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Date Posted: 22:53:26 07/02/02 Tue
Author: UHC
Subject: Bonded (Chapter 5)

Title: Bonded (5/7)
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 no one
would die this season. Well, maybe Spike but certainly not Tara.
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.

One o'clock on a Thursday afternoon was a time to be doing
things. Work, school, something other than just tooling around
the house. At the moment that was all Buffy had to do. She
couldn't keep a job and school was still out of the question. At
least this long afternoon she had company, Xander was
between projects and had volunteered to help out with the home
maintenance. Her knight in flannel armor.
Between Buffy's raw strength and Xander's feel for building
things they had patched up most of the money holes sucking
funds out of her house. Replacing the insulation, putting in new
windows and patching up the cracked basement floor. A good
afternoon's work. Xander had even started teaching her the
basics of furniture making, a vital skill when your home is usually
a combat zone.
They were on break now and Buffy's Slayer appetite was crying
to be fed. When a guy spends his afternoon off doing manual
labor for you it would follow that lunch was the least you could
offer him. Pity Buffy still couldn't cook.
"Sandwiches and soda ok for you Xander?"
"Lunch of champions. I'll whip us up some desert."
While Buffy demonstrated her skills with lunch meat Xander
started melting some chocolate. By the time she had slapped
together a plate of sandwiches he had whipped the chocolate
together with some cream and a pinch of nutmeg. Chocolate
mousse, yummy. The boy sure knew the real way to a girl's
heart.
Buffy wolfed down her lunch eager to get her hands of the desert.
If she didn't have an audience the mousse would have been
lunch, balanced diets are so overrated. It was worth the rush.
Chocolate ambrosia.
"Didn't know you could cook like this Xander."
"Deserts anyway. Division of labor, Anya makes dinner and
desert is my domain."
"How'd you pick this little skill up? Willow and I are both
pathetic
in the kitchen. You haven't been doing things with Tara behind
my back now have you?"
"Anya taught me. She's a great cook."
"Anya. Seriously? I thought something as human as making food
would have her reaching for the take out menus."
"Maybe in the beginning. Anya is very serious about being
human, she read dozens of cookbooks and served meals that
would kill a goat but eventually she got better. She's like that,
practice until perfect."
"So speaks a man in love."
"I'm a bit biased. Anya is one hell of a girl. She's smart
and
funny, cute and sexy, a more loyal person I couldn't imagine. If
I
end up hurting her I don't think I'd ever forgive myself."
Buffy had been so lost in rich, chocolatey bliss she almost
missed the abrupt change in Xander's tone. Trouble in
paradise? Why didn't that bother her more?
"Something wrong with you two crazy kids?"
"No, not yet anyway. I've just got this feeling you know? Anya is
the first and only serious relationship I've had. I love her to
death
but then there is this odd feeling I can't quite shake. Like
I'm
missing something and if I don't figure out what we are both
going to end up miserable."
"But you love her right?"
"Yea, but sometimes I wonder if that is enough. Like there
should be some mad passion that makes me act like a total
idiot. More so than usual. That was your cue to contradict me by
the way."
Mad passion, Like what she had with Angel. Passion the burned
you up inside and made loving someone hurt even more than
not loving them. She wanted to tell Xander he wasn't missing
much, that kind of heartache he could do without. On the other
hand given how her calm, mature relationship with Riley had
ended maybe she should just keep her big mouth shut.
"Stability gets a bad rap Xander. Look at Willow and Tara, no
craziness there and they stay happy. Love is more than fireworks
and heartache. You and Anya have something special, don't
downplay that."
"She doesn't like all the time I spend with you."
"What? Anya?"
"I think she's a bit jealous of my feelings for you. The crush I
used to have. No matter how many times I tell her that we are
just good friends she still doesn't quite believe me."
Maybe because you don't quite believe it yourself? Or was she
just reading things into his tone of voice? Sure they flirted a lot
but that was just something friends did. Or at least that is what
Buffy thought they did. Xander was the only guy friend she had
ever had, all the others were boyfriends or wana-be boyfriends.
"So Buff, we've been good today, what say we go do something
fun? Pretend to be normal people for a couple of hours."
A much safer line of conversation. Thank you Xander.
"How about a movie, we could just make the last matinee
showings."
"I'm always up for a film but isn't that kind of sedate for
you?"
"When I'm too poor to go shopping the cinema makes a good
fallback."
"So if you had money then I'd be blown off so you could go try on
dresses."
"Don't be silly, I would bring you along to carry my bags and
tell
me how cute I look."
"Why don't we see a latter show then, I spring for your new
outfit."
"Xander that is sweet but…"
"But nothing. I can't have my best girl running around naked now
can I."
"I just had to be naked didn't I?"
"It's my fantasy so what I say goes. Come on Buffy, let me do
something nice for you. If ever there was a girl who deserved a
pick-me-up it's you."
"You talked me into it Mr. Harris. I'll let you waste your
paycheck
on my wardrobe."
"A hard won battle but well worth it. Maybe we can even find you
something at the lingerie store. I hear they have a sale on thongs
this week."
"Xander!"
Just harmless flirting, just harmless flirting. Keep telling yourself
that girl and maybe you might believe it. Guys always take
platonic friends clothes shopping. Yep, all the time. Perfectly
normal. Just because this is beginning to sound like a date is no
reason to get nervous.

…….

A happy Buffy was too rare a sight in recent months. Xander was
enjoying just watching her have a little fun. If Anya had dragged
him to this many clothing stores he would have long since been
planing his escape. Not so with Buffy. It made his day seeing her
smile as she tried on outfits and pout when he avoided the
questions women always ask in this situation. When all your
friends are girls a guy learns how to duck the dreaded `does this
make me look fat?'. A good chunk of his disposable income was
going into those shopping bags but it was worth it to make Buffy
happy. He'd do anything to make her hard life a little easier,
what
was a few bucks? So what if this was bordering on boyfriend-like
activity?

Nine stores, three hours and a bit over two hundred dollars latter
Buffy was positively aglow. And hungry. Time to go do some
damage to the food court.
"Better?"
"Much. Shopping is highly therapeutic. All the best doctors say
so."
"Who am I to argue with medical opinion. So what kind of grease
dripping poison are you in the mood for?"
"As long as I'm being a wild girl today might as well go with the
most deep fried thing they have to offer."
"Steak strips it is, arteries be dammed."
Eddy's Fried Steak claimed to serve Australian style fast food.
Their major claim to fame was thin cuts of steak deep-fried in a
thick batter then served with a rich gravy. Rumor held that the
American Heart Association had ordered a hit on the owner. As
food went it was pure evil. Not surprisingly it was probably
Xander's favorite place to grab a bite.

They tore into deep-fried goodness while debating the options in
movie viewing.
"This looks good, some of the guys at work loved it."
"Three hours of monsters and sword fights? I get enough of that
in real life."
"So what doesn't offend your Slayery sensibilities?"
"I want something funny. No violence, no drama, just silly."
"This one then."
"No magic."
"This one?"
"I hate the actress, she gives blondes a bad name."
"Picky aren't you? How about The Majestic then, a good old
fashioned type movie"
"I can live with that, next showing is in thirty so we still have
time
for desert."
"Sugar junkie."
"Just for that you're not getting any of mine."
"Aww, come on Buffy. You know how long I've wanted to get
some from you."
"Maybe if you ask real nice I'll think about it."

The easy flow of jokes between them came to an abrupt stop.
Buffy's expression was suddenly all business. When Xander
turned to follow her hard stare he could see why. They were
being watched. The man didn't look in any way exceptional, a bit
taller than average and unshaven. A large scar on the neck was
the only real standout feature. His aura though, after a lifetime on
the Hellmouth Xander could feel the menace hanging in the air.
The same cruel cast to the face as the firebug.

"Xander, get my stuff out of harm's way. I'll try and make
this
quick."

As Buffy moved to intercept her new foe he pulled something
from his jacket and changed. His clothes did anyway. From
mostly normal gear to what looked like a leather fetishists idea
of medieval garb complete with hooded cloak. It was the swords
the really drew Xander's attention. Twin blades that leapt into
this
guy's hands. Blades that looked a lot like Gwen. This was
defiantly not good.

Survival instincts were kicking in so the mall crowd was clearing
a path between sword guy and the advancing Slayer. No
preamble, he just started taking swings at her. Buffy struck back,
or at least tried to, neither of them could land a hit on the other.
This creep was fast, Buffy was being forced backwards by the
wall of spinning steel. Despite his speed there was something
weird about this fighting style. Wait a second. He was attacking
with the blunt side, striking to subdue rather than kill. Odd that
one of these guys would suddenly develop compassion for
human life.

Whatever this fantasy flick reject had in mind one thing was
obvious, Buffy needed help. Her opponent's speed and skill
matched her own, those sharp pointy things didn't help either. If
he could just give her a split second opening that would be all
Buffy needed to take this guy down. Xander grabbed one of the
plastic food court chairs and inched his way towards where Buffy
and her foe circled each other.

A quick strike from behind should have worked. There was no
way he could have been seen coming. Somehow he was. Right
before Xander took his swing an elbow lashed back, connecting
with the bridge of his nose. Darkness was almost
instantaneous.

…..

Buffy hadn't noticed her friend trying a sneak attack until the
last
second. Her enemy's eyes never broke from her own as a
serpent quick strike took Xander down. She tried to use the
momentary distraction to land a telling blow but his guard was
back up even before Xander hit the floor. Buffy fought back the
urge to throw herself on her friend's body. Getting emotional in
a
fight this close would be suicide, even when your opponent
looked to be pulling him blows.
Quick feints from both parties were leading nowhere. She was
too fast for him and those damn blades made it impossible to
land a hit. If only she had a weapon damn it. If you can't hit
the
body go for the mind. She used to laugh at Giles when he'd
quote that to her, most demons didn't have anything to their
minds beyond `crush and destroy'. This one might be different.
"So, pissed that the leather show got canceled?"
"I am here to retrieve you Slayer, nothing more."
"So getting me involved burning people to death?"
"Arc enjoyed his work overmuch. I will settle this without
bloodshed."
"Don't bet on that one, I plan to shed quite a lot of your blood."
A lunge for the gut was blocked by his blades. He lead with the
left one, not quite ambidextrous there guy. Could be an opening.
"What about Spike then, you the one who took his chip out?"
He cut at her legs but Buffy easily leapt over his attack.
"The beast? Our commander handled it personally."
"What the hell for? He went after my sister you sick little freak!"
Getting emotional. Stupid. She overextended on that last kick and
almost left herself open. Keep control damn it. Focus.
"Emotional trauma sometimes aids in the awakening. After
losing your mother it was a long shot but we hoped to avoid this
confrontation. It would have been easier if you joined us
voluntarily."
"No chance creep."
There, she had a window. His left side was weak, exposed. Buffy
drove in an open handed slice to just below the rips. Not a lethal
blow but it should slow him down. Probably would have if the hit
had connected. An instant before her hand reached him
shadows swallowed his form. He was gone.
Crap.
No.
Wait a sec.
Buffy ducked, twisted around and unleashed a powerful spin kick
at the same time. The power in her leg driving her foe to the
ground. Didn't see that one coming did you?
"Oh please, you'd think I've never fought someone who could
do
that before. Of course you were going to re-appear right behind
me. Now say good night."
Buffy focused her anger into a single blow aimed at the heart of
her downed foe. Bastard was quicker than she thought, still
tagged him but he managed to roll so the blow only grazed his
side. He retaliated with a kick to her head, Buffy pulled back but
her nose got clipped. Ouch. Her opponent tried to follow up with
a slash at her neck, dumb move on his part. Buffy ducked and
drove a thumb into his wrist, that made him drop the sword. Got
him.
Buffy swept the other blade aside and prepared to deliver a
finishing blow. She could beat answers out of him latter. Buffy
caught the fallen blade moving on it's own out of the corner of
her eye. Too late to do anything before the hilt slammed into her
skull. Damn she thought as consciousness fled, that is just not
playing fair.

………

A cop shook Xander awake with all the care and compassion the
Sunnydale police are known for. Hard won experience with the
idiocy of local law enforcement kept Xander from crying out
Buffy's name. Instead he surveyed the wreckage and asked the
nice police man what the hell had happened.
"Witnesses tell us you tried to break up a fight."
"Well I had met this cute blonde and next thing I know some
psycho ex-boyfriend is trying to stab her. Thought playing the
hero might score me a few point ya know?"
"Leave people with knives up to us son. So you don't know
anything more about the two people involved in this dispute?"
"Just that the girl had a nice rack. She get out ok?"
"Her assailant apparently knocked her out and carried her off.
Something about using smoke bombs to make it look like he
just vanished."
"Can I get gone then? People to see, girls to chase and all that."
"Hit the road. If you remember anything that could be useful give
us a call."
"Always looking to help out the law, officer."
Xander made his way out of the mall as fast as his legs would
carry him. Keeping this fake smile on his face was getting
painful, trying not to panic was even worse. They had Buffy and
there was no one with the strength to go and save her. Not that
he was going to let that stop him. At least he had someplace to
start, those swords gave him a lead. Xander needed to have a
little talk with Gwen. Right now.

Anya was getting ready to close up show when he burst into the
Magic Box. She beamed at him and tried to start a little flirting but
Xander brushed her off with as much tact as he could manage.
This was not the time to worry about hurt feelings. He stormed
back to the training room and snatched Gwen from her hiding
place.
"What are you?"
"Haven't we been through this already Xander?"
"Are you a Reaver? Is your precious bondmate one of them?"
"Where did you hear that name?"
"Answer me damn you!"
"Reavers are the people I've spent the last few centuries
fighting.
Now where did you hear that name child?"
"They are burning down this town for the past week and one of
them just kidnapped Buffy. Now it's your turn. Tell me about
them."
"Here? On this world? That should be impossible, the souls of
our world's people are bound to it. Madmen like the Reavers
may attack other worlds for sport but even they couldn't stay
more than a few days without perishing."
"Looks like they found a way. Care to fill in the blanks for me?"
"Contain your emotion Xander, it does neither of us any good. As
to the Reavers they are a plague on my world. All our kind
worship the Chaos gods but only they embrace the worst of it,
pure destruction for it's own sake. Ages ago they fought with the
rest against the demon hoards but now they attempt to re-make
the world in their own likeness. It is during the last Reaver war
that my memories end. We had defeated all but the most
powerful of their number and then…I know not."
"So you're not on their side?"
"I should hope not after the number of times I almost faced
destruction at their hands."
"Fine. Then come on, we are going to go rescue Buffy."
"Do you even know where they have taken her?"
"No, but I'll find her. Maybe Tara can do a spell or something.
Between your knowledge and my suicidal stupidity they don't
have a chance."
"I wish I could aid you in this Xander I truly do, but I can not."
"Why? Because I'm not your bondmate? Buffy's life is at stake
here!"
"It is not a matter of not wanting to help. I can not aid you in
battle.
The sword you
hold is just a manifestation, my true form is raw energy. If anyone
but he to whose soul I am bound tried to use my power that
energy would destroy them."
"If that is what it takes to save Buffy then fine. I'll deal.
Let's go."
"Stop. What is it with young men and the desire to die for love? I
may not be able to help you directly but I may still be of service.
There is another like me in this town, her power is less than
mine and muted in someway but the power is there. I can feel
her out there, perhaps a weapon the Reavers brought with them.
With luck you can use it against them."
"Where?"
"That way."
Gwen's image pointed right towards the heart of residential
Sunnydale. Right towards the Summers house in fact. Wait a
second. No, it couldn't be.
"You said she is like you? Like one of the other bondswords?"
"Yes, the aura reminds me of Frea, a lesser warpbade maybe."
"What do you look like?"
"I don't…."
"Your true from, what do you look like."
"I don't look like anything. Just green light. There is a reason
I
prefer a more solid manifestation you know."
This couldn't be right. An energy being who could warp time and
space. That part fit but the rest… Xander had to be sure before
he would even allow himself to think it.
"Come on, time for you to maybe see an old friend."

A young man lurking outside the home of a young woman with a
sword stuck through his belt should have attracted attention.
This was Sunnydale, Godzilla could have gone unnoticed.
"Well?"
"Well what Xander? Is it her? Yes, I feel what appears to be
Frea's spirit in this house impossible as that is. Can I explain
how she could be in this world alone? No. Why are you
resonating with her when there is no way you can be her
bondmate? I don't even want to think about it."
"I'm resonating with Da-Frea?"
"Don't. This is giving me a headache and I don't even have a
head. Let us just go talk with her, maybe find some sense in all
this chaos."
Sense. Right. Dawn isn't just a Key she's an ancient magical
sword and for some reason they had some kind of bond. Ok, so
he liked the girl. Dawnie was special to him but not in the
mystical sense of things. She was someone for him to protect
not drag into trouble. No choice though, once again Dawn was
part of this like it or not. She had to at least know, he owed her
that. Dawn hated being treated like a child, sheltered from harsh
truths. There had been enough of that already.
"Fine. Let's go."
Buffy had given him a key months ago, better to aid in
Dawn-sitting, so Xander let himself in the house. Five-thirty
according to his watch, Dawn should be home from school.
"Dawnie? You here?"
"Xander!" Dawn jumped up from her position in front of the
television and bounded over to given him a hug. This sort of
casual closeness has sneaked back into their relationship the
last few days. It was nice being the object of someone's
affections but when she got this close it became hard to ignore
that Dawn wasn't such a little girl anymore.
"Nice sword Xander, this some new fashion statement or is Anya
just that kinky?"
He looked at her then, a normal teenage girl with a slightly crazy
grin. God damn it all but he did not want to drag her into this.
Even with a Slayer for a sister the girl deserved some shot at a
normal life. Gwen took the decision out of his hands.
"Hello Frea, I see you finally got your wish. How is humanity
treating you?"
"Xander, who is this ghost chick and what is up with that
neckline?"
Trust Dawn to not even be mildly fazed by an apparition in her
living room.
"It's kind of complicated Dawnster, you might want to sit down."
"Something happed to Buffy didn't it?"
Summers women are hard to lie to.
"Dawn, let me…"
"No! What happened to my sister?"
"Let me deal with this Xander, we are old friends even if she
doesn't remember it. Take a seat child and I will tell you what
has transpired. Your sister is fine for the moment and you need
to understand your own role in this."
Maybe it was just something about being around for a few
thousand years but when Gwen spoke Dawn listened. She
continued listening while Gwen explained the circumstances of
the last few days. Occasionally Xander would interrupt to fill in
some detail but mostly he just kept his eyes on Dawn. She
wasn't breaking down, in fact the girl was strangely calm by the
time Gwen finished.
"So, that is what a Key is for then. I'm a weapon."
"I like to think we are more than that child. You have loved and
lost as much as anyone I've know. Hardly the emotions of a thing
created for violence."
"Sounds like some stupid fantasy novel. If all this happened to
me why don't I remember any of it."
"Another time, another life. Frea is who you were, Dawn is who
you are."
"You always talk like that?"
She was joking but the edge in her voice was becoming more
pronounced.
"Whatever she says Dawn you're still my girl. Nothing is going to
change that."
"Thanks. So if I have all this power you keep talking about why do
I feel like little Ms. Normal Teenager? Shouldn't I at least be
able
to make that tramp Becky's face fall off?"
"You are one of a partnership. What you can do together is far
greater than what you are alone."
"So where is this partner guy then? From the way you told it he
should have been beating down my door years ago. The only
guys who have come after me were after other things."
"Um…I think he's right here Dawnie."
"This is a joke right?"
"As much as I would like to believe so child the two or you have
linked auras. You are Frea but he is not Marek. It makes no
sense but yet so it is. You two are bonded, for better or worse."
"Can I just say for the record that when I made that wish on my
twelfth birthday this was not what I meant."
"You wished for me Dawn? I'm flattered."
"I was young and impressionable at the time."
"This is as opposed to the sophisticated sixteen year old you are
now."
"You better believe it. This year I'm wishing for world
domination."
"Children, if we can get back to saving the world for a minute. As
you two are bonded together Xander should be able to access
Frea's power. That should give him the edge to rescue your
sister."
"No."
"What the hell do you mean `no' Xander?"
"I'm not dragging you into this Dawnie. If we start dealing with
power from before you were you who knows what could happen.
I'm not going to risk losing you. The gang and I can rescue
Buffy.
You are going to stay put."
"Nothing doing Xander, she's my sister and I'm going to help."
"Dawn…"
"She died for me Xander, I can't spend my life hiding behind her.
If there is something I can do then I don't care what the risk
is.
You understand don't you?"
More than he wanted to.
"Ok, you win. I never could stand against you."
"Right. So what do I do sword-lady? Yell out `sword power
activate'?"
"It should be quite simple. Just take each others hands and think
about being one."
"I don't know. I am still underage, Xander might get arrested."
"Dawnie…"
"Ok, ok. Give a girl one last joke."
Xander took a firm grasp on Dawn's hand and closed his eyes.
He pictured the times they had together. Having to carry her back
home when she would follow them on patrol. Dawn listening to
him gripe about Angel. Buffy getting mad at him for buying Dawn
her first make-up kit. Late night gaming sessions while Buffy
was busy with slaying or boyfriends. Competitions over who
could devour the most sugared cereal.
Something shifted and Xander's eyes opened to behold a near
translucent Dawn. In his hand was the hilt of a gleaming blade.
There was only one thing to say under the circumstances.

"Wow."

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Replies:

[> Hold on a minute! I don't have my chapter 4 review finished! -- Glory er, Harley Quinn, 23:34:26 07/02/02 Tue [1]

Shit! A mermaid gets busy for a couple of days and look what happens.

Thanks, by the way, for letting us know how many chapters total.


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[> Bonded (Chapter 5) Review -- Harley Quinn, 00:24:26 07/04/02 Thu [1]

Nice scenes with Buffy and Xander working on the house and going shopping. I especially like when Xander had this to say about Anya: "Anya is very serious about being human, she read dozens of cookbooks and served meals that would kill a goat but eventually she got better. She's like that, practice until perfect." That's Anya all right. And it sounded very believable coming out of Xander's mouth.

What I thought was kind of weird, though, was how Xander was saying that he loved Anya but a short time later he's flirting with Buffy in a way that's really strange for someone who thinks he's in love. maybe that's the point you're trying to make, and I know the whole focus of your story is getting Buffy and Xander together, but this whole exchange between Buffy and Xander didn't seem true to me:

"I just had to be naked didn't I?"

"It's my fantasy so what I say goes. Come on Buffy, let me do something nice for you. If ever there was a girl who deserved a pick-me-up it's you."

I don't know, I just can't see them acting that way. But that could be just me.

Good stuff about the sword people. And kudos to you for doing something that ME has, so far, not been able to do: give Dawn a purpose outside the Glory storyline. Looking forward to the next chapter! :)


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