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Date Posted: 18:16:08 07/01/02 Mon
Author: Fanfic
Subject: Bonded (Chapter 4)

Here you go, More fun with no spike around to make the show suck. *wink*

Title: Bonded (4/7)
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 poor Buffy
would be treated a lot better. Down with Buffy torture!
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.

This one is the calm before the storm.

..........

Sometimes having a small lead can be worse than having
nothing at all to go on. Hour after hour of pouring through mystic
texts had yet produce a match for the symbol Buffy had seen the
night before. Xander was feeling dumb, six years of being
research boy meant he must have seen this sign at one time or
another. So why couldn't he find it now when so much was on
the line. He'd like to think it was all about saving lives but
when
Xander glanced at Buffy's face he couldn't deny what made
this
so personal. The mounting frustration was killing Buffy, her
mood flashing between retrained rage and near tears. If they
didn't get a break soon Buffy might just break herself.
Willow didn't look a lot better, the way she listlessly flicked
the
pages spoke of someone whose mind was elsewhere.
Something with her and Tara maybe? She was normally
attached to Willow's side but not so much the last week or so.
Tara had been good for Willow and her absence was felt by
everyone. A break up was not what the group needed right now.
Watching two of his favorite girls in emotional turmoil was not
healthy so Xander managed bury himself in books until the
smell of jasmine announced Tara's arrival. The shy blonde
never used perfume, or much of any other makeup, but the
distinctive sent of her favorite incense was hard to mistake.
"So what are we looking for today?"
Tara had started to take the seat near Willow when Xander
caught her arm.
"Can I talk to you a second. In private?"
"S-sure. No trouble at all."
The young witch appeared a little bit confused and Xander was
hard pressed to blame her. They were friends but not the type
who had secret conversations. Truthfully it was something of an
impulse on Xander's part. One too many problems he couldn't
deal with, maybe he should try and help with something a little
closer to home.
They had just reached the back room when Tara turned and
addressed him.
"This is about Willow and me isn't it?"
Perceptive isn't she folks? Tara was a pretty girl but it her
kind
heart and sharp mind that made her a good match for Willow.
Xander made a silent prayer this would turn out to be nothing.
"You two aren't as close as you used to be. You're my
friends,
I'm worried about you."
"That's sweet of you Xander. We aren't breaking up, it's
just that
we are going through a rough patch right now. Part of being a
couple I guess."
"This have anything to do with magic?"
Score one for the Xander-man. Tara looked away.
"Magic is a dangerous thing Xander, after we brought Buffy back
Willow has been trying to use magic to fix everything. We had a
fight and she promised to cut back on spells. So far I think she is
doing alright but not using the power still hurts sometimes.
That's why we moved out, when Willow is near Buffy she feels
the need to be magic girl. I'm trying to remind her that she is
special just being Willow."
Ah. So. The lure of power, Xander could relate. The need to be
more than just a sidekick to Buffy was something he understood
more than he wanted to.
"You're a great lady you know that Tara? Will is lucky to have
you
looking out for her."
Tara blushed and looked at his shoes. The girl still had
problems taking a complement. The natural shyness just made
her even cuter.
"Willow is my oldest friend Tara, don't think you have to handle
this all on your own. You need a hand getting Will back on the
straight and narrow just give a call and I'll come a running.
That
sound ok to you?"
She still wasn't looking him in the eyes so Xander gently tipped
up her chin and brushed a stray lock of hair from her face. Much
better.
"Ok pretty lady?"
"Are you flirting with me Xander?"
"Maybe."
"Hate to break your heart but I'm a one woman girl."
"If you ever re-consider promise to give me a call?'
"Promise. If I ever decide to give boys another shot you're at
the
top of my list."
"Now that we have that settled, think you can use some of that
witchy wit to give us a hand? This symbol is driving us nuts."
……..

Buffy was quite shocked when Tara recognized the marking right
off. Symbols of evil seemed to be outside the knowledge base
for a good witch.
"Chaos Script."
"You sure about that?"
"I saw a book of it once, pretty distinctive. That and the book
almost burned my hands off, the languages of Law and Chaos
are not meant to be read by those who don't worship them."
"So you don't know what it means then?"
"Well nothing good, I can tell you that much. Chaos is very
powerful but drives those who use it insane."
"Great, so I'm dealing with a spell casting Hannibal Lecter. Just
what I needed."
"No Buffy, not `twisted madman' insane `lying on the
floor in a
pool of your own drool' insane. Chaos magic turns the mind to
mush."
"So what is this creep then?"
"I'm not sure, I've only read enough about Chaos to know it
is
something to avoid. From what I know all true Chaos mages
come from another dimension that worships the Chaos Gods.
They are the only ones who can use it's power without being
destroyed."
"Ok, good start. Tell me more."
"That's about it Buffy. People who find out too much about Chaos
don't live to write books about it. The only other thing I've
heard is
that they call themselves Reavers and are very unpleasant
people. Big on mass slaughter."
Powerful evil that no one knows how to deal with. Why is there
never a book on how to kill these idiots when you need one
anyway? It's like we send all this time researching to find out
that
no one knows anything. Buffy resisted the urge to beat her head
into the table. Come on, give me a hint will you?
"Buffy? I think Anya might know something about these Reaver
guys."
Buffy perked up. Xander knew something. Her wonderful Xander
friend and his lovely, talented bride to be actually knew
something. Thank you.

While Buffy mumbled thanks to the forces of the universe Xander
had waved Anya over and whispered something to her. The look
on Anya's face confirmed that she knew something and that it
was not at all good.
"Reavers? In Sunnydale? This would be a good time to talk
about moving."
"We're not going anywhere Anya. Tell me what you know about
these creeps."
"They're kind of an urban legend among demons, your hear a lot
of talk about them but you never think one is going to show up on
your doorstep. Stupid, rude chaos worshipers."
"Today please."
"Hay, I don't think you guys would be so flip if you knew what
Reavers are. They raid demon dimensions for fun, loot entire
worlds. These are very bad people Buffy. Very bad."
"So how do you deal with them?"
"Hide."
"I'm serious."
"So am I. Reavers are a very powerful human-like race but they
are tied to their home dimension and can't be gone more than a
week. They stay away too long and some force drags their soul
back home."
"I don't like the idea of hiding while some guy wreaks my town,
how do I take him out."
"Not him Buffy, them. Reavers never work in groups of less than
five."
"Wonderful. Any vulnerabilities?"
"None that I've heard of. They are very emotional though, maybe
you could do that thing where you make men want to get far away
from you. That might work."

Buffy was beginning to expect that something beyond lack to tact
was behind some of Anya's recent comments to her. When
things calmed down she was going to have a talk with the former
demon. Then kick the crap out of her.
Xander was trying to make Anya apologize but Buffy had already
moved on. It wasn't much but at lest now she knew what she
was dealing with. It was a start, something to go on. Pretty soon
she'd figure out a way to track them down and then some
payback. Teach those guys to mess with a Slayer's family.

…….

Arc wasn't that had to track down. Just follow the trail of
smoldering corpses and look for the pathetic little sadist. Keln
found him less than a mile from Sorority Row, tormenting some
college girls he must have grabbed. Some techno beat sounded
from a boombox while the three naked girls bounced along and
tried not to scream.
"Still working out your issues with women are we? I don't know
what is more pathetic, your misogyny or your lack of imagination.
This forcing girls to dance for you bit is getting old."
"Hello to you to Keln. What does the boss's lap dog doing in
Sunnydale anyway? I'm dealing with the Slayer situation so get
lost."
"Of course you are. Burning down half the city then being taken
down by an child."
"The Slayer is strong, even un-awakened."
"I was talking about the boy. How hard is it to avoid a fire
extinguisher anyway?"
"He got lucky. It won't happen twice."
"No, you got stupid. Let everyone know a flame mage is on the
rampage and what do you expect? There is a reason Superman
doesn't fly around in a shirt reading `Hi, I'm vulnerable
to
Kryptonite."
"Bite me."
"I'll pass. This mission is too important for us to risk it being
screwed up by your emotional problems."
"This from a man who has spent the last twelve incarnations
fixated on the one woman he never had a chance with. At least I
still know how to live."
"Look Arc, I'm not here to fight. I know this incarnation
didn't go
well but you need to work past that on your own time. The Slayer
is one of us and I am not going to risk losing her just because
you couldn't get a date in high school."
"It was a lot more than that Keln, awakening during a suicide
attempt is not a fun way to re-enter the world. I may have a lot of
anger but it won't interfere with my mission."
"Sorry Arc, can't take that risk. I'll take over here, you go
report
back to the boss."
"Sure this isn't something more personal? Trying to get a head
start with her this time out? Get over the girl already, no one is
worth all that."
"I'm just following orders."
"Get a new song Keln, you've played that one to death. Still, if
the
boss wants me gone, I'm gone. Mind if I finish up here first?"
"You can burn down a Sorority for all I care, just be gone by
morning."
Arc shrugged and went back to watching his victims. Powerful
and unstable was not a good combination. Maybe once they had
Enna back she could do something about his little problem. For
the moment Keln just wanted be as far away from the pyro as
possible. Wrapping his cloak around him Keln melted into the
shadows.
…..

Big, emotional confrontations rarely worked out in the Summers
household. Buffy had certainly found that one out the hard way.
Trying to ask Dawn straight out what she was feeling was sure
to result in her sister ducking the topic or a blowup. Scratch the
direct approach. Buffy had instead opted for the sisterly bonding
method. Take the night off and just sit in front of the TV together.
If Dawn wanted to talk, she'd talk.
For the first wretched hour of Wednesday night programming
Buffy had fought the urge to grab a stake and go patrol. So far
common sense had prevailed. She still didn't know how to deal
with the enemy and right now there were problems closer to
home that needed her attention. Maybe if the shows Dawn liked
were a little less dreadful the urge to go smite evil wouldn't be
quite as strong. How could anyone get interested in the lives of
such whiney, annoying people. Some of the guys were kind of
cute though.
"So Buffy, mind if I ask you something personal?"
It speaks. So far tonight Dawn's dialog had been limited to
`pass
the chips' and trying to explain the plot of this silly soap
opera.
"Since when do you ask permission before butting into my
private life?"
"So I can't turn over a new leaf? Way to be supportive there
Buffy."
Does loving someone always mean you can't strangle them?
"Ask away then."
"You and Xander have been together a lot recently, anything up
with you two?"
"Just good friends. Same as always."
That came out sounding a little rehearsed. Why would she think
something was up?
"You sure about that?"
"Why would you think Xander and I are…well…doing
something?"
"Let's see, no guy in your life since Riley left and you've
never
been much of a nun.."
"Dawn!"
"Come on Buffy, do you have any idea how many times I caught
you and Riley going at it? Or you and Angel doing the tongue
dance? I can't imagine you flying solo this long and since Xander
is the only guy who actually likes you…"
"Want to be grounded until your eighteenth birthday? Then keep
it up."
"Touchy. So there is no guy in your life then."
"No and I'm fine with that. Angel was all life or death drama
then
Riley was about having a real boyfriend. Right now I'm just
working on being me, maybe latter I'll let someone in. When I
want a guy, not when I need one."
"Preach on."
"I'm serious."
"So you and Xander, nothing at all going on there? Not even little
looks among the gravestones?"
"No!"
"Good."
The sly smile on her sister's face made Buffy a bit nervous. No
more Poison Ivy films for that girl. Maybe that all-girls boarding
school would be a good idea.
"What do you think happened with Spike?"
It was the question Buffy had been waiting for but it came so out
of the blue it took her a moment to switch gears. Time to get
serious.
"I wish I knew Dawn, someone turned him against us."
"Was he…do you think it was all an act, the way he helped us?
The way he was nice to me?"
"No, no I don't. When Xander first told me what happened I could
feel nothing but hate towards Spike. He could have killed all of
us so many times why didn't he do it then? The more I think
about it I'm sure that someone changed him. Turned Spike back
into a monster, making an enemy out of a friend."
"I liked him Buffy, I liked him a lot but whenever I see his face all
I
can remember are the things he said. About what he did to
young girls. He was my friend and all I can feel about him is
fear."
"Whatever else he did in his life Spike didn't deserve to end up
like that. Giles once said that when you see a vampire you're not
looking a friend you are seeing what killed him. That thing that
went after you wasn't Spike, just a creature someone used to
hurt people the real Spike cared about."
"I miss him."
"So do I Dawn."
"I'm still done with bad boys though."
"Huh?"
"Nothing, nothing. Private joke."
"You going to be all right Dawn?"
"Sure, as long as you stop hogging the chips and don't give me
any excuses about a Slayer metabolism. I'm dying from lack of
salt over here."
"Drama queen."
"Just pass the munchies and I'll forgive that last crack."
Buffy could have just turned over the bowl but tormenting her
sister was so much more fun. For one night at least laughter
dominated the Summers house.

…..

In the back room of the Magic Box Xander sat against a wall and
fought for breath.
"Now that was a training session."
"For a beginner you demonstrated a good deal of promise. Once
you have regained your strength we will begin again."
Gwen may have been polite, not to mention cute for a sword, but
she was working him like a hard-core drill instructor. One more
swing of the blade and Xander swore his arms would fall right
off. Time to stall.
"So Gwen, tell me about yourself."
"Why do you feel the need to know about my history?"
"Well talking swords aren't exactly normal and I've never
seen a
blade that looked like you. I'm kind of curious as to where
you're
from."
"I see. This is not my home dimension though I remain uncertain
as to how I arrived here. Certain recent memories appear to be
missing. I am one of seven bondblades forged in ages past as
eternal companions for seven great heroes. Originally we fought
against demon incursions but in the last few incarnations strife
on our world has been more internal."
"You mentioned this `incarnation' thing last night. So you
what,
make it so your partner keeps getting reborn? Not a bad deal for
him."
"Perpetual re-incarnation is the norm for our kind. At lest for
those strong souls who stand out from the pack. What we
bondblades do is prevent out partners from forgetting what
happened in earlier lives. The skills I am trying to teach you
represent what Velarian learned about fighting over centuries."
"So is this Velarian guy on earth somewhere."
"I can not see how we would be separated but as he has not
come for me I am at a loss to explain. Maybe that is why I turned
to you, training for battle comforts me."
"You two are close huh?"
"Close as any two souls can be. Perhaps not as close as Marek
and Frea but then none are."
"Who?"
"Marek was another of the seven heroes, Frea is his bondblade.
Over the centuries they drew closer then any other pair. They
loved each other, many felt that in fact they were in love. Sad, they
were always together but could never truly be with each other."
"A real Shakespearean tragedy."
"More than you know. Their doomed love was the basis for one
of my world's most famous plays. Marek always did find that a
little embarrassing. Velarian thought it was hilarious.
Embarrassing someone who could crush minds with the force
of his will was a rather stupid decission."
"Having the whole world see how messed up your love life is,
real barrel of laughs."
"It is funny actually that you would ask about him."
"Funny how?"
"You remind me much of Marek in his early days. A brave heart
and a sharp wit with a tendency to fall for the wrong girl. Yes, you
are very much like him."
"Don't suppose I could be him could I? What with re-incarnation
being part of the equation?"
"Ha! Sorry, I mean no offense but you could sooner separate the
sun from the sky then part Frea and Marek. If one was in this
world so would the other. Frea is the warpblade, she can bend
time and space if need be to stay with her bondsmate. If this was
not your first life the old memories would have begun haunting
you years ago."
"So much for that idea."
"Don't dwell on those kinds of things. Some of the most heroic
men I have known began with no destiny save the strength of
their hearts. Now get up, there is still life in you and the hours
grow short. Much to learn and little time."
"Yes mistress."
Xander grumbled as he got to his feet but in truth he was grateful
to Gwen. When practicing the blade all his other problems fell
away. He had been given a chance to make something more of
himself. No free gift of power, just a chance to learn. It was what
he had always wanted. As his aching muscles found the stance
once more Xander thought of his Slayer and found renewed
energy.
"Ready then Xander?"
"As I'll ever be."
"Good. Three hundred repetitions of the circle block and you can
rest for the night. Begin."
His body screamed it's objection but Xander ignored it. This was
worth it. She was worth it.

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Replies:

[> Review -- Phaedra, 13:27:21 07/02/02 Tue [1]

Again, very well written, interesting story. Aside from my previous comments, I really like the interaction in this chapter between Tara and Xander. Very much in character. Dawn's not bitchy or whiney enough:) out of character for her. But I imagine this is poetic license over the characters for the purpose of your story.


[ Edit | View ]

[> Bonded (Chapter 4) Review -- Harley Quinn, 16:30:07 07/03/02 Wed [1]

OK, I know I'm late in getting this review up but I hope Andrew sees it because this really was my favorite chapter of the series so far. (And thanks, by the way, for letting us know how long the series is.)

Most all of the scenes were tight, with distinct and definite beginnings and ends. I especially like the way you ended the Buffy-Dawn scene with the affectionate bickering. It felt very much like something we'd see on the show. Your story is moving along well with lots of nice character exposition and not a lot of fat. I love the story-within-a-story you're setting up with Gwen and Marek and Frea.

Finally, I really loved the Xander-Tara scene. It really makes you realize how little Xander-Tara interaction there was on the show and how the writers missed out on exploring a friendship between Tara and Xander.


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