A/N: Sorry guys for the long wait, life's been hectic. Also sorry this
chapter's so short. But I figured a little now is better than a lot later.
Crash Course in Greek Needed
Snort. "Its just God and his wacky sense of humor. Except for Latin I can't read any of them, however I *can* read Ancient Hieratic, Assamese- Which let me tell you is freaky enough on it's own, come on *Ass*amese, who comes up with these names- then there are the really freaky demon languages that sound like a cross between sneezing and choking to say. Those you can blame on G-man. I know you've probably got at least a dozen learned yourself. Voluntarily even." Following my son's words there was a silence.
I found myself once again straining to hear. This time I dismissed my unease with chagrin. Obviously guilt wasn't enough to stop me listening, too many years of loose morals I think.
Still I was shocked when Xander's friend said in strong and commanding voice, "During patrol tonight you are going to train." I was also frustrated. Another twist I couldn't figure out. Train what? And how'd she go from languages to *training*? ^Maybe this conversation would make more sense if I could see them? I mean it couldn't be more confusing could it?^
"Wills-" In contrast my son's voice lacked all resolve and seemed more shaken than anything.
"Xander," Her tone gentled, "Do you want what happened to that vampire last night to happen to a human?" ^Vampire? What?^ I was getting really exasperated now. Wasn't spying supposed to give you information? Not leave you with more questions?
"I-" I was broken out of my fugue by the broken and young voice that said that single pronoun made me take step toward the knob. That was my son hurting. I felt a surge of emotion I never had before, not really, as my maternal instincts kicked in with a vengeance.
"Martin?" Hand on the knob I paused. The animation had returned to Xander's voice, the edge I knew meant he'd regained his mental feet. Plus I couldn't figure what the jackass of a French teacher had to do with anything.
"I was there Xander. You're lucky Buffy dosen't think you're possessed, again." Her tone was chiding and playful and I was completely confused and exasperated to use her wryly turned out word- again. I frowned at the door. ^If I didn't know *I* was the drug addict in the family I'd be wondering right now what exactly my kid was on and if he gets a discount with his friend as his supplier.^
A bell rang and I could hear distantly doors opening and feet pounding.
"I've got to get to class Xander. See you at eight at Northwood Rest?" The first sentence was warm and hurried, the second laced with the steel I was starting to suspect my son's friend wielded like a scalpel. Whatever he might have said in response was washed away in the rush of hundreds of rubber-soled feet on tile stampeding there way to class.
Quickly before I could loose my nerve I tightened my grip on the knob and pulled the door open. My son swung around to stare at me startled. I narrowed my eyes when he quickly replaced his surprise with the eternally wry expression I was starting to recognize as a mask. He shifted slightly and I mentally raised my estimate of his situational awareness. The kid *knew* I wasn't buying it. I once again marveled at the skills he'd picked up while I wasn't looking. Okay, while I was off talking to the pink elephants in the bathroom.
"Mom-" He quickly said in an effort to forestall me. It was eerily familiar. ^You know I think our last big revelation talk started out just like this.^
Shaking my head I said, "You've got a lot of explaining to do kiddo." I glanced back at the door leading to the troll's cave then returned my gaze to my son. "Not here though." I stepped through the portal shutting the decal that basically said 'Abandon all hope ye who enter here' once translated into sanity behind me with a click. "There's no sound proofing." His face colored and his eyes widened at my barb.
^My kid's not dumb. A little careless maybe, talking where anyone might hear,^ I chose to ignore that fact that I'd been shamelessly snooping, ^but not dumb. Right now if I was him I'd be wondering how much I'd heard and how much I could get away with lying about. Demons and vampires, this is going to be one heck of an explanation.^
Confidently, or at least trying to act that way, I made my way down the once again deserted halls towards the parking lot. I shivered. ^The kids at this school must be invisible. I haven't seen one yet other than my own. Just heard them, like ghosts.^ Xander didn't say anything on our walk, which I found slightly odd because even my foggy memories said he was a talker. However I was queerly reassured by the soft thud of his footfalls slightly out of sync with my own.
They were proof that he was indeed following. Something that I wasn't so sure he would do. Even though Xander seemed to accept me I knew he still had to be harboring some resentment for the way I wasn't there for him in the past. He'd have to be a saint to not be.
Pushing the right double door open I let out a sigh of relief when a breeze brushed across my face. ^I hate schools.^ I continued walking till I was standing next to the rust bucket I laughing refer to as my car. ^Stalling isn't getting me anywhere.^ Despite all my analogies, and boy did I come up with some dozzies when I was nervous, I knew I had to have this talk- after all I was the one who'd asked for it. ^I'm a royal idiot. Couldn't I have played selective hearing?^ Sigh. ^No. I want to be part of Xander's life, not the absentee person I've been. If that means humoring insanity or worse- Well it won't be the first time my relatives made my life interesting.^
When I looked up I found my son standing nervously on the passenger side of the car. My mother had few pictures of my father, mostly I think because the dear lord didn't want there to be any evidence for his wife's divorce lawyer, but in the one I kept in my bureau draw he was wearing a smile that at times like these I shared. It was a touch nasty and full of cocky self- assured badassnes. "You wouldn't happen to know anything about a crossbow in the closet would you?"
Crash Course in Greek Needed
Snort. "Its just God and his wacky sense of humor. Except for Latin I can't read any of them, however I *can* read Ancient Hieratic, Assamese- Which let me tell you is freaky enough on it's own, come on *Ass*amese, who comes up with these names- then there are the really freaky demon languages that sound like a cross between sneezing and choking to say. Those you can blame on G-man. I know you've probably got at least a dozen learned yourself. Voluntarily even." Following my son's words there was a silence.
I found myself once again straining to hear. This time I dismissed my unease with chagrin. Obviously guilt wasn't enough to stop me listening, too many years of loose morals I think.
Still I was shocked when Xander's friend said in strong and commanding voice, "During patrol tonight you are going to train." I was also frustrated. Another twist I couldn't figure out. Train what? And how'd she go from languages to *training*? ^Maybe this conversation would make more sense if I could see them? I mean it couldn't be more confusing could it?^
"Wills-" In contrast my son's voice lacked all resolve and seemed more shaken than anything.
"Xander," Her tone gentled, "Do you want what happened to that vampire last night to happen to a human?" ^Vampire? What?^ I was getting really exasperated now. Wasn't spying supposed to give you information? Not leave you with more questions?
"I-" I was broken out of my fugue by the broken and young voice that said that single pronoun made me take step toward the knob. That was my son hurting. I felt a surge of emotion I never had before, not really, as my maternal instincts kicked in with a vengeance.
"Martin?" Hand on the knob I paused. The animation had returned to Xander's voice, the edge I knew meant he'd regained his mental feet. Plus I couldn't figure what the jackass of a French teacher had to do with anything.
"I was there Xander. You're lucky Buffy dosen't think you're possessed, again." Her tone was chiding and playful and I was completely confused and exasperated to use her wryly turned out word- again. I frowned at the door. ^If I didn't know *I* was the drug addict in the family I'd be wondering right now what exactly my kid was on and if he gets a discount with his friend as his supplier.^
A bell rang and I could hear distantly doors opening and feet pounding.
"I've got to get to class Xander. See you at eight at Northwood Rest?" The first sentence was warm and hurried, the second laced with the steel I was starting to suspect my son's friend wielded like a scalpel. Whatever he might have said in response was washed away in the rush of hundreds of rubber-soled feet on tile stampeding there way to class.
Quickly before I could loose my nerve I tightened my grip on the knob and pulled the door open. My son swung around to stare at me startled. I narrowed my eyes when he quickly replaced his surprise with the eternally wry expression I was starting to recognize as a mask. He shifted slightly and I mentally raised my estimate of his situational awareness. The kid *knew* I wasn't buying it. I once again marveled at the skills he'd picked up while I wasn't looking. Okay, while I was off talking to the pink elephants in the bathroom.
"Mom-" He quickly said in an effort to forestall me. It was eerily familiar. ^You know I think our last big revelation talk started out just like this.^
Shaking my head I said, "You've got a lot of explaining to do kiddo." I glanced back at the door leading to the troll's cave then returned my gaze to my son. "Not here though." I stepped through the portal shutting the decal that basically said 'Abandon all hope ye who enter here' once translated into sanity behind me with a click. "There's no sound proofing." His face colored and his eyes widened at my barb.
^My kid's not dumb. A little careless maybe, talking where anyone might hear,^ I chose to ignore that fact that I'd been shamelessly snooping, ^but not dumb. Right now if I was him I'd be wondering how much I'd heard and how much I could get away with lying about. Demons and vampires, this is going to be one heck of an explanation.^
Confidently, or at least trying to act that way, I made my way down the once again deserted halls towards the parking lot. I shivered. ^The kids at this school must be invisible. I haven't seen one yet other than my own. Just heard them, like ghosts.^ Xander didn't say anything on our walk, which I found slightly odd because even my foggy memories said he was a talker. However I was queerly reassured by the soft thud of his footfalls slightly out of sync with my own.
They were proof that he was indeed following. Something that I wasn't so sure he would do. Even though Xander seemed to accept me I knew he still had to be harboring some resentment for the way I wasn't there for him in the past. He'd have to be a saint to not be.
Pushing the right double door open I let out a sigh of relief when a breeze brushed across my face. ^I hate schools.^ I continued walking till I was standing next to the rust bucket I laughing refer to as my car. ^Stalling isn't getting me anywhere.^ Despite all my analogies, and boy did I come up with some dozzies when I was nervous, I knew I had to have this talk- after all I was the one who'd asked for it. ^I'm a royal idiot. Couldn't I have played selective hearing?^ Sigh. ^No. I want to be part of Xander's life, not the absentee person I've been. If that means humoring insanity or worse- Well it won't be the first time my relatives made my life interesting.^
When I looked up I found my son standing nervously on the passenger side of the car. My mother had few pictures of my father, mostly I think because the dear lord didn't want there to be any evidence for his wife's divorce lawyer, but in the one I kept in my bureau draw he was wearing a smile that at times like these I shared. It was a touch nasty and full of cocky self- assured badassnes. "You wouldn't happen to know anything about a crossbow in the closet would you?"