And You Know It's No Fun
by DawnBTVS
Chapter 5
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I glance up at Giles, greatly annoyed at him for stopping me from kicking Joyce's ass. I glare back at her, my energy starting to run on adrenaline already. I glance back at Buffy who's remained seated, clearly scared out of her wits. She eyes me with a look of fear. I can't believe that Joyce thinks that scaring Buffy this much could be good for her in any way. She has her arms wrapped around her waist, now closing her eyes tight. I growl softly under my breath as I turn my attention back to Joyce. She has her arms crossed over her chest. She's also wearing a pair of dark sunglasses but she pulls them off, tucking them into the back pocket of her pair of blue jeans.
"I'll kill you," I snarl, shoving Giles' arm away. He makes some protest noise but I ignore him. It's eerily quiet now. I find it almost surprising how I can't hear anything now but the pounding in my ears. I'm already imagining how to tear Joyce from limb to limb. I wish I had a machete at the moment so I could slice her grinning head off. Bitch. Joyce grins back at me, just watching me. She's standing still, not moving at all. Clearly she's anticipating me to make the first move. I'll happily oblige. I stalk forward until I'm directly in front of her. I'm roughly a half-foot shorter than her but I'm not afraid to stand up to her bullying factors. She tilts her head, giving me a good view of her chin. It takes every urge for me to not throw a punch right then, and there. Good thing too, otherwise I'd have missed what she said.
"Go ahead, sweetheart. Free shot. I'd love to see you explain to the cops how I got a bruise and you have bruised knuckles. I'm sure they could connect the dots," Joyce says, knowing full well that I know it's true. I growl, my fists still clenched, but they remain at my side. It's true but damnit how can she go around abusing Buffy without her going to jail and yet I could wind up in jail for punching her? Okay, I don't have the most sterling record when it comes to the police but still...She tilts her head back to me and crouches so she's eye level with me now. "I'm thinking an apology is in order," Joyce orders, staring at me hard. I give her a smile, clasping my hands together in an obedient gesture. I try to give her my best nice girl routine. She smiles back at me, obviously expecting an apology. I contemplate doing that for all of one second before a better thought enters my mind.
"Fuck you," I retort, mustering as much sweetness as I can. Joyce chuckles softly and shakes her head. She sighs. The slap stings and it takes me a few seconds to realize what she just did. For a moment, I'm confused as to why I'm now staring at the weapons cage but then it all snaps into place. I turn back to her, fury washing over me. I clench a fist and wind up, ready to knock Joyce out with as much force as I can humanly muster. If I'm lucky, I'll kill her with it. Giles steps between us, shoving me hard back towards Buffy. I fall onto my butt and snarl up at Giles. I scramble back to my feet, ready to charge past Giles but Buffy's voice gets my focus.
"Will," Buffy says, needing me. I walk backwards to where Buffy is, taking my seat back in front of her, fists still clenched, and trying to massage my wounded pride. It's one thing to touch Buffy, which is horrible, but to have the sheer audacity to hit me...Buffy rests a hand on my shoulder, trying to relax me. I place my hand on hers to let her know that I haven't lost all self control...yet. She pulls her hand off again as I lower my own onto my lap. Joyce rises to her full height, a little surprised at Giles' intrusion.
"Have a good day," Giles comments in a sharp tone. Joyce grins a little at him, almost disbelief crossing her face.
"Don't worry, Buffy. Mommy will make sure you're sound in the next few days. Can't really promise you on the safe part though," Joyce says with a devilish grin. I can feel Buffy's hand gripping my shoulder so hard that her nails are digging through my t-shirt and into my shoulder. I don't bother to voice my discomfort to her however. I still have half a mind to charge Joyce and just smash her face so they can't put her back together again in plastic surgery. She gives a small smirk, turns on her heel, and casually walks out the door. Giles walks back over to us, crouching down to inspect my cheek. I turn my eyes away, jaw clenched. I hate being seen suffering. Giles retires to his office but returns with a camera. I glance at him wearily. I can hear Buffy's breathing slowing down a bit but it's still fairly quicker than normal.
"Now's not the time for childhood memories, Giles," I grumble at him. He gives me a stern look, taking a picture of my cheek.
"It's not for posterity, although I guess it could be construed as such. I'll be sure to send the picture to a couple contacts in England," Giles answers. I stare at him incredulously. Buffy's hand has loosened a bit however it still has a firm grip on my shoulder.
"What? Resorting to shopping me around now?" I ask in disbelief. Giles shakes his head as I feel Buffy resting her chin on my shoulder. She blows softly into my ear, making me instinctively shiver at the cold sensation. She grabs my ear with her teeth. My eyes widen in surprise and the blush starts growing. Buffy releases her teeth as Giles frowns at us. I lower my eyes in embarrassment although I could tell that it was Buffy's way of letting me know that she was dealing.
"Sorry," whispers Buffy sheepishly. I can feel her blush without even having to look at her.
"Forgetting that moment for now, no, it's not meant to shop you around, as you put it. I have a few friends back in England who could be called problem solvers. There isn't much physical harm," Giles says. I frown upon hearing that, greatly disappointed, "but they do make sure that the message gets across loud and clear. Your mother shouldn't be a problem anymore after my colleagues are finished," Giles says with a grim smile.
"Thanks," Buffy whispers, the comment meant for me as much as it was intended for Giles. I squeeze Buffy's hand as a sign of acknowledgement. Giles nods and returns to his office as Buffy leans back off me. I turn to face her, rubbing my hand over my cheek where I can feel the handprint almost rising out.
"Can't wait until Cordy and Xander get a hold of this," I mutter with disgust. Buffy tentatively reaches a hand towards my cheek. I lower my hand. She touches the cheek softly, pulling her hand back as if it were bitten. She bites her lip and I can see she's trying to be strong for me.
"I didn't mean to get you hurt, Will," Buffy whispers. I see a couple tears slide down as I shake my head quickly. I press my lips against her cheek to kiss the falling tears away and then pull back.
"That was nothing, Buffy. You should've seen the time the cops had to beat me down with a nightstick after I refused to go to jail for uh...an incident that you shouldn't hear about...ever," I say, blushing a little. Buffy gives me a look of curiosity but I just smile back, not willing to go into the details of that story. Needless to say, I had a good limp for a couple weeks. "She'll get her comeuppance anyway. I just wish I could've been the one enforcing it though," I growl softly. Buffy gives me a small smile in return.
"Right," Buffy says, nodding her head, but not looking terribly positive. I contemplate heading into Giles' office and asking if I can witness the colleagues ripping Mrs. Summers apart in whatever manner they do it. I look up a little startled as Giles exits his office, coming towards us. For a moment, I think he read my thoughts.
"I contacted Lilly and Phillip and both have agreed to come down and sort out matters. I told them a brief version of the events that have happened since your arrival, Buffy. They told me the picture wasn't necessary," Giles states. I smirk back at him.
"Awww...they didn't want to see hot ol' me?" I ask in a bad Texan drawl with a giggle, even going so far as to bat my eyelashes. Buffy shoves me lightly from behind. I smile back at her, earning an eye roll. Giles just sighs, probably wondering why I bother to test him so. I nod my head at him so he can continue with his speech.
"They are scheduled to arrive tomorrow morning at the latest. Your mother owns an art gallery, correct?" Giles asks Buffy. Buffy looks back at him in concern, evidently wondering how far they would be willing to go. I'd be in jail for murder myself...although I'm sure the DA would be able to get me out of lethal injection. I hope at least since I really am not a fan of needles. Just hearing that I'm going to the doctor is enough to make me squirm in discomfort.
"They won't burn it down, will they?" Buffy asks in a small voice. Giles gives a surprised cough and shakes his head in shock.
"Heavens no, Buffy. It's just that if your mother isn't home, it'd be best to accost her at her workplace," Giles explains. Buffy silently nods her head. I can tell she's a little conflicted over this, seeing as it is her mother after all. I rise to my feet, grabbing Buffy's hand.
"We should get to class. As for the slap, I'm pretty sure most of the students will assume that I got into another fight again. I'm a bit of a troublemaker despite my genius IQ," I inform Buffy. She smiles at me, nodding her head.
"I noticed a few times. That certain afternoon was clearly the biggest glimpse of course. Some night, you'll have to regale me with tales of your bad deeds. Especially that cop thing. They beat you with a nightstick?" Buffy asks me incredulously. I smirk at her as I heft my book bag onto my shoulder. I notice Buffy lifting her book bag onto her shoulder with her bad arm helping keep it in place. I barely suppress my grin at seeing her arm getting back into use.
"I was being naughty," I tease, sticking my tongue out at her. She captures it with her lips. I hear Giles mutter a British curse but tune him out, mind focused on Buffy lips. We exit the library, just breaking the kiss off in time as Xander and Cordelia pass us by. I glare at them. They glare back but don't say anything this time. I feel Buffy tense a little bit next to me, but relax when they disappear out of sight. Buffy intertwines her hand in mine as we head to English.