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Date Posted: 22:55:30 07/17/02 Wed
Author: UHC
Subject: Bonded (Chapter 7)

Title: Bonded (7/7)
Author: Andrew Craig
E-mail: fifan@s...
Rating: say PG-14 same as the show
Disclaimer: The characters do not belong to me. They belong to
Joss Whedon and some suits. If they belonged to me Buffy and
Xander would be acting more like Angel and Cordy. In a good
way.
This story is still mine though.
Feedback: Please.
Category: B/X , love triangles to follow.
Summary: There are more players in the game then just Good
and Evil. Buffy is about to find that out the hard way.
-----
Buffy was beginning to feel lost. How big was this place anyway?
What with running down a seemingly endless series of hallways
Buffy was swiftly loosing all affection for large homes. Couldn't
these guys have set up shop in a studio apartment like normal
people? Or at least hung up signs saying `would be hero with a
death wish this a way'. But no, these guys aren't just evil
they are
downright rude. Bastards.
Buffy was moving so fast she almost had trouble stopping when
she ran smack into the ballroom. Looked like a ballroom
anyway. Big as a skating rink, ceiling so high you could sky dive
off it, bad neo-classical murals everywhere. Further proof that
whoever owned this place had not one shred of taste. Evil and
tacky, what a horrifying combination. In a room so vast it was
almost possible to miss the guy standing in the center. Well, if it
wasn't her replacement jailer. The one who wanted a fight. Oh
Joy.
"Slay-er. Took you long enough. Ready to dance?"
"Don't suppose you would be willing to get out of my way so I can
go save a friend?"
"Afraid not."
"Then let's just skip the good guy – bad guy banter crap and
get
down to me beating the hell out of you. That sound ok?"
"As my lady commands."
Without another word he started to change. Shape changers and
their ilk were nothing new to Buffy, having Oz around had made
such transformations almost ordinary. This was nothing like Oz.
It looked less like his form was shifting then something living
beneath his skin was trying to rip it's way out. The human form
was torn asunder as something a lot more menacing broke free.
A few years ago Buffy probably would have just stood there are
watched the change. After being dead twice little things like a guy
turning into something big and harry didn't faze her. Buffy went
at
him full throttle delivering a jump kick that threw the man-beast
back a good ten feet. It didn't put him down though.
Shaking off the last bits of humanity the creature stood to it's
full
height. Almost twice as tall as Buffy and about ten times as
heavy it looked like the spawn of a werewolf and a insane gorilla.
Ugly sucker, the oversized teeth and drool didn't make it any
friendlier. Then there were the wings. Leathery, bat like wings
that stretched out from the monsters back. Big f'in wings.
"Please let those be decorative."
With a powerful flap the beast took to the air.
"Oh crap."

…..

This was not going well. Xander had been getting pretty good
with a sword but this guy was so far out of his league it wasn't
even funny. So far he had managed to block every blow but that
was taking every bit of skill he could muster. Actually getting in an
attack was out of the question. The fact that Keln looked to be
toying with him wasn't helping. He was only using one blade for
attacking, leaving the other strictly for defensive maneuvers. If
this was playing around he was dead once this guy got serious.
Well if he was going out it was not going to be without a fight.
Xander twisted his parry into a lunge, forcing his opponent to
give ground. Keln blocked and their blades grated against each
other. Taking a move from an old pirate film Xander raced
Dawn's blade down the other sword in an attempt to slash
Keln's sword hand. His foe pulled out of the way but left a brief
opening. That was all Xander needed.
Switching to a two handed grip Xander bore down on Keln's
exposed neck. That he was trying to decapitate another human
meant nothing in the heat of battle. Keln brought the defending
sword up in time to save his head but neither of them expected
what happened next. Dawn crashed through her opponent
leaving Keln holding little more than a shattered stump.
"Yes! Take that creep!"
"Dawn! Not now."
Keln looked shocked but not entirely unpleased.
"So you still remember a few tricks. Good. I was afraid this would
be boring."
He tossed away the broken hilt and took a dueling stance.
"Funny thing about that girl, no matter what form she takes there
never seems to be a lack of men willing to die for her."
"I'm not going to die for Buffy, you are."
Xander hissed out the words with a confidence he didn't feel. No,
there was no room for doubt. He was going to win somehow,
Buffy was depending on him.
Knocking Keln down to a single blade helped somewhat, he
was obviously not used to fighting without his twin swords. As
they rained down steel at each other Xander felt part of him relax.
He could feel the much needed skill flow from Dawn into him. It
was enough to almost bring him up to par. With Keln's handicap
they were an even match. It wasn't enough.

They could go like this for hours, blocking and parrying each
others attacks. The long run would favor the experienced fighter
and in this battle it wasn't Xander. Add to that Buffy could be
in all
kind of trouble. He had to find a way to end this fast. What looked
like a week spot presented itself and Xander took the opening.
When his blade reached what should have been Keln's gut he
touched only air. Gone. Vanished. The bastard had run aw….
"Xander! Behind you!"
He spun in time to see the blade coming at him but it was too
close, he couldn't dodge it.
The next instant he felt the sword graze by his side, somehow he
had moved out of the way. No, he hadn't moved Dawn. The
warpblade. She must have moved him. Keln looked irritated but
not surprised. Must be one of her usual tricks. An edge at last.
"Did I do that?"
"I think so."
"Cool. Now let's kick his ass."
This might actually work. Xander stabbed forward and at the last
second Dawn moved him just a few inches to the left, bypassing
Keln's defense. Experience and superior reflexes saved the
swordsman but Dawn's blade still nicked him. He
counterattacked but Dawn shifted out Xander out of harms way.
The tide was turning, with each exchange Xander was wearing
Keln down while avoiding harm himself. He was going to win. So
why was Keln smiling? And why was he suddenly getting so
tired?

Then it hit him, every little jump was draining energy out of him.
Whatever powers Dawn had either they were using them wrong
or they were never meant to be used with such frequency. Hell. It
was getting hard to even raise his arm.
"Xander? I don't feel so good."
"Hold on Dawn. We'll take this creep down."
Keln's smile grew even colder.
"I doubt it."
The next thrust came straight at Xander's heart. He didn't
have
the strength to get his sword up in time or even just move out of
the way. He could feel the strain coming from Dawn, she was
trying to save him but her reserves were gone as well. A sense
of vertigo overcame him as Keln's blade cut along Xander's
ribs.
Dawn must have found enough strength to move him just
enough to prevent the killing blow. She couldn't do it twice
though.

Xander couldn't even feel the pain, all his attention was focused
on the sword that was about to end his life. He couldn't let it
end
like this, if he died here then both Buffy and Dawn would pay for
his failure. He was not going to let them die. Not now, not ever.
He was not going to die. HE WAS NOT GOING TO DIE!

Something exploded in Xander's head, his vision ran red and all
he could feel was the throbbing agony lacing through his skull.
With what consciousness that remained Xander saw the
advancing blade stop. Keln's arm was thrown back, his body
held still as if gripped by an invisible fist. He may have been
barely standing but Xander knew a last chance when he saw
one.

Depression fueled strength powered Xander's arm as he drove
Dawn's blade into Keln's chest with a final lunge. His
foe's
sword clattered to the ground as Dawn slipped between his ribs.
Keln's head lashed back and a final gurgle escaped his lips
before some force ripped his limp body from Xander's sword
and threw him backwards across the room.
That was the last thing Xander saw as Dawn fell from his hand
and he collapsed into blissful, pain-free unconsciousness.

…..

A flying werewolf-demon-bat type thing. Buffy silently promised
herself never to complain about yet another vampire again.
Sometimes variety is very, very bad. Particularly when it comes in
the form of a howling monster that wants to eat your head. And
again with the no weapon. What she wouldn't give for a sword or
a stake, a butter knife, hell even a damn toothpick.

That line of thought was cut short by the need to duck an
oversized claw. This thing was huge but on the slow side so
keeping her skin intact wasn't the biggest problem. Between the
flying and all that fur putting the hurt on him was going to be
tricky. Where was something long and sharp when she needed
it?

Buffy grabbed for a wing, trying to take away it's airborne
mobility,
but it was out of her reach. Darn genetics, you would think when
a girl was destined to be the Slayer they would cut her some
slack in the height department. That missed opportunity left her
open to a raking slash from the flying beast that came close
enough to slice her blouse. Buffy swung back but again it lifted
up and out of the way. This approach was getting her nowhere.
Time to stop thinking in two dimensions.

Taking off running the way she had come in Buffy could hear the
sound of wings close on her tail. Good, right where she wanted
him. As the door drew closer Buffy veered left and took a running
leap at the wall. Well honed leg muscles shifted position as her
feet impacted the wall, turning and pushing her off into a flying
tackle aimed straight towards the hovering monster. Buffy
grabbed hold of one oversized arm and held on tight while
driving both knees hard into it's ribcage.

A monster it may have been but it was also mortal and needed to
breathe, the force of Buffy's blow knocked the wind from it's
lungs leaving the beast momentarily stunned. Buffy used that
moment to move herself into a less vulnerable position, flipping
around onto the creatures back and yanking hard on it's ears. It
felt that. The vibrations from the beasts howl of pain and rage
almost knocked Buffy loose but she held tight. No
walking…er…flying rug was going to get the best of her.

The thing was flying erratically now, thrashing about in an
attempt to throw it's rider. It was behaving like a wounded
animal, whatever human logic the man possessed had been
traded for bestial power. Not a good trade off against someone
with Buffy's combat instincts. She pulled herself forward,
digging
her fingers into the creature's eyes. That worked. The pain and
blindness sent the creature hurling wildly towards the wall, Buffy
let go just in time to avoid becoming a grease spot as it
impacted head first. She rolled with the fall, landing one her feet.
The creature hadn't been so lucky, the wall was cracked and
bloody where it had hit. That should have been enough but Buffy
was in no mood to chance it. The instant the beast hit ground
she was on top of it, beating hard on it's temples before the
monster could recover. It was only when sticky black blood clung
to her knuckles that Buffy pulled back. Enough time wasted, she
had a friend to save.

"Slay-er…next time then…"

A quick glance told Buffy everything she needed to know. The
beginnings of a glow around the now human body and the
waves of heat rising from his fallen form. Her well worn survival
instincts said this would be a good time to get gone. She was
out the door running when the outer edge of the explosion
singed her back. Buffy didn't even look back.

………

Xander was only out for a matter of seconds, the pain wouldn't
let him sleep. Aside from the anvil beating against his head the
first thing he realized is that he was crying. Liquid was streaming
from his eyes but when he tried to brush it away the tears turned
out to be blood. Oh crap. Whatever he did had quite the price. It
worked though, Xander could see Keln's still body laying across
the room. He had killed someone, not a vampire but a living
being. So why didn't he feel anything? What was bothering him
was…
"Dawn."
He couldn't feel her in his head anymore. As he turned to look
for
his partner Xander saw why. Dawn, human and unconscious
way laying not three feet from him. Lacking the strength to get up
Xander pulled himself over to her and held Dawn tightly against
him.. She was breathing regularly thank God. As if responding to
his closeness her eyes flickered open.
"Xander? My head hurts."
"Mine too Dawnie. We won though."
"Yea us. Did you do that last trick or was it me?"
"Both of us I think. Probably why we're both drained."
"I didn't think being super-girl was going to be so painful. How
does Buffy do it?"
"Slayer stamina and a stubborn streak a mile wide. You going to
be ok Dawn?"
"After about a week worth of sleep. Can we not do this again
anytime soon? I renounce my plans for misuse of power, no new
audio system is worth this."
"Can't rest quite yet Dawn, still got to find Buffy."
"Can't I go back to being the helpless victim? It's so much
less
stressful a job."
"Nope. You're a full fledged Scooby now. So up and at um."
"I can do `up' but `at um' is right out."
Xander got to his feet without much grace but still, he made it. In
this shape that was quite the accomplishment. He gave Dawn a
hand up and she promptly fell right into him. Pressed up against
each other she looked up into his face.
"You're bleeding."
"I ain't got time to bleed."
"Don't be an idiot Xander, let me wipe that off you."
"Now you sound like your sister."
"Take that back if you know what's good for you."
Dawn pulled out a tissue and tried to wipe away the mostly dried
blood tiers but only succeeded in making his face look like even
more of a mess.
"Darn. Sorry."
"Thanks for the effort anyway Dawn."
"Then can I at least make you feel a bit better?"
Dawn stood on tip-toes to bring her face up to his, without
conscious thought Xander bent down to meet her lips half-way. It
should have been just a quick peck but as their lips touched
Xander pulled Dawn in tighter so they could kiss for real. No
bombs exploded or bells went off, but both of them felt the heat
when they touched. The warm greeting of old lovers rather than
the tentative first kiss they had expected. Dawn's lips were soft
and warm, Xander almost lost himself in them before sanity
returned. He was kissing Dawn. He was kissing Buffy's little
sister. What the hell was he doing? Why didn't he want to stop?

They pulled back and looked at each other, smiles slightly
askew.
"So."
"Right."
"We should go find Buffy now."
"That would be the prudent thing."
Together they took off at as much of a run as was possible given
their condition. In their rush neither of them noticed that
Keln's
hand was starting to twitch.

Up the stairs, down three corridors, no Buffy in sight. Xander was
about to damn the risk and start shouting her name when he
almost crashed right into the Slayer.
"Xander!"
"Buffy!"
"You're safe!"
"You too!"
Then she slapped him.
"How many times are you going to do this to me? Stop trying to
be hero, what would I do if you got yourself killed trying to rescue
me?"
Buffy looked up at him, tears beginning to well up in her eyes
before pulling Xander into a bone-crushing embrace.
"Sorry Buffy. I had to do something."
"Idiot."
"Ya but I'm you're idiot. Like it or not you're stuck
with me."
"You're bleeding."
"Well we ran into a little trouble in our rescue attempt."
"We?"
It was then that Buffy saw Dawn standing behind him looking
very much the worse for wear. The hug got a little tighter and a
whole lot less friendly.
"Xander, why did you bring my little sister into a den of
psycho's?"
"It's complicated Buff, Dawn helped me find you and well…she
saved my neck. I'll give you the details latter when I don't
hurt
quite so much."
"This had better be good."
"It is but it's kind of one of those very long stories so we
should
do the running thing now and the talking thing once we are far,
far away."
"If it was anyone but you Xander I'd be putting my fist through
your face right now you know that don't you?"
"Thanks for the vote of confidence but after the go round with
sword boy I don't want to meet the rest of the gang. Can we run
away now?"
Buffy studied him, then Dawn. Finally she smiled.
"Slayers don't run but maybe a strategic retreat would be in
order. Shall we?"
They grasped hands and ran as fast as their legs would carry
them.

…….

An old sweat suit was far from glamorous apparel but they were
just right for the mood Buffy was in. The ruined scraps of her new
outfit were now part of the rag pile under the sink but such was a
Slayers lot in life. A comfortable spot on the couch while Xander
put together some munchies for a night if front of the idiot set.
Dull, boring and just what she needed.
Dawn was passed out in her room and didn't look to be waking
any time soon. Buffy had been skeptical of their story until
she'd
been introduced to Gwen. So she was now sister to a talking
sword. Weird, but Dawn looked to be cool with it. Heck, she
seemed almost happy about it. There were probably all sorts of
weird complications that would come from this but right now
Buffy was firmly in denial. Everyone was home safe and sound,
the bad guys had got what they had coming. For right now that
was more than enough. Worry could come latter. Like all the
things Keln had said about who she was, he was probably lying.
Firmly in denial Buffy was not going to deal with that right now.

"Prepare yourself Buffy, the snacks have landed."
Xander exited the kitchen bearing a try of chips and salsa.
"So, what'd you bring a hungry girl?"
"Blue corn chips and watermelon salsa."
"Wow. I have exotic type food in my kitchen?"
"No, actually I stashed this here last week for just such an
occasion."
"You planned to celebrate our victory over other-dimensional
losers?"
"Yep. Prepared guy aren't I?"
"Get that food over here, your Slayer commands it."
"So now you admit you're mine."
"Less banter more snacking."
Xander chuckled and brought the try to his hungry friend. This
evening was off to a good start. He sat down next to her and
grabbed up a handful of chips.
"Hey, don't hog the food, I need to rebuild my strength."
"Your not the only one in need of substance, I'm wounded over
here remember."
"You'll live."
"Easy for someone with Slayer healing to say."
"It grazed your ribs, you'll be fine. Trust me, I know injury."
"Dang woman, what a guy got to do ta impress you?"
"Was that supposed to be `street' Xander?"
"Not me?"
"Not even close."
"So what does it take."
"Keep being yourself. So far you're doing fine. Just because I
don't need rescuing much doesn't mean I don't need my
friends.
I wouldn't have made it past the first year without you guys."
"Well I'd be worm-food or a vamp without you so I guess we're
even."
"Xander?"
"Ya?"
"If you want to be a hero then maybe you could do something for
me."
"Anything."
"Mind if I take some time out form the heroine business?"
"How so?"
"I just need some time out from the pressure of it all. Worrying all
the time. So how about just for the next couple of hours I just quit.
You be the hero if the world needs saving and I'll just be Buffy
Summers, girly girl."
"Ok, but what if I get attached to being the hero and can't give
the
title back?"
"I'll take the risk."
Buffy curled her legs underneath her and snuggled up to Xander,
nestling her head on his chest. He wrapped an arm around her
and brought the chip bowl to within her reach. Buffy grabbed a
handful and beamed up at her friend.
"My hero."

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