Watcher 7 - Breakdown
Angel stalked over to the three vampires. "Hi guys."
"Angelus, prepare to die," snarled the middle of the trio, a short fat man in his early forties with an ugly face that Angel was surprised anybody would want around for an eternity.
The ensoulled vampire shook his head. "You three kill me? Not on your best night and my worst. By the way your threats? Passé, my girl-friend does them much better."
The short vampire howled in anger before charging forward, Angel's foot flicked out catching the vamp in his stomach, snapping bones and sending his adversary to the ground. Moving forward, Angel grabbed the vampire to his left by his throat and flung him into the remaining standing vampire. As soon as the two vampires crashed to the ground, he rushed over to the fat vampire and thrust a stake through his heart even as fatty leapt to his feet.
Angel raced smoothly on toward the other two vampires, ducking under a left hook to slam his stake into the nearest of the two vampires before kicking the remaining vampire in the knee. The vampire staggered under the impact of the blow and Angel slid into a leg sweep that sent the vampire plummeting face-first to the ground. Before his adversary had chance to recover, Angel crouched down and shoved his stake through the vampire's back and into his heart. Standing, he looked to see how Xander was doing and grimaced.
* * *
"Can't we do this tomorrow? I mean I've got my new suit on, I've just been round to meet my new girlfriend's mom, I really don't want to fight tonight." Xander looked at the two vampires flanking him and sighed. "Be like that."
Lunging forward, he crashed his fist into the face of the vampire to his left, quickly following up with a left hook to the stomach, before finally staking it. At the last second he heard a footfall behind him and felt a hand on his shoulder. Twisting away from the grip, the teen let out a curse as he heard his jacket tear.
"You bastard!" he shouted. "That's my new suit!" he drove a foot into the vampire's groin, as the vampire doubled up, he propelled a knee into the monster's nose shattering it. The vampire dropped onto his hands and knees wailing for mercy but Xander was merciless, after powering a foot into the creature's ribs, he grabbed him by the shirt collar and seat of the pants and flung him head-first into a near-by headstone.
"Xander, I'll buy you a new suit, just stake him already."
The youth looked over at the ensoulled vampire and winked. "Just be a moment." Xander turned back to the now standing vampire, ducked beneath a left hook to crash a punch into the beast's armpit before finally staking it.
Xander turned to face a scowling Angel. "That was stupid, playing with him like that. What if he'd been a powerful vamp like Spike or me? Always take the kill."
Xander smiled, he knew Angel was right but it wasn't in his nature to take criticism from the vampire lying down. "Another vampire like you? God I hope not."
* * *
"Hi Xand, so how do you think last night went?"
Grinning at the sound of his girlfriend's sultry voice, Xander turned from his locker to face her. As always his first sight of her took his breath away, dressed in just a pair of jeans and a light blue blouse, she looked like a million dollars. "Depends on if you mean before or after the vampire attack."
Worry entered the Slayer's beguiling brown eyes. "You okay honey?"
He smiled reassuringly before stroking his girlfriend's silk black hair. "Didn't lay a finger on me sweetie. Tore my damn suit though."
His Slayer's ruby-red lips parted in a smirk. "Didn't lay a finger on you, eh? Better not let anybody but me lay a finger on you."
He gulped as Faith's fingers began to lightly stroke his chest. "I'll bear that in mind." He lowered his head to kiss her.
"Hey lookee, it's the nerd and the tramp. Say Harris, when you've finished with her, throw her my way. Lips like that she'll be able to suck start a Harley."
Xander's blood boiled at the hurt and humiliation he saw in Faith's chocolate brown eyes. He grabbed her around her waist as she started after the three laughing footballers. "Cool it Faith," he whispered in her ear, "remember control baby. Chill."
His girlfriend glared at him for a few seconds before nodding. "Five by five," she sighed, "I better get to class."
"Good girl," Xander forced a smile as his girl started off down the corridor. His face hardened as he glanced in the direction the footballers had gone. "I on the other hand," he hurried down the school corridors and caught up with the footballers outside the science labs.
"You see the look on Harris' face. It was fuckin' hilarious. What a loser like that doing with a babe like that anyway? She's football team property, a looker like that. She must be easy though if she's with -."
Xander let out a bestial snarl as he grabbed Percy West's thick shoulder and spun the footballer round to face him before butting him hard in the nose. Even as the youth's nose disappeared in a torrent of blood, Xander drove his knee into his unprepared opponent's groin. Sensing another footballer closing on his right, he stepped towards the gridiron star and drove the point of his elbow upwards into the jock's mouth, sending teeth flying, before following up with a sweep that took the youth's legs out from behind.
Upon straightening, he was rocked by a punch to the side of the head that he only partially managed to avoid. Grunting slightly at the pain, he bent his knees slightly, allowing a follow-up right cross to pass harmlessly over his head, before again straightening and levelling his rival with a fast three punch combination to the head followed by a palm-strike to the chest.
Even as the third footballer left his feet, Xander was stung by a shot to the jaw from West. "You're dead Harris!"
Ignoring the threat, he ducked under a second punch to the head and shrugged off a crunching thump to the stomach before grabbing hold of West's arm and throwing him face-first through the near-by toilet door. After following the footballer into the lavatory, he blocked a right to the head on his forearm before sweeping the footballer's legs from underneath him. Grabbing the stunned footballer, he dragged him over to the urinal and dumped him in face-first. Pushing West's head down, he spoke, his voice cold. "This is a gentle warning West; Faith is off limit to you and your goons. Try and hurt her again, and I'll make sure you'll never play collegiate ball. Understand?" Taking the footballer's muffled sobs as a yes he stood and slammed a foot into the footballer's ribs before leaving. "Never did like bullies."
* * *
"So Mr. Harris you start a fight with three of our football stars. Can you think of any reason why I shouldn't suspend you?" Snyder glared at the youth sat opposite him. What he wouldn't do to wipe the smug look from the boy's face.
"Now what sort of idiot do you think I am?" the boy raised a hand and smiled, "no, don't answer that. I didn't start anything, I just confronted them about insulting Faith and they attacked me," the young man shrugged. "So I dealt with the problem."
Snyder slammed his hands on the desk separating him from the youth and stood. "You've dented this school's chances for athletic glory for that tramp-."
"Careful," the principal felt a chill at the complete of emotion in the teen's voice and the stoniness of his face. "I tore through three footballers bigger than me at once, what do you think I could do to you?"
The principal felt the blood drain from his face. Somehow, he knew it wasn't a bluff. "Don't you threaten me in my office," he blustered.
The youth smiled evilly. "You won't always be in your office. And let's be honest, who would care or miss you if you disappeared? So am I suspended?"
The principal glared impotently at the youth. He'd love to punish the impudent brat but there was no proof that he'd started the fight. The three footballers he'd fought were too scared to admit what had happened and all eye witnesses' accounts were inconclusive and contradictory. And there was something about Harris that suggested his words weren't a bluff, without the Mayor's support he didn't dare go up against Giles and his gang. "Just get out of my office."
The youth winked. "All you had to was ask."
* * *
"What were you playing at you stupid bloody idiot!" Giles roared at the youth. "Starting fights at school. Do you have no discipline? Have you listened to nothing that Angel and I have taught you?"
"I won't let anybody hurt her," Xander's voice was low and controlled, but Giles could see the raging emotion in the boy's eyes.
"Faith is hardly your concern. I am more than a little concerned about your growing relationship with my Slayer. I might have to recommend that Faith is moved away from your influence-."
Giles opened his mouth to tell the junior Watcher to shut up. Too late. His eyes flickering hard, Xander surged to his feet, grabbed the surprised Watcher by his tie, and threw him down a near-by table scattering books. Wesley attempted to rise but the enraged youth had by his throat, forcing him back. "Two things, you pompous prick. Only Giles and Angel can use that tone with me. And most importantly," Xander began to tighten the Watcher's tie, causing Wesley to gasp for air. "You try and mess with me and Faith, and I will kill you."
Finally Giles found his voice. "Xander! Let him go immediately!" It was an effort to keep his voice steady. After a second the boy released his grip and pushed his prisoner off the table and to the floor. The boy moved towards the crumpled body, possibly to kick him but Giles snapped out an order. "No Xander. Get out of here! Go home!"
The boy nodded and walked out of the library, his head bowed; the few students in the library scattering out of his way. Once the boy had left, Giles turned to his fellow Watcher, his eyes like chipped ice. "You damn fool," he growled in disgust. "You're just incapable of keeping your mouth shut aren't you? For the first time in her life Faith feels happy, protected, but that's just not good enough is it?"
"Mr Giles," Wesley's snooty arrogance was back in full force. "My Slayer's happiness isn't my concern only her effectiveness."
Giles shook his head in disbelief. "She's not a soddin' tool; she's a frightened teenage girl. Every time you open your mouth you just confirm my first impression that you're an idiot." His head still shaking; the former Watcher walked into the inner office to phone Angel.
* * *
"I'm teaching you these skills to fight vampires and demons, not school bullies! Just what are you playing at?"
"For seventeen years I've let people, my dad, school bullies, pick on me," Angel watched as the youth's body began to shake and tears started to roll down his face. "Nobody's going to hurt me or my friends ever again. And especially Faith."
The ensoulled vampire looked at the crying youth, his own stomach clenching in pain. Xander's father had destroyed him, oh to be Angelus and locked in an elevator with that bastard for a day. Sighing, he pointed at the couch. "You can sleep here tonight Xander, I'm just going out."
* * *
"Given what you tell me I can only conclude that Xander is under-going some sort of breakdown. Years of abuse and the last 2 ½ years battling on the hellmouth have taken their toll. Add to that possession by a hyena, a pack animal, and he is fiercely protective of us all, particularly Faith. That's even without considering the possible trauma of the soldier who once possessed him. Anything he perceives as a threat, no matter how slight is dealt with ruthlessly."
"What can we do for him?" Angel asked.
Giles' forehead creased in thought. "I understand from Buffy you meditate to help control your demons."
The vampire nodded. "Yes."
"You can teach him the techniques to help control his emotions. The rest of us can help by providing him with the care and security he's never received."
Angel nodded and stood, pausing as a thought struck him. "What about him being Faith's Watcher?" he asked. "I hate to be cold-blooded but can he be considered responsible?"
The Watcher grimaced. "You have a point, and I've already considered this problem. Unfortunately our own actions have manoeuvred us into a corner. Both Faith and Xander are fiercely protective of one another, as evidenced by today's events. Separating them with only retard both of their recoveries at best, or even provoke a violent reaction from them at worst. Anyway," the Watcher sighed, "I believe Xander will bear watching but he's proven to be a resilient character in the past and I'm sure he'll begin to recover soon."
The vampire nodded, but he was far from convinced. Still, as Giles said it wasn't like they had many options.
Angel stalked over to the three vampires. "Hi guys."
"Angelus, prepare to die," snarled the middle of the trio, a short fat man in his early forties with an ugly face that Angel was surprised anybody would want around for an eternity.
The ensoulled vampire shook his head. "You three kill me? Not on your best night and my worst. By the way your threats? Passé, my girl-friend does them much better."
The short vampire howled in anger before charging forward, Angel's foot flicked out catching the vamp in his stomach, snapping bones and sending his adversary to the ground. Moving forward, Angel grabbed the vampire to his left by his throat and flung him into the remaining standing vampire. As soon as the two vampires crashed to the ground, he rushed over to the fat vampire and thrust a stake through his heart even as fatty leapt to his feet.
Angel raced smoothly on toward the other two vampires, ducking under a left hook to slam his stake into the nearest of the two vampires before kicking the remaining vampire in the knee. The vampire staggered under the impact of the blow and Angel slid into a leg sweep that sent the vampire plummeting face-first to the ground. Before his adversary had chance to recover, Angel crouched down and shoved his stake through the vampire's back and into his heart. Standing, he looked to see how Xander was doing and grimaced.
* * *
"Can't we do this tomorrow? I mean I've got my new suit on, I've just been round to meet my new girlfriend's mom, I really don't want to fight tonight." Xander looked at the two vampires flanking him and sighed. "Be like that."
Lunging forward, he crashed his fist into the face of the vampire to his left, quickly following up with a left hook to the stomach, before finally staking it. At the last second he heard a footfall behind him and felt a hand on his shoulder. Twisting away from the grip, the teen let out a curse as he heard his jacket tear.
"You bastard!" he shouted. "That's my new suit!" he drove a foot into the vampire's groin, as the vampire doubled up, he propelled a knee into the monster's nose shattering it. The vampire dropped onto his hands and knees wailing for mercy but Xander was merciless, after powering a foot into the creature's ribs, he grabbed him by the shirt collar and seat of the pants and flung him head-first into a near-by headstone.
"Xander, I'll buy you a new suit, just stake him already."
The youth looked over at the ensoulled vampire and winked. "Just be a moment." Xander turned back to the now standing vampire, ducked beneath a left hook to crash a punch into the beast's armpit before finally staking it.
Xander turned to face a scowling Angel. "That was stupid, playing with him like that. What if he'd been a powerful vamp like Spike or me? Always take the kill."
Xander smiled, he knew Angel was right but it wasn't in his nature to take criticism from the vampire lying down. "Another vampire like you? God I hope not."
* * *
"Hi Xand, so how do you think last night went?"
Grinning at the sound of his girlfriend's sultry voice, Xander turned from his locker to face her. As always his first sight of her took his breath away, dressed in just a pair of jeans and a light blue blouse, she looked like a million dollars. "Depends on if you mean before or after the vampire attack."
Worry entered the Slayer's beguiling brown eyes. "You okay honey?"
He smiled reassuringly before stroking his girlfriend's silk black hair. "Didn't lay a finger on me sweetie. Tore my damn suit though."
His Slayer's ruby-red lips parted in a smirk. "Didn't lay a finger on you, eh? Better not let anybody but me lay a finger on you."
He gulped as Faith's fingers began to lightly stroke his chest. "I'll bear that in mind." He lowered his head to kiss her.
"Hey lookee, it's the nerd and the tramp. Say Harris, when you've finished with her, throw her my way. Lips like that she'll be able to suck start a Harley."
Xander's blood boiled at the hurt and humiliation he saw in Faith's chocolate brown eyes. He grabbed her around her waist as she started after the three laughing footballers. "Cool it Faith," he whispered in her ear, "remember control baby. Chill."
His girlfriend glared at him for a few seconds before nodding. "Five by five," she sighed, "I better get to class."
"Good girl," Xander forced a smile as his girl started off down the corridor. His face hardened as he glanced in the direction the footballers had gone. "I on the other hand," he hurried down the school corridors and caught up with the footballers outside the science labs.
"You see the look on Harris' face. It was fuckin' hilarious. What a loser like that doing with a babe like that anyway? She's football team property, a looker like that. She must be easy though if she's with -."
Xander let out a bestial snarl as he grabbed Percy West's thick shoulder and spun the footballer round to face him before butting him hard in the nose. Even as the youth's nose disappeared in a torrent of blood, Xander drove his knee into his unprepared opponent's groin. Sensing another footballer closing on his right, he stepped towards the gridiron star and drove the point of his elbow upwards into the jock's mouth, sending teeth flying, before following up with a sweep that took the youth's legs out from behind.
Upon straightening, he was rocked by a punch to the side of the head that he only partially managed to avoid. Grunting slightly at the pain, he bent his knees slightly, allowing a follow-up right cross to pass harmlessly over his head, before again straightening and levelling his rival with a fast three punch combination to the head followed by a palm-strike to the chest.
Even as the third footballer left his feet, Xander was stung by a shot to the jaw from West. "You're dead Harris!"
Ignoring the threat, he ducked under a second punch to the head and shrugged off a crunching thump to the stomach before grabbing hold of West's arm and throwing him face-first through the near-by toilet door. After following the footballer into the lavatory, he blocked a right to the head on his forearm before sweeping the footballer's legs from underneath him. Grabbing the stunned footballer, he dragged him over to the urinal and dumped him in face-first. Pushing West's head down, he spoke, his voice cold. "This is a gentle warning West; Faith is off limit to you and your goons. Try and hurt her again, and I'll make sure you'll never play collegiate ball. Understand?" Taking the footballer's muffled sobs as a yes he stood and slammed a foot into the footballer's ribs before leaving. "Never did like bullies."
* * *
"So Mr. Harris you start a fight with three of our football stars. Can you think of any reason why I shouldn't suspend you?" Snyder glared at the youth sat opposite him. What he wouldn't do to wipe the smug look from the boy's face.
"Now what sort of idiot do you think I am?" the boy raised a hand and smiled, "no, don't answer that. I didn't start anything, I just confronted them about insulting Faith and they attacked me," the young man shrugged. "So I dealt with the problem."
Snyder slammed his hands on the desk separating him from the youth and stood. "You've dented this school's chances for athletic glory for that tramp-."
"Careful," the principal felt a chill at the complete of emotion in the teen's voice and the stoniness of his face. "I tore through three footballers bigger than me at once, what do you think I could do to you?"
The principal felt the blood drain from his face. Somehow, he knew it wasn't a bluff. "Don't you threaten me in my office," he blustered.
The youth smiled evilly. "You won't always be in your office. And let's be honest, who would care or miss you if you disappeared? So am I suspended?"
The principal glared impotently at the youth. He'd love to punish the impudent brat but there was no proof that he'd started the fight. The three footballers he'd fought were too scared to admit what had happened and all eye witnesses' accounts were inconclusive and contradictory. And there was something about Harris that suggested his words weren't a bluff, without the Mayor's support he didn't dare go up against Giles and his gang. "Just get out of my office."
The youth winked. "All you had to was ask."
* * *
"What were you playing at you stupid bloody idiot!" Giles roared at the youth. "Starting fights at school. Do you have no discipline? Have you listened to nothing that Angel and I have taught you?"
"I won't let anybody hurt her," Xander's voice was low and controlled, but Giles could see the raging emotion in the boy's eyes.
"Faith is hardly your concern. I am more than a little concerned about your growing relationship with my Slayer. I might have to recommend that Faith is moved away from your influence-."
Giles opened his mouth to tell the junior Watcher to shut up. Too late. His eyes flickering hard, Xander surged to his feet, grabbed the surprised Watcher by his tie, and threw him down a near-by table scattering books. Wesley attempted to rise but the enraged youth had by his throat, forcing him back. "Two things, you pompous prick. Only Giles and Angel can use that tone with me. And most importantly," Xander began to tighten the Watcher's tie, causing Wesley to gasp for air. "You try and mess with me and Faith, and I will kill you."
Finally Giles found his voice. "Xander! Let him go immediately!" It was an effort to keep his voice steady. After a second the boy released his grip and pushed his prisoner off the table and to the floor. The boy moved towards the crumpled body, possibly to kick him but Giles snapped out an order. "No Xander. Get out of here! Go home!"
The boy nodded and walked out of the library, his head bowed; the few students in the library scattering out of his way. Once the boy had left, Giles turned to his fellow Watcher, his eyes like chipped ice. "You damn fool," he growled in disgust. "You're just incapable of keeping your mouth shut aren't you? For the first time in her life Faith feels happy, protected, but that's just not good enough is it?"
"Mr Giles," Wesley's snooty arrogance was back in full force. "My Slayer's happiness isn't my concern only her effectiveness."
Giles shook his head in disbelief. "She's not a soddin' tool; she's a frightened teenage girl. Every time you open your mouth you just confirm my first impression that you're an idiot." His head still shaking; the former Watcher walked into the inner office to phone Angel.
* * *
"I'm teaching you these skills to fight vampires and demons, not school bullies! Just what are you playing at?"
"For seventeen years I've let people, my dad, school bullies, pick on me," Angel watched as the youth's body began to shake and tears started to roll down his face. "Nobody's going to hurt me or my friends ever again. And especially Faith."
The ensoulled vampire looked at the crying youth, his own stomach clenching in pain. Xander's father had destroyed him, oh to be Angelus and locked in an elevator with that bastard for a day. Sighing, he pointed at the couch. "You can sleep here tonight Xander, I'm just going out."
* * *
"Given what you tell me I can only conclude that Xander is under-going some sort of breakdown. Years of abuse and the last 2 ½ years battling on the hellmouth have taken their toll. Add to that possession by a hyena, a pack animal, and he is fiercely protective of us all, particularly Faith. That's even without considering the possible trauma of the soldier who once possessed him. Anything he perceives as a threat, no matter how slight is dealt with ruthlessly."
"What can we do for him?" Angel asked.
Giles' forehead creased in thought. "I understand from Buffy you meditate to help control your demons."
The vampire nodded. "Yes."
"You can teach him the techniques to help control his emotions. The rest of us can help by providing him with the care and security he's never received."
Angel nodded and stood, pausing as a thought struck him. "What about him being Faith's Watcher?" he asked. "I hate to be cold-blooded but can he be considered responsible?"
The Watcher grimaced. "You have a point, and I've already considered this problem. Unfortunately our own actions have manoeuvred us into a corner. Both Faith and Xander are fiercely protective of one another, as evidenced by today's events. Separating them with only retard both of their recoveries at best, or even provoke a violent reaction from them at worst. Anyway," the Watcher sighed, "I believe Xander will bear watching but he's proven to be a resilient character in the past and I'm sure he'll begin to recover soon."
The vampire nodded, but he was far from convinced. Still, as Giles said it wasn't like they had many options.