked horrified.
"Can't I?" Xander challenged. "If I hadn't brought her back, she'd never had slept with Deadboy, Jenny would never had died. Maybe Kendra would have lived, or maybe Faith would have been called and been more readily accepted into the group, got the family she always wanted, it's her I feel sorry for not Summers, Faith never got a look at a normal life, she never had the chances Buffy got and never appreciated - a great mom, dad in you, a good education, a best friend in Will, - but the only thing that she ever cared about was her vampires. If Faith had come here without Buffy being here, she might have had a chance."