And now, the story continues.
An Eternal War
Chapter Two
By IceWing (icewing@one.net)
Chapter 2
The sounds of a woman screaming echoed throughout the room. "Please, somebody help me," she could be heard wailing.
The sounds of laughter erupted from the room as the slayerettes began throwing popcorn at the TV. This was their way to relax. With all the horrors around them, the best method they had discovered to relax and de-stress was to watch, and mock, the horror genre.
"Run upstairs, now there's an effective way to corner yourself for the killer!" mocked Buffy as they watched Scream 2. "Girl, you have some muscle, get a weapon and beat the hell out of him!"
As they watched, the sorority girl was attacked, then thrown over the railing...
"Its not the fall that gets you," spoke Xander quietly from the couch. "Its that sudden stop at the bottom."
"Jeez, and to think they are making a sequel of this... Guess Hollywood is quickly running out of even half way decent ideas."
Oz answered his girlfriend's statement with "Running out? After 2 Flintstone movies, I would say they have hit bottom and started tunneling."
As the banter, and the movie, continued, Buffy watched Xander out of the corner of her eye. He should be home, she thought, laying in bed. But he insists on hanging out like nothing is wrong with him. She watched the small dots of perspiration form on his brow, most likely from the pain he was in...
Her thoughts were interrupted by a flash of movement from the corner of her eye. Outside the window. She turned to look, but there was nothing there. Buffy shook her head and sighed softly. 'I'm jumping at shadows...'
Outside, in a car on the street, parked a block away, sat a man, eyes closed, watching the teens enjoy themselves. They seemed so calm and relaxed. Almost like normal teens. Except he could See that they were different. The glow about them was so intense that he could almost taste it. As he watched, he noticed the blonde, the Slayer, turn suddenly towards the window. He could tell she was searching for something outside the window. But a moment later, she sighed and turned away, or so it seemed. Although she was no longer peering out the window, he noticed the corner of her eye never quite left the window. "I'll be damned... She can sense, on some level, my spell. This girl is not going to be as easy an opponent for him to beat as he thinks..." As he watched, he saw the camaraderie, the tight knit bond, the group pattern these kids, these warriors of light, had. "Tis her strength, yet it is not.."
Opening a pop, he kept his eyes closed and continued to watch. He needed to learn more. That, and he liked this movie too.
******************
The movie was rewound, the TV muted. Oz and Willow had departed a few minutes
ago in Oz's van.
Xander was on the couch, seemingly asleep. Sitting in the bay window was Buffy,
trying to figure out what it was she thought she kept seeing out of the corner
of her eye. She turned her head slightly, glancing to see that Xander was resting
ok. She should have chased him out, walked him home, but just didn't have the
heart to do it. He needed his rest, with his ribs and all. Plus, he looked to
peaceful, laying stretched out like that. Softly, the blonde sighed and continued
her surveillance of the street. The night outside was still and tranquil. No
cars, save for a red classic muscle car, had driven down the block in about
fifteen minutes. It was like the world outside was on hold. "Why can't
it always be like this?" she whispered to herself, her lip trembling slightly.
From the couch, Xander watched her through half closed eyes. The moonlight was shining on her, making her seem to shine like a mythical goddess. Of course, to him, she was just that. As he watched, he could see her thoughts wandering. 'I wonder what she is thinking. She looks so peaceful, so innocent. I wish I could see her like that more often. But she always has so much on her shoulders. The weight of the world in fact.'
Without moving, nor opening his eyes, Xander spoke. "Penny for your thoughts?"
Buffy shifted to look at him. "I thought you were asleep. Figured it was a good dream from that smile you had on your face."
"Was kinda in and out, almost day dreaming. Whatcha thinking about?" He gently raised himself to a sitting position against the arm of the couch while avoiding the answer to why he was smiling.
"Just this and that. Nothing special. Thinking about how quiet it is out there tonight. Wishing it was always like this. Whining to myself I guess."
"Well, if boredom is what you have, remember were we live. Wait a day or two, it'll be end of the world time all over again."
"Its just hard sometime Xander. No matter what happens, we never seem to gain any ground. Sometimes I wonder why I am doing this, other than the whole Chosen One shtick. Deep down, there is a part of me that knows there is only one way I am getting off this ride. And sometimes, it worries me."
"Buffy, we all freak out from time to time. Just cherish the time you have as you have it. Enjoy the company of your friends, the simple pleasures and remember that is what you are fighting for." Xander smiled. "That's why you are such the effective slayer. Why you outlast others like Kendra and probably Faith too... You are fighting for something. For your friends and your family. The fact that Old Man Whedon across town isn't going to get to serve as a happy meal on legs because you saved the world yet again is just frosting on the cake. It has to be done, and frankly, I can't think of anyone I would rather have saving the world from vamps and demons." He smiled at her and waited.
Buffy looked at him. "So you are saying I should be fighting for my friends and family? That I AM fighting for my friends and family?" Xander nodded. "Ok, I can accept that. And I think, on some level, you're right. I happen to be the Chosen One. But the reason I do so well is that I fight from the heart. The day I lose my edge is going to be the day that the mantle gets passed on. So it's in my best interest to do a good job. So let me ask you this...Xander Harris, why is it that you fight? Not to belittle you at all, but you don't have any of the stuff that the rest of us have. No Slayer-ness. No magic. No Watcher training. No lycanthropy." Buffy pulled her legs up to her chest as she sat in the window and looked at him. "So why do you fight, Xander Harris. Why do you stand and fight when by all rights you should cut and run."
The Zeppo looked at the Slayer, debating on how to answer her. The truth or something that would be taken as the truth without lying. He looked into her eyes and sighed inwardly. Didn't seem to be any way to avoid this one.
"So," he chuckled. Maybe if he put some humor into this he could get out with his dignity and his secret intact... "The mighty Slayer wants to know why her Xander-shaped friend is still sticking his neck out eh? I have a reason, one very close to my heart."
Buffy sensed the hesitation in Xander's voice. "Xan, are you ok?"
Xander closed his eyes and sighed. "Yeah Buffy. I'm doing ok. Just thinking of my reason." He opened his eyes again and looked at Buffy, then looked away. "The darkness is out there Buffy. There is a light which I see and right behind that light, I see a darkness which threatens to overcome the light. You're right, I may not be the Slayer, or a witch or wolf-boy. But I see the darkness and I see the light. And I can't just sit by and watch as the darkness fights to overwhelm the light, while the light fights for its very survival."
Buffy looked at him, looked in his eyes. There she saw dedication, a strength, pain and something else. But she knew, that no matter what happened, Xander would be there at her side. Didn't matter the odds. He would stand by her, fighting the good fight, until he was standing no longer. So she was going to do her best to keep him standing. She smiled at him, and he smiled back tiredly.
"Hey Buffy." said Xander as he yawned. "Mind if I crash on your couch?"
Buffy laughed. "Good night Xander." And with that she turned off the lights and went upstairs.
End Chapter 2