Chapter 8
The Bronze was situated in a sort of industrialized area of Sunnydale. At least I assumed we were still in Sunnydale. The warehouses looked abandoned some were falling apart, the metal corroded and tinged red with rust. The closer we got to the Bronze the more life I began to notice. People were still pulling up, parking in side alleys just like we were doing. It wasn't my choice but if there was no where else then I guess this would do. I pulled up behind the jeep and parked close to the wall but since the top was down the girls could climb out. I waited for them and then put the top up and got out.
The other Potentials were all ready giggling and squealing in excitement. You'd think they'd never been to a club before and maybe some of them hadn't but the others?
"Hey." I grabbed Dane's arm and had her walk with me towards the door. "You're driving so no drinking anything other than soda." I warned. She made a face but nodded agreement and just to make sure the others got my point; "If you didn't know it already let me say I'll be watching all of you and I don't need my eyes to do it."
The girls freaked out as expected with only a few who thought it was 'cool' I could speak inside people's heads. There would definitely be questions later.
Inside the music was blaring and it wasn't to my liking. They just weren't harsh enough. The girls spread out clumping in small groups. Faith wasted no time. She strode in, a wide smile on her face and let out a pent up breath. She looked as if the chains that held her in place, chains of duty and new found loyalty, had fallen away. At least for this one moment she could be free to enjoy herself, free to be just another young woman out with friends to enjoy herself.
Suddenly, I found myself being dragged onto the dance floor, Faith's hand gripping my wrist as she pulled me into the swaying bodies.
"You could ask." I grumbled looking around. There were couples and groups all moving to the beat the band was pumping out.
"Come on, I know you can dance." Faith smirked bumping me with her hip. She moved with wild abandon, eyes closed and after a moment I joined her. I let the beat lead my body and then both of us moved facing each other then away as the music continued. Just because I didn't particularly like the band playing didn't mean I couldn't dance. Years of it and family gatherings left their mark and I found myself enjoying this. How long had it been since I'd done this? Gone out and just let myself have fun?
I'd gone out with Ryan and the Hell's Angel's twice before but both times we had been working so it wasn't as if I'd actually been free to just move. The brief honeymoon in Las Vegas didn't count either because I'd been only seventeen, mentally at least. It occurred to me that Ryan owed me a real honeymoon or maybe I owed it to him but just thinking about it I knew. I was sure about this, I wanted to be his wife and I knew he loved me. He'd proven it more than once and now, with both my Father and son in his care he was proving how much he did love me.
I was still afraid.
One heavy hand dropped on my hip as I swayed. Before I could remove it another pulled me back into a hard chest. This wasn't at all what I had been expecting then again I was half naked so…
"Hey." I pried both hands off and turned. The smile was sweet and finding one of the older Potentials close at hand maneuvered the guy until he was hanging on her. Satisfied to have disposed of the inconvenient nuisance I turned and found myself alone.
"What the hell…" I watched as Faith danc-teased, yep, she teased them. The girl moved inside the circle the guys had formed around her and using those big doe eyes of hers smiled knowingly at each one.
"What's the deal? You just abandoned me." I sent her my thought and looking around she grinned seeing the fake pout I threw at her.
"I got a new audience. No offence PJ but you don't have what they got."
"Oh!" I gasped half laughing at her remark. "I would hope not!" I quipped with a small shake of my head. She winked and pointed at me.
"You got company. They're not half bad."
What was she talking about? I turned and found my nose pressed up against a solid chest. "Ooh!" I pushed back and was pulled up against the guy again. "Hey!" I scowled shoving off with more force. The guy stumbled and there was another one taking his place. I moved off avoiding his grasping hand as well with a smile and finally got off the dance floor heading to the bar.
Ridiculous. That's the only word to describe how men were behaving and because of this dress! You know, we shouldn't have to put up with their behavior just because of the way we're dressed. Yes, it's a little short and yes my back is bare, so what if the neckline is practically non existent, it's a fucking halter top!
'Like sharks in bloody water.' It concurred and for once I agreed.
"Tequila. Double." The bartender pulled out a shot glass and served it up then watched as I downed the liquor all at once. I felt the liquid burn down my throat and warm my insides. I smiled and set the shot glass down.
"Anything else?" he asked with a lazy grin.
Ok. So not responsible on my part but I was feeling a little frazzled and it's not like I'm going to get drunk off one measly shot. It usually takes three.
'Double shot, doesn't that make it two?'
Oh, so not the time to be getting smart with me.
"Margarita, virgin." See, I'm being responsible now. As I waited I cast my thoughts out and found the Potentials still safe and out of harm. They were having fun; dancing, playing pool, laughing and flirt-.
"The little shit." I hissed locking onto Amanda and her drunken disordered thoughts. The first thing I told them not to do-! God they really are kids. What idiot had given her alcohol?
I took my drink but before I could pay for it the bartender shook his head and winked. Yay, a free drink and it wasn't the first time a bartender had done it so I smiled a thank you. I took a sip when a husky voice tickled my ear.
"Hope you don't mind," I turned looking up into pale green eyes. "I already paid." His smile was gorgeous with a dimple in his left cheek. He was one of those tall blond men you lobbed into the Greek God category. He was striking with sandy blond hair slightly wavy and combed out of his face. Pale green eyes wide set and framed by dark lashes. His nose was perfect, you would think he'd had it done and his mouth, though wide was not big with a bottom lip you could just bite-.
Gorgeous.
"Not at all." I smiled taking another sip of my drink which I held in my left hand. I hadn't taken off my rings since I'd put them on the morning Ryan called to say they were arriving in Sunnydale. Either Mr. Greek God didn't see them, which wasn't possible, or he ignored them, much more of a possibility.
Some men just liked the challenge.
Still with one of the male species in attendance the others would keep their distance. He wasn't bad looking so why complain?
'You're married…'
God damn! Would you shut it-.
'Married, married…'
That singsong thing isn't cute! I'm definitely making some time in the near future to make that voice corporeal and then… then I'm going to make it disappear.
"For Ever!"
'Ha, ha, ha. I'm part of you. Kill me and you become a vegetable, or a lunatic.'
Krap.
Well, I'm not that sane anyway.
Pointedly ignoring the mocking voice in my head I let Mr. God lead me away. He found us a cozy corner and procured me a high stool. I sat with a grateful sigh. New heels are a bitch to break in but they were so cute with the strappy th- ok, so not the time for shoe gushing.
He made conversation, asking my name, commenting on its originality though I personally didn't think so.
Phade. I mean, how many jokes can you make out of that? I won't bother repeating the stupidity of the ones I've had to listen to my entire life. Then again it could be worse; they could've named me Buffy. Yeah, a spic named Buffy. I couldn't help my chuckle which he assumed was due to what he was saying. You know, every guy has the same basic spiel.
What's you're name?
Where are you from?
Do you come here often?
So what do you do for fun?
Hello, I'm at a club. What do you think I'm doing here? Jeez, men are idiots. Then there's the inevitable, so what do you do for a living?
How is that important?
"You live around here?" I asked interrupting his little story. For a moment he looked put out but then he answered and took another drink.
"Where are you from?" Hey, if they can ask those stupid questions then why cant I?
Twenty minutes later I have a new drink in hand, no alcohol and it turns out Mr. Oliver Queen went to an all boys school.
"Those are still around?" I'd thought those schools were all coed now or closed down. What parent would want to send their kid away for most of the year? I couldn't, I'd miss him too much, like I do now.
"They're more common than you think." He chuckled.
"You're the second person I've met who's been to one." I replied thinking of my old high school French teacher.
"And what do you think?"
"About…" I laughed seeing that he was fishing for a compliment. "Considering Mr. Geroni was fifty-five at the time, not to mention my French teacher…"
"Oh," Oliver shook his head grinning. "Tu parle français?"
Well, shit. Now he wanted to show off.
"Je parle un piu. Not enough to have a conversation so I'd say no. Half the time I don't even know what word goes where." I rolled my eyes remembering how badly I would mess up in class. Mr. G would get annoyed whenever I threw in a Spanish word but I could swear it sounded right.
"I could help with that." He looked at me, green eyes intense and I felt just a little bit nervous as he leaned closer not to mention my arm tingled. I had to look away and duh! He was caressing my arm, his fingers lightly running down and up my arm.
"I don't doubt you could but I've got two full languages in my brain and a good grasp of a third. I think I can do with what little I remembered from school." Hopefully he'd let it drop and we could just keep-.
"English of course but the second-?" he waited green eyes questioning. It gets annoying after a while I mean cant they tell? I don't look white, don't look Asian either, I'm not dark enough to be considered black so what's left?
"I grew up hearing Spanish and when school started I had to learn English. I'm fluent in both, reading, writing…" I shook my head remembering how annoyed I would get. "I have my Dad to thank for that."
"The third?" Oliver asked nodding. So, Dad comment not a good one I guessed. Maybe he just didn't get along with his and the easy way to find out was to take a little peek but I promised. If I broke it now then I would never stop finding excuses to look inside people's minds and find all their dirty little secrets. I didn't have that right even if I could do it.
"Italian." I sighed thinking about that year.
"Language of romance." He quipped.
"Just one of them." I replied with a smile. "But Paolo…" I sighed leaning back in the seat.
"Paolo?" I glanced at him from the corner of my eye before answering.
"Transfer student. Tall, dark hair, very polite and oh so gorgeous." I sat up facing him once more. "He had the entire female student body at his finger tips."
"Hmm." Oliver nodded as if he could understand perfectly what I described. Maybe he could seeing as how he's extremely easy on the eyes as well. "Must've been quite a year. Did you two date?"
"Are you kidding?" I scoffed with a real laugh. "My Dad would have killed him."
Oliver looked amused by that if not a bit confused.
"We were his host family during his year in the states." I explained. "Had poor Paolo tried anything…" I shook my head remembering the hard time Lui and Guy gave him the first couple of months. "If my Dad didn't threaten bodily harm I have six brothers who most likely did."
"That would do it." Oliver chuckled straightening from his relaxed pose against the wall.
"Yes, but a girl can dream and I found myself doing just that. A lot." I smiled wistfully thinking we have it so much easier when we're younger and all we want just then is to be grown up.
"Let me guess, the little house in some rustic village and lots of little bambinos running around." Oliver was grinning, the dimple making an appearance. I laughed nodding because that's exactly what I'd wanted.
"His year was up, Paolo went home and after a couple of months the e-mails stopped." I sighed tragically and winked at Oliver.
"Well, that's a boy." He remarked.
"And a man." I frowned daring him to deny that men didn't do the same thing now. He bowed his head acquiescing graciously. I couldn't help but think how smooth he reacted.
"Six brothers?" the question shouldn't have surprised me but then I'd been wandering mentally.
"Yes," I smiled embarrassed. People never got tired of asking if my parents had owned a TV as if that would have stopped them from having such a large family. "Mamá alw-."
The shot rang clearly in the building echoing from one corner to another and cutting through the music. I jumped to my feet shoving the drink in to Oliver's hand as I hurried to the front of the crowd. They were gathered at a side door of the Bronze and I pushed my way through bodies. I cast about for the Potentials and found them all before turning my attention to Faith.
"Faith, Faith… where the hell are you?" I muttered not finding her anywhere in the club. I noticed Dane on my left and grabbed at her arm. The guy in my way stumbled back glaring but didn't say anything.
"Where's Faith?" I asked ignoring her flinch but I did lessen my grip on her forearm.
"The police men took her outside." She pointed at the door where one officer stood guard holding a shotgun. "I think she's in trouble." Dane replied looking worried.
No shit, she's in trouble. I cursed Wesley and his brilliant idea. Hadn't I said he would get her in more trouble by breaking her out? I cast my thoughts outside finding the five men immediately. I recoiled from the darkness in them, pulled myself out of the drowning depths struggling to break free. I retreated into the Bronze and focused on the Potentials instead. Kennedy and Dawn were making enough noise I didn't bother with them.
"We need to get outside." They started, nervously glancing around. "Now is a good time to use all that training, girls." still they hesitated, glancing at each other nervously. What was wrong with them? It was one man. A regular man so why did they hesitate?
"You should move back." A firm hand grasped my elbow pulling me into the crowd. "It's not safe that close to the front." I frowned at Oliver. His green eyes seemed a shade darker.
"Sorry," I disengaged myself from his hand. "But I have some girls that need watching." The Potentials surged forward causing a roar of noise. I grinned at the shocked look on his face. Looking over my shoulder I saw them… all those girls…they're a beautiful thing to look at when they're in motion. That's when you know- know this is what they were born to do.
To fight.
"Bye." I winked at Oliver his gaze shifting to me. He opened his mouth probably to ask a question but I sank into the stone floor.
I know, I know! It was juvenile; an exit like that when I could've just walked out behind the Potentials but this is more fun. Besides, the look on Oliver's face… priceless!
You know not every place has good stone and by that I mean clear, smooth, pure quality. Nature has some of the best but after all the pollutants and chemicals poured into it well, there's not much of it left. The Bronze was no better but compared to the street in LA where I'd found Sabine it was a hundred times better! I moved lazily enjoying the grayness when I felt the tender jolt pulse though me.
Faith.
Damn, I still got sucked into the feeling of the stone. Rising quickly I found myself outside the Bronze, a foot away from the evil cops. I came up behind one as they beat Faith with their clubs. One handed I grabbed the back of his vest and yanked him off. He rolled grunting as he hit the pavement, confused while I grabbed a second one. I threw him into his brother in blue and both fell in a tangle of limbs. I turned back intending on grabbing another when the black night stick covered my sight. I stumbled; the cold pavement scraped my palms and knee. Surprised I looked up but the cop had returned to the Slayer. The dull throbbing in my temple pulsed in time to my heart beat. Again I sank into the stone and just as quickly my hand shot forth. I found him, grabbing his ankle I pulled him down easily. When I rose in front of the screaming man he was immersed up to his knees; he clawed at them trying to pull himself up and calling for help.
The Potentials surged behind me like a wave. I moved out of their way and let them deal with the men. They were girls after all and human, they couldn't hurt the men too much. I, on the other hand, could.
One of the officers drew his weapon intending to fire into the crowd of girls. Eyes blazing I looked at him, the gun glowed red orange in the night and screaming he dropped it then waved his scalded palm in the air.
"Bad boy." I whispered in his mind. He looked up horrified but before I could do more than smile I heard Buffy.
"Faith! What are you doing?"
"Just blowing off steam. Well, it started that way. Turned when the cops went evil on us." Faith had a point there. They had all been having fun until these idiots showed up causing trouble.
"You got here a bit late for the fun, Buffy." Those green eyes turned to me full of anger. They looked me over obviously not approving of my attire, or rather the lack of.
"You too?" she scowled and I knew what she was thinking. Here I am, older and wiser than these kids yet I'm caught in a fight. Well, what could I say? I shrugged and watched her face harden then her eyes took in the Potentials behind us and ordered them to go home. She ignored their protests as her eyes fell on the officer now whimpering, tears running down his contorted face as he begged for help.
"What did you do?" her voice was low and rasping not sure who was responsible until I stepped forward.
"He wasn't playing nice." Buffy's eyes traveled the length of me once more but her expression escaped my understanding. The officer flinched falling back on his ass with nowhere to go and afraid of me. The Potentials watched as I grabbed his throat and easily lifted him out of the pavement.
"Next time," I warned yanking his face close to mine where he saw the gray shimmer. He gagged; unable to draw away, his eyes bulged with fear. "Play nice."
"What are you?" Buffy whispered. I let go of the man watching him crumple to the ground before facing her.
"I told you." The click of the gun was loud and without thought I turned. One hand averted the aim of the gun as he pulled the trigger sending the bullet into the side of the building instead of the girls. My knee connected with his face with more force than I should've used. The hot surge of blood wet my skin and it trickled down my leg. He choked and fell aside clutching at his broken face. The bone had crunched beneath my blow and I flicked a wayward tooth off me before facing Buffy, the gray fading from my brown eyes.
"I'm a different animal."