Group Politics
The gang had gathered at Giles' apartment for an old–style Scooby meeting, not because there was any particular danger, but simply because they hadn't had one in a while, and the group wanted to welcome Xander back from his travels. The boy had brought Anya along. At some point in the week since he'd returned the two seemed to have formed a relationship, much to Willow's annoyance. The young witch was upset when the ex-vengeance demon pointed out she was driving everyone else mad, talking non-stop about how awesome her roommate was.
"You love her so damn much I'm surprised you're not sleeping together," she said.
Willow's mouth dropped open in shock, and she blushed. Not that she'd admit it, but Oz had made a similar comment to her, just that morning. He was off practicing with his band, and she was grateful he hadn't heard Anya's conclusion.
"That's not nice to say, Ahn," Xander pointed out.
"But it's true," Anya maintained. "I've only ever heard people in romantic relationships go on so much about the supposedly appealing attributes in each other."
"Not nice," he repeated, after struggling to find it within himself to properly disagree with her.
"Why is she here again?" Willow questioned her best friend, not bothering at all to hide her bitterness.
"Because Harris likes the ex-vengeance chit," Spike answered. "I say good for him. The group needs a little more brutal honesty."
"More brutal honesty?" Xander interjected, "How's this? I still don't like you."
Spike humored him. "'An' why's that, exactly?" he asked.
"You're evil! A demon!"
That had been the expected response, of course.
"Okay," Spike leaned forward and spoke seriously. "Let me lay this out for ya: your girl was a demon. She'd still be one, if she had the choice. Reckon she's got thousands more deaths on her hands than me. And me? I'd be human again-" he nodded towards Buffy – "For her. If I got the chance. But we don't get those choices, Whelp. We can only do what we can. But don't think for a second that your girl is more acceptable than me, jus' cause she got a pretty little soul. Don't mean jack, in my book."
There was silence.
Spike reclined again, and Anya nodded her head in agreement with his words.
"Right," began Willow, desperately trying to change topic. She turned to Buffy and asked, "So, did the First Slayer ever turn up in your dreams again?"
"Nah. But, really, with her being dead and all it's not surprising. Wait a second-" the Slayer turned to Giles. "Have we stopped to ask how she contacted us from beyond the grave in the first place?"
"I, well… That's not-" the watcher blustered. "I've been busy!"
The Slayer looked down at the glass of Scotch in his hand, then back up at his face, and quirked her eyebrow – silently saying all that needed to be said.
Giles sat down in defeat saying, "Right, okay, fair enough. I've been slacking."
"It's okay," said Buffy. "Everyone needs a little down time. But giving up an opportunity to research something… are you okay?"
What had started out as a light, reassuring sentence ended up weighed down with sudden concern.
"Really, I'm fine," Giles insisted, while finishing his drink in a single swallow.
"Your watcher is feeling like a spare part," Anya pointed out. "Now that you're training only with Spike."
"Anya!" Xander chided, in exasperation.
"That right?" Spike asked the older man.
"Perhaps," he allowed.
"Well, that's totally fixable," Buffy chimed in. "We can train again, if you want."
Spike frowned, and the Slayer reassured him that the watcher training would be on top of what they did privately – not instead of. The vampire still wasn't happy, though.
"Yer schedule's pretty packed," he reminded her. "Don't want to overdo things."
"Well, I'm sure if Buffy stops boning you she'll have plenty of time for everything else," said Xander.
Everyone turned to look at him, and he gulped under the pressure of their stares.
"I didn't mean that. I'm just, y'know-" he trailed off, and waved his hand in the direction of Spike.
"Annoyed because he very easily pointed out a massive flaw in your thinking and made you readdress all of your prejudices towards him?" Anya provided.
The boy winced and said, "Yeah, that."
"Wonderful," Spike deadpanned, before taking hold of Buffy's hand and leading her towards to the door. He was internally fuming, which was the only reason the Slayer didn't scold him when he declared, "I'm off to bone m' misses," before slamming Giles' front door behind them.
The watcher poured himself another drink and opened a book to begin research.
To be continued...