DISCLAIMER: I do not own anything to do with Buffy the Vampire Slayer - it
all belongs to Joss Whedon.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Merry Xmas to all! A special shout-out to those of you out there having a really sucky/dull one, just like I am with my mother trying to break the record for sleeping the most hours in a day and my father channel hopping in the other room. There is really no good Xmas TV on this year! Oh well, all the more time dedicated to my fan fic writing.happy holidays!
Chapter 5
After much tough deciding, Buffy had managed to select an outfit. In that time, Dawn had woken up and gone to school; Willow had woken up, tried to help Buffy out, but frustrated her even more because they had contradicting opinions. Spike had woken up, attempted to lure Buffy back to bed (but to no avail) and Faith. . .slept.
Through everything that was happening, Buffy didn't realise that 11:30 had struck, and she needed to be on her way if she was going to get to the interview on time.
Not much was going on around the house. Willow was lying on the couch reading the paper that got delivered to their door every day, Spike was doing some stretches and exercises (topless) that were required to be done every day in his profession of a bouncer, and Faith. . .was still asleep.
Willow looked up from her newspaper at Buffy. 'Shouldn't you be off to your interview now?'
Buffy shushed her, as she watched Spike doing his stretches. Willow laughed silently, and went back to her paper.
Suddenly, Buffy had a thought. 'Spike, you know you're human now?'
'Yes - what of it?' he said through his exercising.
'Well. . .how come you still have the super-strength?' she pointed out.
Spike scoffed. 'Please. . .I hardly got a boost on my strength when I became a vampire. I was already like this.' He continued with some stretches. Buffy turned to Willow with raised eyebrows.
'You do know he's exaggerating, right?' Willow checked.
'Hey, I don't care, I've got this now,' said Buffy, pointing at Spike's body.
To everyone's surprise, Faith clambered down the stairs, wearing a leotard with jogging bottoms, and a sweater around her waist. Her hair was up in a ponytail and she was dripping with sweat.
'Good morning,' she said as she made for the fridge.
The other three glared on in silence for a moment.
'Uh, Faith?' Buffy said. 'What's with the look?'
'What? Oh, this!' she said, taking a swig of milk from the carton. 'Yeah - I work out 3 hours every morning.'
Buffy stared at her amazed. 'Oh, wow. . .' she paused. 'Why?'
'A Slayer's gotta keep fit B! Surely you know that?'
'Yeah, of course. . .' Buffy said unconvincingly.
'Anyway, don't you have that interview now?'
Buffy looked at her watch. 'Oh, God, I'm gonna be late! Spike can you drive me?'
He sighed. 'Yeah, I'll drive you.' He continued jokingly: 'Shouldn't you learn to how to drive on your own so you don't have to interrupt your boyfriend from his business?'
'Oh, so you're my boyfriend now?' she said, continuing the joke with a smile, as she grabbed her purse and he put on his shirt.
'Well, what else can I be, your bitch?'
'If you're lucky. . .' she winked at him, and he laughed as they walked out the door.
Faith and Willow were left alone sharing a very awkward moment. Ever since Faith had taken away Xander's virginity, Willow had disliked her. Unlike Buffy, Willow didn't really believe that Faith could be good and she held an eternal grudge against her.
'Anything interesting in the paper?' Faith asked behind the kitchen counter.
Willow was flicking through the sports section. She frowned.
'The Kings lost another game!' she wailed.
'Oh man!' Faith slammed her fist on the counter.
Willow was surprised. 'You're a Kings fan? Not a Lakers fan?'
'Been a Kings fan since they were known as the Kansas City Kings. But they've been having such a bad season!'
Willow got into the conversation. 'I know! What has happened to Webber and Stojakovic?!'
Faith ran over to the couch right by Willow. 'Yeah - before, those two would pull 'em right out of trouble, but it's not working anymore! They need to step it up!'
'Exactly! That's what I've been saying!' Willow exclaimed. She stopped and smiled.
Maybe she and Faith would have something to talk about.
**********
Spike pulled up and parked the car right in front of the office. Buffy undid her seatbelt, and was about to open the car door when Spike stopped her.
'Do you want me to wait for you?' he asked.
'If it's not too much trouble. . .' she smiled. 'Thanks for being so supportive.'
'I always have been.' He leant over and kissed her.
'Y'know, that really did help me calm my nerves,' said Buffy.
'Anytime. . .' they were quiet for a minute.
'Well, come on! Go! Good luck!' he urged her, and she exited the car, going straight into the building.
As she entered, all the cubicles and filing cabinets were still there - except the atmosphere was even creepier than it had been the day before when it was empty.
All the people were sitting, typing, looking busy. But it wasn't a hard- working place. It all seemed so mechanical - as if the people were robots. . .
'Buffy Summers!' The fat balding man came out of his office like he had done the day before. 'Right on time! If you'd care to step into my office. . .' She walked towards him, and went through the door.
The office was medium-sized with a desk and two chairs facing each other - nothing out of the ordinary there.
'Please take a seat,' he offered her one of the chairs, and he went to sit on the other one. Buffy had Willow's tips flying through her head - "sit up straight, smile, be polite, compliment whatever you can. . ."
'You have a lovely office,' Buffy said. 'Very cosy. . .'
Buffy handed the man her CV, which Willow had helped her prepare the night before.
'This is my CV,' she said. 'If you'd like to look at it. . .'
The man took the CV, glanced at it briefly, and then, strangely, threw it in the trash can. Buffy was surprised, but tried to hide her reaction.
'So Miss Summers. . .are you a quick learner?'
Willow had prepared her for questions like this. 'I am enthusiastic, so I believe I am a fast learner, yes.'
'Well, it actually doesn't matter. . .' Buffy frowned while the man looked away, but as soon as he looked up at her, she smiled again.
'Listen. . .can you fight?'
Willow hadn't prepared her for questions like that.
'Excuse me?'
'What am I saying? Of course you can't. . .look at you! You're tiny!'
'Why is it important. . .' Buffy remembered she had to remain polite, '. . .sir?'
He sunk down and whispered. 'Look, if you can fight. . .well. . .I'll give you this job without a second thought.'
'I can fight,' Buffy said immediately.
'Really?' The man was surprised.
'Oh yeah. . .' Buffy nodded. 'Wait. . .why do I need to fight?'
He opened a drawer and removed a business card from it, handing it to Buffy.
'Come to that address tonight at 8, ready to fight, and if you win, I will not only give you this job, I will pay you double.'
Buffy was confused. 'Don't you wanna ask me about. . .me?'
'Blondie, don't ask questions, come there tonight, OK?' He gestured her to leave the office. He was already becoming intimidating, so she stood up, card in her hand, and rushed outside as quickly as possible.
Spike was sitting there in the car absently thinking, when she opened the door and sat back in the seat.
'That was quick, pet.' His expression changed. 'So. . .did you get it?'
She was staring at the business card. 'I dunno. . .' she showed him the card, which was black and had blue and red lines criss-crossing over it, with an address. 'Do you know where this is?'
He looked at it, reading over the details. 'Yeah, this is just around the corner from the club I work at. Why, what do you need it for?'
She sighed. 'Start driving, I'll tell you on the way.'
**********
As they arrived at the house, Spike was amazed.
'Fight? What did he mean by that?'
'I dunno. . .I figure it's some office term that I don't know about.'
'Or maybe it means what other humans know it as - fighting.'
She started opening the door. 'I'm not sure. . .I just know I need this job, and I wouldn't mind the double pay either.' She opened the door, and was about to continue speaking, when she received a huge shock.
Willow and Faith were deep in conversation.
'Oh, OK - Who is currently their tallest player?' Willow asked in a quiz style.
'Easy! Vlade Divac at 7ft 1!' Faith threw her hands up in the air. 'Followed closely by Brad Miller at 7ft.'
'Oh, we're sorry,' Buffy said sarcastically. 'Are we interrupting the big slumber party?'
'Buffy, how could you not tell me Faith was a Kings fan?!' Willow scolded.
'Oh, guess it just. . .slipped my mind,' Buffy said uncertainly. Was this Faith and Willow getting along?
'Please. . .' Spike scoffed. 'You Americans and your basketball - now, football. . .that's a real game!'
'You mean soccer?' Faith said. Spike rolled his eyes. 'Yes.'
'I've always found it kinda dull,' said Willow to Faith.
'Me too,' Faith agreed.
'OK, so I've been here - what - 30 seconds?' Buffy said. 'And no one's asked me how my interview went?'
'Oh right!' Willow slapped her forehead. 'How'd it go?'
'How about majorly weird?' Buffy said, grabbing a magazine on the coffee table and pretending to flick through it.
'What happened?' said Faith concerned. And Buffy explained to them what happened.
'Well, you're not gonna go, right?' said Willow anxiously. 'Maybe it'll be some really powerful demon or something - it could be dangerous. . .'
'Will, I need this job! And I need the money! And it just so happens, fighting's the one thing I'm an expert at.'
'Well, for one thing, you're not going alone,' Faith said decidedly. 'Spike and I will come with you.'
'Actually, I have to work tonight,' he said.
'Ooo, ask Kennedy! She's a Slayer too!' suggested Willow.
'Yeah, Willow's right,' said Buffy. 'Worst case scenario - whatever it might be - 3 Slayers can take it on.'
'Bring weapons,' Spike said as an afterthought.
'We should inform Xander and Anya, just so they know what's going on,' Willow said, picking up the phone.
'Wow. . .' said Buffy thoughtfully. 'It's just like old times, with the whole gang. . .'
**********
A/N: Just in case you're wondering about the random Sacramento Kings reference, it's my little tribute to Basketball, a sport I love, and yet it seems to be so underappreciated here in England (how many Britons out there agree with me?!) The plot about them by the way is totally fictional, so if there are any Kings fans out there, sorry if I get any references really wrong. Also, a great opportunity to make Willow and Faith get along - which was very fun. Coming up. . .quite a long chapter, and my first written fight scene, so watch this space - in the mean time, please review!
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Merry Xmas to all! A special shout-out to those of you out there having a really sucky/dull one, just like I am with my mother trying to break the record for sleeping the most hours in a day and my father channel hopping in the other room. There is really no good Xmas TV on this year! Oh well, all the more time dedicated to my fan fic writing.happy holidays!
Chapter 5
After much tough deciding, Buffy had managed to select an outfit. In that time, Dawn had woken up and gone to school; Willow had woken up, tried to help Buffy out, but frustrated her even more because they had contradicting opinions. Spike had woken up, attempted to lure Buffy back to bed (but to no avail) and Faith. . .slept.
Through everything that was happening, Buffy didn't realise that 11:30 had struck, and she needed to be on her way if she was going to get to the interview on time.
Not much was going on around the house. Willow was lying on the couch reading the paper that got delivered to their door every day, Spike was doing some stretches and exercises (topless) that were required to be done every day in his profession of a bouncer, and Faith. . .was still asleep.
Willow looked up from her newspaper at Buffy. 'Shouldn't you be off to your interview now?'
Buffy shushed her, as she watched Spike doing his stretches. Willow laughed silently, and went back to her paper.
Suddenly, Buffy had a thought. 'Spike, you know you're human now?'
'Yes - what of it?' he said through his exercising.
'Well. . .how come you still have the super-strength?' she pointed out.
Spike scoffed. 'Please. . .I hardly got a boost on my strength when I became a vampire. I was already like this.' He continued with some stretches. Buffy turned to Willow with raised eyebrows.
'You do know he's exaggerating, right?' Willow checked.
'Hey, I don't care, I've got this now,' said Buffy, pointing at Spike's body.
To everyone's surprise, Faith clambered down the stairs, wearing a leotard with jogging bottoms, and a sweater around her waist. Her hair was up in a ponytail and she was dripping with sweat.
'Good morning,' she said as she made for the fridge.
The other three glared on in silence for a moment.
'Uh, Faith?' Buffy said. 'What's with the look?'
'What? Oh, this!' she said, taking a swig of milk from the carton. 'Yeah - I work out 3 hours every morning.'
Buffy stared at her amazed. 'Oh, wow. . .' she paused. 'Why?'
'A Slayer's gotta keep fit B! Surely you know that?'
'Yeah, of course. . .' Buffy said unconvincingly.
'Anyway, don't you have that interview now?'
Buffy looked at her watch. 'Oh, God, I'm gonna be late! Spike can you drive me?'
He sighed. 'Yeah, I'll drive you.' He continued jokingly: 'Shouldn't you learn to how to drive on your own so you don't have to interrupt your boyfriend from his business?'
'Oh, so you're my boyfriend now?' she said, continuing the joke with a smile, as she grabbed her purse and he put on his shirt.
'Well, what else can I be, your bitch?'
'If you're lucky. . .' she winked at him, and he laughed as they walked out the door.
Faith and Willow were left alone sharing a very awkward moment. Ever since Faith had taken away Xander's virginity, Willow had disliked her. Unlike Buffy, Willow didn't really believe that Faith could be good and she held an eternal grudge against her.
'Anything interesting in the paper?' Faith asked behind the kitchen counter.
Willow was flicking through the sports section. She frowned.
'The Kings lost another game!' she wailed.
'Oh man!' Faith slammed her fist on the counter.
Willow was surprised. 'You're a Kings fan? Not a Lakers fan?'
'Been a Kings fan since they were known as the Kansas City Kings. But they've been having such a bad season!'
Willow got into the conversation. 'I know! What has happened to Webber and Stojakovic?!'
Faith ran over to the couch right by Willow. 'Yeah - before, those two would pull 'em right out of trouble, but it's not working anymore! They need to step it up!'
'Exactly! That's what I've been saying!' Willow exclaimed. She stopped and smiled.
Maybe she and Faith would have something to talk about.
**********
Spike pulled up and parked the car right in front of the office. Buffy undid her seatbelt, and was about to open the car door when Spike stopped her.
'Do you want me to wait for you?' he asked.
'If it's not too much trouble. . .' she smiled. 'Thanks for being so supportive.'
'I always have been.' He leant over and kissed her.
'Y'know, that really did help me calm my nerves,' said Buffy.
'Anytime. . .' they were quiet for a minute.
'Well, come on! Go! Good luck!' he urged her, and she exited the car, going straight into the building.
As she entered, all the cubicles and filing cabinets were still there - except the atmosphere was even creepier than it had been the day before when it was empty.
All the people were sitting, typing, looking busy. But it wasn't a hard- working place. It all seemed so mechanical - as if the people were robots. . .
'Buffy Summers!' The fat balding man came out of his office like he had done the day before. 'Right on time! If you'd care to step into my office. . .' She walked towards him, and went through the door.
The office was medium-sized with a desk and two chairs facing each other - nothing out of the ordinary there.
'Please take a seat,' he offered her one of the chairs, and he went to sit on the other one. Buffy had Willow's tips flying through her head - "sit up straight, smile, be polite, compliment whatever you can. . ."
'You have a lovely office,' Buffy said. 'Very cosy. . .'
Buffy handed the man her CV, which Willow had helped her prepare the night before.
'This is my CV,' she said. 'If you'd like to look at it. . .'
The man took the CV, glanced at it briefly, and then, strangely, threw it in the trash can. Buffy was surprised, but tried to hide her reaction.
'So Miss Summers. . .are you a quick learner?'
Willow had prepared her for questions like this. 'I am enthusiastic, so I believe I am a fast learner, yes.'
'Well, it actually doesn't matter. . .' Buffy frowned while the man looked away, but as soon as he looked up at her, she smiled again.
'Listen. . .can you fight?'
Willow hadn't prepared her for questions like that.
'Excuse me?'
'What am I saying? Of course you can't. . .look at you! You're tiny!'
'Why is it important. . .' Buffy remembered she had to remain polite, '. . .sir?'
He sunk down and whispered. 'Look, if you can fight. . .well. . .I'll give you this job without a second thought.'
'I can fight,' Buffy said immediately.
'Really?' The man was surprised.
'Oh yeah. . .' Buffy nodded. 'Wait. . .why do I need to fight?'
He opened a drawer and removed a business card from it, handing it to Buffy.
'Come to that address tonight at 8, ready to fight, and if you win, I will not only give you this job, I will pay you double.'
Buffy was confused. 'Don't you wanna ask me about. . .me?'
'Blondie, don't ask questions, come there tonight, OK?' He gestured her to leave the office. He was already becoming intimidating, so she stood up, card in her hand, and rushed outside as quickly as possible.
Spike was sitting there in the car absently thinking, when she opened the door and sat back in the seat.
'That was quick, pet.' His expression changed. 'So. . .did you get it?'
She was staring at the business card. 'I dunno. . .' she showed him the card, which was black and had blue and red lines criss-crossing over it, with an address. 'Do you know where this is?'
He looked at it, reading over the details. 'Yeah, this is just around the corner from the club I work at. Why, what do you need it for?'
She sighed. 'Start driving, I'll tell you on the way.'
**********
As they arrived at the house, Spike was amazed.
'Fight? What did he mean by that?'
'I dunno. . .I figure it's some office term that I don't know about.'
'Or maybe it means what other humans know it as - fighting.'
She started opening the door. 'I'm not sure. . .I just know I need this job, and I wouldn't mind the double pay either.' She opened the door, and was about to continue speaking, when she received a huge shock.
Willow and Faith were deep in conversation.
'Oh, OK - Who is currently their tallest player?' Willow asked in a quiz style.
'Easy! Vlade Divac at 7ft 1!' Faith threw her hands up in the air. 'Followed closely by Brad Miller at 7ft.'
'Oh, we're sorry,' Buffy said sarcastically. 'Are we interrupting the big slumber party?'
'Buffy, how could you not tell me Faith was a Kings fan?!' Willow scolded.
'Oh, guess it just. . .slipped my mind,' Buffy said uncertainly. Was this Faith and Willow getting along?
'Please. . .' Spike scoffed. 'You Americans and your basketball - now, football. . .that's a real game!'
'You mean soccer?' Faith said. Spike rolled his eyes. 'Yes.'
'I've always found it kinda dull,' said Willow to Faith.
'Me too,' Faith agreed.
'OK, so I've been here - what - 30 seconds?' Buffy said. 'And no one's asked me how my interview went?'
'Oh right!' Willow slapped her forehead. 'How'd it go?'
'How about majorly weird?' Buffy said, grabbing a magazine on the coffee table and pretending to flick through it.
'What happened?' said Faith concerned. And Buffy explained to them what happened.
'Well, you're not gonna go, right?' said Willow anxiously. 'Maybe it'll be some really powerful demon or something - it could be dangerous. . .'
'Will, I need this job! And I need the money! And it just so happens, fighting's the one thing I'm an expert at.'
'Well, for one thing, you're not going alone,' Faith said decidedly. 'Spike and I will come with you.'
'Actually, I have to work tonight,' he said.
'Ooo, ask Kennedy! She's a Slayer too!' suggested Willow.
'Yeah, Willow's right,' said Buffy. 'Worst case scenario - whatever it might be - 3 Slayers can take it on.'
'Bring weapons,' Spike said as an afterthought.
'We should inform Xander and Anya, just so they know what's going on,' Willow said, picking up the phone.
'Wow. . .' said Buffy thoughtfully. 'It's just like old times, with the whole gang. . .'
**********
A/N: Just in case you're wondering about the random Sacramento Kings reference, it's my little tribute to Basketball, a sport I love, and yet it seems to be so underappreciated here in England (how many Britons out there agree with me?!) The plot about them by the way is totally fictional, so if there are any Kings fans out there, sorry if I get any references really wrong. Also, a great opportunity to make Willow and Faith get along - which was very fun. Coming up. . .quite a long chapter, and my first written fight scene, so watch this space - in the mean time, please review!
