She's Gone (13B/?)
Xander grinned as he flung the bar door open, man he'd never felt so alive as he did at this moment in time. He looked around the dingy bar, his lip curling with disdain as he saw all the demons, vampires, and assorted human scum. "Well, I did say I'd raise some hell," he muttered before starting inside.
"Hey blood-bag!" he turned to see a vampire that, judging from his disco style clothing, had been turned in the late seventies glaring at him. "You're awful ballsy coming in here without the Slayer to watch your back!"
Xander smiled, pushed aside the side of the duster he'd stolen from a drunk, lifted the shotgun he'd stolen from a sporting goods store and fired. The incendiary shells hit the surprised vampire in the chest, sending him crashing to the ground, his chest ablaze. He waited until the shrieking vampire had died before speaking. "Don't need the Slayer." He turned his gaze to Willy. "Set them up barkeep," he ordered brusquely before pushing his duster back to reveal the Desert Eagle under his shoulder to the suddenly hushed bar crowd. "Anyone thinking of starting trouble don't."
"W..what'll it be Xander?" asked the shaking bartender.
A snarl on his lips, Xander lunged across the counter, his free hand encircling the bar owner's throat and squeezing until the stupid little prick went blue. "Xander?" he growled. "I don't answer to Xander to anyone least of all you, you stupid little shit. My name is," he shoved the muzzle of his shotgun into the bartender's stomach, smiling slightly at the urine pooling between the man's legs. "Sir. Get that?" the bartender nodded and wheezed. After a final squeeze, he released his grip, shoving the man backwards into the shelves of drinks behind him, knocking several bottles to the floor. "I'll have some Daniels, and," he smiled. "Don't keep me waiting."
"Soddin' marvellous," Giles stared down at the coal black pentagram he'd spent the last ten minutes cutting out of the wall. He had hoped he'd been incorrect about the device but a closer inspection of the object, especially the silver emblem in its centre depicting two heads facing away from one another on its base, only confirmed his suspicions. The rogue Slayer was back, and through no fault of her own. "Why," he growled as he loaded the shotgun he kept behind the counter. "Can't that girl catch a bloody break?" After a second, he squared his shoulders. No matter who's fault it was, he knew his duty. He'd failed to protect Xander, he couldn't, wouldn't, likewise fail to safeguard Dawn and Tara.
Clem watched his friend from the shadows, worry growing. Xander wasn't himself, no not at all, he wasn't a bully who randomly put pellets through the bar, sending customers scurrying. Gathering his courage, he strode up to the man. "Hello Xander," he tried for a cheery tone.
The man didn't bother to turn to face him. "Clem." Stone had more emotion in it than his friend's greeting.
"This isn't the place for you Xan-."
"The name 's sir," the voice reminded him.
Clem blinked. "Sorry, sir. Say," he remembered something. "Didn't you have a date with Faith tonight?" he remembered how excited his friend had been. She tried to act casual, like it was no big deal, but he knew how she really felt about Xander, he was so happy for her.
Xander snorted. "Done that been there. Seen what she has to offer," he shrugged. "Fancy something a little bit classier than trailer trash."
"Hey!" Clem was angry now. He shouldn't say those things about Faith. "Faith's a nice girl!"
"Have you been paying attention saggy?" Xander scoffed, now he turned to face him. Clem resisted the urge to shudder at the coldness that had replaced the usual humour in Xander's eyes. "She's nothing but a murdering ex-jailbird who's only decent attribute is her easy access. Unless," Xander's lips curled up into a cruel smile. "Has Clemmy got a yen for a bit of Slayer? Hey, if you got twenty dollars to spare she's all yours bud."
Clem trembled with fury, if he didn't know there was something wrong with Xander. "That's not nice! I'm warning you-."
"No," Xander cut him off with a gun muzzle in his face. "I'm warning you. Stay away from me, demon. You're lucky that you're such a wuss, otherwise I'd blow your fucking head off. But you're not worth the ammo." Suddenly the man laughed. "I've got an itch that needs scratching, I need a real woman. One who'll wriggle a little." Suddenly the man lurched to his feet. "See ya Will."
"What about your bill?" The bartender paled at a look from Xander. "Never mind."
Xander chuckled. "Always said you weren't completely stupid. Not completely." The man started towards the door then stopped, turned and fired a round through the jukebox causing it to explode. "I hate your taste in music," he declared. "Get some death metal in for next time."
Willy's adam's apple bobbled up and down. "Will do sir."
"Good man," Xander nodded before sauntering out of the hushed bar. "Better make sure he doesn't get in trouble," Clem swallowed before standing and hurrying after his friend. And better stay back, far back.
"Faith," the brunette turned away from destroying the practice dummy, parts of it lay strewn across the dojo floor, and towards him, her eyes red and her cheeks puffy. Giles' brow furrowed, this wasn't how he'd expected her to react given what he knew about the Gornash. "What have you done to Xander?"
The Bostonian let out a brittle laugh, apparently oblivious to the shotgun he was pointing at her. "What have I done? Yeah, it's always me isn't it G? Always my fucking fault!" the brunette's voice trembled with pain. The east coast native shook her head. "We were out having a good time, the best night of my life, then suddenly he's telling me I'm a worthless slut who might be good in the sack but that's all I'm worth. I thought he was different, I thought I could really fall for him!"
"Oh bollocks," Giles muttered as the pieces of the jigsaw began to reassemble themselves. Maybe, just maybe things weren't as he'd assumed. He lifted the Gornash. "What happened with this?"
After a second the Slayer's bleary eyes focussed on the magical artefact. "That?" the brunette shrugged. "Some demon from Wolfram & Hart turned up, fired it at me, Xander knocked me out of the way, took the blast full on." Giles winced, he'd nearly come in all guns blazing, killing an innocent. "Killed the demon, tore it to pieces actually, then," the Slayer's bottom lip began to tremble. "Told me what a cheap bitch I was before walking off."
"Oh Faith," unloading the shotgun and resting it against the dojo wall, he hurried over to the crying girl and took her in his arms, allowing her to sob onto his shoulder. "It wasn't Xander saying those things, not really."
"Uh?" the brunette looked up at him, her face confused. "I think I know what Harris looks like by now G."
"But you also say he was hit by the blast from this?" again he lifted the Gornash.
"Yeah," Faith confirmed with a nod. "But it must have been set to only hurt me or another Slayer, 'cause it didn't do shit to Xander."
"Actually, I'm rather afraid it did," he swallowed, Faith wasn't going to like this at all, he was rather regretting putting the shotgun down right about now. "You see the Gornash-."
"What the fuck's a Gornash?"
"This," he indicated the device. "The Gornash was created by a civilisation that pre-dates history to punish wrong-doers. It essentially reverses its target's conscience." "You're losing me G."
Seeing that the Slayer wasn't in the best frame of mind for receiving information he decided to simplify matters. "The Gornash changes a person's perspective. If the target is a good person, then being hit by the beam will turn them utterly evil."
"S...so it wasn't Xander's fault?"
Giles squeezed the east coast native's shoulders. "It wasn't his fault," he reassured her, his heart aching at how lost and little she looked.
"And this spell can be broken right?" she asked.
"Yes," he nodded. "But," he hesitated.
"But what G?" the Slayer's still watery eyes hardened at his continued reticence. "Damn it G!"
"If we don't perform the reversal ritual within 24 hours then the change will be permanent, and Xander's behaviour will continue to deteriorate."
Fear flickered across the Slayer's face but after a second it disappeared, leaving in its place cold determination. "That's not going to happen."
Giles smiled, heartened by his Slayer's resolve. "I concur. I'll have to get in touch with Tara, I'll need her help for the spell."
Faith smiled then looked worried. "G, how do we find Xan-."
The gym door burst open, interrupting the Slayer. "Oh yes," Giles muttered sarcastically as he looked over his shoulder. "Please do come in Clem."
"Faith! Mr. Giles!" the floppy eared demon had an alarmed look on his face. Not that one could especially tell given the alienness of his features. "Xander's in big trouble!"
"The Bronze?" Xander shook his head as he shouldered his way to the front of the queue of 'Toyko Jo's', Sunnydale's it spot, ignoring the angry looks he got. "How childish was I?" He smiled slightly as the two brawny bouncers stepped in front of him, barring his way. They might have the brawn but did they have the will to use it."
"There's a queue and you're not following the dre-, ugh." The balding bouncer fell against the door as Xander slammed a knee into his groin and a fist into his throat. The other bouncer, a short but powerfully-built African-American, started forward, but his speed was no match to a man who'd sent five years fighting vampires. Driving the point of his elbow sideways, he grinned at the sound of bone breaking as his elbow collided with the man's jaw. Snatching hold of the dazed man's pony-tail, he drove him face-first into the wall. The man let out a groan before slumping to the ground.
Feeling a pair of hands on his shoulders, he drove his head backwards into his adversary's mouth and his left heel down onto the man's face. Chuckling slightly at his rival's yelp, he spun round and head-butted him again, this time shattering the bridge of his nose. The instant the man hit the floor, Xander kicked him in the ribs, laughing at the resulting crack.
After stepping over the crumpled body of the fight's late arrival, he made his way over to the first bouncer who was still struggling to make his way to his feet, his breath coming in desperate wheezes. "Hey asshole," his foot slammed into the man's jaw, the force of the blow knocking the back of the man's head into the wall. "Stay down."
"Pathetic," smiling proudly he started through the double doors, the crowd behind him hushed. Oh, this was power.
Xander grinned as he flung the bar door open, man he'd never felt so alive as he did at this moment in time. He looked around the dingy bar, his lip curling with disdain as he saw all the demons, vampires, and assorted human scum. "Well, I did say I'd raise some hell," he muttered before starting inside.
"Hey blood-bag!" he turned to see a vampire that, judging from his disco style clothing, had been turned in the late seventies glaring at him. "You're awful ballsy coming in here without the Slayer to watch your back!"
Xander smiled, pushed aside the side of the duster he'd stolen from a drunk, lifted the shotgun he'd stolen from a sporting goods store and fired. The incendiary shells hit the surprised vampire in the chest, sending him crashing to the ground, his chest ablaze. He waited until the shrieking vampire had died before speaking. "Don't need the Slayer." He turned his gaze to Willy. "Set them up barkeep," he ordered brusquely before pushing his duster back to reveal the Desert Eagle under his shoulder to the suddenly hushed bar crowd. "Anyone thinking of starting trouble don't."
"W..what'll it be Xander?" asked the shaking bartender.
A snarl on his lips, Xander lunged across the counter, his free hand encircling the bar owner's throat and squeezing until the stupid little prick went blue. "Xander?" he growled. "I don't answer to Xander to anyone least of all you, you stupid little shit. My name is," he shoved the muzzle of his shotgun into the bartender's stomach, smiling slightly at the urine pooling between the man's legs. "Sir. Get that?" the bartender nodded and wheezed. After a final squeeze, he released his grip, shoving the man backwards into the shelves of drinks behind him, knocking several bottles to the floor. "I'll have some Daniels, and," he smiled. "Don't keep me waiting."
"Soddin' marvellous," Giles stared down at the coal black pentagram he'd spent the last ten minutes cutting out of the wall. He had hoped he'd been incorrect about the device but a closer inspection of the object, especially the silver emblem in its centre depicting two heads facing away from one another on its base, only confirmed his suspicions. The rogue Slayer was back, and through no fault of her own. "Why," he growled as he loaded the shotgun he kept behind the counter. "Can't that girl catch a bloody break?" After a second, he squared his shoulders. No matter who's fault it was, he knew his duty. He'd failed to protect Xander, he couldn't, wouldn't, likewise fail to safeguard Dawn and Tara.
Clem watched his friend from the shadows, worry growing. Xander wasn't himself, no not at all, he wasn't a bully who randomly put pellets through the bar, sending customers scurrying. Gathering his courage, he strode up to the man. "Hello Xander," he tried for a cheery tone.
The man didn't bother to turn to face him. "Clem." Stone had more emotion in it than his friend's greeting.
"This isn't the place for you Xan-."
"The name 's sir," the voice reminded him.
Clem blinked. "Sorry, sir. Say," he remembered something. "Didn't you have a date with Faith tonight?" he remembered how excited his friend had been. She tried to act casual, like it was no big deal, but he knew how she really felt about Xander, he was so happy for her.
Xander snorted. "Done that been there. Seen what she has to offer," he shrugged. "Fancy something a little bit classier than trailer trash."
"Hey!" Clem was angry now. He shouldn't say those things about Faith. "Faith's a nice girl!"
"Have you been paying attention saggy?" Xander scoffed, now he turned to face him. Clem resisted the urge to shudder at the coldness that had replaced the usual humour in Xander's eyes. "She's nothing but a murdering ex-jailbird who's only decent attribute is her easy access. Unless," Xander's lips curled up into a cruel smile. "Has Clemmy got a yen for a bit of Slayer? Hey, if you got twenty dollars to spare she's all yours bud."
Clem trembled with fury, if he didn't know there was something wrong with Xander. "That's not nice! I'm warning you-."
"No," Xander cut him off with a gun muzzle in his face. "I'm warning you. Stay away from me, demon. You're lucky that you're such a wuss, otherwise I'd blow your fucking head off. But you're not worth the ammo." Suddenly the man laughed. "I've got an itch that needs scratching, I need a real woman. One who'll wriggle a little." Suddenly the man lurched to his feet. "See ya Will."
"What about your bill?" The bartender paled at a look from Xander. "Never mind."
Xander chuckled. "Always said you weren't completely stupid. Not completely." The man started towards the door then stopped, turned and fired a round through the jukebox causing it to explode. "I hate your taste in music," he declared. "Get some death metal in for next time."
Willy's adam's apple bobbled up and down. "Will do sir."
"Good man," Xander nodded before sauntering out of the hushed bar. "Better make sure he doesn't get in trouble," Clem swallowed before standing and hurrying after his friend. And better stay back, far back.
"Faith," the brunette turned away from destroying the practice dummy, parts of it lay strewn across the dojo floor, and towards him, her eyes red and her cheeks puffy. Giles' brow furrowed, this wasn't how he'd expected her to react given what he knew about the Gornash. "What have you done to Xander?"
The Bostonian let out a brittle laugh, apparently oblivious to the shotgun he was pointing at her. "What have I done? Yeah, it's always me isn't it G? Always my fucking fault!" the brunette's voice trembled with pain. The east coast native shook her head. "We were out having a good time, the best night of my life, then suddenly he's telling me I'm a worthless slut who might be good in the sack but that's all I'm worth. I thought he was different, I thought I could really fall for him!"
"Oh bollocks," Giles muttered as the pieces of the jigsaw began to reassemble themselves. Maybe, just maybe things weren't as he'd assumed. He lifted the Gornash. "What happened with this?"
After a second the Slayer's bleary eyes focussed on the magical artefact. "That?" the brunette shrugged. "Some demon from Wolfram & Hart turned up, fired it at me, Xander knocked me out of the way, took the blast full on." Giles winced, he'd nearly come in all guns blazing, killing an innocent. "Killed the demon, tore it to pieces actually, then," the Slayer's bottom lip began to tremble. "Told me what a cheap bitch I was before walking off."
"Oh Faith," unloading the shotgun and resting it against the dojo wall, he hurried over to the crying girl and took her in his arms, allowing her to sob onto his shoulder. "It wasn't Xander saying those things, not really."
"Uh?" the brunette looked up at him, her face confused. "I think I know what Harris looks like by now G."
"But you also say he was hit by the blast from this?" again he lifted the Gornash.
"Yeah," Faith confirmed with a nod. "But it must have been set to only hurt me or another Slayer, 'cause it didn't do shit to Xander."
"Actually, I'm rather afraid it did," he swallowed, Faith wasn't going to like this at all, he was rather regretting putting the shotgun down right about now. "You see the Gornash-."
"What the fuck's a Gornash?"
"This," he indicated the device. "The Gornash was created by a civilisation that pre-dates history to punish wrong-doers. It essentially reverses its target's conscience." "You're losing me G."
Seeing that the Slayer wasn't in the best frame of mind for receiving information he decided to simplify matters. "The Gornash changes a person's perspective. If the target is a good person, then being hit by the beam will turn them utterly evil."
"S...so it wasn't Xander's fault?"
Giles squeezed the east coast native's shoulders. "It wasn't his fault," he reassured her, his heart aching at how lost and little she looked.
"And this spell can be broken right?" she asked.
"Yes," he nodded. "But," he hesitated.
"But what G?" the Slayer's still watery eyes hardened at his continued reticence. "Damn it G!"
"If we don't perform the reversal ritual within 24 hours then the change will be permanent, and Xander's behaviour will continue to deteriorate."
Fear flickered across the Slayer's face but after a second it disappeared, leaving in its place cold determination. "That's not going to happen."
Giles smiled, heartened by his Slayer's resolve. "I concur. I'll have to get in touch with Tara, I'll need her help for the spell."
Faith smiled then looked worried. "G, how do we find Xan-."
The gym door burst open, interrupting the Slayer. "Oh yes," Giles muttered sarcastically as he looked over his shoulder. "Please do come in Clem."
"Faith! Mr. Giles!" the floppy eared demon had an alarmed look on his face. Not that one could especially tell given the alienness of his features. "Xander's in big trouble!"
"The Bronze?" Xander shook his head as he shouldered his way to the front of the queue of 'Toyko Jo's', Sunnydale's it spot, ignoring the angry looks he got. "How childish was I?" He smiled slightly as the two brawny bouncers stepped in front of him, barring his way. They might have the brawn but did they have the will to use it."
"There's a queue and you're not following the dre-, ugh." The balding bouncer fell against the door as Xander slammed a knee into his groin and a fist into his throat. The other bouncer, a short but powerfully-built African-American, started forward, but his speed was no match to a man who'd sent five years fighting vampires. Driving the point of his elbow sideways, he grinned at the sound of bone breaking as his elbow collided with the man's jaw. Snatching hold of the dazed man's pony-tail, he drove him face-first into the wall. The man let out a groan before slumping to the ground.
Feeling a pair of hands on his shoulders, he drove his head backwards into his adversary's mouth and his left heel down onto the man's face. Chuckling slightly at his rival's yelp, he spun round and head-butted him again, this time shattering the bridge of his nose. The instant the man hit the floor, Xander kicked him in the ribs, laughing at the resulting crack.
After stepping over the crumpled body of the fight's late arrival, he made his way over to the first bouncer who was still struggling to make his way to his feet, his breath coming in desperate wheezes. "Hey asshole," his foot slammed into the man's jaw, the force of the blow knocking the back of the man's head into the wall. "Stay down."
"Pathetic," smiling proudly he started through the double doors, the crowd behind him hushed. Oh, this was power.
