Monster Within
Disclaimer: All rights belong to Joss Whedon and ME.
Warning: Short but darkish.
"The world is a scary place
now that you've woken up the demon
in me."
Down With the Sickness --- Disturbed
Ben lay broken on the pavement. Buffy's work with the troll's hammer had forced Glory back inside her mortal shell. Though he couldn't move, he had been able to see the gate open. He had seen the Slayer atop the scaffold tower talking to her sister. And he had seen the Slayer jump into the gate's field.
The gate closed. He could guess the rest.
He coughed a bit and smirked. "I guess we're stuck with each other, huh baby?" he sputtered to his sister. A shadow was cast over him, and Ben looked up into a familiar face.
The figure knelt beside him. "Can you move?"
"Need a…a minute." He took in a labored breath. "Buffy could've killed me."
"No, she couldn't," came the response. "And now she never will."
"I'm sor—"
"Don't. Don 't you dare." There was a pause. "Sooner or later, Glory will reemerge…and we will all pay for Buffy's mercy, and the world with us. I think Buffy knew that…and she still couldn't take a human life…except her own. You see, she's the hero. Heroes don't have monsters within. Not like us."
"Us?"
A hand shot forth and pinched Ben's nose shut while covering his mouth. The nurse fought weakly to break free, pawing at his assailant's arm, but to no avail. Seconds ticked by. His lungs burned and his sight dimmed. The seconds became minutes, and finally, Ben ceased to struggle.
"Willow?" a voice rang. "Are you all right?"
The redhead tore her blackened eyes away from Ben's now lifeless form and looked towards her lover's call. "Stomach catching up to me," she responded. "Be right there."
Willow returned her dark gaze to the body before her, and for a brief moment, a small grin of satisfaction crossed her lips.
End.
