-'Hand in Hand.'-
Pairings: One sided B/X, some B/A, and W/X
A/N: [One shot] A response to malastor's challenge 'Xander wasn't the one to get possessed by the Hyena' Not your usual W/X
A/N 2: God knows you can't write more unless you get reviews.
A/N 3: Sorry about the wait, too many plot bunnies running around my apartment. If you want more of Ecstasy of Gold or Who Wants to Live Forever, then review it, or annoy me. It's coming slowly but surely. And if you're waiting on something else, ::cough:: Ordinary Men ::cough:: you might have a wait.
Disclaimers: I don't own anything relating to Buffy.
Timeframe: S1 AU The Pack.
Dedicated to the few remaining W/X'ers out there, you know who you are.
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"But what if Mrs. Beakman decides to give us a pop quiz next week and, and I'm not prepared for it because they decided that we should go on a field trip, although the field trip is a school sanctioned event in which case they would excuse us from work, but if that's the case why did she seem so angry at me earlier..."
Xander shook his head and covered the redhead's mouth with his left hand, earning him a squeak in retaliation. "Whoa, slow down there cowgirl, we're here to check out the zebras, not have our heads explode."
Willow's face flushed red as the boy removed his hand. "Sorry, I was babbling again."
Xander smiled and pushed her along walkway. "Ah Wills, you know I couldn't live without my daily helping of Willow-babble. I makes me not feel as bad if the smartest kid in the school takes the occasional leap of insanity."
"Do you really think I'm the smartest? I mean I know that I have a 4.0 and everything but, does saying that out loud make me sound kind of 'haha I'm smarter that you' or does it make me sound stuck up or, or ..."
Xander rolled his eyes and grinned before interrupting her. "Wills, reign it in here. You don't have anything to worry about, you could pass anything Mrs. Beakman throws at you be it a test, a quiz, or some other kind of deadly weapon. And you're too modest for your own good. Now lets just stand here and watch the nice zebras."
Willow sighed before calming down. "Why are we going to see the zebras again?"
Xander raised both his eyebrows and smirked. The redhead stopped and looked at her best friend in confusion before turning to look at the zebras. "Oh..."
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Buffy Summers looked at her opponent dead in the eye, there would be no backing now. Only one would walk away victorious. The monstrous gray behemoth bellowed as it broke its gaze and lowered its head to eat some hay. The slayer smirked triumphantly as the elephant slowly chewed its food. "Don't feel bad mister elephant, you're no match for the Slayer."
She leaned against the guardrail and sighed before a voice cackled from her left. "Oh, look. It's Buffy and all her friends."
Buffy rolled her eyes turned to see two girls and two boys standing together smirking. "My, that's a witty insult, I hope you say another one so I know my true place in the world."
A teenage boy with light brown hair turned to the other three and frowned playfully. "Do you ever wonder why nobody cool wants to hang out with you?"
"I think it has something to do with the fact that I could kick their ass into next week. I'm not sure."
The leader laughed and began to walk away. "Oooooh, we're just quivering in our boots."
The three others laughed and followed. Buffy growled and rolled her eyes before reading the plaque about elephants.
"Hey! Buffy!"
Xander and Willow ran up to her grinning broadly. The redhead stood next to her. "You missed it!"
Buffy cocked her head to the side. "Missed what?"
Xander rubbed his hands together and smirked. "We just saw the zebras mating!" He turned to Willow and took a bow. "Thank you. Thank you."
Willow smiled broadly. "It was like the Heimlich, but with stripes!"
Buffy held her hand to her chest in mock disappointment. "And I missed it. Yet somehow I'll find the courage to live on."
The three began to walk together in silence until Willow spoke up. "Where were you?"
Buffy shrugged her shoulders. "Uh, I was looking at the fishes."
The redhead smiled excitedly. "Was it cool?"
Buffy deadpanned. "I was looking at fishes."
Xander walked between the two girls and put his arms across their shoulders. "You know, I'm not feeling the field trip spirit here Buff." He turned his head to his left and asked Willow, "Wills, you're feelin it right?"
"Ooooh. Did you know that the average lifespan of a elephant is..."
Xander's face dropped as he turned back to the blond chosen one. "Never mind that, but still..."
Buffy sighed. "Well, it would... It's nothing, I... We used to do the same zoo trip at my old school every year. Same old, same old."
Xander gasped. "Buffy, this isn't just about looking at a bunch of animals. This is about not being in class!"
Buffy looked up and nodded her head with a small smile. "You know, you're right! Suddenly the animals look shiny and new."
Xander smiled and winked at Willow. "You shoulda seen the zebras then, right Wills?"
Willow smiled sheepishly. "Yep."
Buffy groaned as she looked over Xander's shoulder. Xander looked down at his clothes. "Hey, I'm not wearing the Hawaiian shirt, what else do you want?"
Willow turned to see the four teenagers from before push a boy into the Hyena Exhibit. "What are Kyle and his buds doing with Lance?"
Xander turned around to see the last one go into the entrance. "Oh, playing with him as a cat plays with a mouse."
Buffy sighed. "What is it with those guys?"
Willow groaned and looked back at the plaque. "They're obnoxious. Professionally."
Xander shrugged. "Well, every school has 'em. So, you start a new school, you got your desks, your teachers, some blackboards, and some mean kids."
Buffy sighed and took a step forward. "Yeah, well, I'd better extract Lance before..."
Xander put a hand on her shoulder and interrupted her. "I'll handle it. This job doesn't require actual slaying."
As Xander walked away, Buffy turned to her redheaded friend. "You don't think we should follow?"
Willow shrugged her shoulders. "Kyle and those guys are jerks, but they're all talk...mostly."
Buffy quickly turned back to face the Hyena Exhibit. "Why don't we..."
Willow nodded. "Yeah, why don't we?"
They started walking over to the entrance before a zookeeper walked out infront of them. "Oh, hold it, hold it, are you blind, or are you just illiterate?" the man pointed to a sign labeled 'Quarantine: Do Not Enter.'
Buffy looked around quickly for a way to escape. "Oh, w-we were just gonna take..."
The zookeeper raised an eyebrow. "We?"
Buffy quickly spun around to see that Willow had vanished. 'Good job Willow.' The man took a step forward and put his hand on her shoulder. "Hey I'm talking to you."
Buffy snapped out of her thoughts. "Yes me, as in _only_ me, singular. Yes _I_ just, uh, wanted to see the Hyenas. I mean they're _so_ cool, you know."
The zookeeper shook his head and turned the girl around. "You're not going in there. Anyone that does is in a world of trouble."
Buffy looked up at him. "Why is it off-limits?"
The zookeeper pointed back to the sign. "It's a quarantine. These hyenas just came in from Africa, so keep out." The man leaned forward and whispered menacingly. "Even if they call your name."
The chosen one raised her eyebrow. "What are you talking about?"
The zookeeper sighed and walked alongside her back to the main walkway. "The Masai tribesmen told me that hyenas are capable of understanding human speech. The Alpha guards all of her pack furiously, especially her mate. And they follow humans around by day, learning their names. They pick upon the weak. At night, when the campfire dies, they call out to a person. Once they separate him, the pack..." The man snapped his fingers together. "...Devours them."
Buffy looked back towards the entrance as the zookeeper finished his tirade. "The Hyenas, they always have the last laugh."
////////////////////////////////////////////////////
Lance walked tentatively up to the guardrail and divisor separating the hyena exhibit. He turned around to face the group. "I don't see any hyenas."
A loud cackling laugh emanated from behind him. Lance screamed spun around, nearly tripping himself. "Okay! Now we've seen it."
The hyena growled and walked slowly towards them. One of the girls stepped forward and said, "Awww, he's so _cute_!"
Kyle and the other boy walked up on opposite sides of Lance. "I think it looks hungry. What do you think Tor?"
The other brunette nodded. "Yep, I think he needs a snack."
Both lunge at Lance and grab him by the arms and shoulders. Lance screamed. "NO!!!!"
Tor covered Lance's mouth from behind with one of his hands. "C'mon, Spot!"
Lance tried to fight back but was overpowered by the two larger teens.
One of the Girls smiled and shouted. "Its okay, Auntie Rhonda's got a little treat for the puppy!"
The two guys smirk and drag him up the steps. Tor held down his neck and covered his mouth while Kyle held down his arms. "Ow! Stop it! It's not funny!"
"Let him go assholes!" Xander ran in and shoved Kyle to the ground. Lance bit one of Tor's fingers, causing him to let go. "OW you little fuck, you BIT me!" Lance squirmed free and quickly ran away.
/////////////////////////////////////////
Willow slowly walked along the dimly lit passageway. "Come on Xander, where are you?"
She heard someone crying and saw Lance running towards her with blood dribbling down his chin. She ran infront of him. "Oh my God, are you okay?"
Lance's face was smeared with tears. "They, they tried to throw me to the Hyena's, but, but X-Xander he knocked them off, he's still back there."
Willow grabbed both of his shoulders and ordered him. "Go find Buffy, tell her where we are."
Lance nodded and ran out of the passageway. She turned and bolted down the corridor. "XANDER!"
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Kyle smirked as Tor and the girls joined him by his side. He turned back to Xander. "What, you think you wanna play hero?"
Xander tensed and took a step back. "Nah, I just say friend don't let friends be picked on by a bunch of assholes."
Tor took a step forward and smiled. "Why you so scared chump?"
"XANDER!"
The brunette turned to where the voice came from. "Willo-OMPH."
Willow ran into the room to see Xander get blindsided by the ringleader, Kyle, and fall to the floor unconscious. Her anger surged forward as she shouted. "STOP!"
The hyenas cackled loudly, nearly screaming. The occupants of the room suddenly felt their skin tingle with electricity. A circle painted on the ground started pulsating green and yellow, filling the room with light.
///////////////////////////////
Buffy ran over to the Hyena Exhibit to see Willow helping Xander walk out. "Did you catch the number of the bus that hit me?"
Willow smiled and shifted more of his weight to her. "Sorry Xander, I didn't think buses were a part of the zoo tour."
"Oh my God, what happened to you Xander?"
Xander raised his head and smiled. "Buffster, nothing to worry about, just got into a little manly competition that's all."
Buffy walked over and took Xander's other side to support more of his weight. Xander chuckled and pushed the girls off of him to take a step forward. "Its okay ladies, I think I can handle myse-"
The rest of Xander's sentence was cut short by the ground jumping up and hitting him. Willow reached down to help him up only to be cut off by Buffy. "Its okay Willow, I can support his weight better."
Willow glared daggers at her female friend. Xander chuckled. "Are you trying to say I'm fat Buffy?"
Buffy rolled her eyes as she helped him up. "Nah, you just need to lay off the Twinkies."
Xander groaned and called over his shoulder. "Willow, come on!"
Willow snarled as she bore holes into the back of the blond slayer. "Don't worry Xander," Her eyes flashed bright green as she started walking after them.
"I'm coming."
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Pairings: One sided B/X, some B/A, and W/X
A/N: [One shot] A response to malastor's challenge 'Xander wasn't the one to get possessed by the Hyena' Not your usual W/X
A/N 2: God knows you can't write more unless you get reviews.
A/N 3: Sorry about the wait, too many plot bunnies running around my apartment. If you want more of Ecstasy of Gold or Who Wants to Live Forever, then review it, or annoy me. It's coming slowly but surely. And if you're waiting on something else, ::cough:: Ordinary Men ::cough:: you might have a wait.
Disclaimers: I don't own anything relating to Buffy.
Timeframe: S1 AU The Pack.
Dedicated to the few remaining W/X'ers out there, you know who you are.
////////////////////////////////////
"But what if Mrs. Beakman decides to give us a pop quiz next week and, and I'm not prepared for it because they decided that we should go on a field trip, although the field trip is a school sanctioned event in which case they would excuse us from work, but if that's the case why did she seem so angry at me earlier..."
Xander shook his head and covered the redhead's mouth with his left hand, earning him a squeak in retaliation. "Whoa, slow down there cowgirl, we're here to check out the zebras, not have our heads explode."
Willow's face flushed red as the boy removed his hand. "Sorry, I was babbling again."
Xander smiled and pushed her along walkway. "Ah Wills, you know I couldn't live without my daily helping of Willow-babble. I makes me not feel as bad if the smartest kid in the school takes the occasional leap of insanity."
"Do you really think I'm the smartest? I mean I know that I have a 4.0 and everything but, does saying that out loud make me sound kind of 'haha I'm smarter that you' or does it make me sound stuck up or, or ..."
Xander rolled his eyes and grinned before interrupting her. "Wills, reign it in here. You don't have anything to worry about, you could pass anything Mrs. Beakman throws at you be it a test, a quiz, or some other kind of deadly weapon. And you're too modest for your own good. Now lets just stand here and watch the nice zebras."
Willow sighed before calming down. "Why are we going to see the zebras again?"
Xander raised both his eyebrows and smirked. The redhead stopped and looked at her best friend in confusion before turning to look at the zebras. "Oh..."
////////////////////////////////
Buffy Summers looked at her opponent dead in the eye, there would be no backing now. Only one would walk away victorious. The monstrous gray behemoth bellowed as it broke its gaze and lowered its head to eat some hay. The slayer smirked triumphantly as the elephant slowly chewed its food. "Don't feel bad mister elephant, you're no match for the Slayer."
She leaned against the guardrail and sighed before a voice cackled from her left. "Oh, look. It's Buffy and all her friends."
Buffy rolled her eyes turned to see two girls and two boys standing together smirking. "My, that's a witty insult, I hope you say another one so I know my true place in the world."
A teenage boy with light brown hair turned to the other three and frowned playfully. "Do you ever wonder why nobody cool wants to hang out with you?"
"I think it has something to do with the fact that I could kick their ass into next week. I'm not sure."
The leader laughed and began to walk away. "Oooooh, we're just quivering in our boots."
The three others laughed and followed. Buffy growled and rolled her eyes before reading the plaque about elephants.
"Hey! Buffy!"
Xander and Willow ran up to her grinning broadly. The redhead stood next to her. "You missed it!"
Buffy cocked her head to the side. "Missed what?"
Xander rubbed his hands together and smirked. "We just saw the zebras mating!" He turned to Willow and took a bow. "Thank you. Thank you."
Willow smiled broadly. "It was like the Heimlich, but with stripes!"
Buffy held her hand to her chest in mock disappointment. "And I missed it. Yet somehow I'll find the courage to live on."
The three began to walk together in silence until Willow spoke up. "Where were you?"
Buffy shrugged her shoulders. "Uh, I was looking at the fishes."
The redhead smiled excitedly. "Was it cool?"
Buffy deadpanned. "I was looking at fishes."
Xander walked between the two girls and put his arms across their shoulders. "You know, I'm not feeling the field trip spirit here Buff." He turned his head to his left and asked Willow, "Wills, you're feelin it right?"
"Ooooh. Did you know that the average lifespan of a elephant is..."
Xander's face dropped as he turned back to the blond chosen one. "Never mind that, but still..."
Buffy sighed. "Well, it would... It's nothing, I... We used to do the same zoo trip at my old school every year. Same old, same old."
Xander gasped. "Buffy, this isn't just about looking at a bunch of animals. This is about not being in class!"
Buffy looked up and nodded her head with a small smile. "You know, you're right! Suddenly the animals look shiny and new."
Xander smiled and winked at Willow. "You shoulda seen the zebras then, right Wills?"
Willow smiled sheepishly. "Yep."
Buffy groaned as she looked over Xander's shoulder. Xander looked down at his clothes. "Hey, I'm not wearing the Hawaiian shirt, what else do you want?"
Willow turned to see the four teenagers from before push a boy into the Hyena Exhibit. "What are Kyle and his buds doing with Lance?"
Xander turned around to see the last one go into the entrance. "Oh, playing with him as a cat plays with a mouse."
Buffy sighed. "What is it with those guys?"
Willow groaned and looked back at the plaque. "They're obnoxious. Professionally."
Xander shrugged. "Well, every school has 'em. So, you start a new school, you got your desks, your teachers, some blackboards, and some mean kids."
Buffy sighed and took a step forward. "Yeah, well, I'd better extract Lance before..."
Xander put a hand on her shoulder and interrupted her. "I'll handle it. This job doesn't require actual slaying."
As Xander walked away, Buffy turned to her redheaded friend. "You don't think we should follow?"
Willow shrugged her shoulders. "Kyle and those guys are jerks, but they're all talk...mostly."
Buffy quickly turned back to face the Hyena Exhibit. "Why don't we..."
Willow nodded. "Yeah, why don't we?"
They started walking over to the entrance before a zookeeper walked out infront of them. "Oh, hold it, hold it, are you blind, or are you just illiterate?" the man pointed to a sign labeled 'Quarantine: Do Not Enter.'
Buffy looked around quickly for a way to escape. "Oh, w-we were just gonna take..."
The zookeeper raised an eyebrow. "We?"
Buffy quickly spun around to see that Willow had vanished. 'Good job Willow.' The man took a step forward and put his hand on her shoulder. "Hey I'm talking to you."
Buffy snapped out of her thoughts. "Yes me, as in _only_ me, singular. Yes _I_ just, uh, wanted to see the Hyenas. I mean they're _so_ cool, you know."
The zookeeper shook his head and turned the girl around. "You're not going in there. Anyone that does is in a world of trouble."
Buffy looked up at him. "Why is it off-limits?"
The zookeeper pointed back to the sign. "It's a quarantine. These hyenas just came in from Africa, so keep out." The man leaned forward and whispered menacingly. "Even if they call your name."
The chosen one raised her eyebrow. "What are you talking about?"
The zookeeper sighed and walked alongside her back to the main walkway. "The Masai tribesmen told me that hyenas are capable of understanding human speech. The Alpha guards all of her pack furiously, especially her mate. And they follow humans around by day, learning their names. They pick upon the weak. At night, when the campfire dies, they call out to a person. Once they separate him, the pack..." The man snapped his fingers together. "...Devours them."
Buffy looked back towards the entrance as the zookeeper finished his tirade. "The Hyenas, they always have the last laugh."
////////////////////////////////////////////////////
Lance walked tentatively up to the guardrail and divisor separating the hyena exhibit. He turned around to face the group. "I don't see any hyenas."
A loud cackling laugh emanated from behind him. Lance screamed spun around, nearly tripping himself. "Okay! Now we've seen it."
The hyena growled and walked slowly towards them. One of the girls stepped forward and said, "Awww, he's so _cute_!"
Kyle and the other boy walked up on opposite sides of Lance. "I think it looks hungry. What do you think Tor?"
The other brunette nodded. "Yep, I think he needs a snack."
Both lunge at Lance and grab him by the arms and shoulders. Lance screamed. "NO!!!!"
Tor covered Lance's mouth from behind with one of his hands. "C'mon, Spot!"
Lance tried to fight back but was overpowered by the two larger teens.
One of the Girls smiled and shouted. "Its okay, Auntie Rhonda's got a little treat for the puppy!"
The two guys smirk and drag him up the steps. Tor held down his neck and covered his mouth while Kyle held down his arms. "Ow! Stop it! It's not funny!"
"Let him go assholes!" Xander ran in and shoved Kyle to the ground. Lance bit one of Tor's fingers, causing him to let go. "OW you little fuck, you BIT me!" Lance squirmed free and quickly ran away.
/////////////////////////////////////////
Willow slowly walked along the dimly lit passageway. "Come on Xander, where are you?"
She heard someone crying and saw Lance running towards her with blood dribbling down his chin. She ran infront of him. "Oh my God, are you okay?"
Lance's face was smeared with tears. "They, they tried to throw me to the Hyena's, but, but X-Xander he knocked them off, he's still back there."
Willow grabbed both of his shoulders and ordered him. "Go find Buffy, tell her where we are."
Lance nodded and ran out of the passageway. She turned and bolted down the corridor. "XANDER!"
////////////////////////////////////////
Kyle smirked as Tor and the girls joined him by his side. He turned back to Xander. "What, you think you wanna play hero?"
Xander tensed and took a step back. "Nah, I just say friend don't let friends be picked on by a bunch of assholes."
Tor took a step forward and smiled. "Why you so scared chump?"
"XANDER!"
The brunette turned to where the voice came from. "Willo-OMPH."
Willow ran into the room to see Xander get blindsided by the ringleader, Kyle, and fall to the floor unconscious. Her anger surged forward as she shouted. "STOP!"
The hyenas cackled loudly, nearly screaming. The occupants of the room suddenly felt their skin tingle with electricity. A circle painted on the ground started pulsating green and yellow, filling the room with light.
///////////////////////////////
Buffy ran over to the Hyena Exhibit to see Willow helping Xander walk out. "Did you catch the number of the bus that hit me?"
Willow smiled and shifted more of his weight to her. "Sorry Xander, I didn't think buses were a part of the zoo tour."
"Oh my God, what happened to you Xander?"
Xander raised his head and smiled. "Buffster, nothing to worry about, just got into a little manly competition that's all."
Buffy walked over and took Xander's other side to support more of his weight. Xander chuckled and pushed the girls off of him to take a step forward. "Its okay ladies, I think I can handle myse-"
The rest of Xander's sentence was cut short by the ground jumping up and hitting him. Willow reached down to help him up only to be cut off by Buffy. "Its okay Willow, I can support his weight better."
Willow glared daggers at her female friend. Xander chuckled. "Are you trying to say I'm fat Buffy?"
Buffy rolled her eyes as she helped him up. "Nah, you just need to lay off the Twinkies."
Xander groaned and called over his shoulder. "Willow, come on!"
Willow snarled as she bore holes into the back of the blond slayer. "Don't worry Xander," Her eyes flashed bright green as she started walking after them.
"I'm coming."
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