See first chapter for disclaimers.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Here is another chapter. Enjoy. Thanks to Storyseeker for beta-reading this. As usual, if you have any comments or preferences, please don't be shy. RandR.

PREVIOUSLY: Justice League

Undesirable Outcome

"At least we're not substitute teachers this time," Xander offered as they made their way through the crowded halls of what seemed to be a typical American high school.

"Yeah, but what are we doing in a high school?" The two wandering demon hunters didn't exactly blend in, but they weren't the tallest 'students' in the halls. At least, they had gotten some normal looking clothes at their last stop. Somehow, Faith doubted that armor and openly carried weapons would have gone over well.

"No idea," Xander admitted with a shrug. "Mostly, I think our travel agent just has a sick sense of humor." He repressed a sigh. "It does, at least, narrow down what we're supposed to do at this stop."

"Play hall monitor?" Faith sounded dubious, and Xander couldn't blame her. It seemed entirely too banal. Something else was happening or was going to happen soon. As per usual, though, they'd have to wait and watch to find out what that was.

"We'll just have to keep our eyes open, and look for anything unusual."

"Business as usual, then." Faith replied grumpily.

"Yup." They made their way through the halls. Blending in became harder as the crowd thinned, and students headed into various classes. They started looking for an empty classroom to duck into. The halls had mostly emptied when they spotted a room that might be useable near the corner they were approaching. Faith paused before they reached the corner, wrinkling her nose.

"What the hell is that?"

Xander sniffed the air and instantly regretted it. He didn't know what it was either, but it stank. They looked carefully around the corner they had been approaching and saw a tall, curly-haired girl staring at one of the lockers, looking distinctly unhappy. She worked the combination and opened it, causing the smell to get much worse. The girl started to take a step back, but before she could move more than a few inches, another girl was behind her. An athletic, well-muscled black girl shoved her toward the open locker, only to be blindsided by Faith as the Slayer rammed into her, knocking her to the floor.

Faith took the tall girl by the shoulder and pulled her away from the mess she could now see in the locker. Used tampons, sanitary napkins, and similar trash had been stuffed knee-deep in there, and apparently allowed to ferment for a few days, judging by the smell and the bugs crawling all over it.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Faith demanded; rounding on the one who'd apparently devised the disgusting prank. That girl was already on her feet and glaring furiously at the Slayer.

"Bitch!" she snarled. "Nobody touches me like that and get away with it."

"Not really interested in how you like to be touched." Faith answered with a smirk. "Xan, you wanna take her to the principal's office while I talk to our prankster?"

"Sure. Be careful." He turned to the tall girl. "Come on. Faith can bring your 'friend' along."

"S-sure." The girl was wide-eyed and moving her stare back and forth from the locker to the other student. "This is the worst thing they've ever tried."

Xander started to lead her away, but the girl kept glancing back, apparently not liking the idea of turning her back on the bully. He couldn't say he blamed her. Faith, he knew, could handle one temperamental high school student. Explaining their presence in the school would be harder than forcing the bully to behave for a trip to the principal's office. Hopefully, that would be the hardest part.

OOOOOOOOOO

The warrior paused in his work. The landslide threatening the Turkish town had been stopped, so there was really no reason for him to remain. Focusing his golden aura, he rose into the air. Something was happening, but he wasn't sure what. He stretched all of his senses, pulling in as much data about the change as he could from his shards in the area of the disturbance he'd felt, but he learned nothing specific. All he knew was that something had changed. For the first time in nearly a decade, his thoughts drifted back to his original purpose.