Breath of Fire Sunnydale
Chapter 9 - The Prom
Disclaimer: I own nothing (quiet sobbing.)
Xander once again awoke in Faith's apartment, with Faith wrapped protectively in his arms. She yawned lightly as she woke up, and looked up to find Xander's green eyes staring directly at her.
"What?" She asked smiling. "Do I have funny bed hair or something?"
"Or something?" Xander answered as he planted a gentle kiss on her head.
Faith suddenly grew serious. "Listen Xan..."
Xander groaned. "Let me guess another one time thing, right?"
"What? No." Faith said as she gripped his arm. "I was going to say that we should probably keep this between us for know. Alright with you, boy-toy"
Xander relaxed as he realized he wasn't going to lose her like he had before. "So, why the big secret thing, I mean I'm sure the Scoobs would understand if you came back"
"Get real, boy-toy." Faith said crawling on top of his waste. "B would just love a chance to kill me, and you know it."
"Yeah." Xander sighed. "You right.."
"So, seeing as how you have to get going for school in about..." Faith said as she checked her clock. "Two hours. Why don't we have some fun." She raised her eyebrows suggestively.
"Did I mention that I really, really love you"
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Two hours Later - Sunnydale High.
Xander walked slowly down the path to the school's entrance, a grin permanently attached to his face, when Anya walked up beside him.
"Xander!" She practically screamed.
Xander turned to see the brunette and sighed inwardly. "Well, hey, it's demon Anya, punisher of evil males. Still haven't got your powers back?' He suddenly turned serious, "You haven't right?"
"No." Anya stated dejectedly, but then brightened. "I will, though. It's just a matter of time."
"So now, how did that work?" Xander asked. "Women would wish horrible things upon their ex-boyfriends. You'd show up and make it happen."
"That's right." Anya said cheering up even more as she began to explain her ex-job. "The power of the Wish made me a righteous sword to smite the unfaithful."
"Well, hey! Good luck with that. Hope it works out for you." Xander said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
"You know, you can laugh, but I have witnessed a millenium of treachery and oppression from the males of the species and I have nothing but contempt for the whole libidinous lot of them." Anya spat out.
Xander looked at her confused. "Then why you talking to me?"
Anya averted her eyes from him. "I don't have a date for the prom."
A look of fake shock came over Xander's face. "Well gosh. I wonder why not. It couldn't possibly have anything to do with your sales pitch?"
"Men are evil." Anya explained. "Will you go with me?"
"One of us is very confused, and I honestly don't know which." Xander said as he rubbed his hand through his hair. Which seemed to make Anya angry.
"You know, this happens to be all your fault."
"My fault?" Xander asked, confused.
"You were unfaithful to Cordelia so I took on the guise of a twelfth-grader to tempt her with the Wish. When I lost my powers I got stuck in this persona, and now I have all these feelings. I don't understand it. I don't like it. All I know is I really want to go to this dance and I want someone to go with me, even if has to be a Brood." Anya explained as if she was talking to an idiot.
"Be still my heart." Xander quoted, but then realized what she had said. "Wait, how do you know..."
"That your Brood?" Anya asked. At his nod she continued. "I'm 1200 years old. Don't you think I would have met at least a couple of your kind in my lifetime."
"Okay." Was all Xander could say. "Now...uh...back to the prom. Why did I get the short straw?"
Anya frowned. "You're not quite as obnoxious as most of the alpha males around here. Plus I know you don't have a date."
"As a matter of fact I do." Xander said, completely forgetting Faith probably wouldn't be going to the Prom.
Anya could only stare at him. "But... you find me attractive, I've seen you looking at my breasts."
"Nothing personal, but when a guy does that, it just means his eyes are open." Xander stated.
"Whatever." Anya snorted as she turned and left the young dragon alone.
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LibraryXander sat at the table trying desperately to tune out talks of prom dresses.
"So it was blue and sorta short."
"Not too short, medium. And it had this weird, sorta fringey stuff on its arms."
Giles had just walked in and heard the last part. "What's that, a demon?"
Buffy shook her head. "A prom dress that Will was thinking of getting. Can't you ever get your mind out of the hellmouth?"
Giles sighed at the blonde slayer, "I'd be delighted to. However, the day of the Mayor's Ascension is fast approaching and we don't know what to expect."
Xander thought for a moment and asked. "Well, what about the pages that Will stole from the Mayor's book? Look, she put her life on the line there, pal. Don't tell me they're useless."
After saving Willow, she revealed that she had stolen some pages from the Books of Ascension. Giles had looked like a kid on Christmas when Willow had showed them to him.
"On the contrary, no, we, uh, we know the Ascension refers to a human transforming into a demon, the living embodiment of an immortal." Giles answered. "And Graduation Day, our Mayor Wilkins is scheduled to do just that."
Wesley entered the library, followed by Cordelia, "Trouble is, we don't know which demon he is going to become."
"There are thousands of species." Giles explained.
"So, it's safe to say we shouldn't waste any time of such trifling matters as a school dance." Wesley said, looking over at Buffy and Willow
Cordelia pouted, "Well, that's too bad, because I bet you would look way 007 in a tux."
"Except, of course, on the actual night, I will be aiding Mr. Giles in his chaperoning duties." Wesley said, his mind quickly changing at Cordelia's pout.
"What? Excuse me?" A bewildered Giles asked in confusion. Seeing Buffy's pleading face, the Watcher sighed. "Fine, fine, fine."
Buffy turned to Willow, "We'll get you a dress. You know, we should check April Fools."
Cordelia suddenly spoke up, a bit of worry in her voice, "Don't go there! I shop there."
"I myself am dipping into my road trip fund to procure a shiny new tux, so look for me to dazzle." Xander said looking at his ex oddly.
"And I myself will be wearing pink taffeta as chenille would not go with my complexion," Giles stated sarcastically. "Can we *please* talk about the Ascension?"
Buffy sighed. "Giles, we get it. Miles to go before we sleep. But especially if we're all gonna vaporize or something on Graduation Day, we deserve a little prommy fun. One night of glory, not to much to ask."
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Faith's Apartment.
"So, that's it?" Faith asked from her position on her lover's lap. Currently the young couple was nestled on Faith's couch, ignoring the fact that they were on opposite sides for the time they were together.
"That's it. Assuming he survives this Ascension thing, he's gonna leave town." Xander explained to a lounging Faith.
"Gee, I never thought of Fang as someone to take off like that, especially on B." Faith said, snuggling closer to Xander's chest.
"Yeah, I guess..." Xander agreed, his mind on something else.
Faith looked at him quizzically, one of her eyebrows raised. "What's wrong Xan."
"Wrong? Nothings wrong." Xander said a little too enthusiastically. "Everything's A-OK."
Faith just stared at the man, who she felt as if she had known her whole life. "You lying, boy-toy. Now talk."
Xander gulped. "Uh...well, the ...uh, prom is..."
Faith understood what Xander was trying to ask. "I'm sorry Xand, but I can't."
Xander nodded. "I understand, what with the whole working for the Mayor thing. Buffy would probably try to kill you the minute you walked into the gym."
Faith hugged herself to Xander's chest. "You could still go though, right?"
"Yeah but it wouldn't be right not being with you, Faith."
"Just go." Faith said sternly. "I'll be fine."
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April Fools dress shop.
Xander walked along the sidewalk, pass April Fools. Turning he sees Cordelia holding a dark violet dress. He entered the shop and snuck up behind her before asking sarcastically, "Okay, how long does it take you to buy a damn dress?"
Cordelia jumped, turning to see her ex, worry etched on her face. "Xander! I, uh, I'm considering things a little more carefully nowadays. I don't want to get stuck with another dud."
Xander grinned slightly. "Well this should work for you. It positively screams nympho."
A salesgirl walked up to them, sparing a glance at Xander's odd appearance, and turned to Cordelia. "Is this a customer or a friend?"
"Neither." Xander said. "Just stopped by for my daily helping of bile."
The woman turned back to the once Queen C. "So you better get back to work and quit goofing. Mrs. Finkel so has it in for you."
As the salesgirl left, Xander could only stare at his one time girlfriend. "You work here?"
"Yes. Yes, I work here." Cordelia sighed.
"But, uh, why?" Xander asked.
"I'm trying to buy a dress." She mumbled.
"But don't you already have...all the dresses?" Xander asked
Cordelia finally snapped. "I have nothing, okay? No dresses. No cell phone. No car. Everything's been taken away because Daddy made a little mistake on his taxes. For the last twelve years. Satisfied? Are you a happy Xander now? I'm broke. I can't go to any of the colleges that
accepted me. And I can't stay home because we no longer have one."
Xander stood, there stunned. "Uh, wow."
"Yeah, neato." Cordelia said sarcastically. "Now you can run along and tell all of your friends how Cordy finally got hers. How she has to work part time just to get a lousy prom dress on layaway. And how she has to wear a name tag. Oh, I'm a name tag person. Don't leave that out. The story just wouldn't have the same punch.
Before Xander could reply, a roughly humanoid demon jumped through the store window. It landed in front of them, teeth bared. It's long, brown, matted hair hanging in clumps around it's body, while it's inch long claws were extended waiting to maul something.
Xander quickly pushed Cordelia out of harms way and tackled the demon head-on. He knew he couldn't exactly transform with all these people around, so he was going to have to keep it fair.
"Hey, ugly." Xander said before slamming his fist into the creatures jaw. The demon stumbled back, growling at Xander before it jumped at a man in the back who is wearing a tuxedo. It proceeded to tear and rip at the man, before Xander grabbed it and tossed it out the window.
The demon turned back towards the young warrior, growled and then ran off away from the store.
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LibraryThe Scooby Gang sit around the table watching a surveillance tape of the attack.
"Right there." Xander says, pointing to the screen. "See, it's, it's like he just realized he forgot
to put money in the meter or something."
"You know the part that totally weirded me out?" Cordelia asked. "That thing had good taste. I mean, he chucks Xander and went right for the formal wear."
"Uh, excuse me." Xander said turning to his ex. "I wiped the floor with the thing. It just attacked someone it thought it could handle. It's not like it left behind its copy of Monsters Wear Daily."
"I'm serious." Cordelia persisted. "Look at the outfit that Xander's wearing. Now look at the kid that the monster went after. Very smooth lines, 'til he was almost shredded."
"I don't want to see it again." Buffy whined.
Giles wiped his glasses as he spoke to the Slayer. "Buffy, I know it's horrible, but if you're going to hunt this creature, you should study it."
"Think I got it." Buffy said.
"She's right." Willow said, coming to the aid of the blonde. "I mean, you've seen one big hairy bringer of death, you've seen 'em all."
"If I'm not mistaken, this is a hellhound." Wesley said from his position in front of the TV
Giles nodded. "Yes. It's particularly vicious. It's sort of a demon foot soldier bred during the Machash Wars. Trained solely to kill. They feed off the brains of their foes."
"Can I just add something." Xander asked. "Ewww!"
"Look!" Cordelia interrupted. "Right there, zoom in on that."
"It's a videotape." Xander pointed out.
"So? They do it on television all the time." Cordelia shot back.
"Not with a regular VCR they don't." Xander said.
Wesley copied Giles, and cleaned his glasses. "Perhaps we could stay on the topic for once. What were you doing this afternoon?"
"What?" Cordelia asked surprise. "Um, I was..."
"Burning a hole in daddy's wallet, as usual. I just bumped into her during my tuxedo hunt." Xander said, covering for his ex.
"What's that?" Oz asked, pointing to the screen. "Pause it."
"Guys! It's just a normal VCR. It doesn't...," Xander began before looking at the VCR. "Oh wait, uh, it can do pause."
He paused the screen, and the group saw what Oz had seen. A male teen peering through the shop's broken window.
Xander grinned. "Hello, hellhound raiser."
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Sunnydale Hallways – after schoolXander walked down the empty hallways, thinking of what had transpired in the library, just that morning. He was so involved in his thoughts that he didn't see the slender arm reach out from the custodian's closet to grab and pull him into it.
"Hey," he began before he felt a pair of familiar lips pressed against his.
"Hi ya, X." Faith said huskily as she ran her hands over his chest.
Xander grinned in the dark closet and kissed Faith on her pulse point, his hands resting on her hips. "Nice to see you too, Faith."
Faith smiled at her lover, then asked softly. "So? How goes the Prom plans."
"Oh, great. You know except for the whole heel hound thing and all." Xander replied sarcastically.
"Hellhound?"
Xander explained all that he knew, knowing in his heart that she would not betray him, as he would not betray her.
"So this Tucker Wells is behind it." Faith asked as she pressed up against him.
"Yeah, Oz said he's in his chem. Lab." Xander explained. " Real, quiet, kept to himself, you know the usual signs of a psychotic demon summoned."
"Okay, other than that, what else are you doing?." Faith asked, looking up at him.
"Hunting down demon-boy and his dogs." Xander answered. "Buffy wanted to do it, but I figure she could use the time off, what with the whole Angel thing."
"Sounds like fun." Faith said with a small smile.
Xander grinned. "You bet. Nothing better than kicking demon ass and then spending the night with a Slayer."
"You'd better be talking about me, Boy-toy" Faith said as she planted another kiss on his lips.
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Meat Packing Plant.
Xander looks at the hanging carcasses as he walks beside a guy in a white coat and a hard hat.
"Yeah, yeah. This kid orders cow brains a couple of times a week. Goes to this address." The meat packer said as he handed Xander a note. "Good luck. He's a weird kid."
"Thanks." Xander said, as he walked away. As he's leaving, he sees Angel paying a packer for a plastic bag.
Angel turned to see Xander, shock written on his face. "What are you doing here?"
"Hello to you too, Deadboy." Xander said sarcastically.
Angel flinched slightly, but continued. "What are you doing here?"
"Not that it's your business, but I'm getting the address of a hellhound raiser." Xander answered.
"Why isn't Buffy..." Angel began.
Xander growls slightly. "I felt she needed a little time off from the slaying, you know, what with all of the problems in her life and all."
Angel sighed. "If this is about me leaving..."
"Damn right it's about that." Xander almost yelled at the souled vamp. " I may not like you, Deadboy, but just ditching Buffy on one of the most important nights of her life is just plain fucking wrong."
"I have my reasons." Angel defended.
"Screw you reasons." Xander argued. "The least you could do is be there for her. At least act like the guy she thinks you are." He walked away, leaving a stunned vamp in his wake.
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April FoolsCordelia leaves work, a depressed look on her face. Before she leaves, however, she was stopped by another salesgirl.
"Hey! Don't forget your dress. Aren't you wearing it tonight?"
Cordelia turned and looked at the girl. "As much as I hate to admit it, I haven't finished paying
for it yet."
"Well somebody did."
"What?" Cordelia asked, shocked as she grabbed the receipt. "Who?"
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Tucker's HouseXander quietly snuck down the stairs of Tucker's house. Th idiot actually left his front door open. At the bottom of the staircase, Xander finds Tucker opening the cage for the hellhound. "You're ready to go."
"Sorry," Xander said, throwing him away from the cage and standing above him, "new plan. The prom's a go and you're pathetic."
"Maybe. Maybe not." Tucker smiled, as he smashed a vase over Xander's head.
Xander grinned at the shocked Tucker as he brushed the shards out of his hair and clothes. Tucker quickly brandished a screwdriver, waving it at Xander threateningly. Xander turned his head to face a TV with tapes on top of it, all were about Prom in one way or another.
"So that's how you did it?" Xander questioned, "That's how you brainwashed the hounds to go psycho on prom?"
"Neat, huh?" Tucker asked.
"What's the matter, couldn't get a date or something?"
"I...uh, have my reasons." Tucker said, not meeting Xander's eyes.
"Yeah right." Xander spat out. "I guess every maladjust has his reasons. Luckily for me,
you are an incompetent maladjust."
Xander easily disarmed him, knocking him unconscious. He tied up the young demon raiser's hands behind him with an electrical cord. He opens a door and starts to push Tucker through it.
"Now I'm gonna lock you in here and then I'm gonna get rid of yo..."
In the room are four empty cages before three blank TV sets.
"Shit."
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Night – The PromFour hellhounds loped towards the building doors. All could here the music that had driven them crazy and were desperate to stop it.
Xander suddenly stepped in front of the beasts, a grim smile on his face. "Hello, devil dogs. I'll be your executioner this evening."
All four dogs growled as they charged the lone warrior.
Xander decide it was time to use the Miracle gene. Giles had explained to him how this gene could grant a large form to the user. This form was big, has good attack and defense power, and pretty low speed. It could use attacks such as: MeteorStrike - something close to a breath attack; Blitz - which made multiple half-strength attacks against all opponents; and Charge – which was a charge form.
Xander eyes closed as he selected the deep red diamond gem. As it began to glow, Xander eyes snapped open, and he yelled out, "Accession!"
The lightning struck from above creating the familiar field of energy around Xander. The hounds backed off, feeling fear for the first time.
Inside the sphere Xander felt the familiar pain as the changes began. First, he felt himself fall to all fours as a weight on his back became too much. He turned his head to see four long, curved horns sticking out of a turtle-like shell on his back. He watched as his height and width increased till he was the size of his car that his Uncle Rory gave him. With a 'swoosh' sound a six-foot long barbed tail grew out of his spine Xander's skin took on a dark green texture, except for his belly, which took a burnt yellow color. Xander's face stretched out till it was unrecognizable, and then two of his lower teeth extended out ward like tusks.
Finally the sphere of energy disappeared, and what was left was a behemoth dragon, steam shooting out of his horns.
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The hellhounds looked on at the beast that had appeared before them, and realized they were in trouble. They could feel the power emitting from the dragon that stood before them, and were scared shitless.
'Got to finish this now!' Xander thought as he bellowed out, "MeteorStrike!"
All four hellhounds looked up as a giant, flaming meteor crashed into them, sending a shockwave that rattled the ground, and creating a crater.
Xander roared in approval as his body glowed brightly, reverting back to his human form. He turns to find a shaken male student staring at him, and the smoking, crushed hellhounds in the crater.
"Bathroom?" he asked shakily,
"That way," Xander pointed.
"Th...th...tha..." the student stuttered, before taking off at a dead run.
"You're welcome." Xander said, as he turned to look at the crater. His eyes widened as he watched shining spheres rise from each of the four carcasses. All were purple in color, and as they reached about three feet off the ground they rocketed towards the former Zeppo. "Holy shit!"
That was what Xander yelled as he felt the powers of the Brood fill him. All he could hear know was the yells of the Brood as they filled his ears.
"Failure! Failure! Failure! Failure!"
"Thorn! Thorn! Thorn! Thorn!"
"Mutant! Mutant! Mutant! Mutant!"
"???! ???! ???! ???!"
Xander, eyes clenched shut from the voices, watched as four new genes were added to his inventory. First, was the Failure gene, a deep blue, teardrop-shaped gem with a purple circle within. Second, was the Thorn gene, a dark blue, diamond-shaped gem with a blue arrow pointing down and a yellow arrow pointing upward. Third, was the Mutant gene, a brownish, diamond-shaped gem with a very small arrow pointing to a tilde-like line. Fourth, was the unknown gene, or the ??? gene, a clear globe containing a yellow/orange question mark within.
Xander opened his eyes as the voices died down and sighed deeply. "That was anything but fun."
He stood up and began to peel off his shirt, revealing his prom tux underneath.
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PromXander enters the doors and exchanges a nod with Giles. Oz and Willow rushed over meet him, both with questioning expressions upon their faces, well as close as Oz could come to that..
"Hey, Will. You look awesome." Xander said noting Willows Beauty, causing her to blush.
"Everything cool?" Oz asked, expressionless as always.
"Devil dogs are history." Xander replied. "Even got a few new genes. How's the prom?"
"Strangely affecting. I got all teared up when they played 'We Are Family'." Oz said, with just a bit of sarcasm.
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Later – Gym RoofXander stood on the roof, listening to the music coming from the Prom. He sighed, content that hi friends were happy. Willow was with Oz, and happy. Cordelia had actually thanked him for buying her dress for her, and seemed to be enjoying dancing with Wesley. Deadboy had shown up to dance with Buffy one last time, proving he had some noble blood running through him. But the biggest surprise had been when the students had proven they weren't blind to the real world, and had rewarded Buffy with the and the students had awarded Buffy the 'Class Protector' award.
"So, whatcha doing up here, boy-toy?" a husky voice asked from behind the Brood.
Xander turned to find Faith wearing the black velvet dress he had seen her buy at dress shop. The form-fitting dress looked great on her. "Uhhh...Hi, Faith. Shouldn't I ask you that question?"
"Felt kinds bad, making you come her all alone," Faith answered. "So, how do I look?" She twirled around giving Xander a full view of her form.
'Wow!' Xander thought before replying, "You look incredible."
Faith's smiled. "Thanks. You don't look that bad yourself."
Below Xander heard the beginning of Shani's, "Dancing In A Minefield." He offered his hand to Faith. "Wanna dance?"
Faith nodded, and took hold of his hand. Together, the pair began to dance. Oblivious to what was to come, but both knowing that they were safe in the other's arms.
The world revolves
My heart evolves
So much to do, so little time
Reborn to life
I feel no strife
It's just a matter of mind
You know we're dancing in a minefieldOur roses saturate the air
And all that we have is really all we need
And so we'll dance away the menace of despair
When pain exists
My joy resists
I have to try to share my heart
I breathe to live
I live to breathe
My spirit yearns to play its part
You know we're dancing in a minefield
Our roses saturate the air
And all that we have is really all we need
And so we'll dance away the menace of despair
These powers swell
When others tell
Love's army seeks to conquer all
Through hearts of bold
Eyes young and old
We'll search for truth and tear the walls
You know we're dancing in a minefield
Our roses saturate the air
And all that we have is really all we need
And so we'll dance away the menace of despair
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Please R&R soon.