Chapter 33: Living with It
*****The Next Day*****
Xander told his friends about his dream visit from Cordelia, and they were supportive, glad that she was allowed to visit. Willow, though, wasn't sure that it was a real visit, but she was happy that it gave her best friend a measure of comfort.
She discussed it on video with Tony and her mom.
"I doubt a ghost came to him in his dream," Tony said.
"You don't know that, Tony," Pepper chided.
"There's no proof," Tony argued.
"There's some things you have to take on faith, Tony," Pepper told him with a glare of warning.
"Well, that's the thing, I'm a man of science while you were raised in the church," he said, leaning over to kiss her. "You're going to have to say enough prayers for the both of us."
"Well, if Xander wasn't just dreaming, Tony, then there is an afterlife, and God is real," Willow said, looking smug.
Pepper laughed. "Yeah, Tony, you better keep that in mind," she said, nudging her lover.
"Hey, I'm a superhero, risking my life for others," Tony said. "Doesn't the good book say, 'Greater love has no man than to lay down his life for his friends'? I do that!"
The two women laughed at him. "Let's hope God sees your slightly egomaniacal Iron Man costume that same way," Pepper teased.
Tony clutched his heart. "Costume? Did you just call the best weapon America has against nuclear war a costume?" he asked in outrage. "JARVIS did you hear that?"
"I did, SIR," JARVIS said, a note of amusement. "I am sure she meant no offense."
Pepper was now laughing outright, and Tony pounced on her.
Willow could tell that the conversation with her was forgotten. "Okay. Good talk, guys. Love you!" she called.
Pepper waved at her as Tony covered her with his body, thankfully taking them out of camera shot. She quickly shut her laptop, ending the call. Her mother and Tony were the sweetest couple. It was nice to know that old people love was possible. She wondered if Giles would ever have a real chance with Natasha that wasn't influenced by band candy.
*****New York*****
Natasha Romonoff was utterly miserable. It had been a long time since had been in such a dark place. First, the band candy incident got her fired from an assignment she actually loved. This was particularly hard to swallow when she could count on one hand how many times that had ever happened. She never loved her assignments. Never had she been fired from an assignment, so that was also hard to take. Of course, she knew that it was the right decision. Buffy was too young to deal with what happened with the maturity of a seasoned fighter. It wasn't natural to expect her to just shake it off, especially after what all the poor girl had to accept in her rough life. The past year had been particularly difficult for the teenager.
Rupert had called her nearly every day since she had been gone. At first, she had ignored his calls, but then she just had to know how things were going. When he called and told her that Cordelia had been killed, she had been sick with guilt and grief.
If she had been there fighting with them, it would not have happened. She just knew it. There would not have been a reason for the barely trained teenager to step in two slayers' spot if she had. Not to mention, if she hadn't been training Cordelia, the foolishly brave teenager would not have felt so confident. Either way, she looked at it, it was her fault.
And she couldn't even get permission to go to the funeral and pay her respects. For the first time since Clint had pulled her into his family, she didn't go to his family Thanksgiving. No part of her felt like celebrating any holiday. What did she have to be thankful for?
The next day, he and Laura showed up at her place with the kids.
"You didn't think you'd get away with this shit," Clint told her.
The kids hugged her, chatting a mile a minute.
"We wanted to go Black Friday shopping," Laura said. "The kids and I wanted to see you since you missed dinner."
"I'm sorry," she said.
"Dad said you were sad," Cooper said. "We are here to cheer you up."
"We can go ice skating after shopping, Aunt Natasha!" Lila said excitedly.
"That sounds lovely," Natasha told her niece.
"Why don't we go to the café across the street and get some drinks and let your dad talk to your aunt?" Laura suggested.
The kids hugged their aunt after getting promises that she would hang out with them.
"Are you okay?" Clint asked her.
"I'll live," she said with a very Russian shrug.
"It's a miserable situation," he said.
"If I'd been there, Cordelia would still be alive," she pointed out.
"Possibly," he acknowledged. "And you might be dead in her place."
"That is the job I signed up for. That we both did," she countered. "Those kids are just trying to be good friends to Buffy and do their part. They have no idea really what they've signed up for."
"Well, I think they get it now," he said sternly. "Each one of them feel the same guilt we all are feeling. Hell, Nat, I was right there. Don't you think I feel like shit? I'm the trained agent. It was my fucking job to protect those kids. I shot the vampire in its dead heart twice—no joke. The fucking bastard just wouldn't die!"
Natasha put her hand on his shoulder, and he pulled her in for a hug. He did understand how she felt. It felt good to share her pain with someone that not only felt it but understood what she feeling. Maybe, she did she something to be grateful for. Clint was a good friend, his family wonderful.
He dragged her along to his family's shopping spree. She told him about her time checking out the school for mutants.
"I met Professor Xavier," she shared. "He was an interesting fellow. I think he could read my mind."
"Seriously?" Clint asked.
She nodded. "His number two is an even more powerful psychic," she shared. "They have kids that can walk through walls, freeze things, turn to metal, teleport. It's one big freak show over there. One of the teachers can control the weather."
"Did you meet the doctor who is working with Bruce to help Oz and Xander?" Clint asked.
"I did," she replied. "Dr. Hank McCoy—is a blue fur ball who might get attacked if he popped up on Buffy or Faith at the hellmouth—is incredibly intelligent and believes that if the mutant gene is activated in the boys that it will dominate the lycanthropy gene they possess."
"That's what Tony hopes," Clint said. "I think they're going to give it a try come Christmas break."
"I think Dr. Banner and Dr. McCoy had actually been experimenting with rats," Natasha explained. "Giving the rats the lycanthropy gene and then activating the mutant gene. They moved up to monkey trials."
"I hope they don't tell the kids that," Clint said. "They would not approve experimenting on animals."
"Kids are foolish. Any thinking that values animal life above human life is just stupid," she said impatiently. "How do they think we come up with medical cures? We can't start off testing on humans a vaccine that might kill a person."
"They don't. They lead with their emotions," he reminded her. "What about you and Rupert?"
She was silent for a moment. Then she admitted, "He asked if he could see me when he comes to New York with the kids."
"What did you say?" he wondered.
"I told him that I could probably find the time," she shared.
"He's a good man, Nat," Clint said.
"I know that he is," she said. "But we are very different."
"I'm not so sure about that," Clint said. "You do know he has this nickname from his younger years? It's Ripper. He used to summon demons and dabble in dark magic. It led to the death of some friends. There's a darkness in him that wouldn't shy away from yours. He is very pragmatic, so are you. He knows lots of languages—so do you. He gets knocked out a lot; you knock out guys a lot. Sounds like a perfect match."
She couldn't help but laugh. It would be nice, though, to see Rupert again. Natasha had never felt lonely before as she was used to her solitary existence with only Clint as her constant companion. Then she went and got involved with the Sunnydale crew. It ruined her.
Now she noticed her solitary state more and more, and she resented it.
*****Christmas*****
All of the teenagers were glad when school was out for Christmas break. Harmony's family always left Sunnydale and went to Aspen, so Xander didn't have to worry about her. The day after Christmas, they were going to New York. Tony had already spoken to his parents, asking to get the kids out of town for the New Year party he wanted to throw since things were so dismal with Cordy's passing. That was the same story he gave to Willow and Oz's parents. Naturally, none of them could refuse the kids' generous benefactor. Most decided to think of him as a rich uncle since he acted like an uncle. It was clear to the parents that Tony Stark genuinely loved their children, so they had no problem granting their permission.
Faith would stay in town and keep patrolling. Although she was a bit disappointed to be left out, Tony promised to bring her to town for the real New Year's Eve party he was throwing. He was thoughtful like that, and her watcher said it was okay even though he thought it was a foolish waste of time.
"She is still a teenager. If the other children are having fun, she will grow too resentful," he pointed out.
"I suppose you are right," Wesley said and relented.
Faith was a bit offended at Giles' characterization and started to argue, but Buffy elbowed her. When she asked later, Buffy pointed out, "Hey, Giles knew what to say to get her to agree. Don't take it so personally."
Faith realized that was true and remained silent.
Xander's parents agreed to not host their normal drunken Christmas party. Instead, it was moved to his uncle's house. They didn't even protest when he opted not to attend, understanding why he didn't feel festive. His mother hugged him and made him promise to open their gifts in the morning.
"Don't worry. Willow and I are going to do our tradition of watching the Snoopy holiday cartoon at Tony's place. We're going to make Faith watch it with us," he said. "She doesn't have any family to celebrate with."
"That'll be nice," his mother said, hugging him one last time before leaving with his father. It relieved her mind that he had such good friends to support him.
Willow insisted that they stay at the mansion. Buffy and her mom would be over in the morning to have breakfast with them. Mrs. Summers was preparing the holiday dinner.
The girls didn't want Xander to be alone, and he loved them for it.
They managed to get through the holidays. Tony and Pepper arrived Christmas morning with gifts, bringing their normal cheer.
Everyone got the newest Stark phones coming out in the new year. Since most of them had barely gotten used to their current phones, they were more amused than excited. Faith, though, was stoked as she hadn't had one yet. He even gave one to Joyce, who was surprised, but accepted it graciously. She had long accepted that Tony couldn't help it. Giving things like electronics was nothing to him, so she just said thank you and made a mental note to have Phil program it for her later that evening when she saw him at dinner.
"Where's my favorite werewolf?" Tony asked, looking for Oz.
"Thanks," Xander said, pretending offense.
"Hey, he's teaching me how to play the guitar, and you're barely a werewolf," Tony pointed out with a snort.
Xander snickered. "Okay, I'll give you that," he said. Tony knew just about everything, so it was rare that anyone could teach him anything.
"You know he's at his grandparents. He'll be with us at dinner, though," Willow said. "That's why we're having it at seven and did this Christmas brunch with you."
"Okay. I'll give him his new guitar then," Tony said.
"You got him a new guitar?" Willow said. "You know musicians are really picky about those kinds of things."
"Trust me. He'll like this one. It was owned by a member of the Beatles," he boasted.
"Wow," Willow said.
"Even if he doesn't play it, he'll like owning it," Tony said confidently.
Xander appreciated his friends having so many things to distract him from the giant Cordelia-sized hole in his heart.
"I would love to see it," Giles remarked. "I have all their records."
"I can't wait to show it to you," Tony told him.
Even though it was hard for Xander to not have Cordelia there, they didn't forget her. Tony raised a glass at dinner.
"I don't know if Xander's dream was real or not, but I'd like to think it was, and she's up there watching us," he said, looking up. "So let's raise a glass, remembering Cordelia who can't be here with us in body, but she will always be with us in spirit and will forever be with us in our hearts."
"To Cordelia," they all said before taking a sip.
The teenagers were drinking, of course, soda. They were all going to fly with Tony and Pepper to New York in the morning. They would spend one night at Stark Tower and then meet with Professor Xavier at his school for Gifted Youngsters in the upper part of the state. Of course, Dr. McCoy and Dr. Banner would then activate the mutant gene in Xander and Oz.
Both Oz and Xander were anxious but allowed themselves to be distracted by the festivities.
Tony insisted that they bring a fun gift to play dirty Santa or White Elephant as some called it. Everyone bought a gift of some kind under $20 or regifted a gift they had at their house in some cases. They drew numbers and then selected from the pile of gifts. The first person got to pick from the pile of gifts. The second person could either take the first person's gift or get a new one. Once a gift was stolen twice, it was dead and could no longer be taken twice.
Naturally, Tony had the most difficult time finding a gift under $20, so he went through the room he had of gifts. JARVIS helped him pick the cheapest one. He was a bit shocked to find out that the CEO of a competitor had given him such cheap necktie for his fortieth birthday. Of course, it was hideous. He thought it was perfect for the Christmas festivities since was bright green—at least with a Christmas color.
When Xander selected Tony's gift, he said, "Cool. A necktie."
"It was the cheapest gift I could find, sorry," Tony said.
"I like it," Xander said, smiling.
"It's hideous," Tony said.
Xander shrugged. "It's a tie. They're all hideous to some degree," he said.
"You did not just say that!" he protested. He almost said, Cordelia would so no let you wear that in public. However, he knew it was too soon for jokes like that.
The teenagers all had a good time, but Faith was particularly pleased with her new gift card to the Bronze that she had stolen from Buffy.
"Who brought that gift?" Buffy asked.
Oz raised his hand. "I didn't have time to be creative," he said.
"That was brilliant," Buffy told him.
Oz smiled, glad the girls liked the gift card Willow had suggested when he realized he had forgotten to grab something. Between his family obligations and his distraction with his upcoming science experimentation, he was having trouble focusing.
Either way, though, he was ready to leave his wolf days behind.
*****New York*****
The teenagers were duly impressed with Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters. It was decided that they would all stay the night in the school, and the experiment with the two werewolves would happen the next morning. This allowed the teenagers the day to explore the school, making friends with the mutant students. The students were excited to meet new teenagers that weren't exactly like them but yet special in their own ways. Tony and Bruce, of course, spent the time in the lab with Jean Gray and Hank McCoy.
Xander and Oz were a bit relieved to get another night to prepare themselves for what was going to happen. They were quickly embraced by several students eager to learn all about werewolves.
Buffy, especially, could not believe how freeing it was to be around so many teenagers who were openly extraordinary. One of the teachers had the same last name as her. After talking to him about mutual family members, they realized that they were actually third cousins. He and her father were second cousins.
"This is very cool!" Buffy exclaimed. "Dad doesn't know, though, about me being a slayer."
"I have a younger brother named Alex, who is also a mutant," he shared.
"Awesome," she said. The two hit it off, and he told her all about his powers and how difficult it could be. The professor had saved his sanity and given him a purpose.
"So you don't feel like a freak anymore?" she asked.
"Sometimes," he said. "We're different. But when you're around other people that are also different, it doesn't feel so lonely."
She nodded. "I died my sophomore year, and it called another slayer named Kendra," she shared. "I only met her once before she came to town a second time to help me. But it was great having someone who knew how I felt. Then she got killed fighting my battle. Now there's Faith. She took a bullet for me already when this crazy vamp had a Slayerfest a few months ago. That was basically a contest to see who could kill a slayer first. I was in a wheelchair for a bit as one of the bullets still hit my spine."
Scott realized that his newly found cousin lived a life very different from his students. All the things he and the professor worked to protect their kids from could not be done for her. It really pissed him off. When Buffy joined her friends at dinner, he sat with the professor and spoke with Buffy's mentor, Mr. Giles, who was next to Charles. Tony and Bruce, naturally, were still in the lab.
"It is extraordinary that Buffy would find a family member here," Giles said. "She has had a very difficult time lately."
"Yes, she kind of shared some of that," he said. "It makes me really angry. She is too young. Fighting since she was fifteen. Fifteen? It's criminal what your organization has done to her."
Giles nodded. "I understand how you feel," he said, not offended. "Unfortunately, neither I nor my council have anything to do with who is called. All we can do is support the girls and train them. Make sure they are as ready and prepared as possible to defeat the vampires and demons that will seek them out."
"You send them to fight monsters," Scott accused.
"It is inside of them a drive, a predator spirit—the slayer spirit if you will—that seeks to eradicate evil," he shared. "Not to mention, the blood of a slayer is a draw to supernatural creatures, especially dark creatures. On a hellmouth, she is more protected as there are so many creatures there, she cannot be so easily found. Her home is safe. Once she moves away from the hellmouth, however, it will be a different story. She will always be a beacon for evil creatures, vampires, especially. Her blood is highly prized."
As both Jean and Professor Xavier could read the man's mind, they knew there was no deception in him. Only the grim reality of what he shared. Charles cast his thoughts into Scott's mind. He speaks truth and loves Buffy Summers like a daughter. He will always watch out for her.
That did relieve Scott's mind. However, he was still deeply disturbed by his cousin's life. He and his brother Alex didn't always get along, and it was nice to feel a connection so instantly to someone that was actually related to him. Jean was his wife, his family. Now, though, he was very glad to have met Buffy, feeling that he now had someone else in his life he could consider family that understood what it was like to be so different.
Willow was sitting next to a girl named Kitty Pryde, excited to learn all about her very cool superpower. When she told Buffy that the girl also was training as an X-Men, which meant she was a trained martial artist, Buffy's eyes predictably lit up.
"Who cares about that, Buffy?" Willow said. "She can, like, phase through things. And levitate."
"That's cool," Buffy said. "It'd be nice not to hit some many tombstones in a fight with a vamp."
"Seriously?" Kitty asked.
Buffy nodded while Willow laughed. "That's true. Buffy does hit and break more than a few."
Kitty regaled them with tales of their training, which both girls thought sounded fun.
"Do you think we can train with you before we leave?" Buffy asked eagerly.
"Well, since you are now related to a teacher, you probably could ask him," Kitty pointed out.
Naturally, Buffy did exactly that. Charles was actually interested in seeing how the kids did, so he allowed Scott and Storm as well as Bobby and Kitty to put in a medium-level training simulation. JARVIS alerted Tony about it, who came out of his lab, eager to see both the simulation and the kids in action with the X-Men.
"We normally train against Magneto, a mutant who gives other mutants a bad name. He has a crew of like-minded mutants that work with him causing trouble wherever they can," Scott explained.
A short time later, the Sunnydale crew got to meet the man in all his floating glory. He threw cars.
Xander, Oz, and Willow basically stood in the back and did nothing but stare in various degrees of shock. Even Oz showed actual facial expression when Storm whipped up a tornado to deal with Beast.
"Cool," he said.
"I might have a crush," Willow admitted, watching the floating goddess in the sky. She seemed all powerful, extraordinary.
Of course, Scott, whose X-Men name was Cyclops, could just destroy pretty much anything with his eyes. Xander thought he was the coolest. That is until he saw Bobby throw around ice as a weapon.
"This group is really fun," Xander said, smiling.
"I feel really useless," Willow said. She dodged a tire that Buffy had effortlessly jumped over as she kicked some blue woman in the face.
"Look at the Buffster. She's having a blast," Xander observed.
They watched the unholy light in their best friend's eyes as she was physically challenged in a way that was entirely new. Sure, she couldn't throw cars, but then again, it wouldn't occur to her to try such an insane thing. The blue woman told her that her name was Mystique.
"Why are you naked?" Buffy asked. "There are children present."
"No one has never asked me that before," she said in bemusement. "I'm not ashamed of being a mutant."
"Hey, I'm all for letting your freak flag fly," Buffy said as she punched the woman, who easily dodged her hit. "But no need to be an exhibitionist. A little mystery never hurt any girl."
Buffy's words momentarily confused the woman, allowing her to get another kick to the face in.
"This is fun," Buffy said, looking over at her cousin, who wasn't very far from her.
Next, the professor somehow stimulated a Sunnydale graveyard, so the X-Men got to experience what the Scoobies did on a nightly basis.
Xander held his familiar ax while Willow and Oz stayed back with the crossbow. Buffy was surrounded by five vampires. Willow and Oz shot two.
Bobby and Kitty couldn't believe they turned to dust.
Scott couldn't believe that his cousin just used a tiny piece of wood as her weapon. Then again, it seemed to be all she needed. When a really ugly demon showed up, she used her hands to break its neck.
He smiled in pride; she was extraordinary.
She is special, Jean said in his head. He looked at her and nodded.
She really was.
All in all, it was a highly satisfying first day with their new mutant friends.
*****The Next Morning*****
It was time. Xander and Oz would find out exactly what activating their mutant gene would do to them. Dr. McCoy explained to them that although they were both werewolves, it did not mean that they would have the same reaction as the mutant gene would also result in different reactions in individuals.
The girls hugged them both, waiting anxiously to see what would happen.
*****To Be Continued*****
Okay, I hope you liked this update. Give me some ideas. Realistically, how do you see each boy evolving? Thanks! Merry Christmas!
