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Author: Jamie Rating: PG-13? Spoilers: None, Alt-Buffyverse :smile: Notes: In response to my weekly challenge #3 on the BuffySearch boards. Willow is the Slayer and Buffy is in a rock band J Who’d have thought…Okay, I took a lil inspiration from 'Walking After Midnight' by Janine...does anyone know where she went? Archiving: Slayed, otherwise just give me a yell and I’ll say yes. Setduring the gentler times of Season 1, just before ‘The Pack’. Feedback: Yes please :smile: Disclaimer: All hail Joss and the Mutant Enemies. Plus anyone else who’s bought into Buffy. I don’t own any characters, or if I do, Joss hasn’t told me yet. ----------------------- Buffy and Willow chatted as they walked leisurely down the street. Buffywas amazed at how she connected with this girl, this…Slayer. It seemed as if she could just talk and talk with her for hours, and never run out of things tosay. She also envied her in a way she’d never envied anyone before. Her speechwas so confident, no stutters, no pause for thought. She said what she meant, and Buffy was jealous at her ability to do just that. Her confidence was reflected inthe way she moved, too. She walked with a security, like she could take anyone. She probably can, Buffy thought, and suddenly felt much safer. "So the way I see it is if that they don’t wanna believe, it’s their problem." Willow said with a shrug as they walked. "It’s not their fault really Wil, I mean, I almost had a heart attack when I saw you stake that Vampire last night." Buffy replied, sticking up for the Rosenbergs for some reason. "Yeah, but at least you have the courage to face it. I mean, you’re just a normal girl, you don’t have Slayer powers or a big book or anything, but you’re fighting the good fight, and you’re not calling me a freak and stuff. Youhave no idea how much it means to me." Willow replied, Buffy had the feeling that this one gonna be one of those deep, friendship building type conversations. She really hated those type of conversations, they made her stutter. "I…I’m the one who should have the meaningful feelings." Buffy started, Willow was about to interrupt but she carried on. "I don’t really have any friends," She admitted, looking at the pavement. "I mean, sure I have people who’ll be around me if it suits them, or if they need something from me, but the only friend I have is Xander. And now, out of the blue you decide you’ll hang around with me. Ha, picture that, someone as beautiful as you, who could so easily be in Cordelia’s group of sheep, wants to hang around with me. This means…it means a lot too. Thank you." The two were in silence for a few seconds, before Willow stopped them and wrapped Buffy in a hug. Startled, it took the blonde a few moments to register what was happening, but she hugged back. After a few seconds the pair separated and carried on walking, their previous buzz of chatter resuming. In the shadows however, a grinning, demonic face melted back into the darkness. He’d just found a new weakness of the Slayer. One which could be grasped…and choked. ------------------------------- The blaring music and blinding spotlights of the Bronze greeted Buffy and Willow as they stepped through the door and past a burly looking bouncer. There was no cover charge tonight luckily, but that also meant no band, unluckily. The two girls looked around the thriving club, their eyes finally coming to rest on one of the pool tables near the back, where Xander was chalking up a cue. They walked towards the table, threading their way through the crowds like a snake through tall-grass. Buffy moved with the manner of someone who’d done this many times before, but Willow looked slightly uncomfortable in this scene, she’d lost some of that earlier confidence she had when it was just her and Buffy walking the streets. Xander looked up as the pair approached the table. "Hey," He said, bending down to line up a shot. He struck the cue ball with the cue, and the little white orb went flying into the triangle, scatteringred balls everywhere. Buffy picked up a cue from beside the table. "C’mon Willow, you and me against Xand." She said happily, handing Willow the cue. Willow looked at it with trepidation, and accepted it reluctantly. "Ohcome on," Buffy said, noticing her look. "You can’t be that bad." After that evening, Buffy vowed to never, ever say anyone ‘can’t be that bad’, ever again. The trio sat in a booth, on one of what Buffy liked to call ‘the curvysofa things’. Willow and Buffy were cradling Cokes, whilst Xander was knockingback a Sprite. "All I’m saying is, Garfield was a lot funnier when…" Xander said, but was cut off by Buffy. "Xander, stop talking about cartoons." Buffy interjected, lifting her drink to her lips and taking a sip. "So what’re you guys doing tomorrow?" Willow asked, bringing both hands up to the table to clasp her drink. "I dunno, the weather’s pretty bad." Xander replied. "Well my parents are out…again…so, anyone up for a moviefest?" The redhead asked tentatively. Buffy smiled. "Count us in," "Okay, cool. I’m gonna go dance for a while. This is what we came for, right?" "Sure, I’ll join you in a minute." Buffy said, and watched Willow walkoff onto the dance floor. "So tomorrow?" Xander asked, getting Buffy’s attention. "Tomorrow?" "Movies, popcorn…wakey wakey Buffster!" Xander said, making exaggerated hand movements in front of her face. She batted his hand away playfully. "I dunno, just bring whatever you wanna watch." Buffy said, before getting up to go to the dance floor. She got a few paces before she stopped and turned around. "And Xander?" "Yeah?" "No porn." "I know not this word you speak of!" Xander said, falling back in his seat with mock surprise and a big grin on his face. Buffy smiled at her best friend, and set off into the mass. There, in the centre, surrounded by a dancing group of guys and girls, was Willow. The little red head was dancing up a storm, swinging this way one-second and that way the next. Buffy began to let the rhythm of the song course through her, and her arms, hips, and legs responded automatically. She manoeuvred into the centre of the circle and swung around so she was back to back with Willow. "You look good," she said, just loud enough for Willow to hear. "You’re not so bad yourself. Okay, not really as good as me, but…" Willow replied, smiling. Buffy opened her mouth in mock indignation, but her face creased into a grin. She slipped her hand into Willow’s and held it abovethem, dancing all the while. They continued like that through two, three, four songs, until finally they stumbled off the dance floor and collapsed back onto the curvy sofa thing, panting and exhausted. Xander sat there whilst the two caught their breath, draining all three glasses. "What’re you bringing tomorrow, Xander?" Willow asked after a while, reaching for her glass, then noticing it was empty. She glared at the boy, who kinda shrank into himself. "I have a choice movie, one you’re all gonna love, trust me." Xander replied, his dark eyes flashing with anticipation. "I’d rather not," Buffy joked, which earned her a playful punch on thearm. She smiled, and lifted her right arm to see her watch. "Um, whoah!" She said, after looking at the two hands. Xander frowned, at looks at his watch. His eyes widened. Willow did the same, and blinked a few times. "I’m thinking we’d better call it a night." The red head said. Buffyand Xander nodded and gathered their stuff. Within a minute they were out of the noisy environment of the Bronze and into the near silent environment of the Sunnydale night, the only noise coming from the muffled music still pumpingout of the speakers from inside the club. The trio walked and laughed with each other to the end of the street, but came to a stop at the end. There in front of them, framed by shadow and darkness, were at least ten pairs of glittering yellow eyes. "Guys…get behind me," Willow said quietly, in a voice that commanded authority. A deep voice chuckled, and a massive looking Vampire walked leisurely out of the shadow, playing with a nail on his left hand. He walked for a few paces, then stopped and looked up. "Slayer," He growled, then laughed. "Howdy." "Jeez, who dressed you? Mortisha?" Willow retorted, making a big show of looking him up and down. The vampire just laughed again. "Spunky, aren’t ya? Let’s see how lippy ya are when I rip yer still beating heart from yer chest." "Wow," Willow replied. "Scary. I mean, it’s just so terrifying every single time I hear it. I’m shaking on the inside, really." "What’s going on?" Xander asked, looking around. If Willow wasn’t careful he’d panic. "Buffy, Xander, go." Willow said again in her Slayer voice. "No way, I’m not leaving you." Buffy said, taking a step forward. "Go!" Willow shouted. "Please," The vampire smiled coldly. "Stay." With that he lunged forwardwith a vicious punch aimed for Willow’s face. She blocked it easily, then let loose with a ¾ of her own. The vampire didn’t even flinch, but swiped at her again. Willow ducked and swept his legs out from underneath him. She was about to plunge her stake through his heart, when she heard Buffy screaming. She raised herself and whipped around in the blink of an eye, just in time to see Xander sprawled out on the floor, with blood trickling from a head cut, and Buffy being carried off around the corner. "Willow!" She screamed. The red head began to run, but a hand shot out from the floor and clamped on her ankle with an iron grip. Willow fell forward, and her head slammed into the pavement. She cried out involuntarily, and could taste blood in her mouth. She rolled over and kicked herself up, but she already knew that the vampire would be gone. Sure enough, she could see him retreating, along with the rest of his gang. She stared after him for a second, then ran to Xander. She brought his head up onto her lap and brushed a lock of his hairout of the cut. It wasn’t going to require stitches, but she’d need to get him to Giles. "Unnngh," he groaned, and Willow made a shushing sound. "Buffy?" He asked, opening his eyes and looking around for her, disorientated. Willow looked away. "They have her." She said quietly. She saw his face literally crumble atthe news, and he closed his eyes. "We’re getting her back." He said quietly, using the same tone as Willow had earlier. "Yes we are, but we need supplies. Can you walk?" The red head replied, helping the boy to his feet and letting him lean on her for support. "I think so." Xander replied, testing out his theory with a few steps. "Good, lets go." The two walked off into the night, to the library. Willow cursed herself over and over again for not paying attention, for not…for not protecting them properly. God, she thought. One day in my world, and I’ve already lost her. ------------- Cheers,
Jamie |