Carcass *Chapter 11 up on 3/01*
by DawnBTVS
Congregation
Buffy must have been really disgruntled with my, judging by her actions last night. I stopped by a local pub and grabbed a quick beer before coming back. I wanted to see if I could get intoxicated as a vampire, and it let me drink a girl under the table for $25. She looked all of 100 lbs and she had several beers before my arrival. I returned home to find Buffy sleeping on the bed. I quickly stripped to my jeans and a bra and slid in next to her. Evidently, Buffy was reneging on her promise to let me sleep in the same bed as her. She climbed out and laid down where I had been sleeping for the past few nights. I growled at her in annoyance but she ignored me. I let her sleep on the floor, figuring it would be better to let her get the anger out of her system now.
I'm not sure why I woke up. It was daytime and judging by the position of the clock, it was only 10 in the morning. Not exactly the usual time a vampire wakes up but I was awake so I figured I'd go downstairs and try to comfort Buffy. I woke up a bit more and noticed recognizable smells instantly. Xander, Faith, Giles, and Dawn were also in the house. Probably downstairs with Buffy doing whatever it is they are doing. Then I remember Giles wanting a talk and not wanting me involved. I let out a soft growl as I throw the blankets off, making sure to scan the floor for any spots of sunlight to avoid. I picked up the habit that I'd be safe in the shadows from when Spike would drop by to annoy us all during the daytime. I throw on a white top and head down the stairs.
"Clandestine meeting to avoid the blood drinker. I should've staked her," Faith snarls to somebody as I quietly go down the steps one by one. I pause on the fourth step down, just listening.
"Faith," Buffy warns but Xander interjects.
"She's right, Buffy. Willow's a full on demon now," Xander remarks. I remain focused on the conversation. Dawn being so quiet doesn't surprise me that much.
"Although she's a demon and I believe, in my history of training in the Watcher's Council that she should be staked, I'd be remiss to say that what Xander has said is the truth. She may be a full demon however she still maintains feelings that are stronger than those she felt as a human. Any pent up negativity that she held in will likely come forth now that Willow doesn't need to worry about a conscience," Giles comments. I smile a little, surprised that the Watcher's sticking up for me, somewhat at least. I know he'd join the line of 'let's stake Willow' if I did anything harmful towards Buffy.
"She's a vampire, Giles. Like Angel and I never liked him in the first place either. Remember how that worked out, Buffy?" Xander asks with sarcasm. I take a couple more steps down but pause again when I pick up Buffy's increasing heartbeat. Her pulse is also racing. She's angry.
"This is nothing like that," Buffy states. I feel a slight concern at that comment. Is this...not real? Is she just using me? "I'll always love Angel and yes, he was a vampire, but he had a soul," Buffy answers. Now Faith is joining in on the act.
"I seem to remember him getting his soul back and pretty much destroying your life," Faith comments coolly. I hear Buffy let out a low growl.
"You weren't even there," Buffy snarls back. I listen as Giles coughs, trying to get Buffy's attention probably.
"He did torture me for pleasure as well as other...unspeakable acts. If Willow reaches that level, Buffy, we can't let her do what Angel did. She doesn't have a soul to revert her," Giles states. Time for my entrance as I leap over the railing, landing on my feet. I glance back at the two bottom steps bathed in sunlight. Wasn't even going to attempt it. I walk into the room, hands stuck in my pockets, and a small smile. Buffy looks up at me in surprise. Faith and Xander are seated on chairs across from Buffy. Giles is seated next to them. Dawn's sitting beside Buffy, her jaw dropped at my appearance.
"You're awake?" Dawn asks. Faith snarls softly under her breath. I shoot a glare at her before returning my attention to Dawn. I nod my head.
"Yup. Found myself woken up and noticed a few guests in the home. Figured I'd join the circus," I reply, glancing at Giles. He looks a little angry at my appearance but I don't really care. I take a seat on the floor between Buffy's legs. I lift my head back so I'm looking at her upside down. I'm grinning. She blushes slightly as I tilt my head back to stare at the interrogation gang. "So, what's the news? Gonna stake me yet or have I not reached that level?" I ask with a smirk. I don't get a response.
"Willow, you probably shouldn't be here," Buffy whispers. I frown and turn my head to her this time, shifting my body slightly although I guess straining my neck wouldn't be much of a pain.
"Why?" I ask, slightly angry at not being apart of this. Buffy sighs quietly.
"She should stay, Buffy. It can't hurt right?" Dawn asks. I give Buffy my best pleading dog eyes. She glances up at Giles, giving me silent permission to stay. I smile and turn my attention to Giles, figuring he has something important to say.
"I've received word from Angel and Spike that they will be arriving here shortly. Evidently they have uncovered a tomb about six feet that they'll also be bringing," Giles comments. Great...
"Can't they just work on it at Wolfram and Hart with their legion of scientists?" Buffy asks. Xander and Faith share a look. They've never been to Wolfram and Hart. Lucky them.
"They said that they wanted me to look at it specifically. The scientists that were working on it started dying mysteriously," Giles replies.
"Great. Send the King Tut curse to us," Xander quips. Faith smiles at him and gets a smile in return. I send a disgusted sneer at them. How could Xander possibly see anything in Faith? Then again, he dated Cordelia and Anya so I shouldn't try to figure him out anymore.
"Any idea what language it is?" I pipe up. Giles looks at me, as if studying me for a few moments before answering.
"They wouldn't tell me. If you have a way of translating it, I'll be sure to request your services," Giles answers. I can feel Buffy tense behind me.
"Where are they going to sleep?" Buffy asks, clearly pondering the dilemma. Faith shoots a smirk at me.
"They could sleep in your room, seeing as how they both have done so in the past," Faith answers snidely. I let out a growl and begin to rise to my feet but Buffy places a hand on my shoulder, and firmly pushes me back down.
"I don't seem to recall you as being a member of my household, Faith. I guess I can see if I can set up something in the basement," Buffy resigns. Faith looks a little put off at Buffy's comment. Xander is looking somewhat torn at comforting Faith or agreeing with Buffy. Typical. He never could decide on important matters.
"So is that coffin thing holding a demon, or what?" Xander asks Giles. I'm getting slightly bored and feeling the need to talk to Buffy personally. I lean back, trying to get slightly more comfortable. I hear a sharp intake of breath behind me and I can't help but smirk to myself.
"I can't say with any certainty at the moment. They should be arriving tonight, around midnight or so. I think it'd be best if Willow was to greet them so as to allow the proper sleep for you, Buffy," Giles says. Was that an insult? It's not like I keep Buffy awake at night although I'm sure I could find ways.
"Sure," Buffy answers. Xander and Faith decide that it's the proper time to leave, get up, and don't even both to acknowledge us when they walk by. Buffy tries to stand up over me, giving me a nice shot of her crotch before she steps sideways to my right. I frown as I push myself up, and hissing at the brief pain in the back of my neck telling me that sunlight's hit it. I bump into Buffy who moves forward towards Giles, getting my message. Dawn snickers at me as I shoot her a small smile. What can I say? Dawn's the only one who hasn't declared that she wants to stake me.
"I'll call you tomorrow," Buffy says. Giles nods his head and steps by, maneuvering around me without a word. Buffy and I exchange a glance as Giles opens the door and walks out. I do a tiny dance step to avoid the sunlight sweeping in through the front door. I snarl at Giles as the door clicks shut.
"Can we talk?" I ask Buffy, grabbing her arm, and not really waiting for an answer. I look at Dawn and gesture my head. She gives me a smirk and heads upstairs, promising to wear headphones to drown out our sorrowful confessions to one another. I vamped out to make her go. I turn my attention back to Buffy who's wearing an admonishing look. I try my best innocent expression after reverting to my human guise.
"Did you have to do that?" Buffy chides me. I nod my head but don't comment verbally.
"What happened last night?" I ask, wanting to know why Buffy wouldn't sleep where I slept. I know we still have the cold barrier to work through, although I'm sure Buffy's used to that, but she seemed overly pissed about my actions.
"I had to do some thinking. I understand you never liked Faith. We need them on our side though, especially if something comes out of that tomb that we aren't prepared to handle. I can't protect you and fight at the same time."
"I can handle myself, Buffy," I reply with a smile. "I haven't been all hugs and kisses since I got back but you don't need to worry about protecting me."
"I know, Will, but if you keep this up, sooner or later something's going to break. I don't want you continuously making enemies just because you didn't have the guts to say this when you were human," Buffy comments. I arch an eyebrow at her over the comment. Didn't have the guts? I give her a slightly puzzled look.
"What exactly are you telling me here?" I ask, wondering what the hell Buffy meant. I had the guts. Does she not remember when I went all veiny? I totally had the guts then.
"Just...be careful who you espouse the truth to, okay. You've already made Faith and Xander distrusting of you. Giles, being a Watcher, doesn't exactly trust you either. Right now, you only have Dawn and I. I want you on your best behavior when Spike and Angel arrive," Buffy states. I frown at her now, deeply not pleased with that. It's...Spike though.
"Oh, come on," I grumble. Buffy stares hard at me as I roll my eyes back at her. "Whatever," I mutter, trying to sidestep her so I can go back to bed. Buffy impedes my path and physically presses me against the wall, forearm pressed just above my breasts. I give Buffy a smirk, not minding the physicality one bit.
"Willow! Just humor me, this one time," Buffy asks. I stare at her, almost disbelief that she's even attempting to ask this of me.
"He tried to rape you," I growl back. Buffy looks away but keeps her forearm pinning me against the wall.
"He changed," Buffy whispers. I give a derisive snort in disgust.
"I'm not going to bend over backwards to play nice to Spike...or Angel for that matter. Both guys have made attempts to kill me or at least threaten me with violent death," I say. I can feel Buffy's grip loosening. I softly shove her forearm away so I can stand on my feet again. I'm keeping a cautious eye on the sunlight too.
"So, are you going to piss them off so they will want to stake you too? Is that the idea?" Buffy asks angrily. I glare at her, getting annoyed with her attitude.
"What is your problem, Buffy?" I ask in annoyance. Buffy stares at me but it's not a hard stare, rather a stare of concern.
"I'm not just concerned about your safety, although I am, Willow. If you keep pissing people off, they'll come after you-" Buffy starts.
"So?" I cut her off, earning a repeat of Buffy pinning me against the wall with her forearm. I roll my eyes, getting bored of finding myself in this situation now. Buffy's eyes are boring into me.
"They'll come after us, too. I can't put Dawn in that path," Buffy whispers. I lock eyes with her, finally getting why Buffy's been so annoyed with me over this.
"Okay. I'll try to stop pissing everybody off. Only because Dawn could get hurt though but if anybody antagonizes me, I'm not taking it," I say. Buffy nods her head, releasing her forearm from my chest for a second time.
"Thanks," she whispers softly. I nod my head and glance at the stairs.
"I'm going to get some more sleep. Make sure I'm awake for tonight," I say, gesturing towards the stairs. Buffy nods her head before throwing her arms around in a hug. I'm a little confused at the sudden reaction but I'll take it. I grin to myself.
"Will!" Buffy yelps, jumping from me. Guess I should've made a slower route to her ass. I give a playful smirk as Buffy gives me a look that shows she's annoyed with me but it soon falters into a small grin. "Go to sleep. I'll make sure there's some blood when you wake up," Buffy says. I frown at the thought of having to drink the bagged blood. Even with the chocolate, it wasn't the best thing in the world. I mutter a few things as I walk up the stairs that I'm sure Buffy hears but she doesn't comment.