Xander crouched over Joyce's grave. "You know how people say I'm clueless Joyce, well I've come to understand why. I do not see the little things; the details that conspire to ruin an otherwise miserable life turning it into dross. Three apparently unrelated things happened shortly after The Punisher thing. If I had been paying attention I would have smelt trouble but then I am not a details man. The little things get by me.
Tony Harris grunted as a fist rammed his stomach.
The Asian woman, wearing a form fitting dress, paused in front of him to draw smoke out of a cigarette holder before nodding to the two thugs holding him that they could continue.
"Please give me a another chance." Tony was blacking out, that was bad news as long as he was awake they would talk once he was out of it, they might decide to kill him.
"Tony, we have been very patient," the woman said coldly "when you don't pay it makes us look bad." She paused to smooth her dress showing off her sleek curves. "Do I look like someone who wants to look bad."
"I could have part of the money by next week "
"How "
"My, my son he gets paid a lot for photographing Spider-man "
The woman held up her hands, the goons stopped their brutality. "Really, how often does he take these pictures."
"All the time, kinda famous for them."
"A Harris famous for something useful, Alright Tony you've convinced me. I will give you more time…if you tell us everything there is to know about your darling son's relationship with Spider-man. "
Tony talked. Telling them everything he knew or thought that he knew. If it dawned on him he was betraying his son he justified it in his head as he always did. The little brat had ruined his life. In Tony's mind, Xander had it coming.
When he had finished, the Lady nodded sagely. "Your banned from the tables until you pay…. Half your debt. But for your co-operation Yukari the new girl, can give you a guided tour of the members only sections."
"That's nice of you, can I ask why "
"If you were smart you wouldn't but then if you were smart you wouldn't owe us the money you do, your son's little friend has been causing headaches for some associates. Thanks to you, we can get a little payback. Will that be a problem for you?"
Tony Harris had blown off so many opportunities to be a good father he rarely noticed them any more. "Of course not, anything you want to know. "
Tony scuttled into the club followed silently by the goons who had been working him over. The Lady waited until she was alone then made a call on a very advanced cell-phone. "I was taking care of the Harris thing, you will never guess who his kid knows…. Spider-man. Kid takes the pictures and gets cash." She listened to the person on the other end of the line then laughed. "Of course I know who would be interested, why do you think I called."
Buffy and Willow sat in an out door café waiting for Xander to show up. He was running late and Buffy was growing annoyed at his now frequent absence. She had made jokes that the only thing he consistently showed up for was to get a shot of Spidey doing whatever a spider-man could.
"…And this program is going to be the best on the coast." Willow was saying looking at the UC Sunnydale Course book; she was well pleased, already assured of a place in the best schools in the country she had elected to remain in Sunnydale.
Buffy looked at her watch, "Wasn't Xander supposed to be here by now."
"Lately he lives according to Xander-time. If he showed up on time for something, I'd start looking for the pod he hatched out of. " Willow pointed out sarcastically
"And always it's the same couple of excuses. There was traffic, there was a disturbance. He's ditched Cordy a bunch of times since they started dating. " Buffy looked around to make sure they weren't being overheard. "If I didn't know him so well, I would say he was seeing some girl on the side. "
"Ohh, how Melrose Place. " Willow gasped "you think he's been…. With Faith."
"No offence to Xan, but if he bagged Faith he would be shouting victory from the rooftops. And besides she thinks he's…"
"A Good Friend " they chorused then started giggling
"Well something's tiring him out he slept though class the other day. Lucky the teacher was totally distracted or she might have heard the snoring."
"Well his ass better have a good explanation for ditching us or else…."
A bus roared by, skidding around a corner screeching as it went. A few seconds later Spider-man swung by trying to catch up to the bus.
"Well that's convenient. Come on lets go." Buffy said dashing away from their table leaving Willow to throw money at the waiter.
The bas was racing down the street and Spider-man landed running. Racing alongside the out of control vehicle, he easily outpaced the speeding Bus. Reaching up he climbed on to the bus getting to a window. "What's up with the driver?" He asked loudly.
"He slumped over we don't know what going on." A woman said fearfully
"Relax help is here," he said soothingly. He mounted the roof and peered over the edge. The driver's unconscious form slumped on the wheel.
Spider-man crawled to the front of the bus and sprayed webbing on the axles. Then bracing himself began pulling the web-line tight. A squealing announced that the bus was slowing. The flaring of his Spidey sense was almost annoying at this point. "What now?" he cursed. Up ahead, morning commuters were scrambling out of a busy intersection. If the bus was still moving when it reached that intersection it would be a disaster. "Come on Spidey, pull danmit." He grunted. The bus gradually slowed and then stopped just short of the cross street. The crowd of morning commuters clapped and cheered. Spidey waved as he ripped open a rooftop opening, dropping into the bus.
"Folks, police will be here in a moment they will get you on your way." He said jauntily
A one armed man stood and gestured to the driver. "He collapsed a few minutes ago the driver may not be able to wait any longer."
"Don't worry sir I'll get him to a hospital, wonder and joy of proportionate spider strength and speed."
He picked up the driver and tossed him over his shoulder then leapt through the opening before web swinging away baring his human burden.
The one-armed man sat back down. He looked at his companion a hard-faced woman. "Remember all the things I said when I turned you down, I take it all back."
"This will be a one of a kind research opportunity Conners."
"I'm still not sure about your little after-school project whatever it is Walsh but …this town definitely has possibilities."
"I'm glad you agree with me " smiling, Maggie Walsh extracted a cell phone and dialed a number. "You will never guess who we just encountered…Spider-man, that's right Conners is onboard so I want the facility ready to roll by Fall Semester."
"…But by the time I got to the Hospital Spidey was long gone. " Xander explained to his two friends who told him of Spider-man's morning rush hour rescue.
"Some of the passengers were teachers at UC Sunnydale so Spidey did us a favour by saving them." Willow gushed excitedly
The three headed into the library where Giles was entertaining an adult couple. The man was slightly overweight and looked like a teacher. The woman was dressed in a flowing poncho. Her eyes brightened on seeing Willow who squealed at the sight of her.
"Aunt Rose, when did you get into town. "
"This morning, we're heading for a conference in LA and I wanted to see my dear sister and my favorite niece.
"Your only niece " Willow said excitedly as she hugged the woman
"And who is this hulking young man beside you. Surely this can't be Alexander." Rose smiled beamingly and embraced Xander.
"Hi Aunt Rose, Hi Uncle Otto." Xander chorused he had known the eclectic couple since he and Willow were children and they had encouraged him to consider them family.
"Buffy this is my Aunt Rosalie and her husband Otto Octavius." Willow gushed Auntie & Uncle Octavius live back east. She teaches Art History. And he
"…Blows things up is what Willow's mother insists on calling it. Octavius laughed as he gallantly took Buffy's hand and kissed it.
"Guys, this is my best friend Buffy Summers, her mother runs the gallery here in town " Willow beamed and Buffy shook Rosalie's hand.
"My mom has all your books. I never dreamed you were related to Willow."
"I'm her mother's sister but you, you're Joyce Summers little girl, well this is a small world."
Willow gushed about her exciting news. "Ohhh, I sent in my application to UC Sunnydale and they said yes I'm studying with Curt Conners next year."
Otto smiled. "Well now I have a reason to take him up on that consulting job he mentioned. Just an excuse to have me where he can keep an eye on me. What about you Alexander, what's are your plans for after high school
"I'm not sure yet " Xander smiled nervously
"Oh don't listen to him I'm trying to get him to take an arts course. Turns out Xander is like the best photographer ever." Willow smiled proudly
Rosalie clapped her hands delightedly. "Really, that is wonderful can I see some of your work."
"Well I don't really have a portfolio or anything" Xander said shyly. He had not counted on Willow
Willow beamed and yanked out a folder. Inside were many of the better pictures he had taken. Some were of people in and around Sunnydale and a few landscapes shots but most were photos of Spider-man. Rosalie turned a critical eye and gaze at them. Occasionally she glanced up from the portfolio to look critically at Xander.
"Your sense of perspective could use some work, your focus is atrocious and your framing, really Alexander, some of these, they look like you were not even holding the camera."
"They suck huh?"
"If you were in my second year class back east and showed me this, I would say yes. Considering you've had little training and assuming things at home have not changed." She looked hopefully at him, but Xander shook his head "then I'd say that your talent is nothing short of astonishing."
"You really think so."
Rosalie beamed, her face an eerie echo of Willow's "with a good instructor and some hard work on your part Alexander, you could easily become a premiere photographer. You've so much potential "
"I've heard that before " Xander said
"And why wouldn't you boy," Otto smiled "You've been showing talent and resourcefulness since you were a child. Thank god, you have Willow to encourage you. If taking pictures is your talent then you have to share that gift with the world."
"Willow how did you end up with such a cool aunt and uncle " Buffy laughed
"Blame it on her mother," Otto laughed "She had the choice between the business major and the brilliant physics genius. She wanted the security, Rosie wanted a challenge."
"I consider myself lucky, " Rosalie laughed as she hugged Otto. "If I had not been doing a paper on Cyrano De Bergerac when we met I might not have found inarticulate declarations of love so romantic."
Willow laughed "Since Xander and I have been friends since foot PJ's He's known Aunt Rose and Uncle Otto as long as I have."
"So you're joining Curt Conners classes at UC Sunnydale I hope you are prepared to work young lady," Otto said seriously "Conners is a friend I expect to hear nothing but good reports about your progress. You are such a gifted child my dear I know you will make us both proud "
"Thanks uncle Otto." Willow was blushing furiously
Rosalie turned to Xander. "I know the Arts teachers at UC Sunnydale Alexander, if you'd like I'll make up a letter of recommendation for you." She smiled in Buffy's direction. "In fact, if my word isn't good enough, I'm sure someone who has all my books would provide a letter of recommendation if I encouraged her."
"Mrs. S, are you kidding."
"Surely, she has seen Xander's work Buffy "
"Are you kidding Xander keeps his talents under lock and key. If it weren't for Willow I don't think any of us would know about the pictures in the paper."
Rosalie looked again at he photos. "So primal and fierce, no wonder he lets you photograph him he looks like something out of a dark fairy tale."
Xander smiled shyly at the young Slayer. "I never wanted to ask Buff, I figured it would be…"
"Please, Mom has practically adopted you anyway. We will ask together. I think the chance to get her Rosalie Octavius books autographed, will put her in the best mood for the question.
